Solvation Ultrafast Dynamics of Reactions. 14. Molecular Dynamics and ab Initio Studies of Charge-Transfer Reactions of Iodine in Benzene Clusters

The complex between molecular oxygen and an organic molecule: modeling optical transitions to the intermolecular charge-transfer state

The collision complex between the ground electronic state of an organic molecule, M, and ground state oxygen, O2(X3Σg-), can absorb light to produce an intermolecular charge transfer (CT) state, often represented simply as the M radical cation, M+˙, paired with the superoxide radical anion, O2-˙. Aspects of this transition have been the subject of numerous studies for ∼70 years, many of which address fundamental concepts in chemistry and physics. We now examine the extent to which the combination of Molecular Dynamics simulations and electronic structure response methods can model transitions to the toluene-O2 CT state. To account for the experimental spectra, we consider (a) the distribution of toluene-O2 geometries that contribute to the transitions, (b) a quantitative description of intermolecular CT, and (c) oxygen-induced local transitions in toluene that complement the CT transitions, specifically transitions that populate toluene triplet states. We find that the latter oxygen-induced local transitions play a prominent role on the long wavelength side of the spectrum commonly attributed to the intermolecular CT transition. Our calculations provide a new perspective on the seminal discussion between R. S. Mulliken and D. F. Evans on the nature of O2-dependent transitions in organic molecules, and bode well for modeling transitions to excited states with CT character in noncovalent weakly-bonded molecular complexes.

Effects of triphenyl phosphate as an inexpensive additive on the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells

In this study, triphenyl phosphate (TPP) is applied as an effective and inexpensive additive in the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and an increase in the photoelectric conversion efficiency is obtained of almost 24%.

Room temperature reaction of polycarbosilane with iodine under different atmospheres for polymer-derived silicon carbide fibres

Iodisation of polycarbosilane under an oxygen-free atmosphere, even at room temperature, leads to the cleavage of Si–H and C–H bonds and construction of –Si–C– networks, thereby allowing oxygen-free curing for SiC fibres with low oxygen contents.

Photoinduced electron transfer in donor-acceptor complexes of ethylene with molecular and atomic iodine

Building upon our recent studies of radical addition pathways following excitation of the I2 chromophore in the donor-acceptor complex of ethylene and I2 (C2H4···I2), in this article, we extend our studies to examine photoinduced electron transfer. Thus, irradiation into the intense charge-transfer band of the complex (λmax = 247 nm) gave rise to a band at 366 nm that is assigned to the bridged ethylene-I radical complex on the basis of our prior work. The formation of the radical complex is explained by a mechanism that involves rapid back electron transfer leading to I-I bond fission. Excitation into the charge-transfer band of the radical complex led to regeneration of the parent complex and the formation of the final photoproduct, anti- and gauche-1,2-diiodoethane, which confirms that the reaction proceeds ultimately by a radical addition mechanism. This finding is contrasted with our previous study of the C2H4···Br2 complex, where CT excitation led to only one product, anti-1,2-dibromoethane, a result explained by a single electron-transfer mechanism proceeding via a bridged bromonium ion intermediate. For the I2 complex, the breakup of the photolytically generated I2(-•) anion radical is apparently sufficiently slow to render it uncompetitive with back electron transfer. Finally, we report a detailed computational examination of the parent and radical complexes of both bromine and iodine, using high-level single- and multireference methods, which provide insight into the different behaviors of the charge-transfer states of the two radicals and the role of spin-orbit coupling.

Dynamics of clusters: from elementary to biological structures

Between isolated atoms or molecules and bulk materials there lies a class of unique structures, known as clusters, that consist of a few to hundreds of atoms or molecules. Within this range of "nanophase," many physical and chemical properties of the materials evolve as a function of cluster size, and materials may exhibit novel properties due to quantum confinement effects. Understanding these phenomena is in its own rights fundamental, but clusters have the additional advantage of being controllable model systems for unraveling the complexity of condensed-phase and biological structures, not to mention their vanguard role in defining nanoscience and nanotechnology. Over the last two decades, much progress has been made, and this short overview highlights our own involvement in developing cluster dynamics, from the first experiments on elementary systems to model systems in the condensed phase, and on to biological structures.

Femtosecond dynamics of dative bonding: concepts of reversible and dissociative electron transfer reactions

With fs time, speed, and angular resolution of the elementary steps in electron transfer reactions, we report direct observation of reversible and dissociative processes for dative bonding involving covalent and ionic characters. For bimolecular reactions of various donors and acceptors we find strong correlation between the structure and the dynamics. The dynamics from the transition state to final products involve two elementary processes, with different reaction times, speed, and angular distributions. For example, for the R2S.I2 (R = C2H5) system, it is shown that after charge separation, the reversible electron transfer occurs in less than 150 fs (fastest trajectory) and is followed by the rupture of the I-I bond with the release of the first I-atom in 510 fs. However, the second process of the remaining and trapped I-atom takes 1.15 ps with its speed (500 m/s) being much smaller than the first one (1,030 m/s). The S-I-I average angle is 130 degrees. These findings, on this and the other systems reported here, elucidate the mechanism and address some concepts of nonconcertedness, caging, and restricted energy redistribution.