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The size-dependent exciton dynamics of one-dimensional aggregates of substituted perylene bisimides are studied by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy and kinetic Monte-Carlo simulations as a function of the excitation density and the temperature in the range of 25-90 degrees C. For low temperatures, the aggregates can be treated as infinite chains and the dynamics is dominated by diffusion-driven exciton-exciton annihilation. With increasing temperature the aggregates dissociate into small fragments consisting of very few monomers. This scenario is also supported by the time-dependent anisotropy deduced from polarization-dependent experiments.
Ever since the discovery of dye self-assemblies in nature, there have been tremendous efforts to exploit biomimetic supramolecular assemblies for tailored artificial photon processing materials. This feature necessarily has resulted in an increasing demand for understanding exciton dynamics in the dye self-assemblies. In a sharp contrast with pi-type aggregates, however, the detailed observation of exciton dynamics in H-type aggregates has remained challenging. In this study, as we succeed in measuring transient fluorescence from Frenkel state of π-stacked perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide dimer and oligomer aggregates, we present an experimental demonstration on Frenkel exciton dynamics of archetypal columnar π-π stacks of dyes. The analysis of the vibronic peak ratio of the transient fluorescence spectra reveals that unlike the simple π-stacked dimer, the photoexcitation energy in the columnar π-stacked oligomer aggregates is initially delocalized over at least three molecular units and moves coherently along the chain in tens of femtoseconds, preceding excimer formation process.
Squaraine dyes have attracted more attention in the past decade due to their strong and narrow absorption and fluorescence along with the easily functionalized molecular structure. One successful approach of core functionalization is to replace one oxygen of the squaric carbonyl group with a dicyanomethylene group, which shifts the absorption and emission into the near infrared (NIR) region and at the same time leads to a rigid, planar structure with C2v symmetry. However, such squaraines tend to aggregate cofacially in solution due to dispersion forces and dipole-dipole interactions, usually leading to H-type exciton coupling with undesired blue-shifted spectrum and quenched fluorescence. Therefore, the goal of my research was the design of dicyanomethylene-substituted squaraine dyes that self-assemble into extended aggregates in solution with J-type coupling, in order to retain or even enhance their outstanding optical properties. Toward this goal, bis(squaraine) dyes were envisioned with two squaraine units covalently linked to trigger a slip-stacked packing motif within the aggregates to enable J-type coupling.
In my first project, bis(squaraine) dye BisSQ1 was synthesized, in which two dicyanomethylene squaraine chromophores are covalently linked. Concentration and temperature-dependent UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy experiments reveal that BisSQ1 undergoes cooperative self-assembly resulting in J-type aggregates in a solvent mixture of toluene/1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TCE) (98:2, v/v). The J type exciton coupling is evident from the significantly red shifted absorption maximum at 886 nm and the fluorescence peak at 904 nm. In conclusion, this was a first example to direct squaraine dye aggregation in solution to the more desired slip-stacked packing leading to J-type exciton coupling by simply connecting two dyes in a head-to-tail bis chromophore structure.
Connecting two squaraine dyes with an additional phenylene spacer (BisSQ2) leads to two different polymorphs with very distinct absorption spectra upon cooling down a solution of BisSQ2 in a solvent mixture of toluene/TCE (98:2, v/v) with different rates. Accordingly, rapid cooling resulted in rigid helical nanorods with an absorption spectrum showing a panchromatic feature, while slow cooling led to a sheet-like structure with a significant bathochromic shift in the absorption spectrum.
It was discovered that the conventional molecular exciton model failed to explain the panchromatic absorption features of the nanorods for the given packing arrangement, therefore more profound theoretical investigations based on the Essential States Model (ESM) were applied to unveil the importance of intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) to adequately describe the panchromatic absorption spectrum. Moreover, the red-shift observed in the spectrum for the sheet-like structure can be assigned to the interplay of Coulomb coupling and ICT-mediated coupling.
Furthermore, the same bis-chromophore strategy was adopted for constructing an NIR-II emitter with a bathochromically-shifted spectrum. In chloroform, BisSQ3 exhibits an absorption maximum at 961 nm with a significant bathochromic shift (1020 cm−1) compared to the reference mono-squaraine SQ, indicating intramolecular J-type coupling via head-to-tail arrangement of two squaraine dyes. Moreover, BisSQ3 shows a fluorescence peak at 971 nm with a decent quantum yield of 0.33%. In less polar toluene, BisSQ3 self-assembles into nanofibers with additional intermolecular J-type coupling, causing a pronounced bathochromic shift with absorption maximum at 1095 nm and a fluorescence peak at 1116 nm. Thus, connecting two quinoline-based squaraines in a head-to-tail fashion leads to not only intra-, but also intermolecular J-type exciton coupling, which serves as a promising strategy to shift the absorption and emission of organic fluorophores into the NIR-II window while retaining decent quantum yields.
In conclusion, my research illustrates based on squaraine dyes how a simple modification of the molecular structure can significantly affect the aggregation behavior and further alter the optical properties of dye aggregates. Elongated supramolecular structures based on dicyanomethylene substituted squaraine dyes were successfully established by covalently linking two squaraine units to form a bis-chromophore structure. Then, a simple but efficient general approach was established to direct squaraine dye aggregation in solution to the more desired slip-stacked packing leading to J-type exciton coupling by directly connecting two squaraine dyes in a head-to-tail fashion without spacer units. Moreover, the additional spacer between the squaraine dyes in BisSQ2 allowed different molecular conformations, which leads to two different morphologies depending on the cooling rates for a hot solution. Hence, this is a promising strategy to realize supramolecular polymorphism.
In general, it is expected that the concept of constructing J-aggregates by the bis-chromophore approach can be extended to entirely different classes of dyes since J-aggregates possess a variety of features such as spectral shifts into the NIR window, fluorescence enhancement, and light harvesting, which are commonly observed and utilized for numerous fundamental studies and applications. Moreover, the insights on short-range charge transfer coupling for squaraine dyes is considered of relevance for all materials based on alternating donor-acceptor π-systems. The panchromatic spectral feature is in particular crucial for acceptor-donor-acceptor (ADA) dyes, which are currently considered as very promising materials for the development of bulk heterojunction solar cells.
This work is investigating the electronic structure of organic thin films. A central question in this respect is the influence of the interaction between the molecules in the condensed phase and the interaction at metal-organic interfaces on the electronic properties. For this purpose the experimental methods Photoelectron Spectroscopy (PES) and Near Edge X-ray Absorption Finestructure Spectroscopy (NEXAFS) were applied with highest energy resolution. In addition, ab initio calculations were performed for the theoretical simulation of NEXFAS spectra. The investigation is mainly focussing on thin, vacuum sublimated films of aromatic model molecules with oxygen-containing functional groups (NTCDA, PTCDA, NDCA, BPDCA and ANQ) and Ag(111) surfaces. Due to their large, delocalised p-systems these molecules have very interesting properties for their application in electronic devices. Due to the high energy resolution of third generation synchrotron sources the vibronic fine structure in the NEXAFS spectra of these large molecules could be resolved for the first time in the condensed phase. A comparison of the data of the different molecules provides interesting insight into the coupling between electronic transition and vibronic excitation. Although for these molecules a variety of different vibronic modes exist, the NEXAFS data show that preferentially only on mode couples to each electronic transition. The high-resolution PES spectra of the molecules NTCDA, PTCDA, NDCA, BPDCA and ANQ show distinct differences thus providing a fingerprint for each investigated substance. A comparative analysis of the spectra enabled us to define the 1s binding energies of all chemically different carbon and oxygen atoms. Additional structures in the spectra can be assigned as shake-up satellites. The five molecules are an ideal model system for the investigation of fundamental aspects of core electron spectroscopy, such as initial and final state effects and satellites, that are influenced by the intra- and intermolecular electron distribution in the ground and core ionized state. An important aspect in this thesis is the spectroscopic investigation of structurally different NTCDA monolayer phases on the Ag(111) surface. Marked differences in the electronic structures of the different phases, that can be assigned to differences in the metal-adsorbate interaction, could be demonstrated by XPS and NEXAFS. The substrate bonding can be characterized as chemisorptive for both, the compressed as well as the relaxed NTCDA monolayer, which can be unambiguously deduced from the analysis of satellite structures in the O 1s and C 1s XPS spectra. These satellites are due to dynamic screening by charge transfer from the substrate. The NEXAFS data show consistently, that the NTCDA LUMO becomes partly occupied upon adsorption. Highly interesting phase transitions into disordered low-temperature phases occur upon cooling to 160 K for both, the compressed and the relaxed NTCDA monolayer. Thereby, the adsorbate-substrate bonding is increased and the NTCDA LUMO becomes completely occupied. This can be observed in the NEXAFS data, where transitions involving LUMO final states are quenched. Simultaneously, the XPS data show a distinctly decreased intensity of unscreened photoemission states due to enhanced charge transfer screening. In addition, a hysteresis behaviour could be demonstrated for the phase transition of the relaxed monolayer by temperature dependent NEXAFS experiments and the hysteresis curve was determined. The hysteresis could be quantified to approx. 20 K. From SPA-LEED experiments the activating energy for the phase transition of the relaxed monolayer upon cooling could be determined to 60 meV. Finally, a NEXAFS investigation of polyethylene samples with different comonomer content is presented. Differences in the absorption spectra between samples with different comonomer content could be unambiguously assigned to the different crystallinities of the samples by heating a highly crystalline sample in situ close to the melting temperature. Ab initio calculations on a model matrix of butane molecules show, that the spectra of crystalline and amorphous polyethylene differ distinctly due to the intermolecular interaction, which can be observed best for resonances with strong Rydberg character. Thus, the differences in the PE spectra can be explained by the superposition of the signatures of crystalline and amorphous moieties, that are mixed according to the respective crystallinity.
The focus of this analysis is on the early detection of forest health changes, specifically that of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.). In this analysis, we planned to examine the time (degree of early detection), spectral wavelengths and appropriate method for detecting vitality changes. To accomplish this, a ring-barking experiment with seven subsequent laboratory needle measurements was carried out in 2013 and 2014 in an area in southeastern Germany near Altötting. The experiment was also accompanied by visual crown condition assessment. In total, 140 spruce trees in groups of five were ring-barked with the same number of control trees in groups of five that were selected as reference trees in order to compare their development. The laboratory measurements were analysed regarding the separability of ring-barked and control samples using spectral reflectance, vegetation indices and derivative analysis. Subsequently, a random forest classifier for determining important spectral wavelength regions was applied. Results from the methods are consistent and showed a high importance of the visible (VIS) spectral region, very low importance of the near-infrared (NIR) and minor importance of the shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral region. Using spectral reflectance data as well as indices, the earliest separation time was found to be 292 days after ring-barking. The derivative analysis showed that a significant separation was observed 152 days after ring-barking for six spectral features spread through VIS and SWIR. A significant separation was detected using a random forest classifier 292 days after ring-barking with 58% separability. The visual crown condition assessment was analysed regarding obvious changes of vitality and the first indication was observed 302 days after ring-barking as bark beetle infestation and yellowing of foliage in the ring-barked trees only. This experiment shows that an early detection, compared with visual crown assessment, is possible using the proposed methods for this specific data set. This study will contribute to ongoing research for early detection of vitality changes that will support foresters and decision makers.
This thesis gives insights into the real-time dynamics of several free carbenes and radicals on a femtosecond and nanosecond time scale. The experiments were performed with radicals, singlet carbenes and triplet carbenes of various sizes. Several neutral excited states as well as the ionic ground state were characterized. Despite the relevance of such reactive intermediates in almost all chemical reactions, only relatively little experimental information on such systems is found in the literature. This is linked to the experimental challenge of producing such species under isolated conditions. The intermediates are formed from precursor molecules under interaction- free conditions by supersonic jet flash pyrolysis. The precursor molecules were synthetically designed to show clean thermal dissociation into one specific intermediate. A large variety of spectroscopic techniques was applied to study the intermediates. Each method augments the results of the other methods. This enabled to successfully approach the main goal of this thesis: to understand the excited-state dynamics of organic intermediates. The excited states were found to deactivate rapidly to the hot ground state. The observed fast decay is presumably linked to coupled electronically excited states and relaxation takes place by internal conversion or conical intersections. Further reactions then take place on the ground state surface. Absorption spectra, photodissociation dynamics, photoelectron spectra, ionization potentials, excited-state lifetimes and dissociative photoionization were elucidated by the measurements. Pulsed and continuous light sources were used over a large spectral range (UV, Vis, VUV). A well-defined amount of energy was deposited into the molecule. After internal conversion has taken place, a microcanonical ensemble of reactive intermediates can be studied. This data helps to understand the energetics and reaction channels of intermediates. Velocity map imaging enabled to monitor the pyrolysis efficiency in real time by analyzing photoion images. This observation facilitates clean intermediate generation. Experimental results were compared to quantum chemical calculations to aid the interpretation as well as to test the performance of theoretical approaches. Hydrocarbon radicals and carbenes are regarded as benchmark systems for computational methods due to their several low-lying electronic states and open-shell electronic configuration. The experimental data can help to identify and understand the contributions of the examined intermediates to the chemistry of high energy environments (e. g., hydrocarbon cracking reactors, interstellar space and combustion chambers). Here increased numbers of hydrocarbon intermediates are often present and usually have a strong impact on the overall reaction mechanism. Such environments contain in general a complex mixture of several different intermediates. The more spectroscopic and dynamic properties of each isolated intermediate are known, the easier it is to identify it among multiple components and to understand how it contributes to the overall reaction mechanism. Electronic excitation can take place by radiation, particle collisions or thermally at very high temperatures. How excited states influence the reaction mechanisms is still a matter of currant research.
The present studies which have been performed in the work-group C-2 (Prof. W. Kiefer) within the program of the Sonderforschungsbereichs 347, deal with the FT-Raman and –IR spectroscopy on new organometallic complexes, synthesized in the work-groups B-2 (Prof. W. Malisch), B-3 (Prof. W. A. Schenk), D-1 (Prof. H. Werner) and D-4 (Prof. D. Stalke). The FT-Raman spectra recorded at 1064 nm led to very useful and interesting information. Furthermore, the DFT calculations which are known to offer promise of obtaining accurate vibrational wavenumbers, were successfully used for the assignment of the vibrational spectra. For the first time it has been possible to ascribe exactly the n(RhC) stretching mode in the vinylidene rhodium(I) complex trans-[RhF(=C=CH2)(PiPr3)2] by using isotopic substitution, in conjunction with theoretical calculations. This is also true for the complexes trans-[RhF(CO)(PiPr3)2], trans-[RhF(C2H4)(PiPr3)2], trans-[RhX(=C=CHPh)(PiPr3)2] (X = F, Cl, Br, I, Me, PhCºC) and trans-[RhX(CN-2,6-xylyl)(PiPr3)2] (X = F, Cl, Br, I, CºCPh). In addition, the comparison between the n(RhC) wavenumbers of the complexes trans-[RhF(=13C=13CH2)(PiPr3)2] and trans-[RhF(CO)(PiPr3)2], containing the isoelectronic ligands 13C=13CH2 and CO, which have the same reduced mass, indicated that the Rh-C bond is stronger in the carbonyl than in the vinylidene complex. Besides, the n(RhF) stretching mode, which has been observed at higher wavenumbers in the FT-Raman and -IR spectra of trans-[RhF(CO)(PiPr3)2], showed that the carbonyl ligand is a better p-acceptor and a less effective s-donor than the vinylidene one. Moreover, the comparison of the n(CºC) and n(Rh-C) modes from the FT-Raman spectrum of the complexes trans-[Rh(CºCPh)(L)(PiPr3)2] (L = C=CHPh, CO, CN-2,6-xylyl) point out that the p-acceptor ability of the ligand trans to CºCPh should rise in the order C=CH2 < CO < CN-2,6-xylyl £ C=CHPh. The investigated sensitivity of the n(RhC), n(CC), n(CO) and n(CN) vibrational modes to the electronic modifications occuring in the vinylidene, carbonyl, ethylene and isonitrile complexes, should allow in the future the examination of the p-acceptor or p-donor properties of further ligands. Likewise, we were able to characterize the influence of various X ligands on the RhC bond by using the n(RhC) stretching mode as a probe for the weakening of this. The calculated wavenumbers of the n(RhC) for the vinylidene complexes trans-[RhX(=C=CHR)(PiPr3)2], where R = H or Ph, suggested that the strength of the Rh=C bond increases along the sequence X = CºCPh < CH3 < I < Br < Cl < F. For the series of carbonyl compounds trans-[RhX(CO)(PiPr3)2], where X = F, Cl, Br and I, analogous results have been obtained and confirmed from the model compounds trans-[RhX(CO)(PMe3)2]. Since, the calculated vibrational modes for the ethylene complex trans-[RhF(C2H4)(PiPr3)2] were in good agreement with the experimental results and supported the description of this complex as a metallacyclopropane, we were interested in getting more information upon this class of compounds. In this context, we have recorded the FT-Raman and -IR spectra of the thioaldehyde complexes mer-[W(CO)3(dmpe)(h2-S=CH2)] and mer-[W(CO)3(dmpe)(h2-S=CD2)] which have been synthezised by B-3. The positions of the different WL vibrational modes anticipated by the DFT calculations, were consistent with the experimental results. Indeed, the analysis of the band shifts in the FT-Raman and –IR spectra of the isotopomer mer-[W(CO)3(dmpe)(h2-S=CD2)] confirmed our assignment. The different stereoisomers of complex mer-[W(CO)3(dmpe)(h2-S=CH2)] were investigated too, since RMN and IR-data have shown that complex mer-[W(CO)3(dmpe)(h2-S=CH2)] lead in solution to an equilibrium. Since the information on the vibrational spectra of the molybdenum and tungsten complexes Cp(CO)2M-PR2-X (M = Mo, W; R = Me, tBu, Ph; X = S, Se) is very scarce, we extended our research work to this class of compounds. We have tried to elucidate the bonding properties in these chalcogenoheterocycle complexes by taking advantage of the mass effect on the different metal atoms (W vs. Mo). Thus, the observed band shifts allowed to assign most of the ML fundamental modes of these complexes. This project and the following one were a cooperation within the work-group B-2. The Raman and IR spectra of the matrix isolated photoproducts expected by the UV irradiation of the iron silyl complex Cp(CO)2FeSiH2CH3 have been already reported by Claudia Fickert and Volker Nagel in their PhD-thesis. Since no exact assignment was feasible for these spectra, we were interested in the study of the reaction products created by irradiation of the carbonyl iron silyl complex Cp(CO)2FeCH2SiH3. Although the calculated characteristic vibrational modes of the metal ligand unit for the various photoproducts are significantly different in constitution, they are very similar in wavenumbers, which did not simplify their identification. However, the theoretical results have been found to be consistent with the earlier experimental results. Finally, the last part of this thesis has been devoted to the (2-Py)2E- anions which exhibit a high selectivity toward metal-coordination. All di(2-pyridyl) amides and -phosphides which were synthesized by D-4, coordinate the R2Al+ fragment via both ring nitrogen atoms. This already suggests that the charge density in the anions is coupled into the rings and accumulated at the ring nitrogen atoms, but the Lewis basicity of the central nitrogen atom in Et2Al(2-Py)2N is still high enough to coordinate a second equivalent AlEt3 to form the Lewis acid base adduct Et2Al(2-Py)2NAlEt3. Due to the higher electronegativity of the central nitrogen atom in Me2Al(2-Py)2N, Et2Al(2-Py)2N and Et2Al(2-Py)2NAlEt3, compared to the bridging two coordinated phosphorus atom in Me2Al(2-Py)2P and Et2Al(2-Py)2P, the di(2-pyridyl)amide is the hardest Lewis base. In the phosphides merely all charge density couples into the rings leaving the central phosphorus atom only attractive for soft metals. These results were confirmed by using DFT and MP2 calculations. Moreover, a similar behaviour has been observed and described for the benzothiazolyl complex [Me2Al{Py(Bth)P}], where complementary investigations are to be continued. The DFT calculations carried out on the model compounds analysed in these studies supply very accurate wavenumbers and molecular geometries, these being in excellent agreement with the experimental results obtained from the corresponding isolated complexes.
