1
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Freixas VM, Malone W, Li X, Song H, Negrin-Yuvero H, Pérez-Castillo R, White A, Gibson TR, Makhov DV, Shalashilin DV, Zhang Y, Fedik N, Kulichenko M, Messerly R, Mohanam LN, Sharifzadeh S, Bastida A, Mukamel S, Fernandez-Alberti S, Tretiak S. NEXMD v2.0 Software Package for Nonadiabatic Excited State Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:5356-5368. [PMID: 37506288 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
We present NEXMD version 2.0, the second release of the NEXMD (Nonadiabatic EXcited-state Molecular Dynamics) software package. Across a variety of new features, NEXMD v2.0 incorporates new implementations of two hybrid quantum-classical dynamics methods, namely, Ehrenfest dynamics (EHR) and the Ab-Initio Multiple Cloning sampling technique for Multiconfigurational Ehrenfest quantum dynamics (MCE-AIMC or simply AIMC), which are alternative options to the previously implemented trajectory surface hopping (TSH) method. To illustrate these methodologies, we outline a direct comparison of these three hybrid quantum-classical dynamics methods as implemented in the same NEXMD framework, discussing their weaknesses and strengths, using the modeled photodynamics of a polyphenylene ethylene dendrimer building block as a representative example. We also describe the expanded normal-mode analysis and constraints for both the ground and excited states, newly implemented in the NEXMD v2.0 framework, which allow for a deeper analysis of the main vibrational motions involved in vibronic dynamics. Overall, NEXMD v2.0 expands the range of applications of NEXMD to a larger variety of multichromophore organic molecules and photophysical processes involving quantum coherences and persistent couplings between electronic excited states and nuclear velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Freixas
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Walter Malone
- Department of Physics, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama 36088, United States
| | - Xinyang Li
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Huajing Song
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Hassiel Negrin-Yuvero
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - Royle Pérez-Castillo
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - Alexander White
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Tammie R Gibson
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Dmitry V Makhov
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TW, United Kingdom
| | | | - Yu Zhang
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Nikita Fedik
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Maksim Kulichenko
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Richard Messerly
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Luke Nambi Mohanam
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Sahar Sharifzadeh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Adolfo Bastida
- Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Shaul Mukamel
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | | | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
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2
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Freixas VM, Tretiak S, Fernandez-Alberti S. Infinitene: Computational Insights from Nonadiabatic Excited State Dynamics. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:8495-8501. [PMID: 36066077 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c02296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Progress in organic synthesis opens exploration of a rich diversity of molecules with interesting new structural topologies. This is the case of a recently synthesized helically twisted figure-eight molecule coined infinitene. The molecule belongs to a numerous family of looped polyarenes, where the degree of π-conjugation is controlled by high strain energies and steric hindrances. A particular balance of these ingredients leads to unusual optoelectronic properties potentially suitable for a range of applications in nanoelectronics and photonics. Due to its recent discovery, the photophysical properties of infinitene remain unexplored. In this Letter, atomistic nonadiabatic excited state molecular dynamics modeling unveils unique features of intramolecular electronic and vibrational energy relaxation and redistribution that take place after molecular photoexcitation. Our results detail relationships between optical and electronic properties providing useful knowledge for future molecular designs related to infinitene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Manuel Freixas
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
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3
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Tracy DA, Fernandez-Alberti S, Tretiak S, Roitberg AE. Adiabatic Excited-State Molecular Dynamics with an Explicit Solvent: NEXMD-SANDER Implementation. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:5213-5220. [PMID: 36044726 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We present a method to link the Nonadiabatic EXcited-state Molecular Dynamics (NEXMD) package to the SANDER package supplied by AMBERTOOLS to provide excited-state adiabatic quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations. NEXMD is a computational package particularly developed to perform simulations of the photoexcitation and subsequent nonadiabatic electronic and vibrational energy relaxation in large multichromophoric conjugated molecules involving several coupled electronic excited states. The NEXMD-SANDER exchange has been optimized in order to achieve excited-state adiabatic dynamics simulations of large conjugated materials in a QM/MM environment, such as an explicit solvent. Dynamics of a substituted polyphenylene vinylene oligomer (PPV3-NO2) in vacuum and different explicit solvents has been used as a test case by performing comparative analysis of changes in its optical spectrum, state-dependent conformational changes, and quantum bond orderings. The method has been tested and compared with respect to previous implicit solvent implementations. Also, the impact on the expansion of the QM region by including a variable number of solvent molecules has been analyzed. Altogether, these results encourage future implementations of NEXMD simulations using the same combination of methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin A Tracy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | | | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS) and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Adrian E Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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4
