@phdthesis{Mueller2020, author = {M{\"u}ller, Kerstin}, title = {Einzelmolek{\"u}l- und Ensemble-Fluoreszenzstudien an funktionalisierten, halbleitenden Kohlenstoffnanor{\"o}hren}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20994}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-209942}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Ziel dieser Dissertation war es zu einem besseren Verst{\"a}ndnis hinsichtlich folgender Themen beizutragen und M{\"o}glichkeiten aufzuzeigen, mit welchen die Voraussetzungen f{\"u}r Anwendungen von einzelnen, funktionalisierten Kohlenstoffnanor{\"o}hren, wie u.a. Einzelphotonenquellen, erf{\"u}llt werden k{\"o}nnen. Eine wesentliche Voraussetzung f{\"u}r die Funktionalisierung von einzelnen Kohlenstoffnanor{\"o}hren ist zun{\"a}chst eine Probenpr{\"a}paration, welche SWNT-Suspensionen mit einem hohen Anteil an vereinzelten SWNTs hoher PL-Intensit{\"a}t bereitstellen kann. Um solche SWNT-Suspensionen herstellen zu k{\"o}nnen, wurden drei verschiedene Rohmaterialien und Dispergiermittel auf deren Entb{\"u}ndelungseffizienz- und relativer Photolumineszenzquantenausbeute untersucht. Anhand von photolumineszenzspektroskopischen Untersuchungen und Messungen der Extinktion stellte sich heraus, dass in Kombination des unaufbereiteten CVD-Kohlenstoffnanorohrrußes mit dem Copolymer PFO:BPy als Dispergiermittel und einem speziell in dieser Dissertation entwickelten Herstellungsverfahren f{\"u}r die Mikroskopieproben, stabile (6,5)-SWNT-Suspensionen mit einem großen Anteil an einzelnen SWNTs hoher PL-Intensit{\"a}t, hergestellt werden k{\"o}nnen. Letztere Suspension diente als Ausgangsmaterial f{\"u}r die, in dieser Dissertation neuartige, entwickelte Methodik zur Differenzierung zwischen einzelnen SWNTs und Aggregaten mittels PL- und Ramanmessungen an einem PL-Mikroskopie-Aufbau, welche eine weitere Voraussetzung f{\"u}r Einzelpartikelstudien darstellt. Hierbei wurden im Rahmen einer statistischen Messreihe PL- und Ramanspektren von 150 SWNT-Objekten aufgenommen und hieraus resultierend die Parameter FWHM, Energie des S1-Emissions-Zustands und relative Photolumineszenzquantenausbeute ermittelt. Schließlich konnten die zwischen einer einzelnen SWNT und einem Aggregat charakteristischen Differenzen anhand der Korrelationen zwischen den drei Parametern dargestellt werden. Zudem erfolgte eine statistische Analyse zur Bestimmung der statistischen Signifikanz dieser Korrelationen. Hierbei wurde anhand der nicht-parametrischen Spearman-Korrelationskoeffizienten und der p-Werte gezeigt, dass in Kombination dieser drei Messparameter mit einer hohen Wahrscheinlichkeit zwischen einer einzelnen SWNT und einem Aggregat differenziert werden kann. Demnach konnte eine neuartige, im Vergleich zur Literatur, praktikable Methodik zur Differenzierung zwischen einzelnen SWNTs und Aggregaten, etabliert werden, welche die Voraussetzung f{\"u}r Einzelrohrstudien ist. Der Fokus dieser Dissertation ist die Entschl{\"u}sselung der Reaktionsmechanismen der Arylierung und reduktiven Alkylierung von (6,5)-SWNTs im Ensemble und auf Einzelrohrbasis. Durch diese kovalenten Funktionalisierungsverfahren entstehen neue fluoreszierende Defekt-Zust{\"a}nde, deren zeitabh{\"a}ngiges Intensit{\"a}tsverhalten in der vorliegenden Arbeit n{\"a}her untersucht wurde. Hinsichtlich der Arylierung von SWNTs mit Diazoniumsalzen postulieren Studien einen zweistufigen Reaktionsmechanismus, welcher durch eine kombinatorische, spektroskopische Gesamtbetrachtung im Rahmen dieser Dissertation best{\"a}tigt werden konnte. Auch konnte erstmalig in der Literatur gezeigt werden, dass die Reaktion in hohem Maße reproduzierbar ist. Reproduzierbarkeitsstudien wurden auch im Falle der reduktiven Alkylierung unternommen, wobei erstmalig festgestellt wurde, dass diese Reaktion lediglich im hohen Maße reproduzierbar ist, sofern die Reduktionsl{\"o}sung mindestens 17 Stunden vor Reaktionsstart angesetzt wird. Basierend auf diesem Resultat, wurden reproduzierbare Messreihen zur Untersuchung der Reaktionsbedingungen und des Reaktionsmechanismus unternommen, da diesbez{\"u}glich unzureichend Kenntnis in der Literatur vorhanden ist. Zur Kl{\"a}rung des Reaktionsmechanismus, von welchem lediglich Annahmen existieren, wurde zum einen der Einfluss der Laseranregung auf die Reaktion untersucht. Da lediglich f{\"u}r den Falle des Ansetzens der Reduktionsl{\"o}sung unmittelbar vor Messbeginn, wobei die reaktiven SO2- -Radikale erzeugt werden, ein Einfluss der Laseranregung festgestellt werden konnte, nicht jedoch im weiteren Reaktionsverlauf, ist von keiner radikalischen Reaktion im Funktionalisierungsschritt auszugehen. Dies konnte durch den Einsatz von Konstitutionsisomeren des Iodbutans best{\"a}tigt werden, wobei das Iodbutanisomer, welches im Fall einer radikalischen Reaktion die h{\"o}chste Reaktivit{\"a}t zeigen sollte, zu keiner Funktionalisierung der SWNTs f{\"u}hrte. Im Gegensatz hierzu, konnte durch das 1-Iodbutan, mit dem prim{\"a}ren C-Atom, eine hohe PL-Intensit{\"a}t der defekt-induzierten Zust{\"a}nde E11- und T- verzeichnet werden, was die weitere Annahme einer SN2-Reaktion st{\"u}tzt. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation konnte zudem erstmalig entdeckt werden, dass unter deren alkalischen, reduktiven Bedingungen, eine Funktionalisierung mit Acetonitril erfolgen kann, was durch die Durchstimmung der PL-Intensit{\"a}t des Defektzustands bei Variation des Volumenanteils von Acetonitril best{\"a}tigt werden konnte. Hierbei gilt es jedoch weiter zu analysieren, auf welche Art die Koordination bzw. Funktionalisierung von Acetonitril an den SWNTs erfolgt, was u.a. durch Ramanmessungen untersucht werden k{\"o}nnte. Auch konnten neuartige Kenntnisse bez{\"u}glich der Reaktionskinetik basierend auf den Studien dieser Dissertation erhalten werden, wobei festgestellt wurde, dass das Reaktionsprofil mit dem einer komplexen Folgereaktion angen{\"a}hert werden kann. Zudem konnten neuartige Kenntnisse aus der Thermodynamik, wie die Ermittlung der Aktivierungsenergie der Adsorption von DOC-Molek{\"u}len auf der SWNT-Oberfl{\"a}che, durch die Zugabe des Tensids DOC zum Reaktionsansatz und dem hieraus resultierenden Reaktionsabbruch, erhalten werden. Schließlich fand eine {\"U}bertragung der Ergebnisse aus den Ensemblestudien der reduktiven Alkylierung auf Einzelpartikeluntersuchungen statt, wobei letztere erstmalig im Rahmen dieser Arbeit durchgef{\"u}hrt wurden. Aus der statistischen Analyse, welche von Martina Wederhake