Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Buyang Yu, Chunfeng Zhang, Lan Chen, Zhengyuan Qin, Xinyu Huang, Xiaoyong Wang, Min Xiao
Summary: Perovskite semiconductor nanocrystals have shown great potential in optoelectronic applications, and their performances rely on the excited-state dynamics, with recent studies focusing on photoinduced carrier dynamics, spin dynamics, and coherent exciton dynamics. Future research should aim to address controversial results and unresolved origins to fully understand the excited-state dynamics.
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Buyang Yu, Chunfeng Zhang, Lan Chen, Zhengyuan Qin, Xinyu Huang, Xiaoyong Wang, Min Xiao
Summary: Perovskite semiconductor nanocrystals have shown promise in optoelectronic applications, with recent research focusing on their photoinduced carrier dynamics. The dynamics of carrier generation, recombination, and transport play essential roles in the performance of devices such as light-emitting diodes and solar cells. Spin dynamics and coherent exciton dynamics are important for potential applications in quantum information technology, though there are still controversial results and unresolved origins to be addressed.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiyu Xu, Daqiang Chen, Sheng Meng
Summary: Photoexcitation has been proven as an efficient way to trigger phase transitions in strongly correlated materials. However, the atomistic mechanisms behind the structural phase transitions (SPTs) and electronic insulator-metal transitions (IMTs) in VO2 have been controversial. This study clarifies some key controversies and provides insights into the underlying atomistic processes and decoupling nature of photoinduced SPT and IMT in nonequilibrium states.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
L. Longetti, T. R. Barillot, M. Puppin, J. Ojeda, L. Poletto, F. van Mourik, C. A. Arrell, M. Chergui
Summary: The study reveals that upon 263 nm excitation, aqueous ferrioxalate undergoes a ligand-to-metal electron transfer, followed by dissociation of excited molecules into CO2 and [(CO2)Fe-II(C2O4)(2)](3-) fragments, with approximately 25% recombining to reform the ground state of the parent ferric molecule.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Mohamed El-Amine Madjet, Esam Ali, Marcelo Carignano, Oriol Vendrell, Himadri S. Chakraborty
Summary: The study investigates the electron relaxation in endofullerene Mg@C-60 following photoexcitation in Mg, leading to ultrafast decay and charge transfer within tens of femtoseconds. Experimental results suggest that method (i) can delay the electron-hole recombination process.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Yijing Huang, Shan Yang, Samuel Teitelbaum, Gilberto De la Pena, Takahiro Sato, Matthieu Chollet, Diling Zhu, Jennifer L. Niedziela, Dipanshu Bansal, Andrew F. May, Aaron M. Lindenberg, Olivier Delaire, David A. Reis, Mariano Trigo
Summary: There is growing interest in using ultrafast light pulses to drive functional materials into nonequilibrium states with novel properties. In this study, a novel nonthermal lattice instability induced by ultrafast above-gap excitation in SnSe was reported. This lattice instability is accompanied by a drastic softening of the lowest-frequency Ag phonon. The results have implications for optical control and structural dynamics studies of monochalcogenides and related materials.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nina Girotto, Fabio Caruso, Dino Novko
Summary: This study combines ab initio time-dependent Boltzmann equations and many-body phonon self-energy calculations to investigate the nonadiabatic phonon renormalization process in the MoS2 monolayer under nonequilibrium conditions. The results show that the nonequilibrium state of photoexcited MoS2 is influenced by the multi-valley topology of valence and conduction bands, leading to anisotropic electron-phonon thermalization paths and phonon renormalization around high-symmetry points. This work provides potential guidelines for controlling electron-phonon relaxation channels and phonon dynamics under extreme photoexcited conditions.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Camila Bacellar, Rebecca A. Ingle, Giulia F. Mancini, Dominik Kinschel, Oliviero Cannelli, Yang Zhao, Claudio Cirelli, Gregor Knopp, Jakub Szlachetko, Frederico A. Lima, Samuel Menzi, Dmitry Ozerov, Georgios Pamfilidis, Katharina Kubicek, Dmitry Khakhulin, Wojciech Gawelda, Angel Rodriguez-Fernandez, Mykola Biednov, Christian Bressler, Christopher A. Arrell, Jeremy R. Rouxel, Philip J. M. Johnson, Christopher J. Milne, Majed Chergui