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Solling TI. Nonstatistical Photoinduced Processes in Gaseous Organic Molecules. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:29325-29344. [PMID: 34778606 PMCID: PMC8581993 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Processes that proceed in femtoseconds are usually referred to as being ultrafast, and they are investigated in experiments that involve laser pulses with femtosecond duration in so-called pump probe schemes, where a light pulse triggers a molecular process and a second light pulse interrogates the temporal evolution of the molecular population. The focus of this review is on the reactivity patterns that arise when energy is not equally distributed on all the available degrees of freedom as a consequence of the very short time scale in play and on how the localization of internal energy in a specific mode can be thought of as directing a process toward (or away from) a certain outcome. The nonstatistical aspects are illustrated with examples from photophysics and photochemistry for a range of organic molecules. The processes are initiated by a variety of nuclear motions that are all governed by the energy gradients in the Franck-Condon region. Essentially, the molecules will start to adapt to the new electronic environment on the excited state to eventually reach the equilibrium structure. It is this structural change that is enabling an ultrafast electronic transition in cases where the nuclear motion leads to a transition point with significant coupling between to electronic states and to ultrafast reaction if there is a coupling to a reactive mode at the transition point between the involved states. With the knowledge of the relation between electronic excitation and equilibrium structure, it is possible to predict how the nuclei move after excitation and often whether an ultrafast (and inherently nonstatistical) electronic transition or even a bond breakage will take place. In addition to the understanding of how nonstatistical photoinduced processes proceed from a given excited state, it has been found that randomization of the energy does not even always take place when the molecule takes part in processes that are normally considered statistical, such as for example nonradiative transitions between excited states. This means that energy can be localized in a specific degree of freedom on a state other than the one that is initially prepared. This is a finding that could kickoff the ultimate dream in applied photochemistry; namely light excitation that leads to the rupture of a specific bond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theis I. Solling
- Center for Integrative Petroleum
Research, King Fahd University of Petroleum
& Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia
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5
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Rodríguez-Hernández B, Nelson T, Oldani N, Martínez-Mesa A, Uranga-Piña L, Segawa Y, Tretiak S, Itami K, Fernandez-Alberti S. Exciton Spatial Dynamics and Self-Trapping in Carbon Nanocages. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:224-231. [PMID: 33326240 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c03364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional cage-shaped molecules formed from chainlike structures hold potential as unique optoelectronic materials and host compounds. Their optical, structural, and dynamical features are tunable by changes in shape and size. We perform a comparison of these properties for three sizes of strained conjugated [n.n.n]carbon nanocages composed of three paraphenylene chains (bridges) of length n = 4, 5, or 6. The exciton intramolecular redistribution occurring during nonradiative relaxation has been explored using nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics. Our results provide atomistic insight into the conformational features associated with the observed red- and blue-shift trends in the absorption and fluorescence spectra, respectively, with increasing nanocage size. Their internal conversion processes involve intramolecular energy transfer that leads to exciton self-trapping on a few phenylene units at the center of a single bridge. The dependence of these dynamical features on the size of the nanocage can be used to tune their host-guest chemical properties and their use for organic electronics and catenane-like applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tammie Nelson
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Nicolas Oldani
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - Aliezer Martínez-Mesa
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
- DynAMoS (Dynamical processes in Atomic and Molecular Systems), Facultad de Física, Universidad de La Habana, San Lázaro y L, La Habana 10400, Cuba
| | - Llinersy Uranga-Piña
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
- DynAMoS (Dynamical processes in Atomic and Molecular Systems), Facultad de Física, Universidad de La Habana, San Lázaro y L, La Habana 10400, Cuba
| | - Yasutomo Segawa
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
- JST, ERATO, Itami Molecular Nanocarbon Project, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
- Institute for Molecular Science, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Department of Structural Molecular Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Kenichiro Itami
