DFT study of linear and nonlinear optical properties of donor-acceptor substituted stilbenes, azobenzenes and benzilideneanilines

Spectral Tuning and Photoisomerization Efficiency in Push-Pull Azobenzenes: Designing Principles

This work demonstrates how push–pull substitution can induce spectral tuning toward the visible range and improve the photoisomerization efficiency of azobenzene-based photoswitches, making them good candidates for technological and biological applications. The red-shifted bright ππ* state (S₂) behaves like the lower and more productive dark nπ* (S₁) state because less potential energy along the planar bending mode is available to reach higher energy unproductive nπ*/S₀ crossing regions, which are responsible for the lower quantum yield of the parent compound. The stabilization of the bright ππ* state and the consequent increase in isomerization efficiency may be regulated via the strength of push–pull substituents. Finally, the torsional mechanism is recognized here as the unique productive route because structures with bending values attributable to the inversion mechanism were never detected, out of the 280 ππ* time-dependent density functional theory (RASPT2-validated) dynamics simulations.

Two-photon absorption and two-photon-induced isomerization of azobenzene compounds

The process of two-photon-induced isomerization occurring in various organic molecules, among which azobenzene derivatives hold a prominent position, offers a wide range of functionalities, which can be used in both material and life sciences. This review provides a comprehensive description of nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of azobenzene (AB) derivatives whose geometries can be switched through two-photon absorption (TPA). Employing the nonlinear excitation process allows for deeper penetration of light into the tissues and provides opportunities to regulate biological systems in a non-invasive manner. At the same time, the tight focus of the beam needed to induce nonlinear absorption helps to improve the spatial resolution of the photoinduced structures. Since near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths are employed, the lower photon energies compared to usual one-photon excitation (typically, the azobenzene geometry change from trans to cis form requires the use of UV photons) cause less damage to the biological samples. Herein, we present an overview of the strategies for optimizing azobenzene-based photoswitches for efficient two-photon excitation (TPE) and the potential applications of two-photon-induced isomerization of azobenzenes in biological systems: control of ion flow in ion channels or control of drug release, as well as in materials science, to fabricate data storage media, optical filters, diffraction elements etc., based on phenomena like photoinduced anisotropy, mass transport and phase transition. The extant challenges in the field of two-photon switchable azomolecules are discussed.

DFT and spatial confinement: a benchmark study on the structural and electrical properties of hydrogen bonded complexes

An extended set of 37 exchange correlation functionals, representing different DFT approximations, has been evaluated on a difficult playground represented by the dipole moment (μ_z), polarizability (α_zz), first hyperpolarizability (β_zzz), and the corresponding interaction-induced electrical properties (Δμ_z, Δα_zz, Δβ_zzz) of spatially confined hydrogen bonded (HB) dimers. A two-dimensional harmonic oscillator potential was used to exert the effect of spatial restriction. The performance of DFT methods in predicting hydrogen bond lengths in the studied molecular complexes upon confinement has also been examined. The data determined using a high-level CCSD(T) method serve as a reference. The conducted analyses allow us to conclude that methods rooted in DFT constitute a precise tool for the calculation of μ_z and α_zz as well as Δμ_z and Δα_zz, as most of the tested functionals provide results affected by rather small relative errors. On the other hand, an accurate description of the nonlinear optical response of the studied HB systems remains a great challenge for most of the analyzed DFT functionals, both in vacuum and in the presence of an analytical confining potential. Some of the tested DFT methods are found to be prone to catastrophic failure in the prediction of β_zzz as well as Δβ_zzz. The obtained results indicate that there is no great chasm in performance between functionals belonging to different DFT approximations or functionals including different amount of Hartree-Fock exchange when the values of dipole moment and first hyperpolarizability as well as the corresponding interaction-induced electrical properties are considered. However, a higher fraction of Hartree-Fock exchange improves the quality of predictions of α_zz and Δα_zz. Additionally, it has been shown that only three functionals from the examined set, namely B2PLYP, B3LYP and ωB97X-D, provide highly accurate structural parameters for the investigated systems. Of significant importance is the conclusion that the ωB97X-D functional, representing a modern and highly parametrized range-separated hybrid, demonstrates the most coherent behavior, showing rather small deviations from the reference data in the case of μ_z, α_zz, Δμ_z and Δα_zz as well as the structural parameters of the studied HB dimers. Moreover, our results indicate that the presence of spatial confinement has a rather small effect on the performance of DFT methods.

