Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in a Hydrogen-Bonded Charge-Transfer Complex

Photodetachment photoelectron spectroscopy shows isomer-specific proton-coupled electron transfer reactions in phenolic nitrate complexes

The oxidation of phenolic compounds is one of the most important reactions prevalent in various biological processes, often explicitly coupled with proton transfers (PTs). Quantitative descriptions and molecular-level understanding of these proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions have been challenging. This work reports a direct observation of PCET in photodetachment (PD) photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) of hydrogen-bonded phenolic (ArOH) nitrate (NO3-) complexes, in which a much slower rising edge provides a spectroscopic signature to evidence PCET. Electronic structure calculations unveil the PCET processes to be isomer-specific, occurred only in those with their HOMOs localized on ArOH, leading to charge-separated transient states ArOH•+·NO3- triggered by ionizing phenols while simultaneously promoting PT from ArOH•+ to NO3-. Importantly, this study showcases that gas-phase PD-PES is a generic means enabling to identify PCET reactions with explicit structural and binding information.

Diradical Generation via Relayed Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer

Diradical generation followed by radical-radical cross-coupling is a powerful synthetic tool, but its detailed mechanism has yet to be established. Herein, we proposed and confirmed a new model named relayed proton-coupled electron transfer (relayed-PCET) for diradical generation, which could open a door for new radical-radical cross-coupling reactions. Quantum mechanics calculations were performed on a selected carbene-mediated diradical cross-coupling reaction model and a designed model, and the exact electronic structural changes during the radical processes have been observed for the first time.

Carrier relaxation dynamics in type-II ZnO/CdSe quantum dot heterostructures

Semiconductor heterostructures with type-II band alignment are well known for their engineering property of efficient charge separation in photogenerated carriers. Herein, type-II CdSe/ZnO core/shell quantum dot heterostructures with CdSe shells of different thicknesses have been synthesized and a study of carrier dynamics is carried out using femtosecond transient absorption and picosecond emission spectroscopy. Carrier lifetime measurements by transient emission spectroscopy have revealed reduced electron-hole overlap in the type-II localization regime of ZnO/CdSe heterostructures. Femtosecond transient absorption studies have revealed hot electron transfer from CdSe shell to ZnO core prior to electron cooling in the CdSe shell. In addition, a surface channel for the hole cooling process has been identified in the transient absorption measurements. Effects of carrier trapping at interfacial defect states and type-II localization on carrier recombination have been recognized in our transient absorption and emission studies of ZnO/CdSe QDs heterostructure.