Dynamics of Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Precursor States in I-(water)n(n= 3−10) Clusters Studied with Photoelectron Imaging†

Role of Nonvalence States in the Ultrafast Dynamics of Isolated Anions

Nonvalence states of neutral molecules (Rydberg states) play important roles in nonadiabatic dynamics of excited states. In anions, such nonadiabatic transitions between nonvalence and valence states have been much less explored even though they are believed to play important roles in electron capture and excited state dynamics of anions. The aim of this Feature Article is to provide an overview of recent experimental observations, based on time-resolved photoelectron imaging, of valence to nonvalence and nonvalence to valence transitions in anions and to demonstrate that such dynamics may be commonplace in the excited state dynamics of molecular anions and cluster anions.

Ultraviolet charge-transfer-to-solvent spectroscopy of halide and hydroxide ions in subcritical and supercritical water

Exploring charge-transfer-to-solvent excitation of aqueous halide anions by vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy – new insights up to 380 °C.

Time-resolved radiation chemistry: dynamics of electron attachment to uracil following UV excitation of iodide-uracil complexes

Electron attachment to uracil was investigated by applying time-resolved photoelectron imaging to iodide-uracil (I(-)U) complexes. In these studies, an ultraviolet pump pulse initiated charge transfer from the iodide to the uracil, and the resulting dynamics of the uracil temporary negative ion were probed. Five different excitation energies were used, 4.00 eV, 4.07 eV, 4.14 eV, 4.21 eV, and 4.66 eV. At the four lowest excitation energies, which lie near the vertical detachment energy of the I(-)U complex (4.11 eV), signatures of both the dipole bound (DB) as well as the valence bound (VB) anion of uracil were observed. In contrast, only the VB anion was observed at 4.66 eV, in agreement with previous experiments in this higher energy range. The early-time dynamics of both states were highly excitation energy dependent. The rise time of the DB anion signal was ∼250 fs at 4.00 eV and 4.07 eV, ∼120 fs at 4.14 eV and cross-correlation limited at 4.21 eV. The VB anion rise time also changed with excitation energy, ranging from 200 to 300 fs for excitation energies 4.00-4.21 eV, to a cross-correlation limited time at 4.66 eV. The results suggest that the DB state acts as a "doorway" state to the VB anion at 4.00-4.21 eV, while direct attachment to the VB anion occurs at 4.66 eV.

Role of Excess Electrons in Nonlinear Optical Response

The excess electron is a kind of special anion with dispersivity, loosely bounding and with other fascinating features, which plays a pivotal role (promote to about 10(6) times in (H2O)3{e}) in the large first hyperpolarizabilities (β0) of dipole-bound electron clusters. This discovery opens a new perspective on the design of novel nonlinear optical (NLO) molecular materials for electro-optic device application. Significantly, doping alkali metal atoms in suitable complexants was proposed as an effective approach to obtain electride and alkalide molecules with excess electron and large NLO responses. The first hyperpolarizability is related to the characteristics of complexants and the excess electron binding states. Subsequently, a series of new strategies for enhancing NLO response and electronic stability of electride and alkalide molecules are exhibited by using various complexants. These strategies include not only the behaviors of pushed and pulled electron, size, shape, and number of coordination sites of complexants but also the number and spin state of excess electrons in these unusual NLO molecules.

Excited states of multiply-charged anions probed by photoelectron imaging: riding the repulsive Coulomb barrier

Recent progress towards understanding the repulsive Coulomb barrier in multiply-charged anion using photoelectron spectroscopy is discussed.

Time-resolved photoelectron imaging of the iodide-thymine and iodide-uracil binary cluster systems

The energetics and dynamics of thymine and uracil transient negative ions were examined using femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron imaging. The vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of these systems were found to be 4.05 eV and 4.11 eV for iodide-thymine (I(-) x T) and iodide-uracil (I(-) x U) clusters, respectively. An ultraviolet pump pulse was used to promote intracluster charge transfer from iodide to the nucleobase. Subsequent electron detachment using an infrared probe pulse monitored the dynamics of the resulting transient negative ion. Photoelectron spectra reveal two primary features: a near-zero electron kinetic energy signal attributed to autodetachment and a transient feature representing photodetachment from the excited anion state. The transient state exhibits biexponential decay in both thymine and uracil complexes with short and long decay time constants ranging from 150-600 fs and 1-50 ps, respectively, depending on the excitation energy. However, both time constants are systematically shorter for I(-) x T. Vibrational autodetachment and iodine loss are identified as the primary decay mechanisms of the transient negative ions of thymine and uracil.

Crystal structures, UV spectra of solid iodide anionic water clusters I(-)(H2O)(1-4), and electrochemical reaction of I(-)(H2O)(1-4) → I· + e(-)(H2O)(1-4)

Four iodide anionic water clusters of I(-)(H2O)1-4 in two supramolecular complexes of [Fe(phen)3][I2(H2O)3] (1) and [Zn(phen)3][I2(H2O)4.5] (2) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The diffuse reflectance spectra for the solid iodide anionic water clusters of I(-)(H2O)1-4 were investigated, and their absorption bands were demonstrated by denisty functional theory calculation. The electrochemical reaction of I(-)(H2O)1-4 → I· + e(-)(H2O)1-4 with the oxidation potential of Ep = 0.61 eV was first found and reported in two aqueous solutions (1 mmol·dm(-3)) of 1 and 2.