durchgef{\"u}hrt wurde, resultierte durch Erh{\"o}hung des Stoffmengenverh{\"a}ltnisses von 1-Iodbutan zu Kohlenstoff eine inhomogene Steigerung des Funktionalisierungsgrades. Ausblickend gilt es nun zu pr{\"u}fen, ob die zeitlichen Reaktionsverl{\"a}ufe der photolumineszierenden Zust{\"a}nde, welche aus den Ensemble-Studien erhalten wurden, auf Einzelrohrbasis reproduziert werden k{\"o}nnen. Es l{\"a}sst sich demnach festhalten, dass mithilfe der Studien dieser Dissertation ein Probenherstellungsverfahren, welches stabile SWNT-Suspensionen mit einem großen Anteil an einzelnen Kohlenstoffnanor{\"o}hren, hoher PL-Intensit{\"a}t erm{\"o}glicht, etabliert werden konnte. Zudem wurde eine neuartige, praktikable und statistisch signifikante Methodik zur Differenzierung zwischen einzelnen Kohlenstoffnanor{\"o}hren und Aggregaten entwickelt. Schließlich konnten neue, essentielle Informationen bez{\"u}glich des Reaktionsmechanismus und den Reaktionsbedingungen der Arylierung und reduktiven Alkylierung von halbleitenden (6,5)-SWNTs erhalten werden. Wie in der Einleitung bereits erw{\"a}hnt, sind sowohl der Erhalt einer stabilen SWNT-Suspension mit einem großen Anteil an einzelnen Nanor{\"o}hren hoher PL-Intensit{\"a}t, die M{\"o}glichkeit der Identifizierung einzelner SWNTs, als auch ein ausgiebiges Verst{\"a}ndnis der Reaktionsmechanismen der Funktionalisierungsreaktionen, essentielle Voraussetzungen f{\"u}r die Verwirklichung von Einzelphotonenquellen auf Basis einzelner, funktionalisierter Kohlenstoffnanor{\"o}hren. Diese k{\"o}nnen aufgrund derer geeigneter Emissionseigenschaften als vielversprechende Kandidaten f{\"u}r das Ausgangsmaterial von Einzelphotonenquellen in der Quanteninformationstechnologie angesehen werden.}, subject = {Einwandige Kohlenstoff-Nanor{\"o}hre}, language = {de} } @unpublished{WohlgemuthMitric2020, author = {Wohlgemuth, Matthias and Mitric, Roland}, title = {Excitation energy transport in DNA modelled by multi-chromophoric field-induced surface hopping}, series = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, edition = {submitted version}, doi = {10.1039/D0CP02255A}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-209467}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Absorption of ultraviolet light is known as a major source of carcinogenic mutations of DNA. The underlying processes of excitation energy dissipation are yet not fully understood. In this work we provide a new and generally applicable route for studying the excitation energy transport in multi-chromophoric complexes at an atomistic level. The surface-hopping approach in the frame of the extended Frenkel exciton model combined with QM/MM techniques allowed us to simulate the photodynamics of the alternating (dAdT)10 : (dAdT)10 double-stranded DNA. In accordance with recent experiments, we find that the excited state decay is multiexponential, involving a long and a short component which are due to two distinct mechanisms: formation of long-lived delocalized excitonic and charge transfer states vs. ultrafast decaying localized states resembling those of the bare nucleobases. Our simulations explain all stages of the ultrafast photodynamics including initial photoexcitation, dynamical evolution out of the Franck-Condon region, excimer formation and nonradiative relaxation to the ground state.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{HumeniukBužančićHocheetal.2020, author = {Humeniuk, Alexander and Bužančić, Margarita and Hoche, Joscha and Cerezo, Javier and Mitric, Roland and Santoro, Fabrizio and Bonačić-Koutecky, Vlasta}, title = {Predicting fluorescence quantum yields for molecules in solution: A critical assessment of the harmonic approximation and the choice of the lineshape function}, series = {The Journal of Chemical Physics}, journal = {The Journal of Chemical Physics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-199305}, year = {2020}, abstract = {For the rational design of new fluorophores, reliable predictions of fluorescence quantum yields from first principles would be of great help. However, efficient computational approaches for predicting transition rates usually assume that the vibrational structure is harmonic. While the harmonic approximation has been used successfully to predict vibrationally resolved spectra and radiative rates, its reliability for non-radiative rates is much more questionable. Since non-adiabatic transitions convert large amounts of electronic energy into vibrational energy, the highly excited final vibrational states deviate greatly from harmonic oscillator eigenfunctions. We employ a time-dependent formalism to compute radiative and non-radiative rates for transitions and study the dependence on model parameters. For several coumarin dyes we compare different adiabatic and vertical harmonic models (AS, ASF, AH, VG, VGF, VH), in order to dissect the importance of displacements, frequency changes and Duschinsky rotations. In addition we analyze the effect of different broadening functions (Gaussian, Lorentzian or Voigt). Moreover, to assess the qualitative influence of anharmonicity on the internal conversion rate, we develop a simplified anharmonic model. We adress the reliability of these models considering the potential errors introduced by the harmonic approximation and the phenomenological width of the broadening function.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{TitovHumeniukMitric2020, author = {Titov, Evgenii and Humeniuk, Alexander and Mitric, Roland}, title = {Comparison of moving and fixed basis sets for nonadiabatic quantum dynamics at conical intersections}, series = {Chemical Physics}, journal = {Chemical Physics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-199225}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We assess the performance of two different types of basis sets for nonadiabatic quantum dynamics at conical intersections. The basis sets of both types are generated using Ehrenfest trajectories of nuclear coherent states. These trajectories can either serve as a moving (time-dependent) basis or be employed to sample a fixed (time-independent) basis. We demonstrate on the example of two-state two-dimensional and three-state five-dimensional models that both basis set types can yield highly accurate results for population transfer at intersections, as compared with reference quantum dynamics. The details of wave packet evolutions are discussed for the case of the two-dimensional model. The fixed basis is found to be superior to the moving one in reproducing nonlocal spreading and maintaining correct shape of the wave packet upon time evolution. Moreover, for the models considered, the fixed basis set outperforms the moving one in terms of computational efficiency.