Summary: We report femtosecond X-ray absorption and emission spectra of ferric cytochrome C upon excitation of the haem or mixed excitation of the haem and tryptophan. The results suggest an ultrafast energy transfer between tryptophan and the haem, which is consistent with previous studies. The observed decay times of tryptophan fluorescence in ferrous and ferric cytochrome C are among the shortest reported and call for further theoretical investigation.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Camila Bacellar, Jeremy R. Rouxel, Rebecca A. Ingle, Giulia F. Mancini, Dominik Kinschel, Oliviero Cannelli, Yang Zhao, Claudio Cirelli, Gregor Knopp, Jakub Szlachetko, Frederico A. Lima, Samuel Menzi, Dmitry Ozerov, Georgios Pamfilidis, Katharina Kubicek, Dmitry Khakhulin, Wojciech Gawelda, Angel Rodriguez-Fernandez, Mykola Biednov, Christian Bressler, Christopher A. Arrell, Philip J. M. Johnson, Christopher J. Milne, Majed Chergui
Summary: We present femtosecond Fe K-edge absorption (XAS) and nonresonant X-ray emission (XES) spectra, which indicate ultrafast energy transfer between the haem and tryptophan in ferric cytochrome C (Cyt c), without electron transfer processes. The decay times of tryptophan fluorescence in ferrous and ferric Cyt c are among the shortest reported for Trp in a protein, calling for further theoretical investigation.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuzhong Chen, Ying Shi, Yusong Gan, Haiyun Liu, Tengfei Li, Sanjib Ghosh, Qihua Xiong
Summary: Exciton polaritons at room temperature exhibit ultrafast coherent dynamics with high propagation speed and longer coherence time than previously believed.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
F. Thiemann, G. Sciaini, A. Kassen, U. Hagemann, F. Meyer zu Heringdorf, M. Horn-von Hoegen
Summary: In this study, we investigated the role of nonthermal transport in the dissipation of energy in condensed matter. Our results showed that in Bi films with a thickness of up to 50 nm, a homogeneous excitation caused by the ultrafast transport of hot charge carriers was observed. This study is of significance for understanding the energy dissipation mechanism in condensed matter.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Natsuki Kanda, Yuta Murotani, Takuya Matsuda, Manik Goyal, Salva Salmani-Rezaie, Jun Yoshinobu, Susanne Stemmer, Ryusuke Matsunaga
Summary: We investigate the ultrafast dynamics in photoexcited Dirac semimetal Cd3As2 thin films and observe the merging of nonthermal electrons and existing carriers under high-density excitation. We also demonstrate the dominant effect of an 80% reduction in refractive index on the nonequilibrium infrared response, which can be utilized for designing ultrafast switches in active optoelectronics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James A. Green, Martha Yaghoubi Jouybari, Daniel Aranda, Roberto Improta, Fabrizio Santoro
Summary: The proposed protocol utilizes TD-DFT to parameterize LVC Hamiltonians for QD calculations, successfully applied to compute nonadiabatic vibronic spectra and ultrafast dynamics for five nucleobases in DNA and RNA, showing good agreement with experimental data and promising widespread applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Victor M. Freixas, Daniel Keefer, Sergei Tretiak, Sebastian Fernandez-Alberti, Shaul Mukamel
Summary: This study explores the photoinduced ultrafast coherent inter-chromophore energy redistribution in a triarylamine trimer using nonadiabatic excited state molecular dynamics followed by simulations of X-ray Raman signals. The research reveals the presence of multiple non-deterministic photoinduced pathways during the ultrafast inter-branch migration of the excitation, resulting in spatial exciton scrambling and loss of phase information at long times. The study demonstrates that X-ray Raman spectroscopy is a valuable tool for detecting ultrafast molecular coherences or their absence.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Zemin Xu, Jiandong Yao, Guowei Yang, Tianshu Lai
Summary: The ultrafast dynamics of photoexcited carriers and coherent phonons in ultrathin Bi2Te3 thermoelectric films were investigated. A low-frequency coherent optical phonon was observed in the ultrathin films, which divided the films into different groups and potentially reduced the thermal conductivity. The dominance of carrier-carrier scattering in thermalization processes provides insights into the high electrical conductivity and power factor of ultrathin Bi2Te3 films at room temperature.
