The non-coincidence effect in the raman spectra of polar liquids

The intermolecular polar bond interaction and coupling induced spectral splitting phenomenon for a binary mixture

To explain the polarization Raman noncoincidence effect of specific polar bonds and the noncoincidence phenomenon between FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra, aggregation-induced spectral splitting theory was proposed. In this paper, the vibration splitting theory was demonstrated using two strategies: improving the spectral resolution with cryogenic matrix isolation techniques and identifying cases where the coupling splitting is large enough to be distinguishable. The monomer and dimer splitting bands of acetone were detected when cryogenically isolated by the Ar matrix. Additionally, the polarization Raman and two-dimensional infrared spectra of a β-propiolactone (PIL)/CCl₄ binary mixture were collected at room temperature, and the spectral splitting phenomenon was clearly observed. The dynamic transformation between the monomer and dimer could be achieved and detected by adjusting the PIL concentration. The observed splitting phenomenon was further confirmed by theoretical DFT calculations based on the monomer and dimer of PIL, as well as the FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of PIL. Concentration-triggered 2D-COS synchronous and asynchronous spectra also confirmed the splitting phenomenon and the dilution kinetics of PIL/CCl₄.

Long-range correlation of intra-molecular and inter-molecular vibration in liquid CCl4

Experiments measuring the polarization dependence of hyper-Raman light scattering reveal long-range correlation of molecular vibrations in liquid CCl₄. The ν₃ and ν₁ + ν₄ intra-molecular vibrations at about 770 cm^-1 are strongly polarized transverse to the scattering wavevector. Weaker transverse polarization is exhibited by the ν₁, ν₂, and ν₄ intra-molecular vibrations and by the inter-molecular collision-induced band around 0 cm^-1. The observed polarization dependence is due to the correlation of the vibrations on molecules separated by about 200 nm. The strength of the observed correlation increases with the transition dipole moment for the vibration mode and is consistent with dipole-dipole coupling.

Vibrational couplings and energy transfer pathways of water's bending mode

Coupling between vibrational modes is essential for energy transfer and dissipation in condensed matter. For water, different O-H stretch modes are known to be very strongly coupled both within and between water molecules, leading to ultrafast dissipation and delocalization of vibrational energy. In contrast, the information on the vibrational coupling of the H-O-H bending mode of water is lacking, even though the bending mode is an essential intermediate for the energy relaxation pathway from the stretch mode to the heat bath. By combining static and femtosecond infrared, Raman, and hyper-Raman spectroscopies for isotopically diluted water with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we find the vibrational coupling of the bending mode differs significantly from the stretch mode: the intramode intermolecular coupling of the bending mode is very weak, in stark contrast to the stretch mode. Our results elucidate the vibrational energy transfer pathways of water. Specifically, the librational motion is essential for the vibrational energy relaxation and orientational dynamics of H-O-H bending mode.

Vibrational energy transfer in water involves intermolecular coupling of O-H stretching modes, but much less is known about the role of the bending modes. Here the authors, combining static and femtosecond infrared, Raman, and hyper-Raman spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, provide insight into the energy dynamics of the bend vibrations.

P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers: structure of the ferroelectric and paraelectric phases through IR and Raman spectroscopies

This study elucidates the complex morphology and the related spectroscopic response of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) copolymer, with 80% molar VDF content, namely P(VDF-TrFE) (80/20). We investigate the molecular structure, the morphology and the thermal behaviour of P(VDF-TrFE) samples obtained as electrospun nanofibers; we discuss their thermal evolution crossing the Curie temperature and the structure resulting after annealing, giving a comparison with P(VDF-TrFE) films. The new experimental data here obtained, combined with previous spectroscopic studies carried out on piezoelectric fluorinated polymers and copolymers, allow identifying spectroscopic markers sensitive to the molecular structure, the molecular orientation, the conformational defects and the kind of crystalline phase. We assign the vibrational modes localized on TrFE units by combining experimental observation and density functional calculations carried out on suitable molecular models. This work provides a sound set of diagnostic tools, which can be exploited for the assessment of structure/property relationships aimed at clarifying the molecular mechanisms leading to the piezoelectric performance of fluorinated copolymers.