Self-Assembled Nanoscaled Metalloporphyrin for Optical Detection of Dimethylmethylphosphonate

The self-assembly approach has been widely adopted in the effort to design and prepare functional materials. Herein, we report the synthesis and optical properties of metalloporphyrin nanoparticles. Nanoscaled particles of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin manganese (MnTPP) and 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin indium (InTPP) were produced in the water/dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) mixed solution by self-assembly approach. The absorbance intensity at the characteristic peak of the monomeric and nanoscaled metalloporphyrins decreased when they interact with dimethylmethylphosphonate (DMMP). Detection limits of MnTPP and InTPP nanoparticles to DMMP were 10⁻⁹ and 10⁻¹⁰ L/L, respectively, and detection limits of monomeric MnTPP and InTPP to DMMP were 10⁻⁶ and 10⁻⁷ L/L, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on MnTPP and InTPP with DMMP as axial ligands had been performed in the B3LYP/6-31g (d) approximation. Their optimized geometries and binding energies were found to depend very strongly on the central metal ion, and InTPP was more sensitive for DMMP detection in contract to MnTPP. All the experimental and theoretical results demonstrated that nanoscaled metalloporphyrin have potential prospects in determination for public safety.

Excited-state dynamics of a molecular dyad with two orthogonally-oriented fluorophores

The excited-state dynamics of a T-shaped bichromophoric molecule, consisting of two strong fluorophores, diphenyloxazole and diphenylpyrazoline, directly linked in an orthogonal geometry, was investigated. Despite the weak coupling ensured by this geometry and confirmed by the electronic absorption spectra, this dyad exhibits only weak fluorescence in both apolar and polar solvents, with fluorescence lifetimes ranging from 200 ps in CHX to 10 ps in ACN. Ultrafast spectroscopic measurements reveal that the fluorescence quenching in polar solvents is due to the population of a charge-separated state. In non-polar solvents, this process is energetically not feasible, and a quenching due to an efficient intersystem crossing (ISC) to the triplet manifold is proposed, based on quantum-chemical calculations. This process occurs via the spin-orbit charge-transfer (SOCT) ISC mechanism, which is enabled by the charge-transfer character acquired by the S1 state of the dyad upon structural relaxation and by the orthogonal arrangement of the molecular orbitals involved in the transition. The same mechanism is proposed to explain why the recombination of the charge-separated state is faster in medium than in highly polar solvents, as well as to account for the fast decay of the lowest triplet state to the ground state.

Influence of the hydrogen-bond interactions on the excited-state dynamics of a push–pull azobenzene dye: the case of Methyl Orange

H-bonding with the solvent affects significantly the photoisomerisation of Methyl Orange.

Triphenylamine-Based Fluorescent Styryl Dyes: DFT, TD-DFT and Non-Linear Optical Property Study

The electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of triphenylamine-based monostyryl and bis(styryl) dyes were studied using quantum chemical methods. The ground-state geometries of these dyes were optimized using the density functional theory (DFT) method. The lowest singlet excited state was optimized using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The absorption was also calculated using the ground-state geometries. All the calculations were carried out in the gas phase and in solvent. The results indicate that the absorption maxima calculated using the TD-DFT are in good agreement with those obtained experimentally. These dyes possess a large second-order non-linear property and this is mainly due to the strong donor-π-acceptor conjugation which is attributed to the excited state intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). There is a relationship between the hardness and first hyperpolarizability and second hyperpolarizability of mono- and bis(styryl) dyes. The efficiency of the intersystem crossing process can be improved by reducing the energy gap between the singlet and triplet excited states.

Synthesis, structural characterization and computational study of a novel amino chalcone: a potential nonlinear optical material

The interest for novel chalcone-based materials in nonlinear optics is dependent on strong second harmonic generation in organic systems.

Spectroscopic and nonlinear optical properties of new chalcone fluorescent probes for bioimaging applications: a theoretical and experimental study

In this study, the newly synthesized non-centrosymmetric, 4-dimethylamino-3'-isothiocyanatochalcone (PKA) compound was presented. This compound belongs to the chalcone group, and its main purpose is to be used in biomedical imaging as a fluorescence dye. For this reason, the linear and nonlinear properties in solvents of different polarity were thoroughly studied. In accordance with the requirements for a fluorochrome, the PKA compound is characterized by strong absorption, large Stokes' shifts, relatively high fluorescence quantum yields and high nonlinear optical response. Moreover, the isothiocyanate reactive probe was conjugated with Concanavalin A. Conventional fluorescence microscopy imaging of Candida albicans cells incubated with the PKA-Concanavalin A, is presented. The results of this study show that the novel conjugate PKA-Concanavalin A could be a promising new probe for cellular labelling in biological and biomedical research. Graphical abstract Spectroscopic behavior of the PKA dye.