SCIENCE CHINA-PHYSICS MECHANICS & ASTRONOMY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiangping Liu, Andrew W. Prentice, Guy J. Clarkson, Jack M. Woolley, Vasilios G. Stavros, Martin J. Paterson, Peter J. Sadler
Summary: This study reports a Ru(II) polypyridyl prodrug, RuAzNM, functionalized with azo and nitrogen mustard, which exhibits multimodal theranostic properties towards hypoxic cancer cells. Reduction of the azo group in hypoxic cell microenvironments leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species and mtDNA crosslinking, while the resulting phosphorescent RuNH2 serves as a diagnostic signal and activates phototherapy. This unique strategy allows controlled multimodal theranostics to be realized in hypoxic cells, making RuAzNM a highly selective and effective cancer-cell-selective theranostic agent.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Luca Craciunescu, Eirik M. Liane, Adam Kirrander, Martin J. Paterson
Summary: In this study, the excited state van der Waals (vdW) potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the NO A(2)Sigma(+) + CO2 X-1 Sigma(+)(g) system were thoroughly investigated using advanced computational methods. The results show that the employed methods are efficient and cost-effective in predicting the depth of vdW wells. Furthermore, the study highlights the influence of multi-reference effects and long-range vdW surfaces on rotational energy transfer.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiao Peng Mi, Hui Lu, Tianlv Xu, Herbert Fruchtl, Tanja van Mourik, Martin J. Paterson, Steven R. Kirk, Samantha Jenkins
Summary: A study using simulated circularly polarized laser pulses on ethane showed that the mechanical properties, particularly bond-flexing and bond-torsion, increase depending on the plane of polarization. These properties may increase or decrease after the laser pulses are switched off, depending on the polarization plane, due to directionally-dependent effects of excited states' long-lasting superpositions. The chiral properties of ethane were found to be formally achiral. The study briefly discusses future investigations using ultra-fast circularly polarized lasers.
JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Stuart W. Crane, Malcolm Garrow, Paul D. Lane, Kate Robertson, Alex Waugh, Jack M. Woolley, Vasilios G. Stavros, Martin J. Paterson, Stuart J. Greaves, Dave Townsend
Summary: Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the excess energy redistribution dynamics in nitrobenzene under hexane and isopropanol solvation. The results were compared with a recent time-resolved photoelectron imaging study, revealing a 1/e lifetime in the TAS data that was absent in the TRPEI measurements. This discrepancy highlights the varying sensitivity of different spectroscopic techniques in capturing specific steps along the reaction coordinate.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Thomas F. M. Luxford, Thomas R. Sharples, Martin Fournier, Cleïment Soulie, Martin J. Paterson, Kenneth G. McKendrick, Matthew L. Costen
Summary: A crossed molecular beam velocity map ion imaging apparatus was used to investigate the rotationally inelastic scattering between NO and N2, CO, and O2. The results showed that for collisions with N2 and CO, a fraction of NO was scattered sideways and backward, with increasing rotational excitation and collision parameters. In contrast, collisions with O2 mainly resulted in forward scattering with little rotational excitation. This is consistent with the literature on NO-O2 interaction potential energy surfaces.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Emmanouil Broumidis, Christopher G. Thomson, Brendan Gallagher, Lia Sotorrios, Kenneth G. Mckendrick, Stuart A. Macgregor, Martin J. Paterson, Janet E. Lovett, Gareth O. Lloyd, Georgina M. Rosair, Andreas S. Kalogirou, Panayiotis A. Koutentis, Filipe Vilela
Summary: This study discovered that 1,2,6-thiadiazines can be converted into 1,2,5-thiadiazole 1-oxides using visible light and oxygen under ambient conditions, which was previously difficult to achieve. Experimental and theoretical studies revealed that 1,2,6-thiadiazines act as triplet photosensitizers and undergo a selective cycloaddition reaction to form an endoperoxide.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aisling C. Stewart, Martin J. Paterson, Stuart J. Greaves
Summary: The role of organic aqueous aerosols in the atmosphere depends on their structures, which are influenced by both their components and the way they are packed together. In this study, the surface coverage of three C18 fatty acids was investigated to understand its impact on aerosol structure. Higher coverage leads to tighter packing and alignment along the surface normal. Surface analysis showed that CH3 and CH2 groups dominate at all coverages, but changes in the presence of HC=CH and COOH indicate when monolayer coverage is exceeded. The accessibility of different groups to ozone molecules was also assessed, providing insights into how organic surface coverage affects aerosol reactivity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dominic Taylor, Thomas Malcomson, Adilet Zhakeyev, Georgina M. Rosair, Martin J. Paterson, Jose Marques-Hueso, Scott J. Dalgarno, Filipe Vilela