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
- JST, ERATO, Itami Molecular Nanocarbon Project, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
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6
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Malone W, Nebgen B, White A, Zhang Y, Song H, Bjorgaard JA, Sifain AE, Rodriguez-Hernandez B, Freixas VM, Fernandez-Alberti S, Roitberg AE, Nelson TR, Tretiak S. NEXMD Software Package for Nonadiabatic Excited State Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Theory Comput 2020; 16:5771-5783. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Walter Malone
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
- Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Benjamin Nebgen
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Alexander White
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Yu Zhang
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Huajing Song
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Josiah A. Bjorgaard
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Andrew E. Sifain
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland 21005, United States
| | | | - Victor M. Freixas
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, Roque Saenz Peña 352, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | | | - Adrian E. Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Tammie R. Nelson
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
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7
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Rodríguez-Hernández B, Oldani N, Martínez-Mesa A, Uranga-Piña L, Tretiak S, Fernandez-Alberti S. Photoexcited energy relaxation and vibronic couplings in π-conjugated carbon nanorings. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:15321-15332. [PMID: 32628225 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp01452d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Conjugated carbon nanorings exhibit unique photophysical properties that, combined with their tunable sizes and conformations, make them suitable for a variety of practical applications. These properties are intimately associated to their strained, bent and sterically hindered cyclic structures. Herein we perform a comparative analysis of the photoinduced dynamics in carbon nanorings composed of nine phenyl units([9]CPP) and nine naphthyl units ([9]CN) respectively. The sterically demanding naphthyl units lead to large dihedral angles between neighboring units. Nevertheless, the ultrafast electronic and vibrational energy relaxation and redistribution is found to be similar for both systems. We observe that vibronic couplings, introduced by nonadiabatic energy transfer between electronic excited states, ensure the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution through specific vibrational modes. The comparative impact of the internal conversion process on the exciton spatial localization and intra-ring migration indicates that naphthyl units in [9]CN achieve more efficient but less dynamical self-trapping compared to that of phenyl units in [9]CPP. That is, during the photoinduced process, the exciton in [9]CN is more static and localized than the exciton in [9]CPP. The internal conversion processes take place through a specific set of middle- to high-frequency normal modes, which directly influence the spatial exciton redistribution during the internal conversion, self-trapping and intra-ring migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Rodríguez-Hernández
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina.
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8
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Nelson TR, White AJ, Bjorgaard JA, Sifain AE, Zhang Y, Nebgen B, Fernandez-Alberti S, Mozyrsky D, Roitberg AE, Tretiak S. Non-adiabatic Excited-State Molecular Dynamics: Theory and Applications for Modeling Photophysics in Extended Molecular Materials. Chem Rev 2020; 120:2215-2287. [PMID: 32040312 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Optically active molecular materials, such as organic conjugated polymers and biological systems, are characterized by strong coupling between electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom. Typically, simulations must go beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation to account for non-adiabatic coupling between excited states. Indeed, non-adiabatic dynamics is commonly associated with exciton dynamics and photophysics involving charge and energy transfer, as well as exciton dissociation and charge recombination. Understanding the photoinduced dynamics in such materials is vital to providing an accurate description of exciton formation, evolution, and decay. This interdisciplinary field has matured significantly over the past decades. Formulation of new theoretical frameworks, development of more efficient and accurate computational algorithms, and evolution of high-performance computer hardware has extended these simulations to very large molecular systems with hundreds of atoms, including numerous studies of organic semiconductors and biomolecules. In this Review, we will describe recent theoretical advances including treatment of electronic decoherence in surface-hopping methods, the role of solvent effects, trivial unavoided crossings, analysis of data based on transition densities, and efficient computational implementations of these numerical methods. We also emphasize newly developed semiclassical approaches, based on the Gaussian approximation, which retain phase and width information to account for significant decoherence and interference effects while maintaining the high efficiency of surface-hopping approaches. The above developments have been employed to successfully describe photophysics in a variety of molecular materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammie R Nelson
- Theoretical Division , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
| | - Alexander J White
- Theoretical Division , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
