Photoelectron spectroscopy of pyrene cluster anions, (pyrene)n− (n=1–20)

Infrared Spectrum of the Pyrene Anion in the CH Stretching Region

In this work, we report the infrared spectrum of the pyrene anion, measured using messenger tagging with up to three Ar atoms. We assign the spectrum using density functional theory and vibrational perturbation theory. We discuss our results in the context of computed and experimental spectra from the literature as well as recent observations from astronomical sources, addressing the question of whether polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon anions could contribute to the strong infrared emission bands at 3.29 μm from carbon-rich regions of space.

Resonant electron capture by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules: Effects of aza-substitution

Resonant electron capture by aza and diaza derivatives of phenanthrene (7,8-benzoquinoline and 1,10-phenanthroline) and anthracene (acridine and phenazine) at incident free electron energies (Ee) in the range of 0-15 eV was studied. All compounds except 7,8-benzoquinoline form long-lived molecular ions (M-) at thermal electron energies (Ee ∼ 0 eV). Acridine and phenazine also form such ions at epithermal electron energies up to Ee = 1.5-2.5 eV. The lifetimes (τa) of M- with respect to electron autodetachment are proportional to the extent of aza-substitution and increase on going from molecules with bent geometry of the fused rings (azaphenanthrenes) to linear isomers (azaanthracenes). These regularities are due to an increase in the adiabatic electron affinities (EAa) of the molecules. The EAa values of the molecules under study were comprehensively assessed based on a comparative analysis of the measured τa values using the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory, the electronic structure analysis using the molecular orbital approach, as well as the density functional calculations of the total energy differences between the molecules and anions. The only fragmentation channel of M- ions from the compounds studied is abstraction of hydrogen atoms. When studying [M-H]- ions, electron autodetachment processes were observed, the τa values were measured, and the appearance energies were determined. A comparative analysis of the gas-phase acidity of the molecules and the EAa values of the [M-H]· radicals revealed their proportionality to the EAa values of the parent molecules.

Effect of Microhydration on the Temporary Anion States of Pyrene

The influence of incremental hydration (≤4) on the electronic resonances of the pyrene anion is studied using two-dimensional photoelectron spectroscopy. The photoexcitation energies of the resonances do not change; therefore, from the anion's perspective, the resonances remain the same, but from the neutral's perspective of the electron-molecule reaction, the resonances decrease in energy by the binding energy of the water molecules. The autodetachment of the resonances shows that hydration has very little effect, showing that even the dynamics of most of the resonances are not impacted by hydration. Two specific resonances do show changes that are explained by the closing of specific autodetachment channels. The lowest-energy resonance leads to efficient electron capture as observed through thermionic emission and evaporation of water molecules (dissociative electron attachment). The implications of low-energy electron capture in dense molecular interstellar clouds are discussed.

Temporary Anion Resonances of Pyrene: A 2D Photoelectron Imaging and Computational Study

The low-energy electron-scattering resonances of pyrene were characterized using experimental and computational methods. Experimentally, a two-dimensional photoelectron imaging of the pyrene anion was used to probe the dynamics of resonances over the first 4 eV of the continuum. Computationally, the energies and character of the anion states were determined using equation-of-motion coupled cluster calculations, while taking specific care to avoid the collapse onto discretized continuum levels, and an application of the pairing theorem. Our results are in good agreement with the predictions of electron-scattering calculations that include an offset and with the pyrene anion absorption spectrum in a glass matrix. Taken together, we offer an assignment of the first five electronic resonances of pyrene. Some of the population in the lowest-energy ²B_1u resonance was observed to decay to the ground electronic state of the anion, while all other resonances decay by a direct autodetachment. The astronomical relevance of a ground-state electron capture proceeding via a low-energy resonance in pyrene is discussed.