Simulations of molecular self-assembled monolayers on surfaces: packing structures, formation processes and functions tuned by intermolecular and interfacial interactions

Simulations using QM and MM methods guide the rational design of functionalized SAMs on surfaces.

Time-dependent density functional theory calculations of the solvatochromism of some azo sulfonamide fluorochromes

The absorption and emission spectra of three azo sulfonamide compounds in different solvents were investigated theoretically by using response functions combined with density functional theory (DFT), while the solvent effect on the structure and the electronic transitions was determined using the integral equation formalism for the polarizable continuum model (IEF-PCM). The results show that the applied different exchange-correlation functionals can reproduce the experimental values well. DFT calculations of the title compounds showed that the H-bond formed between the solute and solvent molecules is one of the major causes of the reversible solvatochromism observed in measured spectra. This is due to a better stabilization of the neutral form than the zwitterionic form in the polar protic solvents, which is characteristic of the hypsochromic shift. On the other hand, the molecules considered exhibit a monotonic behavior regarding the polarity of the low-lying excited state (Δμg-CT) as a function of the solvent polarity. This dependence occurs in the case of the positive solvatochromism and confirms the thesis regarding the H-bond solute-solvent interactions. Theoretically determined values of the two-photon cross section revealed that the (σOF(2)) shows similar trends with changes in λabs, in contrast to <δ(OF)> values. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that the investigated molecules can be used successfully as fluorochromes in bioimaging.

New trans-stilbene derivatives with large two-photon absorption cross-section and non-linear optical susceptibility values – a theoretical investigation

In the present study, newly designed TSB derivatives decorated with suitable donor–acceptor groups have large TPA cross-sections and can be used as potential two-photon active materials.

Solvation effects on the static and dynamic first-order electronic and vibrational hyperpolarizabilities of uracil: a polarized continuum model investigation

Electronic (β(e)) and vibrational (β(v)) first-order hyperpolarizabilities of uracil were determined in gas and water solution using the Coulomb-attenuating Density Functional Theory level with the Dunning's correlation-consistent aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. Frequency-dependent β(e) values were computed for the Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) and Electric Optical Pockels Effect (EOPE) nonlinear optical phenomena. The Polarized Continuum Model was employed to study the solvent effects on the electronic and vibrational properties. The introduction of solvation contributions increases the β(e) (static) value by ca. 110%. In comparison, smaller enhancements are found for the β(e) (EOPE) and β(e) (SHG) data evaluated at the typical wavelength of 694 nm (by 40-50%). The gas-water hyperpolarizability difference was rationalised through a density analysis study. The magnitudes of the vibrational first-order hyperpolarizabilities are comparable to their electronic counterparts and noticeably increase in solution: β(v) (EOPE) ~ β(e) (EOPE) in aqueous phase at λ = 694 nm. Analysis of the IR and Raman spectra is useful to elucidate the most important contributing modes to the vibrational first-order hyperpolarizabilities.

Molecular structure, vibrational spectra, NLO and MEP analysis of bis[2-hydroxy-кO-N-(2-pyridyl)-1-naphthaldiminato-кN]zinc(II)

The molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies of bis[2-hydroxy-кO-N-(2-pyridyl)-1-naphthaldiminato-кN]zinc(II) in the ground state have been calculated by using the Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-311G(d,p) basis set. The results of the optimized molecular structure are presented and compared with the experimental X-ray diffraction. The energetic and atomic charge behavior of the title compound in solvent media has been examined by applying the Onsager and the polarizable continuum model. To investigate second order nonlinear optical properties of the title compound, the electric dipole (μ), linear polarizability (α) and first-order hyperpolarizability (β) were computed using the density functional B3LYP and CAM-B3LYP methods with the 6-31+G(d) basis set. According to our calculations, the title compound exhibits nonzero (β) value revealing second order NLO behavior. In addition, DFT calculations of the title compound, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), frontier molecular orbitals, and thermodynamic properties were performed at B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory.