Ligand binding to G-quadruplex DNA: new insights from ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy

G-Quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical nucleic acid structures involved in the regulation of several biological processes of many organisms. The rational design of G4-targeting molecules developed as potential anticancer and antiviral therapeutics is a complex problem intrinsically due to the structural polymorphism of these peculiar DNA structures. The aim of the present work is to show how Ultraviolet Resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy can complement other techniques in providing valuable information about ligand/G4 interactions in solution. Here, the binding of BRACO-19 and Pyridostatin - two of the most potent ligands - to selected biologically relevant G4s was investigated by polarized UVRR scattering at 266 nm. The results give new insights into the binding mode of these ligands to G4s having different sequences and topologies by performing an accurate analysis of peaks assigned to specific groups and their changes upon binding. Indeed, the UVRR data not only show that BRACO-19 and Pyridostatin interact with different G4 sites, but also shed light on the ligand and G4 chemical groups really involved in the interaction. In addition, UVRR results complemented by circular dichroism data clearly indicate that the binding mode of a ligand can also depend on the conformation(s) of the target G4. Overall, these findings demonstrate the utility of using UVRR spectroscopy in the investigation of G4s and G4-ligand interactions in solution.

The noncoincidence phenomenon of acetonylacetone CO stretching in a binary mixture and the aggregation-induced split theory

This article aims to correlate the noncoincidence effect phenomenon with the aggregation state of acetylacetone CO stretching in a binary mixture. CO stretching noncoincidence effect (NCE) was observed not only between IR and Raman spectra but also between the isotropic and anisotropic Raman spectra of acetonylacetone. The difference in CO stretching wavenumbers of the isotropic and anisotropic Raman spectra (NCE value) in a binary mixture at different concentrations has been calculated. We found that both isotropic and anisotropic Raman wavenumbers of CO stretching increase with the dilution of acetonylacetone by CCl₄ while the NCE value decreases. These noncoincidence and concentration effect phenomena seem to go against the quantum theory. Herein, we proposed an aggregation-induced split (AIS) model to explain the NCE phenomenon and concentration effect. The experimental data were consistent with the DFT calculations performed at the B3LYP-D3/6-311++G (d,p) levels based on the proposed model. The dynamics of transformation from monomers to an aggregated structure can be easily controlled by tuning the concentration. Solvent dependent experiments show that the value of NCE decreased with the increase of the solvent dielectric constant at the same concentration, which is in accordance with Logan's theory.

Both the isotropic and anisotropic Raman wavenumbers of the CO stretch increase with the dilution of acetonylacetone by CCl₄, while the separation between isotropic and anisotropic Raman wavenumbers (Δυ) decrease.

Stacking of purines in water: the role of dipolar interactions in caffeine

Concentration dependence of the NCE and the dephasing time show that caffeine molecules aggregate at 80 °C by planar stacking with a relevant contribution of dipole interactions.

Solvent dependent frequency shift and Raman noncoincidence effect of S=O stretching mode of Dimethyl sulfoxide in liquid binary mixtures

The isotropic and anisotropic Raman peak frequencies of S=O stretching mode of Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have been discussed in different chemical and isotopic solvent molecules using different mechanisms. The shifting of peak frequency in further dilution of DMSO with solvent molecule is observed for all solvents. Transition dipole - transition dipole interaction and hydrogen bonding may play a major role in shifting of peak frequencies. The non-coincidence effect (NCE) of DMSO was determined for all the solvents and compared with four theoretical models such as McHale's model, Mirone's modification of McHale's model, Logan's model and Onsager-Fröhlich dielectric continuum model respectively. Most of the theoretical models are largely consistent with our experimental data.

