The Key Role of Solvation Dynamics in Intramolecular Electron Transfer: Time-Resolved Photophysics of Crystal Violet Lactone

Probing Multiphoton Photophysics Using Two-Beam Action Spectroscopy

Multiphoton absorption (MPA) is an enabling technology for many applications. However, due to the low probability of MPA processes, their accurate characterization remains a challenge. Here we introduce a new technique, two-beam constant emission intensity (2-BCEIn) spectroscopy, that offers substantial advantages over other existing methods that use the generation of optical emission for the characterization of absorptive nonlinearities. We use 2-BCEIn to study nonlinear absorption in solutions of crystal violet lactone (CVL) over a range of excitation wavelengths in which the dominant nonlinear absorption process transitions from two-photon absorption (750 nm) to three-photon absorption (830 nm). At an excitation wavelength of 800 nm, both two-photon absorption and three-photon absorption contribute substantially to the nonlinear fluorescence excitation (NFE) signal, although the dynamic range of the NFE data is not sufficient to quantify the contributions of each process. 2-BCEIn spectroscopy enables the direct measurement of the local exponent at each emission intensity. 2-BCEIn measurements made at several different emission intensities demonstrate unambiguously that the nonlinear excitation of CVL at 800 nm cannot be described solely as the sum of a two-photon process and a three-photon process. A kinetic model that includes intrapulse excited-state absorption reproduces the features of the 2-BCEIn measurements and enables the determination of the ratio of the three-photon absorption cross section to the two-photon absorption cross section. Such information cannot easily be extracted from conventional NFE measurements. These results demonstrate the power and versatility of two-beam action spectroscopies for elucidating the complex photophysics of multiphoton absorption processes.

Electron transfer in silicon-bridged adjacent chromophores: the source for blue-green emission

Electron transfer between adjacent chromophores (N-isopropylcarbazole and divinylbenzene) through a silylene bridge is the source for blue-green emission.

Hole-transfer induced energy transfer in perylene diimide dyads with a donor–spacer–acceptor motif

Pump–probe spectroscopy, time resolved fluorescence, chemical variation and quantum chemical calculations reveal an efficient energy transfer mechanism enabled by a bright charge transfer state located on the spacer.

A broadband ultrafast transient absorption spectrometer covering the range from near-infrared (NIR) down to green

We present a new development for pump-probe absorption spectroscopy that allows the simultaneous measurement from the green part of the visible spectrum (510 nm) over the whole near-infrared range to >1600 nm, corresponding to 0.77-2.40 eV. The system is based on a sub-picosecond supercontinuum generated in bulk material used as a broadband probe that is dispersed with a custom-made prism spectrometer and detected by an InGaAs array with extended sensitivity to the visible. Two versions, with and without probe referencing, are implemented for operation at laser repetition rates of a few hertz and kilohertz, respectively. After presentation of the optical configuration of the spectrometer, its performance is characterized and further illustrated on two time scales, with the ultrafast radiolysis of isopropanol induced by a picosecond electron pulse and with the instantaneous response of a BK7 plate to a femtosecond light pulse. The photophysics of the dye IR-140 is resolved from the femto- to picosecond regime. Stable and easy day-to-day routine use of the spectrometer also can be achieved in non-optical laboratory surroundings. For operation in a hazardous environment, the optical probe beams can be transported to the detector unit by optical fibers.

Quantum-chemical calculations of the electronic structure of 2-amino-1,3-dicyano-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives

The UV-Visible absorption spectra of six, newly synthesized donor-substituted 2-amino-1,3-dicyano-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene have been measured in methylcyclohexane (MCH) and assigned with the help of quantum-chemical calculations. Our calculations have been performed to assess information regarding the electronic state energy values, corresponding oscillator strengths, x-, y-, z-components of the transition dipole moments and molecular orbitals involved in the main electronic transitions of the studied compounds. Additionally, the experimental absorption transition dipole moments were calculated, on the basis of spectroscopic data, and compared with results of our quantum-chemical calculations. On the basis of the experimental results and quantum-chemical calculations, it was shown that the long-wavelength absorption band involves an overlap of three electronic transitions of different character. For all studied donor-acceptor (D-A) compounds in vapour-phase, the long-wavelength transition (S0→S1) does not possess charge transfer character, whereas the S0→S2 transition possesses electron transfer character e.g., π-electrons of the acceptor moiety are moved to the donor part. Moreover, it is found that the electronic structure of the studied biphenyl derivatives can be approximately described within composite-model of decoupled moieties: donor and acceptor.

Intramolecular charge transfer with crystal violet lactone in acetonitrile as a function of temperature: reaction is not solvent-controlled

Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) with crystal violet lactone (CVL) in the excited singlet state takes place in solvents more polar than n-hexane, such as ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, and acetonitrile (MeCN). In these solvents, the fluorescence spectrum of CVL consists of two emission bands, from a locally excited (LE) and an ICT state. The dominant deactivation channel of the lowest excited singlet state is internal conversion, as the quantum yields of fluorescence (0.007) and intersystem crossing (0.015) in MeCN at 25 °C are very small. CVL is a weakly coupled electron donor/acceptor (D/A) molecule, similar to an exciplex (1)(A(-)D(+)). A solvatochromic treatment of the LE and ICT emission maxima results in the dipole moments μe(LE) = 17 D and μe(ICT) = 33 D, much larger than those previously reported. This discrepancy is attributed to different Onsager radii and spectral fluorimeter calibration. The LE and ICT fluorescence decays of CVL in MeCN are double exponential. As determined by global analysis, the LE and ICT decays at 25 °C have the times τ2 = 9.2 ps and τ1 = 1180 ps, with an amplitude ratio of 35.3 for LE. From these parameters, the rate constants ka = 106 × 10(9) s(-1) and kd = 3.0 × 10(9) s(-1) of the forward and backward reaction in the LE ⇄ ICT equilibrium are calculated, resulting in a free enthalpy difference ΔG of -8.9 kJ/mol. The amplitude ratio of the ICT fluorescence decay equals -1.0, which signifies that the ICT state is not prepared by light absorption in the S0 ground state, but originates exclusively from the directly excited LE precursor. From the temperature dependence of the fluorescence decays of CVL in MeCN (-45 to 75 °C), activation energies E(a) = 3.9 kJ/mol (LE → ICT) and E(d) = 23.6 kJ/mol (ICT → LE) are obtained, giving an enthalpy difference ΔH (= E(a) - E(d)) of -19.7 kJ/mol, and an entropy difference ΔS = -35.5 J mol(-1) K(-1). These data show that the ICT reaction of CVL in MeCN is not barrierless. The ICT reaction time of 9.2 ps is much longer than the mean solvent relaxation time of MeCN (0.26 ps), indicating, in contrast with earlier reports in the literature, that the reaction is not solvent controlled. This conclusion is supported by the observation of double exponential LE and ICT fluorescence with the same decay times.

Ultrafast photochemistry in liquids

Ultrafast photochemical processes can occur in parallel with the relaxation of the optically populated excited state toward equilibrium. The latter involves both intra- and intermolecular modes, namely vibrational and solvent coordinates, and takes place on timescales ranging from a few tens of femtoseconds to up to hundreds of picoseconds, depending on the system. As a consequence, the reaction dynamics can substantially differ from those usually measured with slower photoinduced processes occurring from equilibrated excited states. For example, the decay of the excited-state population may become strongly nonexponential and depend on the excitation wavelength, contrary to the Kasha and Vavilov rules. In this article, we first give a brief account of our current understanding of vibrational and solvent relaxation processes. We then present an overview of important classes of ultrafast photochemical reactions, namely electron and proton transfer as well as isomerization, and illustrate with several examples how nonequilibrium effects can affect their dynamics.