Interaction between light and matter generates optical nonlinearities, which are particularly pronounced in the quantum strong coupling regime. When a single bosonic mode couples to a single fermionic mode, a Jaynes-Cummings (JC) ladder is formed, which we realize here using cavity photons and quantum dot excitons. We measure and model the coherent anharmonic response of this strongly coupled exciton-cavity system at resonance. Injecting two photons into the cavity, we demonstrate a \(\sqrt 2\) larger polariton splitting with respect to the vacuum Rabi splitting. This is achieved using coherent nonlinear spectroscopy, specifically four-wave mixing, where the coherence between the ground state and the first (second) rung of the JC ladder can be interrogated for positive (negative) delays. With increasing excitation intensity and thus rising average number of injected photons, we observe spectral signatures of the quantum-to-classical crossover of the strong coupling regime.
Background
The Goutallier Classification is a semi quantitative classification system to determine the amount of fatty degeneration in rotator cuff muscles. Although initially proposed for axial computer tomography scans it is currently applied to magnet-resonance-imaging-scans. The role for its clinical use is controversial, as the reliability of the classification has been shown to be inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to compare the semi quantitative MRI-based Goutallier Classification applied by 5 different raters to experimental MR spectroscopic quantitative fat measurement in order to determine the correlation between this classification system and the true extent of fatty degeneration shown by spectroscopy.
Methods
MRI-scans of 42 patients with rotator cuff tears were examined by 5 shoulder surgeons and were graduated according to the MRI-based Goutallier Classification proposed by Fuchs et al. Additionally the fat/water ratio was measured with MR spectroscopy using the experimental SPLASH technique. The semi quantitative grading according to the Goutallier Classification was statistically correlated with the quantitative measured fat/water ratio using Spearman’s rank correlation.
Results
Statistical analysis of the data revealed only fair correlation of the Goutallier Classification system and the quantitative fat/water ratio with R = 0.35 (p < 0.05). By dichotomizing the scale the correlation was 0.72. The interobserver and intraobserver reliabilities were substantial with R = 0.62 and R = 0.74 (p < 0.01).
Conclusion
The correlation between the semi quantitative MRI based Goutallier Classification system and MR spectroscopic fat measurement is weak. As an adequate estimation of fatty degeneration based on standard MRI may not be possible, quantitative methods need to be considered in order to increase diagnostic safety and thus provide patients with ideal care in regard to the amount of fatty degeneration. Spectroscopic MR measurement may increase the accuracy of the Goutallier classification and thus improve the prediction of clinical results after rotator cuff repair. However, these techniques are currently only available in an experimental setting.
Background:
The amount of fatty degeneration (FD) has major impact on the clinical result and cuff integrity after rotator cuff repair. A quantitative analysis with magnet resonance imaging (MRI) spectroscopy was employed to analyze possible correlation of FD with tendon retraction, tendon thickness and patients’ characteristics in full thickness supraspinatus tears.
Methods:
Forty-two patients with full-thickness supraspinatus tears underwent shoulder MRI including an experimental spectroscopic sequence allowing quantification of the fat fraction in the supraspinatus muscle belly. The amount of fatty degeneration was correlated with tendon retraction, tendon thickness, patients’ age, gender, smoker status, symptom duration and body mass index (BMI). Patients were divided in to three groups of retraction (A) 0-10 mm (n=), (B) 11-20 mm (n=) and (C) < 21 mm (n=) and the means of FD for each group were calculated.
Results:
Tendon retraction (R = 0.6) and symptom duration (R = 0.6) correlated positively, whereas tendon thickness correlated negatively (R = − 0.6) with the amount of FD. The fat fraction increased significantly with tendon retraction: Group (A) showed a mean fat mount of 3.7% (±4%), group (B) of 16.7% (±8.2%) and group (C) of 37.5% (±19%). BMI, age and smoker-status only showed weak to moderate correlation with the amount of FD in this cohort.
Conclusion:
MRI spectroscopy revealed significantly higher amount of fat with increasing grade of retraction, symptom duration and decreased tendon thickness. Thus, these parameters may indirectly be associated with the severity of tendon disease.