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{LindnerSultangaleevaRoehretal.2019, author = {Lindner, Joachim O. and Sultangaleeva, Karina and R{\"o}hr, Merle I. S. and Mitric, Roland}, title = {metaFALCON: A program package for automatic sampling of conical intersection seams using multistate metadynamics}, series = {Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation}, journal = {Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-199258}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The multistate metadynamics for automatic exploration of conical intersection seams and systematic location of minimum energy crossing points in molecular systems and its implementation into the software package metaFALCON is presented. Based on a locally modified energy gap between two Born-Oppenheimer electronic states as a collective variable, multistate metadynamics trajectories are driven toward an intersection point starting from an arbitrary ground state geometry and are subsequently forced to explore the conical intersection seam landscape. For this purpose, an additional collective variable capable of distinguishing structures within the seam needs to be defined and an additional bias is introduced into the off-diagonal elements of an extended (multistate) electronic Hamiltonian. We demonstrate the performance of the algorithm on the examples of the 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and 9H-adenine molecules, where multiple minimum energy crossing points could be systematically located using the Wiener number or Cremer-Pople parameters as collective variables. Finally, with the example of 9H-adenine, we show that the multistate metadynamics potential can be used to obtain a global picture of a conical intersection seam. Our method can be straightforwardly connected with any ab initio or semiempirical electronic structure theory that provides energies and gradients of the respective electronic states and can serve for systematic elucidation of the role of conical intersections in the photophysics and photochemistry of complex molecular systems, thus complementing nonadiabatic dynamics simulations.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{LisinetskayaMitric2019, author = {Lisinetskaya, Polina G. and Mitric, Roland}, title = {Collective Response in DNA-Stabilized Silver Cluster Assemblies from First-Principles Simulations}, series = {The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters}, journal = {The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-198729}, year = {2019}, abstract = {We investigate fluorescence resonant energy transfer and concurrent electron dynamics in a pair of DNA-stabilized silver clusters. For this purpose we introduce a methodology for the simulation of collective optoelectronic properties of coupled molecular aggregates starting from first-principles quantum chemistry, which can be further applied to a broad range of coupled molecular systems to study their electro-optical response. Our simulations reveal the existence of low-energy coupled excitonic states, which enable ultrafast energy transport between subunits, and give insight into the origin of the fluorescence signal in coupled DNA-stabilized silver clusters, which have been recently experimentally detected. Hence, we demonstrate the possibility of constructing ultrasmall energy transmission lines and optical converters based on these hybrid molecular systems.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{RoederPetersenIssleretal.2019, author = {R{\"o}der, Anja and Petersen, Jens and Issler, Kevin and Fischer, Ingo and Mitric, Roland and Poisson, Lionel}, title = {Exploring the Excited-State Dynamics of Hydrocarbon Radicals, Biradicals and Carbenes using Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Field-Induced Surface Hopping Simulations}, series = {The Journal of Physical Chemistry A}, journal = {The Journal of Physical Chemistry A}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-198734}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Reactive hydrocarbon molecules like radicals, biradicals and carbenes are not only key players in combustion processes and interstellar and atmospheric chemistry, but some of them are also important intermediates in organic synthesis. These systems typically possess many low-lying, strongly coupled electronic states. After light absorption, this leads to rich photodynamics characterized by a complex interplay of nuclear and electronic motion, which is still not comprehensively understood and not easy to investigate both experimentally and theoretically. In order to elucidate trends and contribute to a more general understanding, we here review our recent work on excited-state dynamics of open-shell hydrocarbon species using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and field-induced surface hopping simulations, and report new results on the excited-state dynamics of the tropyl and the 1-methylallyl radical. The different dynamics are compared, and the difficulties and future directions of time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and excited state dynamics simulations of open-shell hydrocarbon molecules are discussed.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{TitovHumeniukMitric2018, author = {Titov, Evgenii and Humeniuk, Alexander and Mitric, Roland}, title = {Exciton localization in excited-state dynamics of a tetracene trimer: A surface hopping LC-TDDFTB study}, series = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-198680}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Excitons in the molecular aggregates of chromophores are key participants in important processes such as photosynthesis or the functioning of organic photovoltaic devices. Therefore, the exploration of exciton dynamics is crucial. Here we report on exciton localization during excited-state dynamics of the recently synthesized tetracene trimer [Liu et al., Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 580]. We employ the surface hopping approach to nonadiabatic molecular dynamics in conjunction with the long-range corrected time-dependent density functional tight binding (LC-TDDFTB) method [Humeniuk and Mitrić, Comput. Phys. Commun., 2017, 221, 174]. Utilizing a set of descriptors based on the transition density matrix, we perform comprehensive analysis of exciton dynamics. The obtained results reveal an ultrafast exciton localization to a single tetracene unit of the trimer during excited-state dynamics, along with exciton transfer between units.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{AuerhammerSchulzSchmiedeletal.2019, author = {Auerhammer, Nina and Schulz, Alexander and Schmiedel, Alexander and Holzapfel, Marco and Hoche, Joscha and R{\"o}hr, Merle I. S. and Mitric, Roland and Lambert, Christoph}, title = {Dynamic exciton localisation in a pyrene-BODIPY-pyrene dye conjugate}, series = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-198718}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The photophysics of a molecular triad consisting of a BODIPY dye and two pyrene chromophores attached in 2-position are investigated by steady state and fs-time resolved transient absorption spectroscopy as well as by field induced surface hopping (FISH) simulations. While the steady state measurements indicate moderate chromophore interactions within the triad, the time resolved measurements show upon pyrene excitation a delocalised excited state which localises onto the BODIPY chromophore with a time constant of 0.12 ps. This could either be interpreted as an internal conversion process within the excitonically coupled chromophores or as an energy transfer from the pyrenes to the BODIPY dye. The analysis of FISH-trajectories reveals an oscillatory behaviour where the excitation hops between the pyrene units and the BODIPY dye several times until finally they become localised on the BODIPY chromophore within 100 fs. This is accompanied by an ultrafast nonradiative relaxation within the excitonic manifold mediated by the nonadiabatic coupling. Averaging over an ensemble of trajectories allowed us to simulate the electronic state population dynamics and determine the time constants for the nonradiative transitions that mediate the ultrafast energy transfer and exciton localisation on BODIPY.}, language = {en} } @article{VermaSteinbacherSchmiedeletal.2016, author = {Verma, Pramod Kumar and Steinbacher, Andreas and Schmiedel, Alexander and Nuernberger, Patrick and Brixner, Tobias}, title = {Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer of 2-acetylindan-1,3-dione studied by ultrafast absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy}, series = {Structural Dynamics}, volume = {3}, journal = {Structural Dynamics}, doi = {10.1063/1.4937363}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-181301}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We employ transient absorption from the deep-UV to the visible region and fluorescence upconversion to investigate the photoinduced excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer dynamics in a biologically relevant drug molecule, 2-acetylindan-1,3-dione. The molecule is a ß-diketone which in the electronic ground state exists as exocyclic enol with an intramolecular H-bond. Upon electronic excitation at 300 nm, the first excited state of the exocyclic enol is initially populated, followed by ultrafast proton transfer (≈160 fs) to form the vibrationally hot endocyclic enol. Subsequently, solvent-induced vibrational relaxation takes place (≈10 ps) followed by decay (≈390 ps) to the corresponding ground state.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Goetz2019, author = {G{\"o}tz, Sebastian Reinhold}, title = {Nonlinear spectroscopy at the diffraction limit: probing ultrafast dynamics with shaped few-cycle laser pulses}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-19213}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-192138}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2019}, abstract = {An experimental setup for probing ultrafast dynamics at the diffraction limit was developed, characterized and demonstrated in the scope of the thesis, aiming for optical investigations while simultaneously approaching the physical limits on the length and timescale. An overview of this experimental setup was given in Chapter 2, as well as the considerations that led to the selection of the individual components. Broadband laser pulses with a length of 9.3 fs, close to the transform limit of 7.6 fs, were focused in a NA = 1.4 immersion oil objective, to the diffraction limit of below 300 nm (FWHM). The spatial focus shape was characterized with off-resonance gold nanorod scatterers scanned through the focal volume. For further insights into the functionality and limitations of the pulse shaper, its calibration procedure was reviewed. The deviations between designed and experimental pulse shapes were attributed to pulse-shaper artifacts, including voltage-dependent inter-layer as well as intra-layer LCD-pixel crosstalk, Fabry-P{\´e}rot-type reflections in the LCD layers, and space-time coupling. A pixel-dependent correction was experimentally carried out, which can be seen as an extension of the initial calibration to all possible voltage combinations of the two LCD layers. The capabilities of the experimental setup were demonstrated in two types of experiments, targeting the nonlinearity of gold (Chapter 3) as well as two-dimensional spectroscopy at micro-structured surfaces (Chapter 4). Investigating thin films, an upper bound for the absolute value for the imaginary part of the nonlinear refractive index of gold could be set to |n′′ 2 (Au)| < 0.6·10-16 m2/W, together with |n′ 2 (Au)| < 1.2·10-16 m2/W as an upper bound for the absolute value of the real part. Finite-difference time-domain simulations on y-shaped gold nanostructures indicated that a phase change of ∆Φ ≥ 0.07 rad between two plasmonic modes would induce a sufficient change in the spatial contrast of emission to the far-field to be visible in the experiment. As the latter could not be observed, this value of ∆Φ was determined as the upper bound for the experimentally induced phase change. An upper bound of 52 GW/cm2 was found for the damage threshold. In Chapter 4, a novel method for nonlinear spectroscopy on surfaces was presented. Termed coherent two-dimensional fluorescence micro-spectroscopy, it is capable of exploring ultrafast dynamics in nanostructures and molecular systems at the diffraction limit. Two-dimensional spectra of spatially isolated hotspots in structured thin films of fluorinated zinc phthalocyanine (F16ZnPc) dye were taken with a 27-step phase-cycling scheme. Observed artifacts in the 2D maps were identified as a consequence from deviations between the desired and the experimental pulse shapes. The optimization procedures described in Chapter 2 successfully suppressed the deviations to a level where the separation from the nonlinear sample response was feasible. The experimental setup and methods developed and presented in the scope of this thesis demonstrate its flexibility and capability to study microscopic systems on surfaces. The systems exemplarily shown are consisting of metal-organic dyes and metallic nanostructures, represent samples currently under research in the growing fields of organic semiconductors and plasmonics.}, subject = {Ultrakurzzeitspektroskopie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schmitt2017, author = {Schmitt, Hans-Christian}, title = {Deaktivierungsprozesse in isolierten aromatischen Heterocyclen und Pyrenen}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-155445}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2017}, abstract = {In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde erfolgreich eine neue Gasphasen-Apparatur f{\"u}r Photoelektronen-Imaging-Experimente simuliert, aufgebaut und in Verbindung mit einem ps-Lasersystem in Betrieb genommen. Neben dem Aufbau der Apparatur stand die Aufkl{\"a}rung der Dynamik angeregter Zust{\"a}nde von aromatischen Heterocyclen und Pyrenen im Fokus dieser Arbeit. Die untersuchten Molek{\"u}le wurden durch Resonanzverst{\"a}rkte Mehrphotonenionisation in einem Molekularstrahlexperiment sowohl zeit-, als auch frequenzaufgel{\"o}st untersucht.}, subject = {Laserspektroskopie}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Kramer2017, author = {Kramer, Christian}, title = {Investigation of Nanostructure-Induced Localized Light Phenomena Using Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-150681}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2017}, abstract = {In recent years, the interaction of light with subwavelength structures, i.e., structures that are smaller than the optical wavelength, became more and more interesting to scientific research, since it provides the opportunity to manipulate light-induced dynamics below the optical diffraction limit. Specifically designed nanomaterials can be utilized to tailor the temporal evolution of electromagnetic fields at the nanoscale. For the investigation of strongly localized processes, it is essential to resolve both their spatial and their temporal behavior. The aim of this thesis was to study and/or control the temporal evolution of three nanostructure-induced localized light phenomena by using ultrafast laser spectroscopy with high spatial resolution. In Chapter 4, the absorption of near-infrared light in thin-film a-Si:H solar cells was investigated. Using nanotextured instead of smooth interfaces for such devices leads to an increase of absorption from < 20\% to more than 50\% in the near-infrared regime. Time-resolved experiments with femtosecond laser pulses were performed to clarify the reason for this enhancement. The coherent backscattered radiation from nanotextured solar cell devices was measured as a function of the sample position and evaluated via spectral interferometry. Spatially varying resonance peaks in the recorded spectra indicated the formation of localized photonic modes within the nanotextured absorber layers. In order to identify the modes separately from each other, coherent two-dimensional (2D) nanoscopy was utilized, providing a high spatial resolution < 40 nm. In a nanoscopy measurement on a modified device with an exposed nanotextured a-Si:H absorber layer, hot-spot electron emission was observed and confirmed the presence of localized modes. Fitting the local 2D nanospectra at the hot-spot positions enabled the determination of the resonance frequencies and coherence lifetimes of the modes. The obtained lifetime values varied between 50 fs and 130 fs. Using a thermionic emission model allowed the calculation of the locally absorbed energy density and, with this, an estimation of the localization length of the photonic modes (≈1 μm). The localization could be classified by means of the estimated localization length and additional data evaluation of the backscattered spectra as strong localization ─ the so-called Anderson localization. Based on the experimental results, it was concluded that the enhanced absorption of near-infrared light in thin-film silicon solar cells with nanotextured interfaces is caused by the formation of strongly localized photonic modes within the disordered absorber layers. The incoming near-infrared light is trapped in these long-living modes until absorption occurs. In Chapter 5, a novel hybridized plasmonic device was introduced and investigated in both theory and experiment. It consists of two widely separated whispering gallery mode (WGM) nanoantennas located in an elliptical plasmonic cavity. The goal was to realize a periodic long-range energy transfer between the nanoantennas. In finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations, the device was first optimized with respect to strong coupling between the localized antenna modes and the spatially-extended cavity mode. The geometrical parameters of the antennas and the cavity were adjusted separately so that the m="0" antenna mode and the cavity mode were resonant at λ="800 nm" . A high spatial overlap of the modes was achieved by positioning the two antennas in the focal spots of the cavity, leading to a distance between the antenna centers of more than twice the resonant wavelength of the modes. The spectral response of the optimized device revealed an energy splitting of the antenna and the cavity mode into three separated hybridized eigenmodes within an energy range of about 90 meV due to strong coupling. It could be well reproduced by a simple model of three coupled Lorentzian oscillators. In the time domain, an oscillatory energy transfer between both antennas with a period of 86 fs and an energy transfer efficiency of about 7\% was observed for single-pulse excitation. For the experiments, devices with cavities and antennas of varying size were fabricated by means of focused-ion-beam (FIB) milling. Time-resolved correlation measurements were performed with high spatial and temporal resolution by using sequences of two femtosecond laser pulses for excitation and photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) for detection. Local correlation traces at antennas in resonant