Intra- and intermolecular charge fluxes induced by the OH stretching mode of water and their effects on the infrared intensities and intermolecular vibrational coupling

Intra- and intermolecular charge fluxes induced by the OH stretching mode of water and their effects on the infrared (IR) intensities and intermolecular vibrational coupling are analyzed theoretically. Density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations are carried out for the clusters consisting of 28 and 30 water molecules, and the change in the electron density induced by the OH stretching mode, i.e., the electron density derivative ∂ρ((el))(r)/∂Q(OH), is calculated and its effect is analyzed. It is shown that the electron density derivative extends to the spatial region of the water molecule that accepts the hydrogen bond donated by the vibrating OH bond, indicating that intermolecular charge flux is induced. Both the amount of vibration-induced change in the electric charge (the charge derivative) and the distance between charge centers are large for the intermolecular charge flux, giving rise to a significant enhancement of the dipole derivative, and hence the IR intensity. After showing quantitatively that it is possible to understand the intermolecular vibrational coupling between the OH stretching oscillators with the picture of the "electric field modulation by one vibration" and the "response by the other vibration to the electric field modulation", the effect of the intermolecular charge flux on the intermolecular vibrational coupling is analyzed. It is shown that the intermolecular charge flux plays an important role also in this relation, but the two factors determining the dipole derivative (the charge derivative and the distance between charge centers) should be carefully taken into account.

Signatures of coherent vibrational energy transfer in IR and Raman line shapes for liquid water

We calculate theoretical IR and Raman line shapes for the OH stretch region of liquid water, using mixed quantum/classical and electronic-structure/molecular-dynamics methods. Our approach improves upon the time-averaging approximation used earlier for the same problem, and our results are in excellent agreement with experiment. Previous analysis of theoretical results for this problem considered the extent of delocalization (over local OH stretch excitations) of the instantaneous vibrational eigenstates. In this work we present a complementary analysis in the time-domain, by decomposing the appropriate response functions into diagonal and off-diagonal contributions (in the local mode basis). Our analysis indicates that all vibrational spectra show signatures of coherent vibrational energy transfer. This is manifest in different (IR, isotropic and depolarized Raman) experiments to different extents, because of the competition between coherent energy transfer and rotational disorder.

Time-Domain Calculations of the Polarized Raman Spectra, the Transient Infrared Absorption Anisotropy, and the Extent of Delocalization of the OH Stretching Mode of Liquid Water

The polarized Raman spectrum and the time dependence of the transient infrared (TRIR) absorption anisotropy are calculated for the OH stretching mode of liquid water (neat liquid H2O) by using time-domain formulations, which include the effects of both the diagonal frequency modulations (of individual oscillators) induced by the interactions between the dipole derivatives and the intermolecular electric field, and the off-diagonal (intermolecular) vibrational coupling described by the transition dipole coupling (TDC) mechanism. The IR spectrum of neat liquid H2O and the TRIR anisotropy of a liquid mixture of H2O/HDO/D2O are also calculated. It is shown that the calculated features of these optical signals, including the temperature dependence of the polarized Raman and IR spectra, are in reasonable agreement with the experimental results, indicating that the frequency separation between the isotropic and anisotropic components of the polarized Raman spectrum and the rapid decay (approximately 0.1 ps) of the TRIR anisotropy of the OH stretching mode of neat liquid H2O are mainly controlled by the resonant intermolecular vibrational coupling described by the TDC mechanism. Comparing with the time evolution of vibrational excitations, it is suggested that the TRIR anisotropy decays in the time needed for the initially localized vibrational excitations to delocalize over a few oscillators. It is also shown that the enhancement of the dipole derivatives by the interactions with surrounding molecules is an important factor in generating the spectral profiles of the OH stretching Raman band. The time-domain behavior of the molecular motions that affect the spectroscopic features is discussed.

Effects of Intermolecular Vibrational Coupling and Liquid Dynamics on the Polarized Raman and Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectral Profiles of Liquid N,N-Dimethylformamide Analyzed with a Time-Domain Computational Method

A time-domain method for calculating polarized Raman and two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectra that includes the effects of both the diagonal frequency modulations (of individual molecules in the system) and the off-diagonal (intermolecular) vibrational coupling is presented and applied to the case of the amide I band of liquid N,N-dimethylformamide. It is shown that the effect of the resonant off-diagonal vibrational coupling and the resulting delocalization of vibrational modes is clearly seen as the noncoincidence effect in the polarized Raman spectrum and some spectral features (especially as asymmetric intensity patterns) in the 2D-IR spectra. The type of 2D-IR spectra (concerning the polarization condition) most appropriate for observing this effect is discussed. On the basis of the agreement between the observed and calculated band profiles of the polarized Raman spectrum, the time dependence of the transient IR absorption anisotropy is also calculated. The method of evaluating the extent of delocalization of vibrational modes that is relevant to the features of these optical signals in the time and frequency domains is discussed. The nature of the molecular motions (concerning the liquid dynamics) that are effective on the diagonal frequency modulations is also examined.

Anisotropy shift and Raman bandwidth studies in carbonyl containing molecule o-chlorobenzaldehyde: role of repulsive forces

The analysis of Raman anisotropy shift as a function of solvent concentration shows the weakening of pair interaction of the molecules due to the influence of solvent-induced perturbations. The present study deals with the effect of dielectric constant of the medium on the non-coincidence effect (anisotropy shift) and the role of van der Waals' volume on the anisotropic Raman bandwidth. The CO stretching vibration of o-chlorobenzaldehyde (OCBD) molecule was studied in various polar and non-polar solvents namely CCl4, CH3CN, C6H5Cl and CH3C6H5. The data on anisotropic bandwidth are interpreted using the van der Waals' volume within the framework of lineshape theory of Bratos and Tarjus, while the Onsager-Fröhlich model on non-coincidence effect has been tested. Our study shows that the repulsive potential of the type e-alphaR is playing an important role in the OCBD-solvent interactions. The vanishing of anisotropy shift (non-coincidence effect) on dilution may be explained on the basis of repulsive forces playing a significant role in solute-solvent interactions.

Time-Domain Theoretical Analysis of the Noncoincidence Effect, Diagonal Frequency Shift, and the Extent of Delocalization of the CO Stretching Mode of Acetone/Dimethyl Sulfoxide Binary Liquid Mixtures

A time-domain method for simulating vibrational band profiles that simultaneously takes into account both the diagonal and off-diagonal effects is developed and applied to the C=O stretching bands of neat liquid acetone and the acetone/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) binary liquid mixtures. By using this method, it is possible to examine the influence of liquid dynamics on the noncoincidence effect (NCE), which arises from the off-diagonal vibrational interactions, as well as the frequency shifts and band broadening, which are related to both the diagonal and off-diagonal effects. It is shown that the simulations for the C=O stretching bands of acetone in acetone/DMSO binary liquid mixtures on the basis of this method can reproduce the experimentally observed concave curvature of the concentration dependence of the NCE and the unusually large frequency shift of the anisotropic Raman band. The widths of the infrared, isotropic Raman, and anisotropic Raman bands calculated for neat liquid acetone are also in good agreement with those observed. Based on these calculations, the extent of delocalization of the C=O stretching vibrational motions is examined by referring to two quantitative measures of this property, one calculated in the frequency domain and the other in the time domain. It is shown that the extent of delocalization gets larger as the mole fraction of acetone increases, the C=O stretching vibrations being delocalized over a few tens of molecules in neat liquid acetone. It is also shown that the extent of delocalization is related to the quantity called NCE detectability, which is the ratio between the magnitude of NCE and the bandwidth. It is therefore suggested that the extent of delocalization of vibrational motions may be estimated from observable features of Raman band profiles.

Concentration-Dependent Frequency Shifts and Raman Spectroscopic Noncoincidence Effect of the CO Stretching Mode in Dipolar Mixtures of Acetone/Dimethyl Sulfoxide. Experimental, Theoretical, and Simulation Results

The nu(C=O) Raman band frequencies of acetone have been analyzed to separate the contributions of the environmental effect and the vibrational coupling to the gas-to-liquid frequency shifts of this band and to elucidate the changes in these two contributions upon dilution in DMSO. We have measured the frequencies of the nu((12)C=O) band in acetone/DMSO binary mixtures, the nu((13)C=O) band of the acetone-(13)C=O present as a natural abundance isotopic impurity in these mixtures, and both the nu((12)C=O) and nu((13)C=O) bands in the acetone-(12)C=O/acetone-(13)C=O isotopic mixtures at infinite dilution. These frequencies are compared with those of the nu((12)C=O) band in the acetone/CCl(4) binary mixtures measured previously. We have found the following three points: (i) The negative environmental contribution for the nu((12)C=O) oscillator of acetone completely surrounded by DMSO is reduced in magnitude by +5.5 cm(-1) and +7.8 cm(-1) upon the complete substitution of DMSO with acetone and CCl(4) molecules, respectively, indicating the progressive reduction of the attractive forces exerted by the environment on the nu((12)C=O) mode of acetone. (ii) In DMSO and other solvents, the contribution of the vibrational coupling to the frequency of the isotropic Raman nu((12)C=O) band of acetone becomes progressively more negative with increasing acetone concentration up to a value of -5.5 cm(-1), while the contribution to the frequency of the anisotropic Raman band remains approximately unchanged. The only difference resides in the curvatures of the concentration dependencies of these contributions which depend on the relative solute/solvent polarity. (iii) The noncoincidence effect (separation between the anisotropic and isotropic Raman band frequencies) of the nu(C=O) mode in the acetone/DMSO mixtures exhibits a downward (concave) curvature, in contrast to that in the acetone/CCl(4) mixtures, which shows an upward (convex) curvature. This result is supported by MD simulations and by theoretical predictions and is interpreted as arising from the reduction and enhancement of the short-range orientational order of acetone in the acetone/DMSO and acetone/CCl(4) mixtures, respectively.

Relaxation processes of the liquid crystal ME6N in the isotropic phase studied by Raman scattering experiments

We have investigated the Raman profiles of the nu(C[Triple Bond]N) and nu(C=O) vibrational modes of the nematic liquid crystal ME6N (4-cyanophenyl-4(')-hexylbenzoate) in the isotropic phase at different temperatures and used them as probes of the dynamics and structural organization of this liquid. The vibrational time correlation functions of the nu(C[Triple Bond]N) mode, rather adequately interpreted within the assumption of exponential modulation function (the Kubo-Rothschild theory), indicate that the system experiences an intermediate dynamical regime that gets only slightly faster with increasing temperature. However, this theory fails in predicting the non-exponential behavior that the time correlation functions manifest in the long time range (t>3 ps). For this reason we have additionally approached the interpretation of vibrational correlation functions in terms of the theory formulated by Rothschild and co-workers for locally structured liquids. The application of this theory reveals that the molecular dynamics in this liquid crystal in the isotropic phase is that deriving from a distribution of differently sized clusters, which narrows as the temperature increases. Even at the highest temperature reached in this study (87 degrees C above the nematic-isotropic transition), the liquid has not yet achieved the structure of the simple liquid and the dynamics has not reached the limit of the single channel process. The vibrational and orientational relaxations occur in very different time scales. The temperature independence of the orientational dynamics in the whole range from 55 degrees C to 135 degrees C has been referred to the nonhydrodynamic behavior of the system, arising when local pseudonematic structures persist for times longer than the orientational relaxation. The occurrence of the process of resonant vibrational energy transfer between the C=O groups of adjacent molecules has been revealed in the isotropic phase by a slightly positive Raman noncoincidence effect in the band associated with the nu(C=O) mode. A qualitative interpretation is tentatively given in terms of partial cancellation of contributions deriving from structures having opposite orientations of their C=O groups.