Electron correlation effects and density analysis of the first-order hyperpolarizability of neutral guanine tautomers

Dipole moments (μ), charge distributions, and static electronic first-order hyperpolarizabilities (β(μ)) of the two lowest-energy keto tautomers of guanine (7H and 9H) were determined in the gas phase using Hartree-Fock, Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2 and MP4), and DFT (PBE1PBE, B97-1, B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP) methods with Dunning's correlation-consistent aug-cc-pVDZ and d-aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets. The most stable isomer 7H exhibits a μ value smaller than that of the 9H form by a factor of ca. 3.5. The β μ value of the 9H tautomer is strongly dependent on the computational method employed, as it dramatically influences the β(μ) (9H)/β(μ) (7H) ratio, which at the highest correlated MP4/aug-cc-pVDZ level is predicted to be ca. 5. The Coulomb-attenuating hybrid exchange-correlation CAM-B3LYP method is superior to the conventional PBE1PBE, B3LYP, and B97-1 functionals in predicting the β(μ) values. Differences between the largest diagonal hyperpolarizability components were clarified through hyperpolarizability density analyses. Dipole moment and first-order hyperpolarizability are molecular properties that are potentially useful for distinguishing the 7H from the 9H tautomer.

THEORETICAL STUDY ON THE SECOND-ORDER NONLINEAR OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF C,B-SUBSTITUTED CARBORANE CONJUGATED DERIVATIVES

To systemically investigate structure–property relationship and design excellent nonlinear optical (NLO) material, the second-order NLO properties of a series of C,B -substituted carborane conjugated derivatives have been studied by density functional theory (DFT). The static first hyperpolarizabilities (βtot) were calculated at the M05-2X/6-31+G* level of theory. The results show that the βtot values gradually increase with the increasing of the conjugation length, especially the introduction of ferrocene. It is found that 1,3-benzo-o-carborane-ferrocene (2h) has the largest first hyperpolarizability (55.968 × 10-30 esu), which is 150 times larger than that of benzocarborane (1a). This means that the static first hyperpolarizabilities of the studied compounds can be substantially increased by structural modification. A basis for understanding the origin of these large NLO responses is proposed based on consideration of the frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), orbital energy, transition energy of the studied compounds, and the two-state mode. The lower transition energy and larger oscillator strength play an important role in increasing the first hyperpolarizability value. This study may evoke possible ways to design preferable NLO materials.

DFT QUANTUM CHEMICAL STUDIES ON 1-[N-(2-PYRİDYL) AMİNOMETHYLİDENE]-2(1H)-NAPHTALENONE

Quantum chemical calculations of the structure, molecular electrostatic potential and thermodynamic functions have been performed using the density functional (DFT/B3LYP) method with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set for the title compound 1-[N-(2-pyridyl)aminomethylidene}-2(1H)-Naphtalenone. The energetic behavior of the title compound in solvent media has been examined by applying the Onsager and the polarizable continuum model. To investigate second order nonlinear optical properties of the title compound, the electric dipole μ, the polarizability α and the first hyperpolarizability β were computed using the density functional B3LYP and CAM-B3LYP methods with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. According to our calculations, the title compound exhibits nonzero β value revealing second order NLO behavior. The changes of thermodynamic properties for the formation of the title compound with the temperature ranging from 200 K to 500 K have been obtained using the statistical thermodynamic method. The relationship between formation enthalpy and entropy changes has been investigated with the entropy–enthalpy compensation. Besides, natural bond orbital and frontier molecular orbital analysis of the title compound were investigated by theoretical calculations.

Computational study of the electronic structures, UV-Vis spectra and static second-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities of macrocyclic thiophene derivatives

Using thiophene (which has a moderate resonance energy) as a spacer rather than benzene permits better π-electron delocalization and leads to a large nonlinear optical response. Thus, the nonlinear optical coefficients of a series of macrocyclic thiophene derivatives (C[3T_DA](n) with C(n) symmetry) were studied, and their electronic structures, UV-Vis spectra and static second-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities (β(0)) were computed. The calculated results showed that ΔE(H-L) increased and the UV-Vis spectrum redshifted as the number of C[3T_DA] units increased (one C[3T_DA] unit consists of trithiophene and diacetylene). The value of β(0) calculated by either the ZINDO-SOS or the FF method showed the same trend: the absolute value of β(0) increased as the number of units increased. The value of β(0) predicted by ZINDO-SOS was an order of magnitude larger than that predicted by the FF method. However, the results suggest that macrocyclic thiophene compounds potentially exhibit large static second-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities.