@article{VillamayorHusainOropesaNunezetal.2022, author = {Villamayor, Michelle Marie S. and Husain, Sajid and Oropesa-Nu{\~n}ez, Reinier and Johansson, Fredrik O. L. and Lindblad, Rebecka and Louren{\c{c}}o, Pedro and Bernard, Romain and Witkowski, Nadine and Pr{\´e}vot, Geoffroy and Sorgenfrei, Nomi and Giangrisostomi, Erika and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Svedlindh, Peter and Lindblad, Andreas and Nyberg, Tomas}, title = {Wafer-sized WS2 monolayer deposition by sputtering}, series = {Nanoscale}, volume = {14}, journal = {Nanoscale}, number = {17}, publisher = {RSC Publ.}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {2040-3372}, doi = {10.1039/d1nr08375a}, pages = {6331 -- 6338}, year = {2022}, abstract = {We demonstrate that tungsten disulphide (WS2) with thicknesses ranging from monolayer (ML) to several monolayers can be grown on SiO2/Si, Si, and Al2O3 by pulsed direct current-sputtering. The presence of high quality monolayer and multilayered WS2 on the substrates is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy since the peak separations between the A(1g)-E-2g and A(1g)-2LA vibration modes exhibit a gradual increase depending on the number of layers. X-ray diffraction confirms a textured (001) growth of WS2 films. The surface roughness measured with atomic force microscopy is between 1.5 and 3 angstrom for the ML films. The chemical composition WSx (x = 2.03 +/- 0.05) was determined from X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy was performed on a multilayer film to show the 2D layered structure. A unique method for growing 2D layers directly by sputtering opens up the way for designing 2D materials and batch production of high-uniformity and high-quality (stochiometric, large grain sizes, flatness) WS2 films, which will advance their practical applications in various fields.}, language = {en} } @article{SorgenfreiGiangrisostomiKuehnetal.2022, author = {Sorgenfrei, Nomi and Giangrisostomi, Erika and K{\"u}hn, Danilo and Ovsyannikov, Ruslan and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Time and angle-resolved time-of-flight electron spectroscopy for functional materials science}, series = {Molecules : a journal of synthetic chemistry and natural product chemistry}, volume = {27}, journal = {Molecules : a journal of synthetic chemistry and natural product chemistry}, number = {24}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules27248833}, pages = {14}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Electron spectroscopy with the unprecedented transmission of angle-resolved time-of-flight detection, in combination with pulsed X-ray sources, brings new impetus to functional materials science. We showcase recent developments towards chemical sensitivity from electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and structural information from photoelectron diffraction using the phase transition properties of 1T-TaS2. Our development platform is the SurfaceDynamics instrument located at the Femtoslicing facility at BESSY II, where femtosecond and picosecond X-ray pulses can be generated and extracted. The scientific potential is put into perspective to the current rapidly developing pulsed X-ray source capabilities from Lasers and Free-Electron Lasers.}, language = {en} } @article{LiuIgnatovaKimbergetal.2022, author = {Liu, Ji-Cai and Ignatova, Nina and Kimberg, Victor and Krasnov, Pavel and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Simon, Marc and Gel'mukhanov, Faris}, title = {Time-resolved study of recoil-induced rotation by X-ray pump - X-ray probe spectroscopy}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, volume = {24}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, number = {11}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/d1cp05000a}, pages = {6627 -- 6638}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Modern stationary X-ray spectroscopy is unable to resolve rotational structure. In the present paper, we propose to use time-resolved two color X-ray pump-probe spectroscopy with picosecond resolution for real-time monitoring of the rotational dynamics induced by the recoil effect. The proposed technique consists of two steps. The first short pump X-ray pulse ionizes the valence electron, which transfers angular momentum to the molecule. The second time-delayed short probe X-ray pulse resonantly excites a 1s electron to the created valence hole. Due to the recoil-induced angular momentum the molecule rotates and changes the orientation of transition dipole moment of core-excitation with respect to the transition dipole moment of the valence ionization, which results in a temporal modulation of the probe X-ray absorption as a function of the delay time between the pulses. We developed an accurate theory of the X-ray pump-probe spectroscopy of the recoil-induced rotation and study how the energy of the photoelectron and thermal dephasing affect the structure of the time-dependent X-ray absorption using the CO molecule as a case-study. We also discuss the feasibility of experimental observation of our theoretical findings, opening new perspectives in studies of molecular rotational dynamics.}, language = {en} } @article{BornJohanssonLeitneretal.2022, author = {Born, Artur and Johansson, Fredrik O. L. and Leitner, Torsten and Bidermane, Ieva and Kuehn, Danilo and Martensson, Nils and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {The degree of electron itinerancy and shell closing in the core-ionized state of transition metals probed by Auger-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, volume = {24}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, number = {32}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/d2cp02477b}, pages = {19218 -- 19222}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Auger-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy (APECS) has been used to examine the electron correlation and itinerance effects in transition metals Cu, Ni and Co. It is shown that the LVV Auger, in coincidence with 2p photoelectrons, spectra can be represented using atomic multiplet positions if the 3d-shell is localized (atomic-like) and with a self-convoluted valence band for band-like (itinerant) materials as explained using the Cini-Sawatzky model. For transition metals, the 3d band changes from band-like to localized with increasing atomic number, with the possibility of a mixed behavior. Our result shows that the LVV spectra of Cu can be represented by atomic multiplet calculations, those of Co resemble the self-convolution of the valence band and those of Ni are a mixture of both, consistent with the Cini-Sawatzky model.}, language = {en} } @article{BuechnerdaCruzGroveretal.2022, author = {B{\"u}chner, Robby and da Cruz, Vinicius Vaz and Grover, Nitika and Charisiadis, Asterios and Fondell, Mattis and Haverkamp, Robert and Senge, Mathias O. and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Fundamental electronic changes upon intersystem crossing in large aromatic photosensitizers: free base 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxylatophenyl)porphyrin}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, volume = {24}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, number = {12}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/d1cp05420a}, pages = {7505 -- 7511}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Free base 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxylatophenyl)porphyrin stands for the class of powerful porphyrin photosensitizers for singlet oxygen generation and light-harvesting. The atomic level selectivity of dynamic UV pump - N K-edge probe X-ray absorption spectroscopy in combination with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) gives direct access to the crucial excited molecular states within the unusual relaxation pathway. The efficient intersystem crossing, that is El-Sayed forbidden and not facilitated by a heavy atom is confirmed to be the result of the long singlet excited state lifetime (Q(x) 4.9 ns) and thermal effects. Overall, the interplay of stabilization by conservation of angular momenta and vibronic relaxation drive the de-excitation in these chromophores.}, language = {en} } @article{JohanssonLeitnerBidermaneetal.2022, author = {Johansson, Fredrik O. L. and Leitner, Torsten and Bidermane, Ieva and Born, Artur and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Svensson, Svante and M{\aa}rtensson, Nils and Lindblad, Andreas}, title = {Auger- and photoelectron coincidences of molecular O2 adsorbed on Ag(111)}, series = {Journal of electron spectroscopy and related phenomena : the international journal on theoretical and experimental aspects of electron spectroscopy}, volume = {256}, journal = {Journal of electron spectroscopy and related phenomena : the international journal on theoretical and experimental aspects of electron spectroscopy}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {New York, NY [u.a.]}, issn = {0368-2048}, doi = {10.1016/j.elspec.2022.147174}, pages = {6}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The oxygen on Ag(111) system has been investigated with Auger electron-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy (APECS). The coincidence spectra between O 1s core level photoelectrons and O KLL Auger electrons have been studied together with Ag(3)d/AgM4,5NN coincidences. We also describe the electron-electron coincidence spectrometer setup, CoESCA, consisting of two angle resolved time-of-flight spectrometers at a synchrotron light source. Contributions from molecular oxygen and chemisorbed oxygen are assigned using the coincidence data, conclusions are drawn primarily from the O 1s/O KLL data. The data acquisition and treatment procedure are also outlined. The chemisorbed oxygen species observed are relevant for the catalytic ethylene oxidation.}, language = {en} } @article{SorgenfreiGiangrisostomiJayetal.2021, author = {Sorgenfrei, Nomi and Giangrisostomi, Erika and Jay, Raphael Martin and K{\"u}hn, Danilo and Neppl, Stefan and Ovsyannikov, Ruslan and Sezen, Hikmet and Svensson, Svante and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Photodriven transient picosecond top-layer semiconductor to metal phase-transition in p-doped molybdenum disulfide}, series = {Advanced materials}, volume = {33}, journal = {Advanced materials}, number = {14}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {0935-9648}, doi = {10.1002/adma.202006957}, pages = {8}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Visible light is shown to create a transient metallic S-Mo-S surface layer on bulk semiconducting p-doped indirect-bandgap 2H-MoS2. Optically created electron-hole pairs separate in the surface band bending region of the p-doped semiconducting crystal causing a transient accumulation of electrons in the surface region. This triggers a reversible 2H-semiconductor to 1T-metal phase-transition of the surface layer. Electron-phonon coupling of the indirect-bandgap p-doped 2H-MoS2 enables this efficient pathway even at a low density of excited electrons with a distinct optical excitation threshold and saturation behavior. This mechanism needs to be taken into consideration when describing the surface properties of illuminated p-doped 2H-MoS2. In particular, light-induced increased charge mobility and surface activation can cause and enhance the photocatalytic and photoassisted electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction of water on 2H-MoS2. Generally, it opens up for a way to control not only the surface of p-doped 2H-MoS2 but also related dichalcogenides and layered systems. The findings are based on the sensitivity of time-resolved electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis with photon-energy-tuneable synchrotron radiation.}, language = {en} } @article{EckertVazdaCruzOchmannetal.2021, author = {Eckert, Sebastian and Vaz da Cruz, Vin{\´i}cius and Ochmann, Miguel and Ahnen, Inga von and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Huse, Nils}, title = {Breaking the symmetry of pyrimidine}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, volume = {12}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, number = {35}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1948-7185}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01865}, pages = {8637 -- 8643}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Symmetry and its breaking crucially define the chemical properties of molecules and their functionality. Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering is a local electronic structure probe reporting on molecular symmetry and its dynamical breaking within the femtosecond scattering duration. Here, we study pyrimidine, a system from the C-2v point group, in an aqueous solution environment, using scattering though its 2a(2) resonance. Despite the absence of clean parity selection rules for decay transitions from in-plane orbitals, scattering channels including decay from the 7b(2) and 11a(1) orbitals with nitrogen lone pair character are a direct probe for molecular symmetry. Computed spectra of explicitly solvated molecules sampled from a molecular dynamics simulation are combined with the results of a quantum dynamical description of the X-ray scattering process. We observe dominant signatures of core-excited Jahn-Teller induced symmetry breaking for resonant excitation. Solvent contributions are separable by shortening of the effective scattering duration through excitation energy detuning.}, language = {en} } @article{OchmannVazdaCruzEckertetal.2022, author = {Ochmann, Miguel and Vaz da Cruz, Vinicius and Eckert, Sebastian and Huse, Nils and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {R-Group stabilization in methylated formamides observed by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering}, series = {Chemical communications: ChemComm}, volume = {58}, journal = {Chemical communications: ChemComm}, number = {63}, publisher = {The Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1359-7345}, doi = {10.1039/d2cc00053a}, pages = {8834 -- 8837}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The inherent stability of methylated formamides is traced to a stabilization of the deep-lying sigma-framework by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering at the nitrogen K-edge. Charge transfer from the amide nitrogen to the methyl groups underlie this stabilization mechanism that leaves the aldehyde group essentially unaltered and explains the stability of secondary and tertiary amides.}, language = {en} } @article{JayEckertMitzneretal.2020, author = {Jay, Raphael M. and Eckert, Sebastian and Mitzner, Rolf and Fondell, Mattis and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Quantitative evaluation of transient valence orbital occupations in a 3d transition metal complex as seen from the metal and ligand perspective}, series = {Chemical physics letters}, volume = {754}, journal = {Chemical physics letters}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0009-2614}, doi = {10.1016/j.cplett.2020.137681}, pages = {5}, year = {2020}, abstract = {It is demonstrated for the case of photo-excited ferrocyanide how time-resolved soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy in transmission geometry at the ligand K-edge and metal L-3-edge provides quantitatively equivalent valence electronic structure information, where signatures of photo-oxidation are assessed locally at the metal as well as the ligand. This allows for a direct and independent quantification of the number of photo-oxidized molecules at two soft X-ray absorption edges highlighting the sensitivity of X-ray absorption spectroscopy to the valence orbital occupation of 3d transition metal complexes throughout the soft X-ray range.}, language = {en} }