Vibrationally Mediated Stabilization of Electrons in Nonpolar Matter

We explore solvation of electrons in nonpolar matter, here represented by butadiene clusters. Isolated butadiene supports only the existence of transient anions (resonances). Two-dimensional electron energy loss spectroscopy shows that the resonances lead to an efficient vibrational excitation of butadiene, which can result into the almost complete loss of energy of the interacting electron. Cluster-beam experiments show that molecular clusters of butadiene form stable anions, however only at sizes of more than 9 molecular units. We have calculated the distribution of electron affinities of clusters using classical and path integral molecular dynamics simulations. There is almost a continuous transition from the resonant to the bound anions with an increase in cluster size. The comparison of the classical and quantum dynamics reveals that the electron binding is strongly supported by molecular vibrations, brought about by nuclear zero-point motion and thermal agitation. We also inspected the structure of the solvated electron, finding it well localized.

Comment on: Negative ions, molecular electron affinity and orbital structure of cata-condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Rustem V. Khatymov, Mars V. Muftakhov and Pavel V. Shchukin

RATIONALE

The anion mass spectral lifetimes for several aromatic hydrocarbons reported in the subject article were related to significantly different electron affinities. The different values are rationalized using negative ion mass spectral data.

METHODS

Electron affinities for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are reported from the temperature dependence of unpublished electron capture detector data. These are compared with published values and the largest values are assigned to the ground state.

RESULTS

The ground state adiabatic electron affinities: (eV) pentacene, 1.41 (3); tetracene, 1.058 (5); benz(a)pyrene, 0.82 (4); benz(a) anthracene, 0.69 (2) anthracene, 0.68 (2); and pyrene, 0.59 (1) are used to assign excited state adiabatic electron affinities: (eV) tetracene: 0.88 (4); anthracene 0.53 (1); pyrene, 0.41 (1); benz(a)anthracene, 0.39 (10); chrysene, 0.32 (1); and phenanthrene, 0.12 (2) and ground state adiabatic electron affinities: (eV) dibenz(a,j)anthracene, 0.69 (3); dibenz(a,h)anthracene, 0.68 (3); benz(e)pyrene, 0.60 (3); and picene, 0.59 (3) from experimental data. The lifetime of benz(a)pyrene is predicted to be larger than 150 μs and for benzo(c)phenanthrene and picene about 40 μs, from ground state adiabatic electron affinities.

CONCLUSIONS

The assignments of adiabatic electron affinities of aromatic hydrocarbons determined from electron capture detector and mass spectrometric data to ground and excited states are supported by constant electronegativities. A set of consistent ground state adiabatic electron affinities for 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is related to lifetimes from the subject article.

Near-Threshold Photodetachment Cross Section of (SF6)(n)(-) Cluster Anions: The Ion Core Structure

Photodetachment cross sections as a function of photon energy are measured for cold (SF6)n(-) cluster anions stored in an electrostatic ion beam trap. Absolute photodetachment cross sections near the adiabatic limit are reported. The strong dependence of the SF6(-) absolute photodetachment cross section on the anion equilibrium bond length leads to the conclusion that the excess charge is localized on a SF6(-) ion core that is only subtly perturbed by the neighboring cluster units.

Infrared Spectra of Protonated Pyrene and Its Neutral Counterpart in Solid para-Hydrogen

Protonated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (H(+)PAHs) have been reported to have infrared (IR) bands at wavenumbers near those of unidentified infrared (UIR) emission bands from interstellar objects. We produced 1-C16H11(+) and 1-C16H11 upon electron bombardment during matrix deposition of p-H2 containing pyrene (C16H10) in a small proportion. Intensities of absorption features of 1-C16H11(+) decreased after the matrix was maintained in darkness or irradiated with light at 365 nm, whereas those of 1-C16H11 increased. The observed line wavenumbers and relative intensities of 1-C16H11(+) and 1-C16H11 agree satisfactorily with the scaled vibrational wavenumbers and IR intensities predicted with the B3PW91/6-311++G(2d,2p) method. Our method, being relatively clean with negligible fragmentation, is applicable to larger H(+)PAH; it has the advantages of producing excellent IR spectra covering a broad spectral range with narrow lines and accurate intensities, so that structural identification among various isomers is feasible.

Mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy of o-, m-, and p-terphenyl cluster anions: the effect of molecular shape on molecular assembly and ion core character

Mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy of o-, m-, and p-terphenyl cluster anions, (o-TP)n(-) (n = 2-100), (m-TP)n(-) (n = 2-100), and (p-TP)n(-) (n = 1-100), respectively, are conducted to investigate the effect of molecular shape on the molecular aggregation form and the resultant ion core character of the clusters. For (o-TP)n(-) and (m-TP)n(-), neither magic numbers nor discernible isomers are observed throughout the size range. Furthermore, their vertical detachment energies (VDEs) increase up to large n and depend linearly on n(-1/3), implying that they possess a three-dimensional (3D), highly reorganized structure encompassing a monomeric anion core. For (p-TP)n(-), in contrast, prominent magic numbers of n = 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14 are observed, and the VDEs show pronounced irregular shifts below n = 10, while they remain constant above n = 14 (isomer A). These results can be rationalized with two-dimensional (2D) orderings of p-TP molecules and different types of 2D shell closure at n = 7 and 14, the monomeric and multimeric anion core, respectively. Above n = 16, the new feature (isomer B) starts to appear at the higher binding side of isomer A, and it becomes dominant with n, while isomer A gradually disappears for larger sizes. In contrast to isomer A, the VDEs of isomer B continuously increase with the cluster size. This characteristic size evolution suggests that the transition to modified 2D aggregation forms from 2D ones occurs at around n = 20.

The electron affinity of phenanthrene

Phenanthrene is studied by photodetachment-photoelectron spectroscopy. Due to the absence of a parent ion peak in the anion mass spectrum the electron affinity could not be determined directly. However, this absence is the first indication that this molecule has a negative electron affinity. The first three water complexes of phenanthrene were studied, supplying insights into its microsolvation property. Moreover, the electron affinity of the bare molecule could be determined to be -0.01+/-0.04 eV by an extrapolation method using the water cluster data. The experimental work is supported by ab initio calculations for determining the structure of the water complexes. Finally a correlation between the electron affinity and the reduction potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is investigated.

Negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy of acridine molecular anion and its monohydrate

Negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to investigate the electronic structure of the acridine molecular anion and its monohydrated anion in the gas phase. Their adiabatic electron affinities were measured to be 0.896+/-0.010 and 1.18+/-0.05 eV, and the low-lying electronic excited states in both neutral acridine and in its monohydrate were revealed. The photoelectron spectra clearly exhibit the presence of low-lying singlet and triplet states having a (pi,pi*) configuration in an uncomplexed acridine molecule. Comparison of the photoelectron spectrum of acridine with that of anthracene shows that photodetachment processes into the excited states of (n,pi*) configuration have little intensity, implying a relatively large intramolecular structural relaxation in the (n,pi*) states.

Effect of Aggregation on the Excited-State Electronic Structure of Perylene Studied by Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

The effect of aggregation on the excited-state electronic structure of perylene was studied through transient absorption measurements of isolated molecules, excimers, monomeric crystals (beta-perylene), and dimeric crystals (alpha-perylene). Changes of electronic state were clearly identified from the changes in transient absorption spectra. A detailed investigation was made by combining the obtained results with previous measurements of ground-state absorption and fluorescence spectra. The energy level of the ion-pair state in alpha-perylene crystals was estimated, and the results are compared with previous photoconductivity results. Moreover, the relaxation processes of excited states in alpha-perylene crystals were studied by femtosecond transient absorption measurements.

Coexistence of two different anion states in polyacene nanocluster anions

Two types of anion states are shown to coexist in nanometer-scale polyacene cluster anions. Naphthalene and anthracene nanoclusters having a single excess electron were produced in the gas-phase. Photoelectron spectra of size-selected cluster anions containing 2 to 100 molecules revealed that rigid "crystal-like" cluster anions emerge, greater than approximately 2 nanometers in size, and coexist with the "disordered" cluster anion in which the surrounding neutral molecules are reorganizing around the charge core. These two anion states appear to be correlated to negative polaronic states formed in the corresponding crystals.