| | - Josiah A Bjorgaard
- Theoretical Division , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
| | - Andrew E Sifain
- Theoretical Division , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States.,U.S. Army Research Laboratory , Aberdeen Proving Ground , Maryland 21005 , United States
| | - Yu Zhang
- Theoretical Division , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
| | - Benjamin Nebgen
- Theoretical Division , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
| | | | - Dmitry Mozyrsky
- Theoretical Division , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
| | - Adrian E Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32611 , United States
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
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9
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Ondarse-Alvarez D, Nelson T, Lupton JM, Tretiak S, Fernandez-Alberti S. Let Digons be Bygones: The Fate of Excitons in Curved π-Systems. J Phys Chem Lett 2018; 9:7123-7129. [PMID: 30508376 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b03160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We explore the diverse origins of unpolarized absorption and emission of molecular polygons consisting of π-conjugated oligomer chains held in a bent geometry by strain controlled at the vertex units. For this purpose, we make use of atomistic nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics simulations of a bichromophore molecular polygon (digon) with bent chromophore chains. Both structural and photoexcited dynamics were found to affect polarization features. Bending strain induces exciton localization on individual chromophore units of the conjugated chains. The latter display different transition dipole moment orientations, a feature not present in the linear oligomer counterparts. In addition, bending makes exciton localization very sensitive to molecular distortions induced by thermal fluctuations. The excited-state dynamics reveals an ultrafast intramolecular energy redistribution that spreads the exciton equally among spatially separated chromophore fragments within the molecular system. As a result, digons become virtually unpolarized absorbers and emitters, in agreement with recent experimental studies on the single-molecule level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tammie Nelson
- Theoretical Division, Physics and Chemistry of Materials (T-1) , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Angewandte und Experimentelle Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Physics and Chemistry of Materials (T-1) , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
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10
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Titov E, Humeniuk A, Mitrić R. Exciton localization in excited-state dynamics of a tetracene trimer: a surface hopping LC-TDDFTB study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:25995-26007. [PMID: 30298878 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp05240a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Excitons in the molecular aggregates of chromophores are key participants in important processes such as photosynthesis or the functioning of organic photovoltaic devices. Therefore, the exploration of exciton dynamics is crucial. Here we report on exciton localization during excited-state dynamics of the recently synthesized tetracene trimer [Liu et al., Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 580]. We employ the surface hopping approach to nonadiabatic molecular dynamics in conjunction with the long-range corrected time-dependent density functional tight binding (LC-TDDFTB) method [Humeniuk and Mitrić, Comput. Phys. Commun., 2017, 221, 174]. Utilizing a set of descriptors based on the transition density matrix, we perform comprehensive analysis of exciton dynamics. The obtained results reveal an ultrafast exciton localization to a single tetracene unit of the trimer during excited-state dynamics, along with exciton transfer between units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenii Titov
- Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Emil-Fischer-Straße 42, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
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11
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Freixas VM, Fernandez-Alberti S, Makhov DV, Tretiak S, Shalashilin D. An ab initio multiple cloning approach for the simulation of photoinduced dynamics in conjugated molecules. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:17762-17772. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp02321b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Multidimensional wave function: a superposition of Gaussian coherent states guided by Ehrenfest trajectories suited to clone and swap their electronic amplitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dmitry V. Makhov
- School of Chemistry
- University of Leeds
- Leeds LS2 9JT
- UK
- School of Mathematics
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Los Alamos
- USA
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12
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Ondarse-Alvarez D, Oldani N, Roitberg AE, Kleiman V, Tretiak S, Fernandez-Alberti S. Energy transfer and spatial scrambling of an exciton in a conjugated dendrimer. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:29648-29660. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp05852k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Photoexcitation of multichromophoric light harvesting molecules induces a number of intramolecular electronic energy relaxation and redistribution pathways that can ultimately lead to ultrafast exciton self-trapping on a single chromophore unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Ondarse-Alvarez
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET
- B1876BXD Bernal
- Argentina
| | - N. Oldani
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET
- B1876BXD Bernal
- Argentina
| | - A. E. Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry of Chemistry
