Franck-Condon simulation of vibrationally resolved optical spectra for zinc complexes of phthalocyanine and tetrabenzoporphyrin including the Duschinsky and Herzberg-Teller effects

Efficient Protocol for Computing MCD Spectra in a Broad Frequency Range Combining Resonant and Damped CC2 Quadratic Response Theory

Coupled cluster response theory offers a path to high-accuracy calculations of spectroscopic properties, such as magnetic circular dichroism (MCD). However, divergence or slow convergence issues are often encountered for electronic transitions in high-energy regions with a high density of states. This is here addressed for MCD by an implementation of damped quadratic response theory for resolution-of-identity coupled cluster singles-and-approximate-doubles (RI-CC2), along with an implementation of the MCD A term from resonant response theory. Combined, damped and resonant response theory calculations provide an efficient strategy to obtain MCD spectra over a broad frequency range and for systems that include highly symmetric molecules with degenerate excited states. The protocol is illustrated by application to zinc tetrabenzoporphyrin in the energy region of 2-8 eV and comparison to experimental data. Timings are reported for the resonant and damped approaches, showing that a greater part of the calculation time is consumed by the construction of the building blocks for the final MCD ellipticity. A recommendation on how to use the procedure is outlined.

The dominant nature of Herzberg-Teller terms in the photophysical description of naphthalene compared to anthracene and tetracene

The first order and second order corrected photoluminescence quantum yields are computed and compared to experiment for naphthalene in this manuscript discussing negative results. Results for anthracene and tetracene are recalled from previous work (Manian et al. in J Chem Phys 155:054108, 2021), and the results for all three polyacenes are juxtaposed to each other. While at the Franck-Condon point, each of the three noted polyacenes were found to possess a quantum yield near unity. Following the consideration of Herzberg-Teller effects, quantum yields stabilised for anthracene and tetracene to 0.19 and 0.08, respectively. Conversely, the second order corrected quantum yield for naphthalene was found to be 0.91. Analysis of this result showed that while the predicted non-radiative pathways correlate well with what should be expected, the approximation used to calculate second order corrected fluorescence, which yielded very positive results for many other molecular systems, here is unable to account for strong second order contributions, resulting in a grossly overestimated rate of fluorescence. However, substitution of an experimental radiative rate results in a quantum yield of 0.33. This work extols the importance of Herzberg-Teller terms in photophysical descriptions of chromophores, and highlights those cases in which a treatment beyond the above approximation is required.

Unraveling the reasons behind lead phthalocyanine acting as a good absorber for near-infrared sensitive devices

Lead phthalocyanine (PbPc) is well known to be used as a good near-infrared (NIR) light absorber for organic solar cells (OSCs) and photodetectors. The monoclinic and triclinic phases have been understood to absorb the visible and NIR regions, respectively, so far. In the present study, we demonstrated from the absorption spectra and theoretical analysis that the visible band considerably originates from not only the monoclinic but also the amorphous and triclinic phases, and revealed the exciton dynamics in the PbPc film from static/time-resolved photoluminescence (PL), which are first reported. By comparing the external quantum efficiency between PbPc- and ZnPc-based OSCs in relation to their structure, morphology, and optical (absorption and PL) characteristics, we unraveled the reasons behind the PbPc film used as a good absorber for NIR-sensitive devices.

Vibrationally Resolved Absorption and Luminescence Spectra of Mass-Selected Free-Base and Zinc Phthalocyanine Radical Cations Isolated in Solid Ne

We report the first vibrationally well-resolved absorption and laser-induced fluorescence spectra of the radical cations of free-base phthalocyanine (H₂Pc⁺) and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc⁺) isolated in 5 K neon matrices and compare them to the spectral properties of the corresponding neutrals. The samples were generated by low-energy deposition of the mass-selected ions. The spectra are also discussed in terms of time-dependent density functional theory calculations and compared with recently reported scanning tunneling microscopy-induced single-molecule luminescence of the same species adsorbed on NaCl-covered Au(111) or Ag(111) single crystal supports.

