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Briant M, Mestdagh JM, Gaveau MA, Poisson L. Reaction dynamics within a cluster environment. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:9807-9835. [PMID: 35441619 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp05783a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This perspective article reviews experimental and theoretical works where rare gas clusters and helium nanodroplets are used as a nanoreactor to investigate chemical dynamics in a solvent environment. A historical perspective is presented first followed by specific considerations on the mobility of reactants within these reaction media. The dynamical response of pure clusters and nanodroplets to photoexcitation is shortly reviewed before examining the role of the cluster (or nanodroplet) degrees of freedom in the photodynamics of the guest atoms and molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Briant
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, LIDYL, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Marc-André Gaveau
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, LIDYL, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lionel Poisson
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, 91405, Orsay, France.
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Lackner F, Krois G, Ernst WE. Lithium atoms on helium nanodroplets: Rydberg series and ionization dynamics. J Chem Phys 2018; 147:184302. [PMID: 29141430 DOI: 10.1063/1.5004543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The electronic excitation spectrum of lithium atoms residing on the surface of helium nanodroplets is presented and analyzed employing a Rydberg-Ritz approach. Utilizing resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy, two different Rydberg series have been identified: one assigned to the nS(Σ) series and the other with predominantly nP(Π) character. For high Rydberg states, which have been resolved up to n = 13, the surrounding helium effectively screens the valence electron from the Li ion core, as indicated by the apparent red-shift of Li transitions and lowered quantum defects on the droplet with respect to their free atom counterparts. For low n states, the screening effect is weakened and the prevailing repulsive interaction gives rise to strongly broadened and blue-shifted transitions. The red-shifts originate from the polarization of nearby He atoms by the positive Li ion core. As a consequence of this effect, the ionization threshold is lowered by 116 ± 10 cm-1 for Li on helium droplets with a radius of about 40 Å. Upon single-photon ionization, heavy complexes corresponding to Li ions attached to intact helium droplets are detected. We conclude that ionization close to the on-droplet ionization threshold triggers a dynamic process in which the Li ion core undergoes a transition from a surface site into the droplet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Lackner
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Günter Krois
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Wolfgang E Ernst
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria
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Vindel Zandbergen P, Barranco M, Cargnoni F, Drabbels M, Pi M, Halberstadt N. Helium-induced electronic transitions in photo-excited Ba+–Hen exciplexes. J Chem Phys 2018; 148:144302. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5022863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Vindel Zandbergen
- Laboratoire Collisions Agrégats Réactivité (LCAR), IRSAMC, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5589, Toulouse, France
| | - Manuel Barranco
- Laboratoire Collisions Agrégats Réactivité (LCAR), IRSAMC, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5589, Toulouse, France
- Departament FQA, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marcel Drabbels
- Laboratory of Molecular Nanodynamics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martí Pi
- Departament FQA, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nadine Halberstadt
- Laboratoire Collisions Agrégats Réactivité (LCAR), IRSAMC, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5589, Toulouse, France
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Pototschnig JV, Lackner F, Hauser AW, Ernst WE. Rydberg states of alkali atoms on superfluid helium nanodroplets: inside or outside? Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:14718-14728. [PMID: 28540939 PMCID: PMC5708348 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp02332d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Electronic excitations of an electron bound to an alkali metal ion inside a droplet of superfluid 4He are computed via a combination of helium density functional theory and the numerical integration of the Schrödinger equation for a single electron in a modified, He density dependent atomic pseudopotential. The application of a spectral method to the radial part of the valence electron wavefunction allows the computation of highly excited Rydberg states. For low principal quantum numbers, the energy required to push the electron outward is larger than the solvation energy of the ion. However, for higher principal quantum numbers the situation is reversed, which suggests the stability of a system where the ion sits inside the droplet while the valence electron orbits the nanodroplet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann V. Pototschnig
- Institute of Experimental Physics , Graz University of Technology , Petersgasse 16 , A-8010 Graz , Austria . ;
| | - Florian Lackner
- Institute of Experimental Physics , Graz University of Technology , Petersgasse 16 , A-8010 Graz , Austria . ;
| | - Andreas W. Hauser