- University of Florida
- Gainesville
- USA
| | - V. Kleiman
- Department of Chemistry of Chemistry
- University of Florida
- Gainesville
- USA
| | - S. Tretiak
- Theoretical Division
- Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Los Alamos
- USA
| | - S. Fernandez-Alberti
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET
- B1876BXD Bernal
- Argentina
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13
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Nelson T, Fernandez-Alberti S, Roitberg AE, Tretiak S. Electronic Delocalization, Vibrational Dynamics, and Energy Transfer in Organic Chromophores. J Phys Chem Lett 2017; 8:3020-3031. [PMID: 28603994 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b00790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The efficiency of materials developed for solar energy and technological applications depends on the interplay between molecular architecture and light-induced electronic energy redistribution. The spatial localization of electronic excitations is very sensitive to molecular distortions. Vibrational nuclear motions can couple to electronic dynamics driving changes in localization. The electronic energy transfer among multiple chromophores arises from several distinct mechanisms that can give rise to experimentally measured signals. Atomistic simulations of coupled electron-vibrational dynamics can help uncover the nuclear motions directing energy flow. Through careful analysis of excited state wave function evolution and a useful fragmenting of multichromophore systems, through-bond transport and exciton hopping (through-space) mechanisms can be distinguished. Such insights are crucial in the interpretation of fluorescence anisotropy measurements and can aid materials design. This Perspective highlights the interconnected vibrational and electronic motions at the foundation of nonadiabatic dynamics where nuclear motions, including torsional rotations and bond vibrations, drive electronic transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammie Nelson
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | | | - Adrian E Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
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14
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Zheng F, Fernandez-Alberti S, Tretiak S, Zhao Y. Photoinduced Intra- and Intermolecular Energy Transfer in Chlorophyll a Dimer. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:5331-5339. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b02021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fulu Zheng
- Division
of Materials Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | | | | | - Yang Zhao
- Division
of Materials Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
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15
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Wiebeler C, Plasser F, Hedley GJ, Ruseckas A, Samuel IDW, Schumacher S. Ultrafast Electronic Energy Transfer in an Orthogonal Molecular Dyad. J Phys Chem Lett 2017; 8:1086-1092. [PMID: 28206765 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Understanding electronic energy transfer (EET) is an important ingredient in the development of artificial photosynthetic systems and photovoltaic technologies. Although EET is at the heart of these applications and crucially influences their light-harvesting efficiency, the nature of EET over short distances for covalently bound donor and acceptor units is often not well understood. Here we investigate EET in an orthogonal molecular dyad (BODT4), in which simple models fail to explain the very origin of EET. On the basis of nonadiabatic ab initio molecular dynamics calculations and ultrafast fluorescence experiments, we gain detailed microscopic insights into the ultrafast electrovibrational dynamics following photoexcitation. Our analysis offers molecular-level insights into these processes and reveals that it takes place on time scales ≲100 fs and occurs through an intermediate charge-transfer state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Wiebeler
- Physics Department and Center for Optoelectronics and Photonics Paderborn (CeOPP), Universität Paderborn , Warburger Strasse 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Felix Plasser
- Institute for Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna , Währingerstr. 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gordon J Hedley
- Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St. Andrews , North Haugh, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9SS, United Kingdom
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Arvydas Ruseckas
- Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St. Andrews , North Haugh, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9SS, United Kingdom
| | - Ifor D W Samuel
- Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St. Andrews , North Haugh, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9SS, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Schumacher
- Physics Department and Center for Optoelectronics and Photonics Paderborn (CeOPP), Universität Paderborn , Warburger Strasse 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
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16
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Franklin-Mergarejo R, Nelson T, Tretiak S, Fernandez-Alberti S. Phonon bottleneck and long-lived excited states in π-conjugated pyrene hoop. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:9478-9484. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cp00094d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The phonon bottleneck in the nonradiative relaxation of a pyrene-based nanohoop slows down electronic relaxation and allows multi-channel relaxation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tammie Nelson
- Theoretical Division
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Los Alamos
- New Mexico 87545
- USA
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Los Alamos
- New Mexico 87545
- USA