devices, i.e., devices with enhanced electron emission at both antenna positions, were investigated and reconstructed by means of the coupled-oscillator model. The corresponding spectral response revealed separated peaks, confirming the formation of hybridized eigenmodes due to strong coupling. In a subsequent simulation for single-pulse excitation, one back-and-forth energy transfer between both antennas with an energy transfer efficiency of about 10\% was observed. Based on the theoretical and experimental results, it was demonstrated that in the presented plasmonic device a periodic long-range energy transfer between the two nanoantennas is possible. Furthermore, the coupled-oscillator model enables one to study in depth how specific device properties impact the temporal electric-field dynamics within the device. This can be exploited to further optimize energy transfer efficiency of the device. Future applications are envisioned in ultrafast plasmonic nanocircuitry. Moreover, the presented device can be employed to realize efficient SPP-mediated strong coupling between widely separated quantum emitters. In Chapter 6, it was investigated in theory how the local optical chirality enhancement in the near field of plasmonic nanostructures can be optimized by tuning the far-field polarization of the incident light. An analytic expression was derived that enables the calculation of the optimal far-field polarizations, i.e., the two far-field polarizations which lead to the highest positive and negative local optical chirality, for any given nanostructure geometry. The two optimal far-field polarizations depend on the local optical response of the respective nanostructure and thus are functions of both the frequency ω and the position r. Their ellipticities differ only in their sign, i.e., in their direction of rotation in the time domain, and the angle between their orientations, i.e., the angle between the principal axes of their ellipses, is ±π/"2" . The handedness of optimal local optical chirality can be switched by switching between the optimal far-field polarizations. In numerical simulations, it was exemplarily shown for two specific nanostructure assemblies that the optimal local optical chirality can significantly exceed the optical chirality values of circularly polarized light in free space ─ the highest possible values in free space. The corresponding optimal far-field polarizations were different from linear and circular and varied with frequency. Using femtosecond polarization pulse shaping provides the opportunity to coherently control local optical chirality over a continuous frequency range. Furthermore, symmetry properties of nanostructures can be exploited to determine which far-field polarization is optimal. The theoretical findings can have impact on future experimental studies about local optical chirality enhancement. Tuning the far-field polarization of the incident light offers a promising tool to enhance chirally specific interactions of local electromagnetic fields with molecular and other quantum systems in the vicinity of plasmonic nanostructures. The presented approach can be utilized for applications in chiral sensing of adsorbed molecules, time-resolved chirality-sensitive spectroscopy, and chiral quantum control. In conclusion, each of the localized light phenomena that were investigated in this thesis ─ the enhanced local absorption of near-infrared light due to the formation of localized photonic modes, the periodic long-range energy transfer between two nanoantennas within an elliptical plasmonic cavity, and the optimization of local optical chirality enhancement by tuning the far-field polarization of the incident light ─ can open up new perspectives for a variety of future applications. .}, subject = {Ultrakurzzeitspektroskopie}, language = {en} } @article{WohlgemuthMiyazakiTsukadaetal.2017, author = {Wohlgemuth, Matthias and Miyazaki, Mitsuhiko and Tsukada, Kohei and Weiler, Martin and Dopfer, Otto and Fujii, Masaaki and Mitrić, Roland}, title = {Deciphering environment effects in peptide bond solvation dynamics by experiment and theory}, series = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, volume = {19}, journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, number = {33}, doi = {10.1039/C7CP03992A}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-159647}, pages = {22564-22572}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Most proteins work in aqueous solution and the interaction with water strongly affects their structure and function. However, experimentally the motion of a specific single water molecule is difficult to trace by conventional methods, because they average over the heterogeneous solvation structure of bulk water surrounding the protein. Here, we provide a detailed atomistic picture of the water rearrangement dynamics around the -CONH- peptide linkage in the two model systems formanilide and acetanilide, which simply differ by the presence of a methyl group at the peptide linkage. The combination of picosecond pump-probe time-resolved infrared spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrates that the solvation dynamics at the molecular level is strongly influenced by this small structural difference. The effective timescales for solvent migration triggered by ionization are mainly controlled by the efficiency of the kinetic energy redistribution rather than the shape of the potential energy surface. This approach provides a fundamental understanding of protein hydration and may help to design functional molecules in solution with tailored properties.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{HocheSchmittHumeniuketal.2017, author = {Hoche, Joscha and Schmitt, Hans-Christian and Humeniuk, Alexander and Fischer, Ingo and Mitrić, Roland and R{\"o}hr, Merle I. S.}, title = {The mechanism of excimer formation: an experimental and theoretical study on the pyrene dimer}, series = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, doi = {10.1039/C7CP03990E}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-159656}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The understanding of excimer formation in organic materials is of fundamental importance, since excimers profoundly influence their functional performance in applications such as light-harvesting, photovoltaics or organic electronics. We present a joint experimental and theoretical study of the ultrafast dynamics of excimer formation in the pyrene dimer in a supersonic jet, which is the archetype of an excimer forming system. We perform simulations of the nonadiabatic photodynamics in the frame of TDDFT that reveal two distinct excimer formation pathways in the gas-phase dimer. The first pathway involves local excited state relaxation close to the initial Franck-Condon geometry that is characterized by a strong excitation of the stacking coordinate exhibiting damped oscillations with a period of 350 fs that persist for several picoseconds. The second excimer forming pathway involves large amplitude oscillations along the parallel shift coordinate with a period of ≈900 fs that after intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution leads to the formation of a perfectly stacked dimer. The electronic relaxation within the excitonic manifold is mediated by the presence of intermolecular conical intersections formed between fully delocalized excitonic states. Such conical intersections may generally arise in stacked π-conjugated aggregates due to the interplay between the long-range and short-range electronic coupling. The simulations are supported by picosecond photoionization experiments in a supersonic jet that provide a time-constant for the excimer formation of around 6-7 ps, in good agreement with theory. Finally, in order to explore how the crystal environment influences the excimer formation dynamics we perform large scale QM/MM nonadiabatic dynamics simulations on a pyrene crystal in the framework of the long-range corrected tight-binding TDDFT. In contrast to the isolated dimer, the excimer formation in the crystal follows a single reaction pathway in which the initially excited parallel slip motion is strongly damped by the interaction with the surrounding molecules leading to the slow excimer stabilization on a picosecond time scale.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Albert2018, author = {Albert, Julian}, title = {Quantum Studies on Low-Dimensional Coupled Electron-Nuclear Dynamics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-161512}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In the context of quantum mechanical calculations, the properties of non-adiabatic coupling in a small system, the Shin-Metiu model, is investigated. The transition from adiabatic to non-adiabatic dynamics is elucidated in modifying the electron-nuclear interaction. This allows the comparison of weakly correlated electron-nuclear motion with the case where the strong correlations determine the dynamics. The studies of the model are extended to include spectroscopical transitions being present in two-dimensional and degenerate four-wave mixing spectroscopy. Furthermore, the quantum and classical time-evolution of the coupled motion in the complete electron-nuclear phase space is compared for the two coupling cases. Additionally, the numerically exact electron flux within the weak coupling case is compared to the Born-Oppenheimer treatment. In the last part of the thesis, the model is extended to two dimensions. The system then possesses potential energy surfaces which exhibit a typical 'Mexican hat'-like structure and a conical intersection in the adiabatic representation. Thus, it is possible to map properties of the system onto a vibronic coupling (Jahn-Teller) hamiltonian. Exact wave-packet propagations as well as nuclear wave-packet dynamics in the adiabatic and diabatic representation are performed.}, subject = {Theoretische Chemie}, language = {en} } @article{KnorrSokkarSchottetal.2016, author = {Knorr, Johannes and Sokkar, Pandian and Schott, Sebastian and Costa, Paolo and Thiel, Walter and Sander, Wolfram and Sanchez-Garcia, Elsa and Nuernberger, Patrick}, title = {Competitive solvent-molecule interactions govern primary processes of diphenylcarbene in solvent mixtures}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {7}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms12968}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-165954}, pages = {12968}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Photochemical reactions in solution often proceed via competing reaction pathways comprising intermediates that capture a solvent molecule. A disclosure of the underlying reaction mechanisms is challenging due to the rapid nature of these processes and the intricate identification of how many solvent molecules are involved. Here combining broadband femtosecond transient absorption and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations, we show for one of the most reactive species, diphenylcarbene, that the decision-maker is not the nearest solvent molecule but its neighbour. The hydrogen bonding dynamics determine which reaction channels are accessible in binary solvent mixtures at room temperature. In-depth analysis of the amount of nascent intermediates corroborates the importance of a hydrogen-bonded complex with a protic solvent molecule, in striking analogy to complexes found at cryogenic temperatures. Our results show that adjacent solvent molecules take the role of key abettors rather than bystanders for the fate of the reactive intermediate.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Roeder2017, author = {R{\"o}der, Anja M.}, title = {Excited-State Dynamics in Open-Shell Molecules}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-151738}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2017}, abstract = {In this thesis the excited-state dynamics of radicals and biradicals were characterized with femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. These open-shell molecules play important roles as combustion intermediates, in the formation of soot and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, in atmospheric chemistry and in the formation of complex molecules in the interstellar medium and galactic clouds. In these processes molecules frequently occur in some excited state, excited either by thermal energy or radiation. Knowledge of the reactivity and dynamics of these excited states completes our understanding of these complex processes. These highly reactive molecules were produced via pyrolysis from suitable precursors and examined in a molecular beam under collision-free conditions. A first laser now excites the molecule, and a second laser ionizes it. Time-of-flight mass spectrometry allowed a first identification of the molecule, photoelectron spectroscopy a complete characterization of the molecule - under the condition that the mass spectrum was dominated by only