Morphological and optical properties of α- and β-phase zinc (∥) phthalocyanine thin films for application to organic photovoltaic cells

We have investigated the morphological and optical properties of α- and β-phase Zinc Phthalocyanine (ZnPc) thin films for application to organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs). It was found that the α-phase is completely converted to the β-phase by thermal annealing at 220 °C under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. When the α- to β-phase transition takes place, the surface roughness of the ZnPc film became flat uniformly with a nanometer order of unevenness by anisotropic growth of crystalline grains along a lateral direction to substrates. Correspondingly, the optical absorbance of the β-phase film became greater by 1.5-2 times than that of the α-phase one in an ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-vis-NIR) wavelength range, which plays a role in increasing the number of photogenerated excitons. On the contrary, time-resolved photoluminescence measurements showed that the average lifetime of excitons for the β-phase film became shorter by 1/6-1/7 than that for the α-phase one, which plays a role in decreasing the number of excitons achieving the donor/acceptor interface where excitons are separated to carriers (holes and electrons). Both the increase in the number and the shortening in the average lifetime have a trade-off relationship with each other for contribution to the photoelectric conversion efficiency of OPVs. Then, we examined an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of OPVs using the α- and β-phase films as a donor and obtained that the former OPV (α-phase) exhibits a higher EQE by ∼2 times than the latter one (β-phase) in the wavelength range of 400 nm-800 nm.

Optical signatures of pentacene in soft rare-gas environments

Acenes and pentacene (Pc), in particular, are promising candidates for organic dyes with interesting properties important for solar light to energy conversion. We present a combined experimental and computational study of Pc in an ultracold environment that allows for high resolution optical spectroscopy. The spectra and their vibrational substructure are interpreted with the help of density functional theory calculations. While there are only slight changes within superfluid helium as compared to vacuum, the neon surface shows more prominent effects. Additional vibrational coupling by neon modes leads to broadening as well as the emergence of new features, like the otherwise symmetry forbidden out-of-plane butterfly mode.

Complex momentum behavior of electronic excitations in β-CuPc

The electronic excitation spectrum of β-CuPc has been investigated using electron energy-loss spectroscopy in transmission. Our results demonstrate a rather strong momentum dependence of the lowest exciton features. Both main components show a negative dispersion, and the momentum dependence indicates that this negative dispersion is parallel to the molecular stacks in β-CuPc. In addition, the spectral shape also varies upon increasing momentum transfer indicating a particular momentum dependence of the inter-molecular interactions.

Combined spectroscopic and TDDFT study of single-double anthocyanins for application in dye-sensitized solar cells

This research investigates single-double anthocyanins experimentally and theoretically for the first time.

A combined spectroscopic and TDDFT study of natural dyes extracted from fruit peels of Citrus reticulata and Musa acuminata for dye-sensitized solar cells

This study reports the novel spectroscopic investigations and enhanced the electron transfers of Citrus reticulata and Musa acuminata fruit peels as the photosensitizers for the dye-sensitized solar cells. The calculated TD-DFT-UB3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)-IEFPCM(UAKS), experiment spectra of ultra-violet-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies indicate the main flavonoid (hesperidin and gallocatechin) structures of the dye extracts. The optimized flavonoid structures are calculated using Density functional theory (DFT) at 6-31+G(d,p) level. The rutinosyl group of the hesperidin pigment (Citrus reticulata) will be further investigated compared to the gallocatechin (Musa acuminata) pigment. The acidity of the dye extract is treated by adding 2% acetic acid. The energy levels of the HOMO-LUMO dyes are measured by a combined Tauc plot and cyclic voltammetry contrasted with the DFT data. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy will be performed to model the dye electron transfer. As for the rutinosyl group presence and the acidic treatment, the acidified Citrus reticulata cell under continuous light exposure of 100mW·cm^-2 yields a short-circuit current density (J_sc) of 3.23mA/cm², a photovoltage (V_oc) of 0.48V, and a fill factor of 0.45 corresponding to an energy conversion efficiency (η) of 0.71% because the shifting down HOMO-LUMO edges and the broadening dye's absorbance evaluated by a combined spectroscopic and TD-DFT method. The result also leads to the longest diffusion length of 32.2μm, the fastest electron transit of 0.22ms, and the longest electron lifetime of 4.29ms.