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17
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Oldani N, Doorn SK, Tretiak S, Fernandez-Alberti S. Photoinduced dynamics in cycloparaphenylenes: planarization, electron–phonon coupling, localization and intra-ring migration of the electronic excitation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:30914-30924. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cp06426h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cycloparaphenylenes represent the smallest possible fragments of armchair carbon nanotubes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Oldani
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes
- B1876BXD Bernal
- Argentina
| | - S. K. Doorn
- Theoretical Division
- Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Los Alamos
- USA
| | - S. Tretiak
- Theoretical Division
- Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Los Alamos
- USA
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18
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Alfonso Hernandez L, Nelson T, Gelin MF, Lupton JM, Tretiak S, Fernandez-Alberti S. Interference of Interchromophoric Energy-Transfer Pathways in π-Conjugated Macrocycles. J Phys Chem Lett 2016; 7:4936-4944. [PMID: 27934058 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b02236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The interchromophoric energy-transfer pathways between weakly coupled units in a π-conjugated phenylene-ethynylene macrocycle and its half-ring analogue have been investigated using the nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics approach. To track the flow of electronic transition density between macrocycle units, we formulate a transition density flux analysis adapted from the statistical minimum flow method previously developed to investigate vibrational energy flow. Following photoexcitation, transition density is primarily delocalized on two chromophore units and the system undergoes ultrafast energy transfer, creating a localized excited state on a single unit. In the macrocycle, distinct chromophore units donate transition density to a single acceptor unit but do not interchange transition density among each other. We find that energy transfer in the macrocycle is slower than in the corresponding half ring because of the presence of multiple interfering energy-transfer pathways. Simulation results are validated by modeling the fluorescence anisotropy decay.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tammie Nelson
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Maxim F Gelin
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München , D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Angewandte und Experimentelle Physik, Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
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19
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Franklin-Mergarejo R, Alvarez DO, Tretiak S, Fernandez-Alberti S. Carbon nanorings with inserted acenes: breaking symmetry in excited state dynamics. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31253. [PMID: 27507429 PMCID: PMC4978956 DOI: 10.1038/srep31253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Conjugated cycloparaphenylene rings have unique electronic properties being the smallest segments of carbon nanotubes. Their conjugated backbones support delocalized electronic excitations, which dynamics is strongly influenced by cyclic geometry. Here we present a comparative theoretical study of the electronic and vibrational energy relaxation and redistribution in photoexcited cycloparaphenylene carbon nanorings with inserted naphthalene, anthracene, and tetracene units using non-adiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics simulations. Calculated excited state structures reflect modifications of optical selection rules and appearance of low-energy electronic states localized on the acenes due to gradual departure from a perfect circular symmetry. After photoexcitation, an ultrafast electronic energy relaxation to the lowest excited state is observed on the time scale of hundreds of femtoseconds in all molecules studied. Concomitantly, the efficiency of the exciton trapping in the acene raises when moving from naphthalene to anthracene and to tetracene, being negligible in naphthalene, and ~60% and 70% in anthracene and tetracene within the first 500 fs after photoexcitation. Observed photoinduced dynamics is further analyzed in details using induced molecular distortions, delocatization properties of participating electronic states and non-adiabatic coupling strengths. Our results provide a number of insights into design of cyclic molecular systems for electronic and light-harvesting applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Franklin-Mergarejo
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, Roque Saenz Peña 352, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - D Ondarse Alvarez
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, Roque Saenz Peña 352, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - S Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS), and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - S Fernandez-Alberti
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, Roque Saenz Peña 352, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
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20
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Kilina S, Kilin D, Tretiak S. Light-Driven and Phonon-Assisted Dynamics in Organic and Semiconductor Nanostructures. Chem Rev 2015; 115:5929-78. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Kilina
- Chemistry
and Biochemistry Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 5810, United States
| | - Dmitri Kilin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, United States
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical
Division, Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS) and Center for Integrated
Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
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