one mass. The photoelectron spectrum was obtained via velocity-map imaging, providing an insight in the electronic states involved. Ion velocity map imaging allowed separation of signal from direct ionization of the radical in the molecular beam and dissociative photoionization of the precursor. During this thesis a modified pBasex algorithm was developed and implemented in python, providing an image inversion tool without interpolation of data points. Especially for noisy photoelectron images this new algorithm delivers better results. Some highlighted results: • The 2-methylallyl radical was excited in the ππ*-state with different internal energies using three different pump wavelengths (240.6 , 238.0 and 236.0 nm). Ionized with 800 nm multi-photon probe, the photoelectron spectra shows a s-Rydberg fingerprint spectrum, a highly positive photoelectron anisotropy of 1.5 and a bi-exponential decay ( τ1= 141\pm43 fs, τ2= 4.0\pm0.2 ps for 240.6 nm pump), where the second time-constant shortens for lower wavelengths. Field-induced surface hopping dynamics calculations confirm that the initially excited ππ*-state relaxes very fast to an s-Rydberg state (first experimentally observed time-constant), and then more slowly to the first excited state/ground state (second time-constant). With higher excitation energies the conical intersection between the s-Rydberg-state and the first excited state is reached faster, resulting in shorter life-times. • The benzyl radical was excited yith 265 nm and probed with two wavelengths, 798 nm and 398 nm. Probed with 798 nm it shows a bi-exponential decay (\tau_{1}=84\pm5 fs, \tau_{2}=1.55\pm0.12 ps), whereas with 398 nm probe only the first time-constant is observed (\tau_{1}=89\pm5 fs). The photoelectron spectra with 798 nm probe is comparable to the spectrum with 398 nm probe during the first 60 fs, at longer times an additional band appears. This band is due to a [1+3']-process, whereas with 398 nm only signal from a [1+1']-process can be observed. Non-adiabatic dynamic on the fly calculations show that the initially excited, nearly degenerate ππ/p-Rydberg-states relax very fast (first time-constant) to an s-Rydberg state. This s-Rydberg state can no longer be ionized with 398 nm, but with 798 nm ionization via intermediate resonances is still possible. The s-Rydberg state then decays to the first excited state (second time-constant), which is long-lived. • Para-xylylene, excited with 266 nm into the S2-state and probed with 800 nm, shows a bi-exponential decay (\tau_{1}=38\pm7 fs, \tau_{2}=407\pm9 fs). The initially excited S2-state decays quickly to S1-state, which shows dissociative photoionization. The population of the S1-state is directly visible in the masses of the dissociative photoionization products, benzene and the para-xylylene -H. • Ortho-benzyne, produced via pyrolysis from benzocyclobutendione, was excited with 266 nm in the S2 state and probed with 800 nm. In its time-resolved mass spectra the dynamic of the ortho-benzyne signal was superposed with the dynamics from dissociative photoionization of the precursor and of the ortho-benzyne-dimer. With time-resolved ion imaging gated on the ortho-benzyne these processes could be seperated, showing that the S2-state of ortho-benzyne relaxes within 50 fs to the S1-state.}, subject = {Radikal }, language = {en} } @unpublished{BoehnkeDellermannCeliketal.2018, author = {B{\"o}hnke, Julian and Dellermann, Theresa and Celik, Mehmet Ali and Krummenacher, Ivo and Dewhurst, Rian D. and Demeshko, Serhiy and Ewing, William C. and Hammond, Kai and Heß, Merlin and Bill, Eckhard and Welz, Eileen and R{\"o}hr, Merle I. S. and Mitric, Roland and Engels, Bernd and Meyer, Franc and Braunschweig, Holger}, title = {Isolation of diradical products of twisted double bonds}, series = {Nature Communications}, journal = {Nature Communications}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-160248}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Molecules containing multiple bonds between atoms—most often in the form of olefins—are ubiquitous in nature, commerce, and science, and as such have a huge impact on everyday life. Given their prominence, over the last few decades, frequent attempts have been made to perturb the structure and reactivity of multiply-bound species through bending and twisting. However, only modest success has been achieved in the quest to completely twist double bonds in order to homolytically cleave the associated π bond. Here, we present the isolation of double-bond-containing species based on boron, as well as their fully twisted diradical congeners, by the incorporation of attached groups with different electronic properties. The compounds comprise a structurally authenticated set of diamagnetic multiply-bound and diradical singly-bound congeners of the same class of compound.}, language = {en} } @article{LisinetskayaBraunProchetal.2016, author = {Lisinetskaya, Polina and Braun, Christian and Proch, Sebastian and Kim, Young Dok and Gantef{\"o}r, Gerd and Mitrić, Roland}, title = {Excited state nonadiabatic dynamics of bare and hydrated anionic gold clusters Au\(^-_3\)[H\(_2\)O]\(_n\) (n=0-2)}, series = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, volume = {18}, journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, number = {9}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/c5cp04297f}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-159176}, pages = {6411-6419}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We present a joint theoretical and experimental study of excited state dynamics in pure and hydrated anionic gold clusters Au\(^-_3\)[H\(_2\)O]\(_n\) (n = 0-2). We employ mixed quantum-classical dynamics combined with femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy in order to investigate the influence of hydration on excited state lifetimes and photo-dissociation dynamics. A gradual decrease of the excited state lifetime with the number of adsorbed water molecules as well as gold cluster fragmentation quenching by two or more water molecules are observed both in experiment and in simulations. Non-radiative relaxation and dissociation in excited states are found to be responsible for the excited state population depletion. Time constants of these two processes strongly depend on the number of water molecules leading to the possibility to modulate excited state dynamics and fragmentation of the anionic cluster by adsorption of water molecules.}, language = {en} }