CASSCF-based explicit ligand field models clarify the ground state electronic structures of transition metal phthalocyanines (MPc; M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn)

Multireference electronic structure methods are used to assign ground state electronic configurations for a series of metallophthalocyanines. Ligand orbital occupancies remain constant across the period and are consistent with a formal 2– charge on the ligand. The d electron configurations of some metallophthalocyanines are straightforward and can be unambiguously assigned, (dxy)2(dxz,dyz)2,2( [Formula: see text])2([Formula: see text])n, with n = 2, 1, 0, respectively, for ZnPc, CuPc, and NiPc. Controversies over ground state electronic structure assignments for other metallophthalocyanines arise due to multiple complicating factors: accidental near-degeneracies, environmental effects, and different ligand field models used in interpreting experimental spectra. We demonstrate that explicit ligand field models provide more reliable and consistent interpretations of experimental data than implicit, parameterized alternatives. On this basis, we assign gas-phase electronic ground states for MnPc, (dxy)2(dxz,dyz)1,1([Formula: see text])1 and CoPc, (dxy)2(dxz,dyz)2,2([Formula: see text])1, and show that the ground state of FePc cannot be resolved to a single state, with two near-degenerate states that are likely spin-orbit coupled: (dxy)2(dxz,dyz)1,1( [Formula: see text])2 and (dxy)2(dxz,dyz)2,1([Formula: see text])1. Remaining differences between computational predictions and experimental observations are small and may be ascribed primarily to environmental effects but are also partly due to incomplete modelling of electron correlation.

Vibrationally Resolved Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of Firefly Luciferin: A Theoretical Simulation in the Gas Phase and in Solution

Firefly bioluminescence has been applied in several fields. However, the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the substrate, luciferin, have not been observed at the vibrational level. In this study, the vibrationally resolved absorption and fluorescence spectra of firefly luciferin (neutral form LH2 , phenolate ion form LH(-) and dianion form L(2-) ) are simulated using the density functional method and convoluted by a Gaussian function, with displacement, distortion and Duschinsky effects in the framework of the Franck-Condon approximation. Both neutral and anionic forms of the luciferin are considered in the gas phase and in solution. The simulated spectra have desired band maxima with the experimental ones. The vibronic structure analysis reveals that the features of the most contributive vibrational modes coincide with the key geometry-changing region during transition between the ground state and the first singlet excited state.

Vibrationally resolved ¹Lb (¹A')↔S0 (¹A') electronic spectra of benzimidazole and indene: Influence of Duschinsky and Herzberg-Teller effects on weak dipole-allowed transitions

Geometrical optimizations of the ground and first excited states of benzimidazole and indene were performed using the density functional theory (DFT) and its time-dependent extension methods (TD-DFT), respectively. Their vibrationally resolved (1)Lb ((1)A')↔S0 ((1)A') absorption and fluorescence spectra were simulated within the Franck-Condon approximation including the Herzberg-Teller (HT) and Duschinsky effects. Calculated results revealed that, with the HT and Duschinsky effects getting involved, the simulated weak (1)Lb ((1)A')↔S0 ((1)A') electronic spectra of the two molecules excellently reproduce the experimental findings. Based on the experimental data and other theoretical results, we tentatively assigned most of the vibrational normal modes which emerged in the experimental spectra of the two molecules. The present theoretical insights are expected to help us understand the nature of electronic transitions in the vibrationally resolved absorption and fluorescence spectra of benzimidazole and its analogues.

