Unraveling the effect of solvents on the excited state dynamics of C540A by experimental and theoretical study

Solvent effects on the intramolecular charge transfer excited state of 3CzClIPN: a broadband transient absorption study

The prediction of solvent properties using molecular probes often relies on correlating steady-state absorption and fluorescence measurements, as well as determining absorption maxima and/or Stokes shifts. In this study, we employ femtosecond broadband transient absorption (fs-bb-TA) spectroscopy to investigate the spectroscopic behaviour of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) excited state of 3CzClIPN (2,4,6-tri(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-5-chloroisophthalonitrile), a representative ICT organic molecule, in both aromatic and non-aromatic solvents. Unlike observations in non-aromatic media, fs-bb-TA spectra of 3CzClIPN in aromatic solvents exhibit enhanced spectral broadening that strongly correlates with the solvent's polarity. We hypothesise that this spectral broadening originates from a wider configurational energy landscape experienced by the positively charged carbazole Cz+ group, owing to the larger size and, consequently, reduced solvation effectiveness of aromatic solvent molecules.

The investigation of the ultrafast excited state deactivation mechanisms for coumarin 307 in different solvents

The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) processes of coumarin 307 (C307) in different solvents were investigated by performing steady-state/time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopic and steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopic characterizations in combination with time-dependent density functional theoretical calculation (TDDFT). The study unveiled the remarkable influence of solvent polarity and the strength of intermolecular hydrogen bonds formed between the solutes and solvents on the relaxation dynamics of the electronic excited state. Significantly, the emergence of the TICT state was observed in polar solvents, specifically dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxidemethanol (DMSO), owing to their inherent polarity as well as the enhanced intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. Interestingly, even in a weak polar solvent such as methanol (MeOH), the TICT state was also observed due to the intensified hydrogen bonding effects. Conversely, nonpolar solvents, exemplified by 1,4-dioxane (Diox), resulted in the stabilization of the ICT state due to the augmented N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding interactions. The experimental findings were corroborated by the computational calculations, thus ensuring the reliability of the conclusions drawn. Furthermore, schematic diagrams were presented to illustrate the mechanisms underlying the excited-state deactivation. Overall, this investigation contributes valuable mechanistic insights and provides a comprehensive understanding of the photochemical and photophysical properties exhibited by coumarin dyes.