- Institute of Experimental Physics , Graz University of Technology , Petersgasse 16 , A-8010 Graz , Austria . ;
| | - Wolfgang E. Ernst
- Institute of Experimental Physics , Graz University of Technology , Petersgasse 16 , A-8010 Graz , Austria . ;
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Thaler P, Volk A, Knez D, Lackner F, Haberfehlner G, Steurer J, Schnedlitz M, Ernst WE. Synthesis of nanoparticles in helium droplets-A characterization comparing mass-spectra and electron microscopy data. J Chem Phys 2016; 143:134201. [PMID: 26450307 DOI: 10.1063/1.4932182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Micrometer sized helium droplets provide an extraordinary environment for the growth of nanoparticles. The method promises great potential for the preparation of core-shell particles as well as one-dimensional nanostructures, which agglomerate along quantum vortices, without involving solvents, ligands, or additives. Using a new apparatus, which enables us to record mass spectra of heavy dopant clusters (>10(4) amu) and to produce samples for transmission electron microscopy simultaneously, we synthesize bare and bimetallic nanoparticles consisting of various materials (Au, Ni, Cr, and Ag). We present a systematical study of the growth process of clusters and nanoparticles inside the helium droplets, which can be described with a simple theoretical model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Thaler
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Alexander Volk
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Daniel Knez
- Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis & Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, TU Graz, Steyrergasse 17, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Florian Lackner
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Georg Haberfehlner
- Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis & Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, TU Graz, Steyrergasse 17, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Johannes Steurer
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Schnedlitz
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Wolfgang E Ernst
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria
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Pototschnig JV, Krois G, Lackner F, Ernst WE. Investigation of the RbCa molecule: Experiment and theory. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2015; 310:126-134. [PMID: 25922550 PMCID: PMC4407902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jms.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We present a thorough theoretical and experimental study of the electronic structure of RbCa. The mixed alkali-alkaline earth molecule RbCa was formed on superfluid helium nanodroplets. Excited states of the molecule in the range of 13 000-23 000 cm-1 were recorded by resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization time-of-flight spectroscopy. The experiment is accompanied by high level ab initio calculations of ground and excited state properties, utilizing a multireference configuration interaction method based on multiconfigurational self consistent field calculations. With this approach the potential energy curves and permanent electric dipole moments of 24 electronic states were calculated. In addition we computed the transition dipole moments for transitions from the ground into excited states. The combination of experiment and theory allowed the assignment of features in the recorded spectrum to the excited [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] states, where the experiment allowed to benchmark the calculation. This is the first experimental work giving insight into the previously unknown RbCa molecule, which offers great prospects in ultracold molecular physics due to its magnetic and electronic dipole moment in the [Formula: see text] ground state.
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Loginov E, Hernando A, Beswick JA, Halberstadt N, Drabbels M. Excitation of Sodium Atoms Attached to Helium Nanodroplets: The 3p ← 3s Transition Revisited. J Phys Chem A 2015; 119:6033-44. [DOI: 10.1021/jp511885t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - J. Alberto Beswick
- Laboratoire
des Collisions, Agrégats, Réactivité, IRSAMC, CNRS and Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Nadine Halberstadt
- Laboratoire
des Collisions, Agrégats, Réactivité, IRSAMC, CNRS and Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
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Koch M, Kautsch A, Lackner F, Ernst WE. One- and two-color resonant photoionization spectroscopy of chromium-doped helium nanodroplets. J Phys Chem A 2014; 118:8373-9. [PMID: 24708058 PMCID: PMC4166682 DOI: 10.1021/jp501285r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
We investigate the photoinduced relaxation
dynamics of Cr atoms
embedded into superfluid helium nanodroplets. One- and two-color resonant
two-photon ionization (1CR2PI and 2CR2PI, respectively) are applied
to study the two strong ground state transitions z7P2,3,4° ←
a7S3 and y7P2,3,4° ← a7S3. Upon photoexcitation, Cr* atoms are ejected from the
droplet in various excited states, as well as paired with helium atoms
as Cr*–Hen exciplexes. For the
y7P2,3,4° intermediate state, comparison of the two methods reveals
that energetically lower states than previously identified are also
populated. With 1CR2PI we find that the population of ejected z5P3° states is reduced for increasing droplet size, indicating that population
is transferred preferentially to lower states during longer interaction
with the droplet. In the 2CR2PI spectra we find evidence for generation