Summary: Regioselective stepwise phenylation of 4,7-diarylbenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole fluorophores was achieved by a facile one-pot, three-step synthetic strategy involving sequential borylation, hydroxydechlorination, and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. Selectivity was achieved by using BCl3 to install a boronic acid group in the ortho-position of only one of the diaryl groups. The introduction of ortho-phenyl groups through Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling resulted in twisted structures with hindered intramolecular rotation, allowing for adjustment of the fluorophore absorption and emission properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nikoleta Kotsina, Sebastian L. Jackson, Thomas Malcomson, Martin J. Paterson, Dave Townsend
Summary: Time-resolved photoelectron imaging and quantum chemistry calculations were used to study non-adiabatic excess energy redistribution dynamics in saturated thioethers. Molecular fragmentation occurs rapidly after 200 nm excitation, driven by Rydberg-to-valence orbital character and C-S-C bending angle. The presence of transient (bi)radical species suggests competing excited state fragmentation pathways in different cyclic ring structures.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aisling C. Stewart, Martin J. Paterson, Stuart J. Greaves
Summary: The reactivity of C=C groups in aerosols plays a crucial role in their chemical evolution. This study investigates the accessibility of alkene groups within oleic acid molecules to ozone radicals in the presence of fully saturated stearic acid molecules. The results suggest that the presence of saturated fatty acids is unlikely to significantly alter the oxidation rate of unsaturated species at the surface of atmospheric aerosols.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Andres Moreno Carrascosa, Jeremy P. Coe, Mats Simmermacher, Martin J. Paterson, Adam Kirrander
Summary: This article examines the calculation methods of X-ray scattering cross sections and the impact of correlation on scattering signals. The results suggest that a more correlated wavefunction can improve the accuracy of scattering, the multireference character affects the scattering signals, and the inelastic and total scattering components are most sensitive to the strength of correlation.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Dominic Taylor, Thomas Malcomson, Adilet Zhakeyev, Shengxian Cheng, Georgina M. Rosair, Jose Marques-Hueso, Zhengtao Xu, Martin J. Paterson, Scott J. Dalgarno, Filipe Vilela
Summary: This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and application of a library of 26 donor-acceptor (D-A) compounds based on the benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (BTZ) motif. By varying the donor groups while keeping the BTZ acceptor group the same, the optoelectronic and photophysical properties of the photocatalysts were systematically modified. These photocatalysts were validated through a test reaction under both batch and continuous flow conditions.
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Christopher Robertson, Martin J. Paterson
Summary: In this study, two potential energy models were used to investigate the reactive scattering of OH(sigma) + H-2 -> H2O(X) + H. By analyzing the quenching channels and generating velocity map images, the simulated results provided insights into the mechanisms behind some experimental observations.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei-Jiun Yeoh, Alexandre N. Sobolev, Martin J. Paterson, Scott J. Dalgarno, Irene Ling
Summary: Naphthalene derived compounds have significant importance in medicinal chemistry due to their interesting biological activities. This study investigates the molecular and structural characteristics of three naphthalene-derived dications using X-ray crystallography and Hirshfeld surface analysis. The research explores the contributions of various intermolecular contacts to the crystal packing and analyzes the factors influencing these differences.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Clement Soulie, Martin J. Paterson
Summary: In this study, the van der Waals (vdW) potential energy surface (PES) of NO A(2)sigma(+) + O-2 X-3sigma(-)(g) is characterized using RHF/RCCSD(T) and CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations. The results show that highly augmented basis sets are necessary for accurately representing the polarizability of NO A(2)sigma(+). The study also identifies a confined channel and a vdW basin, which confirm the existence of a collision complex between NO A(2)sigma(+) and O-2 X-3sigma(-)(g).
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)