Molecular selectivity of graphene-enhanced Raman scattering

Graphene-enhanced Raman scattering (GERS) is a recently discovered Raman enhancement phenomenon that uses graphene as the substrate for Raman enhancement and can produce clean and reproducible Raman signals of molecules with increased signal intensity. Compared to conventional Raman enhancement techniques, such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS), in which the Raman enhancement is essentially due to the electromagnetic mechanism, GERS mainly relies on a chemical mechanism and therefore shows unique molecular selectivity. In this paper, we report graphene-enhanced Raman scattering of a variety of different molecules with different molecular properties. We report a strong molecular selectivity for the GERS effect with enhancement factors varying by as much as 2 orders of magnitude for different molecules. Selection rules are discussed with reference to two main features of the molecule, namely its molecular energy levels and molecular structures. In particular, the enhancement factor involving molecular energy levels requires the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies to be within a suitable range with respect to graphene's Fermi level, and this enhancement effect can be explained by the time-dependent perturbation theory of Raman scattering. The enhancement factor involving the choice of molecular structures indicates that molecular symmetry and substituents similar to that of the graphene structure are found to be favorable for GERS enhancement. The effectiveness of these factors can be explained by group theory and the charge-transfer interaction between molecules and graphene. Both factors, involving the molecular energy levels and structural symmetry of the molecules, suggest that a remarkable GERS enhancement requires strong molecule-graphene coupling and thus effective charge transfer between the molecules and graphene. These conclusions are further experimentally supported by the change of the UV-visible absorption spectra of molecules when in contact with graphene and these conclusions are theoretically corroborated by first-principles calculations. These research findings are important for gaining fundamental insights into the graphene-molecule interaction and the chemical mechanism in Raman enhancement, as well as for advancing the role of such understanding both in guiding chemical and molecule detection applications and in medical and biological technology developments.

Ground and excited states of zinc phthalocyanine, zinc tetrabenzoporphyrin, and azaporphyrin analogs using DFT and TDDFT with Franck-Condon analysis

The electronic structure of eight zinc-centered porphyrin macrocyclic molecules are investigated using density functional theory for ground-state properties, time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) for excited states, and Franck-Condon (FC) analysis for further characterization of the UV-vis spectrum. Symmetry breaking was utilized to find the lowest energy of the excited states for many states in the spectra. To confirm the theoretical modeling, the spectroscopic result from zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) is used to compare to the TDDFT and FC result. After confirmation of the modeling, five more planar molecules are investigated: zinc tetrabenzoporphyrin (ZnTBP), zinc tetrabenzomonoazaporphyrin (ZnTBMAP), zinc tetrabenzocisdiazaporphyrin (ZnTBcisDAP), zinc tetrabenzotransdiazaporphyrin (ZnTBtransDAP), and zinc tetrabenzotriazaporphyrin (ZnTBTrAP). The two latter molecules are then compared to their phenylated sister molecules: zinc monophenyltetrabenzotriazaporphyrin (ZnMPTBTrAP) and zinc diphenyltetrabenzotransdiazaporphyrin (ZnDPTBtransDAP). The spectroscopic results from the synthesis of ZnMPTBTrAP and ZnDPTBtransDAP are then compared to their theoretical models and non-phenylated pairs. While the Franck-Condon results were not as illuminating for every B-band, the Q-band results were successful in all eight molecules, with a considerable amount of spectral analysis in the range of interest between 300 and 750 nm. The π-π(∗) transitions are evident in the results for all of the Q bands, while satellite vibrations are also visible in the spectra. In particular, this investigation finds that, while ZnPc has a D4h symmetry at ground state, a C4v symmetry is predicted in the excited-state Q band region. The theoretical results for ZnPc found an excitation energy at the Q-band 0-0 transition of 1.88 eV in vacuum, which is in remarkable agreement with published gas-phase spectroscopy, as well as our own results of ZnPc in solution with Tetrahydrofuran that are provided in this paper.

Theoretical reproduction of the Q-band absorption spectrum of free-base chlorin

The computational results of the features observed in the room-temperature Q-band absorption spectrum of free-base chlorin (H2Ch) are presented. The vibrational structures of the first and second excited singlet states were calculated based on a harmonic approximation using density functional theory and its time dependent extension within the Franck-Condon and Herzberg-Teller approaches. The outcome allowed to identify the experimental bands and to assign them to the specific vibrational transitions. A very good agreement between the simulated and measured wavelengths and their relative intensities provided the opportunity to predict the origin of the S0 → S2 transition which could not be determined experimentally.

Electronic structures and electronic spectra of all-boron fullerene B40

This study is motivated by the recent discovery of the first all-boron fullerene analogue, a B₄₀cluster withD_2dpoint-group symmetry, dubbed borospherene (Nat. Chem., 2014,6, 727).