of bare Cr atoms in their septet ground state (a7S3) and metastable quintet state (a5S2), which we attribute to a photoinduced fast excitation–relaxation
cycle mediated by the droplet. A fraction of Cr atoms in these ground
and metastable states is attached to helium atoms, as indicated by
blue wings next to bare atom spectral lines. These relaxation channels
provide new insight into the interaction of excited transition metal
atoms with helium nanodroplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Koch
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology , Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria
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Krois G, Lackner F, Pototschnig JV, Buchsteiner T, Ernst WE. Characterization of RbSr molecules: spectral analysis on helium droplets. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2014; 16:22373-81. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cp03135k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Lindebner F, Kautsch A, Koch M, Ernst WE. Laser ionization and spectroscopy of Cu in superfluid helium nanodroplets. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY 2014; 365-366:255-259. [PMID: 25844053 PMCID: PMC4376070 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijms.2013.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Revised: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mass and optical spectroscopic methods are used for the analysis of copper (Cu) atoms and clusters doped to helium nanodroplets (HeN). A two-color resonant two-photon ionization scheme is applied to study the Cu 2P[Formula: see text]S1/2 ground state transition. The absorption is strongly broadened for Cu atoms submerged inside helium nanodroplets and a comparison with computed literature values is provided. An observed ejection of the dopant from the droplet is triggered upon excitation, populating energetically lower states. The formation of Cu n clusters up to Cu7 inside helium nanodroplets was observed by means of electron impact ionization mass spectroscopy.
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Loginov E, Drabbels M. Dynamics of Excited Sodium Atoms Attached to Helium Nanodroplets. J Phys Chem A 2014; 118:2738-48. [DOI: 10.1021/jp4121996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniy Loginov
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique
Moléculaire, Ecole polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Drabbels
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique
Moléculaire, Ecole polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Lackner F, Poms J, Krois G, Pototschnig JV, Ernst WE. Spectroscopy of lithium atoms and molecules on helium nanodroplets. J Phys Chem A 2013; 117:11866-73. [PMID: 23895106 PMCID: PMC3839407 DOI: 10.1021/jp4030238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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We
report on the spectroscopic investigation of lithium atoms and
lithium dimers in their triplet manifold on the surface of helium
nanodroplets (HeN). We present the excitation spectrum
of the 3p ← 2s and 3d ← 2s two-photon transitions for
single Li atoms on HeN. The atoms are excited from the
2S(Σ) ground state into Δ, Π, and Σ pseudodiatomic
molecular substates. Excitation spectra are recorded by resonance
enhanced multiphoton ionization time-of-flight (REMPI-TOF) mass spectroscopy,
which allows an investigation of the exciplex (Li*–Hem, m = 1–3) formation process
in the Li–HeN system. Electronic states are shifted
and broadened with respect to free atom states, which is explained
within the pseudodiatomic model. The assignment is assisted by theoretical
calculations, which are based on the Orsay–Trento density functional
where the interaction between the helium droplet and the lithium atom
is introduced by a pairwise additive approach. When a droplet is doped
with more than one alkali atom, the fragility of the alkali–HeN systems leads preferably to the formation of high-spin molecules
on the droplets. We use this property of helium nanodroplets for the
preparation of Li dimers in their triplet ground state (13Σu+).
The excitation spectrum of the 23Πg(ν′
= 0–11) ← 13Σu+(ν″ = 0) transition is presented.
The interaction between the molecule and the droplet manifests in
a broadening of the transitions with a characteristic asymmetric form.
The broadening extends to the blue side of each vibronic level, which
is caused by the simultaneous excitation of the molecule and vibrations
of the droplet (phonons). The two isotopes of Li form 6Li2 and 7Li2 as well as isotope
mixed 6Li7Li molecules on the droplet surface.
By using REMPI-TOF mass spectroscopy, isotope-dependent effects could
be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Lackner
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology , Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria/EU
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Lackner F, Krois G, Ernst WE. Rydberg–Ritz analysis and quantum defects for Rb and Cs atoms on helium nanodroplets. Mol Phys 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2013.788792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Lackner
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology , Graz, Austria
| | - Günter Krois
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology , Graz, Austria
| | - Wolfgang E. Ernst
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology , Graz, Austria
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Zhang X, Drabbels M. Communication: Barium ions and helium nanodroplets: Solvation and desolvation. J Chem Phys 2012; 137:051102. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4743900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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