Time-resolved radiation chemistry: photoelectron imaging of transient negative ions of nucleobases

Time-resolved photoelectron imaging has been utilized to probe the energetics and dynamics of the transient negative ion of the nucleobase uracil. This species was created through charge transfer from an iodide anion within a binary iodide-uracil complex using a UV pump pulse; the ensuing dynamics were followed by photodetachment with a near-IR probe pulse. The photoelectron spectra show two time-dependent features, one from probe-induced photodetachment of the transient anion state and another from very low energy electron signal attributed to autodetachment. The transient anion was observed to decay biexponentially with time constants of hundreds of femtoseconds and tens of picoseconds, depending on the excitation energy. These dynamics are interpreted in terms of autodetachment from the initially excited state and a second, longer-lived species relaxed by iodine loss. Hydrogen loss from the N1 position may also occur in parallel.

Dielectric barrier discharge source for supersonic beams

We present a new excitation source for pulsed supersonic beams. The excitation is based on dielectric barrier discharge in the beam. It produces cold beams of metastable atoms, dissociated neutral atoms from molecular precursors, and both positive and negative ions with high efficiency and reliability.

Dynamics of electron solvation in molecular clusters

Solvated electrons, and hydrated electrons in particular, are important species in condensed phase chemistry, physics, and biology. Many studies have examined the formation mechanism, reactivity, spectroscopy, and dynamics of electrons in aqueous solution and other solvents, leading to a fundamental understanding of the electron-solvent interaction. However, key aspects of solvated electrons remain controversial, and the interaction between hydrated electrons and water is of central interest. For example, although researchers generally accept that hydrated electrons, eaq-, occupy solvent cavities, another picture suggests that the electron resides in a diffuse orbital localized on a H3O radical. In addition, researchers have proposed two physically distinct models for the relaxation mechanism when the electron is excited. These models, formulated to interpret condensed phase experiments, have markedly different timescales for the internal conversion from the excited p state to the ground s state.Studies of negatively charged clusters, such as (H2O)n- and I-(H2O)n, offer a complementary perspective for studying aqueous electron solvation. In this Account, we use time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES), a femtosecond pump-probe technique in which mass-selected anions are electronically excited and then photodetached at a series of delay times, to focus on time-resolved dynamics in these and similar species. In (H2O)n-,TRPES gives evidence for ultrafast internal conversion in clusters up to n=100. Extrapolation of these results yields a p-state lifetime of 50 fs in the bulk limit. This is in good agreement with the nonadiabatic solvation model, one of the models proposed for relaxation of eaq-. Similarly, experiments on (MeOH)n- up to n=450 give an extrapolated p-state lifetime of 150fs. TRPES investigations of I-(H2O)n and I-(CH3CN)n probe a different aspect of electron solvation dynamics. In these experiments,an ultraviolet pump pulse excites the cluster analog of the charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) band, ejecting an electron from the iodide into the solvent network. The probe pulse then monitors the solvent response to this excess electron,specifically its stabilization via solvent rearrangement. In I-(H2O)n, the iodide sits outside the solvent network, as does the excess electron initially formed by CTTS excitation. However, the iodide in I-(CH3CN)n is internally solvated, and both experimental and theoretical evidence indicate that electrons in (CH3CN)n- are internally solvated. Hence, these experiments reflect the complex dynamics that ensue when the electron is photo detached within a highly confined solvent cavity.

Time-resolved photoelectron imaging of large anionic methanol clusters: (Methanol)n−(n∼145–535)

The dynamics of an excess electron in size-selected methanol clusters is studied via pump-probe spectroscopy with resolution of approximately 120 fs. Following excitation, the excess electron undergoes internal conversion back to the ground state with lifetimes of 260-175 fs in (CH3OH)n- (n=145-535) and 280-230 fs in (CD3OD)n- (n=210-390), decreasing with increasing cluster size. The clusters then undergo vibrational relaxation on the ground state on a time scale of 760+/-250 fs. The excited state lifetimes for (CH3OH)n- clusters extrapolate to a value of 157+/-25 fs in the limit of infinite cluster size.

De novo design approach based on nanorecognition toward development of functional molecules/materials and nanosensors/nanodevices

For the design of functional molecules and nanodevices, it is very useful to utilize nanorecognition (which is governed mainly by interaction forces such as hydrogen bonding, ionic interaction, π-H/π-π interactions, and metallic interactions) and nanodynamics (involving capture, transport, and release of electrons, photons, or protons). The manifestation of these interaction forces has led us to the design and realization of diverse ionophores/receptors, organic nanotubes, nanowires, molecular mechanical devices, molecular switches, enzyme mimetics, protein folding/unfolding, etc. In this review, we begin with a brief discussion of the interaction forces, followed by some of our representative applications. We discuss ionophores with chemo-sensing capability for biologically important cations and anions and explain how the understanding of hydrogen bonding and π-interactions has led to the design of self-assembled nanotubes from calix[4]hydroquinone (CHQ). The binding study of neutral and cationic transition metals with the redox system of hydroquinone (HQ) and quinone (Q) predicts what kind of nanostructures would form. Finally, we look into the conformational changes between stacked and edge-to-face conformers in π-benzoquinone-benzene complexes controlled by alternating electrochemical potential. The resulting flapping motion illustrates a promising pathway toward the design of mobile nanomechanical devices.

