Electronic Structure of Halogen-Substituted Methyl Radicals: Equilibrium Geometries and Vibrational Spectra of CH2Cl and CH2F

Coherent vibrational dynamics reveals lattice anharmonicity in organic-inorganic halide perovskite nanocrystals

The halide ions of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites can strongly influence the interaction between the central organic moiety and the inorganic metal halide octahedral units and thus their lattice vibrations. Here, we report the halide-ion-dependent vibrational coherences in formamidinium lead halide (FAPbX₃, X = Br, I) perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) via the combination of femtosecond pump–probe spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. We find that the FAPbX₃ PNCs generate halide-dependent coherent vibronic wave packets upon above-bandgap non-resonant excitation. More importantly, we observe several higher harmonics of the fundamental modes for FAPbI₃ PNCs as compared to FAPbBr₃ PNCs. This is likely due to the weaker interaction between the central FA moiety and the inorganic cage for FAPbI₃ PNCs, and thus the PbI₆⁴⁻ unit can vibrate more freely. This weakening reveals the intrinsic anharmonicity in the Pb-I framework, and thus facilitating the energy transfer into overtone and combination bands. These findings not only unveil the superior stability of Br–based PNCs over I–based PNCs but are also important for a better understanding of their electronic and polaronic properties.

Using a combination of femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy and first-principles calculations, Debnath et al. elucidated the halide-dependence of the excited state vibrational coherences in hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals. The study revealed an intrinsic anharmonicity of lead-halide framework, which correlates with perovskite stability and is influenced by the interaction between the framework and the organic molecules.

Photodissociation dynamics of ICH2Cl → CH2Cl + I*/I: photofragment translational spectroscopy at 304 and 277 nm

The photodissociation dynamics of ICH2Cl → CH2Cl + I*/I at 304 and 277 nm has been investigated with our mini-TOF photofragment translational spectrometer with a weak acceleration field of <1 V cm(-1). Many peaks are resolved or partially resolved in the TOF spectra and the photofragment translational spectra (PTS) of both the I*((2)P1/2) channel and the I((2)P3/2) channel. These resolved peaks are assigned to the C-Cl stretch vibrational states of the CH2Cl fragment. The rotational energy ER of the CH2Cl fragment is highly excited due to its asymmetric structure. The value of ER/ET is measured to be about 0.71. In the I* channel, the partitioning of the available energy Eavl into the translational energy ET, the rotational energy ER, and the vibrational energy EV for each resolved vibrational state has been calculated.

Jet-cooled infrared spectroscopy in slit supersonic discharges: Symmetric and antisymmetric CH2 stretching modes of fluoromethyl (CH2F) radical

The combination of shot noise-limited direct absorption spectroscopy with long-path-length slit supersonic discharges has been used to obtain first high-resolution infrared spectra for jet-cooled CH2F radicals in the symmetric (nu1) and antisymmetric (nu5) CH2 stretching modes. Spectral assignment has yielded refined lower- and upper-state rotational constants and fine-structure parameters from least-squares fits to the sub-Doppler line shapes for individual transitions. The rotational constants provide indications of large amplitude vibrational averaging over a low-barrier double minimum inversion-bending potential. This behavior is confirmed by high-level coupled cluster singles/doubles/triples calculations extrapolated to the complete basis set limit and adiabatically corrected for zero point energy. The calculations predict a nonplanar equilibrium structure (theta approximately 29 degrees, where theta is defined to be 180 degrees minus the angle between the C-F bond and the CH2 plane) with a 132 cm(-1) barrier to planarity and a vibrational bend frequency (nu(bend) approximately 276 cm(-1)), in good agreement with previous microwave estimates (nu(bend) = 300 (30) cm(-1)) by Hirota and co-workers [Y. Endo et al., J. Chem. Phys. 79, 1605 (1983)]. The nearly 2:1 ratio of absorption intensities for the symmetric versus antisymmetric bands is in good agreement with density functional theory calculations, but in sixfold contrast with simple local mode CH2 bond dipole predictions of 1:3. This discrepancy arises from a surprisingly strong dependence of the symmetric stretch intensity on the inversion bend angle and provides further experimental support for a nonplanar equilibrium structure.

High-resolution infrared studies in slit supersonic discharges: CH2 stretch excitation of jet-cooled CH2Cl radical

First high-resolution infrared spectra are presented for jet-cooled CH2 35Cl and CH2 37Cl radicals in the symmetric (nu1) CH2 stretching mode. A detailed spectral assignment yields refined lower and upper state rotational constants, as well as fine structure spin-rotation parameters from least-squares fits to the sub-Doppler line shapes for individual transitions. The rotational constants are consistent with a nearly planar structure, but do not exclude substantial large amplitude bending motion over a small barrier to planarity accessible with zero-point excitation. High level coupled cluster (singles/doubles/triples) calculations, extrapolated to the complete basis set limit, predict a slightly nonplanar equilibrium structure (theta approximately 11 degrees), with a vibrationally adiabatic treatment of the bend coordinate yielding a v = 1<--0 anharmonic frequency (393 cm(-1)) in excellent agreement with matrix studies (nu(bend) approximately 400 cm(-1)). The antisymmetric CH2 stretch vibration is not observed despite high sensitivity detection (signal to noise ratio >20:1) in the symmetric stretch band. This is consistent with density functional theory intensity calculations indicating a >35-fold smaller antisymmetric stretch transition moment for CH2Cl, and yet contrasts dramatically with high-resolution infrared studies of CH2F radical, for which both symmetric and antisymmetric CH2 stretches are observed in a nearly 2:1 intensity ratio. A simple physical model is presented based on a competition between bond-dipole and "charge-sloshing" contributions to the transition moment, which nicely explains the trends in CH2X symmetric versus asymmetric stretch intensities as a function of electron withdrawing group (X = D,Br,Cl,F).

The microwave spectrum of the 1,1-difluoroprop-2-ynyl radical, F2*C-C[triple bond]CH

The rotational spectrum of the 1,1-difluoroprop-2-ynyl radical, F2*C-C[triple bond]CH, a partially fluorinated variant of the propargyl radical, has been recorded in the ground electronic, 2B1, state using pulsed discharge, pulsed-jet, Fabry-Perot Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Five successive a-type rotational transitions, from N = 1-0 to N = 5-4, and Ka = 0, 1, and 2, were measured between 6.5 and 32.5 GHz with an uncertainty of 5 kHz. The molecular constants, including fine and hyperfine constants, were precisely determined. These constants are compared with our predictions based on a density functional theory level ab initio calculations and with the fine and hyperfine constants of the propargyl radical. The measured electron spin densities suggest that both the difluoropropargyl and the difluoroallenyl resonance forms [F2*C-C[triple bond]CH<-->F2C=C=C*H] make major contributions to the electronic structure of the radical.