Infrared Spectroscopy of Water Cluster Anions, (H2O)n=3-24- in the HOH Bending Region: Persistence of the Double H-Bond Acceptor (AA) Water Molecule in the Excess Electron Binding Site of the Class I Isomers

We report vibrational predissociation spectra of water cluster anions, (H(2)O)(n=)()(3)(-)(24)(-) in the HOH bending region to explore whether the characteristic red-shifted feature associated with electron binding onto a double H-bond acceptor (AA) water molecule survives into the intermediate cluster size regime. The spectra of the "tagged" (H(2)O)(n)()(-).Ar clusters indeed exhibit the signature AA band, but assignment of this motif to a particular isomer is complicated by the fact that argon attachment produces significant population of three isomeric forms (as evidenced by their photoelectron spectra). We therefore also investigated the bare clusters since they can be prepared exclusively in the high binding (isomer class I) form. Because the energy required to dissociate a water molecule from the bare complexes is much larger than the transition energies in the bending region, the resulting (linear) action spectroscopy selectively explores the properties of clusters with most internal energy content. The (H(2)O)(15)(-) predissociation spectrum obtained under these conditions displays a more intense AA feature than was found in the spectra of the Ar tagged species. This observation implies that not only is the AA motif present in the class I isomer, but also that it persists when the clusters contain considerable internal energy.

Dynamical Calculations of Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Excited States of Small I-(CH3CN)n Clusters

Relaxation dynamics of photoexcited charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) states for the I(-)(CH(3)CN)(n) (n = 2 and 3) clusters has been theoretically studied using electronic structure methods. First, we have calculated several lowest singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces using the multireference configuration interaction method. It was found that the character of the singlet CTTS excited-state potential surfaces is very similar to that of the triplet CTTS states. Due to a small singlet-triplet splitting, the lowest triplet potential energy surface was used as a good model to understand the dynamics of the photoexcited singlet CTTS states. We have carried out direct molecular dynamics simulations on the lowest triplet surface at the B3LYP level. When an I(-) anion is exteriorly solvated by CH(3)CN molecules, we found that the (CH(3)CN)(n)(-) anion cluster is effectively produced. In addition, when the I(-) anion is placed in the interior in I(-)(CH(3)CN)(n) clusters, photoexcitation gives an acetonitrile monomer anion plus neutral monomers. However, if the initial geometric configuration is distorted from the minimum structure, we also found that the (CH(3)CN)(2)(-) anion cluster, where an excess electron is internally trapped, is formed via I(-)(CH(3)CN)(2) + hnu --> I + (CH(3)CN)(2)(-) process.

Photofragment coincidence imaging of small I−(H2O)n clusters excited to the charge-transfer-to-solvent state

The photodissociation dynamics of small I-(H2O)n(n=2-5) clusters excited to their charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) states have been studied using photofragment coincidence imaging. Upon excitation to the CTTS state, two photodissociation channels were observed. The major channel (approximately 90%) is a two-body process forming neutral I+(H2O)n photofragments, and the minor channel is a three-body process forming I+(H2O)n-1+H2O fragments. Both processes display translational energy [P(ET)] distributions peaking at ET=0 with little available energy partitioned into translation. Clusters excited to the detachment continuum rather than to the CTTS state display the same two channels with similar P(ET) distributions. The observation of similar P(ET) distributions from the two sets of experiments suggests that in the CTTS experiments, I atom loss occurs after autodetachment of the excited [I(H2O)n-]* cluster or, less probably, that the presence of the excess electron has little effect on the departing I atom.

On the role of the counter-ion in defining water structure and dynamics: order, structure and dynamics in hydrophilic and hydrophobic gadolinium salt complexes

The crystal structures of the hydrated salts of [Gd.DOTAM]3+ and its more hydrophobic derivative [Gd.]3+, bearing 4 alpha-phenylethyl groups, (both Gd and Yb salts) are reported and compared. The nature of the anion determines the degree of ordering in the lattice and the extent of hydration. These effects are correlated with the results of 17O and 1H NMR measurements of water exchange dynamics in solution. With [Gd.DOTAM]3+, structural ordering or the extent of hydration in the hydrated lattice follows the sequence Cl->Br->I- and this order also defines the water exchange rate in solution: 7.3, 19.5, 33.3x10(4) s-1 (298 K), respectively. For [Gd.]3+ salts, the measured relaxivity is determined purely by the outer sphere term and the water exchange rate at 298 K is very similar (typically 1x10(4) s-1) for chloride, bromide, iodide, acetate, triflate and nitrate salts, notwithstanding the different nature and extent of hydration found in the crystalline lattice.