TY - JOUR A1 - Arhammar, C. A1 - Pietzsch, Annette A1 - Bock, Nicolas A1 - Holmstroem, Erik A1 - Araujo, C. Moyses A1 - Grasjo, Johan A1 - Zhao, Shuxi A1 - Green, Sara A1 - Peery, T. A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Amerioun, Shahrad A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander A1 - Schlappa, Justine A1 - Schmitt, Thorsten A1 - Strocov, Vladimir N. A1 - Niklasson, Gunnar A. A1 - Wallace, Duane C. A1 - Rubensson, Jan-Erik A1 - Johansson, Borje A1 - Ahuja, Rajeev C. T1 - Unveiling the complex electronic structure of amorphous metal oxides JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America N2 - Amorphous materials represent a large and important emerging area of material's science. Amorphous oxides are key technological oxides in applications such as a gate dielectric in Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor devices and in Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon and TANOS (TaN-Al2O3-Si3N4-SiO2-Silicon) flash memories. These technologies are required for the high packing density of today's integrated circuits. Therefore the investigation of defect states in these structures is crucial. In this work we present X-ray synchrotron measurements, with an energy resolution which is about 5-10 times higher than is attainable with standard spectrometers, of amorphous alumina. We demonstrate that our experimental results are in agreement with calculated spectra of amorphous alumina which we have generated by stochastic quenching. This first principles method, which we have recently developed, is found to be superior to molecular dynamics in simulating the rapid gas to solid transition that takes place as this material is deposited for thin film applications. We detect and analyze in detail states in the band gap that originate from oxygen pairs. Similar states were previously found in amorphous alumina by other spectroscopic methods and were assigned to oxygen vacancies claimed to act mutually as electron and hole traps. The oxygen pairs which we probe in this work act as hole traps only and will influence the information retention in electronic devices. In amorphous silica oxygen pairs have already been found, thus they may be a feature which is characteristic also of other amorphous metal oxides. KW - stochastic quench KW - X-ray absorption spectroscopy KW - ab initio KW - coating Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1019698108 SN - 0027-8424 VL - 108 IS - 16 SP - 6355 EP - 6360 PB - National Acad. of Sciences CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pietzsch, Annette A1 - Sun, Y. -P. A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Rinkevicius, Z. A1 - Karlsson, Hans O. A1 - Schmitt, Thorsten A1 - Strocov, Vladimir N. A1 - Andersson, Joakim A1 - Kennedy, B. A1 - Schlappa, J. A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander A1 - Rubensson, Jan-Erik A1 - Gel'mukhanov, F. T1 - Spatial quantum beats in vibrational resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering at dissociating states in oxygen JF - Physical review letters N2 - Resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra excited at the 1 sigma(g) -> 3 sigma(u) resonance in gas-phase O-2 show excitations due to the nuclear degrees of freedom with up to 35 well-resolved discrete vibronic states and a continuum due to the kinetic energy distribution of the separated atoms. The RIXS profile demonstrates spatial quantum beats caused by two interfering wave packets with different momenta as the atoms separate. Thomson scattering strongly affects both the spectral profile and the scattering anisotropy. Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.153004 SN - 0031-9007 VL - 106 IS - 15 PB - American Physical Society CY - College Park ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pietzsch, Annette A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Miedema, Piter S. A1 - Kennedy, Brian A1 - Schlappa, Justine A1 - Schmitt, Thorsten A1 - Strocov, Vladimir N. A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander T1 - Snapshots of the Fluctuating Hydrogen Bond Network in Liquid Water on the Sub-Femtosecond Timescale with Vibrational Resonant Inelastic x-ray Scattering JF - Physical review letters N2 - Liquid water molecules interact strongly with each other, forming a fluctuating hydrogen bond network and thereby giving rise to the anomalous phase diagram of liquid water. Consequently, symmetric and asymmetric water molecules have been found in the picosecond time average with IR and optical Raman spectroscopy. With subnatural linewidth resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at vibrational resolution, we take sub-femtosecond snapshots of the electronic and structural properties of water molecules in the hydrogen bond network. We derive a strong dominance of nonsymmetric molecules in liquid water in contrast to the gas phase on the sub-femtosecond timescale of RIXS and determine the fraction of highly asymmetrically distorted molecules. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.088302 SN - 0031-9007 SN - 1079-7114 VL - 114 IS - 8 PB - American Physical Society CY - College Park ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rubensson, Jan-Erik A1 - Soderstrom, Johan A1 - Binggeli, Christian A1 - Grasjo, Joakim A1 - Andersson, Johan A1 - Sathe, Conny A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Bisogni, Valentina A1 - Huang, Yaobo A1 - Olalde, Paul A1 - Schmitt, Thorsten A1 - Strocov, Vladimir N. A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander A1 - Kennedy, Brian A1 - Pietzsch, Annette T1 - Rydberg-Resolved Resonant Inelastic Soft X-Ray Scattering: Dynamics at Core Ionization Thresholds JF - Physical review letters N2 - Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectra excited in the immediate vicinity of the core-level ionization thresholds of N-2 have been recorded. Final states of well-resolved symmetry-selected Rydberg series converging to valence-level ionization thresholds with vibrational excitations are observed. The results are well described by a quasi-two-step model which assumes that the excited electron is unaffected by the radiative decay. This threshold dynamics simplifies the interpretation of resonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectra considerably and facilitates characterization of low-energy excited final states in molecular systems. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.133001 SN - 0031-9007 SN - 1079-7114 VL - 114 IS - 13 PB - American Physical Society CY - College Park ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Pietzsch, Annette A1 - Berglund, Martin A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander A1 - Schmitt, Thorsten A1 - Strocov, Vladimir A1 - Karlsson, Hans O. A1 - Andersson, Joakim A1 - Rubensson, Jan-Erik T1 - Resonant inelastic scattering spectra of free molecules with vibrational resolution N2 - Inelastic x-ray scattering spectra excited at the 1s(-1) pi* resonance of gas phase O-2 have been recorded with an overall energy resolution that allows for well-resolved vibrational progressions. The nuclear wave packet dynamics in the intermediate state is reflected in vibrational excitations of the electronic ground state, and by fine-tuning the excitation energy the dissociation dynamics in the predissociative B' (3) Pi(g) final state is controlled. Y1 - 2010 UR - http://prl.aps.org/ U6 - https://doi.org/10.1103/Physrevlett.104.193002 SN - 0031-9007 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wernet, Philippe A1 - Kunnus, Kristjan A1 - Josefsson, Ida A1 - Rajkovic, Ivan A1 - Quevedo, Wilson A1 - Beye, Martin A1 - Schreck, Simon A1 - Gruebel, S. A1 - Scholz, Mirko A1 - Nordlund, Dennis A1 - Zhang, Wenkai A1 - Hartsock, Robert W. A1 - Schlotter, William F. A1 - Turner, Joshua J. A1 - Kennedy, Brian A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - de Groot, Frank M. F. A1 - Gaffney, Kelly J. A1 - Techert, Simone A1 - Odelius, Michael A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander T1 - Orbital-specific mapping of the ligand exchange dynamics of Fe(CO)(5) in solution JF - Nature : the international weekly journal of science N2 - Transition-metal complexes have long attracted interest for fundamental chemical reactivity studies and possible use in solar energy conversion(1,2). Electronic excitation, ligand loss from the metal centre, or a combination of both, creates changes in charge and spin density at the metal site(3-11) that need to be controlled to optimize complexes for photocatalytic hydrogen production(8) and selective carbon-hydrogen bond activation(9-11). An understanding at the molecular level of how transition-metal complexes catalyse reactions, and in particular of the role of the short-lived and reactive intermediate states involved, will be critical for such optimization. However, suitable methods for detailed characterization of electronic excited states have been lacking. Here we show, with the use of X-ray laser-based femtosecond-resolution spectroscopy and advanced quantum chemical theory to probe the reaction dynamics of the benchmark transition-metal complex Fe(CO)(5) in solution, that the photo-induced removal of CO generates the 16-electron Fe(CO)(4) species, a homogeneous catalyst(12,13) with an electron deficiency at the Fe centre(14,15), in a hitherto unreported excited singlet state that either converts to the triplet ground state or combines with a CO or solvent molecule to regenerate a penta-coordinated Fe species on a sub-picosecond timescale. This finding, which resolves the debate about the relative importance of different spin channels in the photochemistry of Fe(CO)(5) (refs 4, 16-20), was made possible by the ability of femtosecond X-ray spectroscopy to probe frontier-orbital interactions with atom specificity. We expect the method to be broadly applicable in the chemical sciences, and to complement approaches that probe structural dynamics in ultrafast processes. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14296 SN - 0028-0836 SN - 1476-4687 VL - 520 IS - 7545 SP - 78 EP - 81 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Y. -P. A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Pietzsch, Annette A1 - Kennedy, B. A1 - Schmitt, Thorsten A1 - Strocov, Vladimir N. A1 - Andersson, Joakim A1 - Berglund, Martin A1 - Rubensson, Jan-Erik A1 - Aidas, K. A1 - Gel'mukhanov, F. A1 - Odelius, Michael A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander T1 - Intramolecular soft modes and intermolecular interactions in liquid acetone JF - Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics N2 - Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectra excited at the O1s(-1)pi* resonance of liquid acetone are presented. Scattering to the electronic ground state shows a resolved vibrational progression where the dominant contribution is due to the C-O stretching mode, thus demonstrating a unique sensitivity of the method to the local potential energy surface in complex molecular systems. For scattering to electronically excited states, soft vibrational modes and, to a smaller extent, intermolecular interactions give a broadening, which blurs the vibrational fine structure. It is predicted that environmental broadening is dominant in aqueous acetone. Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.84.132202 SN - 1098-0121 VL - 84 IS - 13 PB - American Physical Society CY - College Park ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Y-P A1 - Pietzsch, Annette A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Rinkevicius, Z. A1 - Karlsson, Hans O. A1 - Schmitt, Thorsten A1 - Strocov, Vladimir N. A1 - Andersson, Joakim A1 - Kennedy, B. A1 - Schlappa, J. A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander A1 - Gel'mukhanov, F. A1 - Rubensson, Jan-Erik T1 - Internal symmetry and selection rules in resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering JF - Journal of physics : B, Atomic, molecular and optical physics N2 - Resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering spectra excited at the dissociative 1 sigma(g) -> 3 sigma(u) resonance in gas-phase O(2) are presented and discussed in terms of state-of-the-art molecular theory. A new selection rule due to internal spin coupling is established, facilitating a deep analysis of the valence excited final states. Furthermore, it is found that a commonly accepted symmetry selection rule due to orbital parity breaks down, as the core hole and excited electron swap parity, thereby opening the symmetry forbidden 3 sigma(g) decay channel. Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/44/16/161002 SN - 0953-4075 VL - 44 IS - 16 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schreck, Simon A1 - Pietzsch, Annette A1 - Kennedy, Brian A1 - Sathe, Conny A1 - Miedema, Piter S. A1 - Techert, Simone A1 - Strocov, Vladimir N. A1 - Schmitt, Thorsten A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Rubensson, Jan-Erik A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander T1 - Ground state potential energy surfaces around selected atoms from resonant inelastic x-ray scattering JF - Scientific reports N2 - Thermally driven chemistry as well as materials’ functionality are determined by the potential energy surface of a systems electronic ground state. This makes the potential energy surface a central and powerful concept in physics, chemistry and materials science. However, direct experimental access to the potential energy surface locally around atomic centers and to its long-range structure are lacking. Here we demonstrate how sub-natural linewidth resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering at vibrational resolution is utilized to determine ground state potential energy surfaces locally and detect long-range changes of the potentials that are driven by local modifications. We show how the general concept is applicable not only to small isolated molecules such as O2 but also to strongly interacting systems such as the hydrogen bond network in liquid water. The weak perturbation to the potential energy surface through hydrogen bonding is observed as a trend towards softening of the ground state potential around the coordinating atom. The instrumental developments in high resolution resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering are currently accelerating and will enable broad application of the presented approach. With this multidimensional potential energy surfaces that characterize collective phenomena such as (bio)molecular function or high-temperature superconductivity will become accessible in near future. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/srep20054 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 6 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kunnus, Kristjan A1 - Josefsson, Ida A1 - Rajkovic, Ivan A1 - Schreck, Simon A1 - Quevedo, Wilson A1 - Beye, Martin A1 - Grübel, Sebastian A1 - Scholz, Mirko A1 - Nordlund, Dennis A1 - Zhang, Wenkai A1 - Hartsock, Robert W. A1 - Gaffney, Kelly J. A1 - Schlotter, William F. A1 - Turner, Joshua J. A1 - Kennedy, Brian A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Techert, Simone A1 - Wernet, Philippe A1 - Odelius, Michael A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander T1 - Anti-Stokes resonant x-ray Raman scattering for atom specific and excited state selective dynamics JF - NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS N2 - Ultrafast electronic and structural dynamics of matter govern rate and selectivity of chemical reactions, as well as phase transitions and efficient switching in functional materials. Since x-rays determine electronic and structural properties with elemental, chemical, orbital and magnetic selectivity, short pulse x-ray sources have become central enablers of ultrafast science. Despite of these strengths, ultrafast x-rays have been poor at picking up excited state moieties from the unexcited ones. With time-resolved anti-Stokes resonant x-ray Raman scattering (AS-RXRS) performed at the LCLS, and ab initio theory we establish background free excited state selectivity in addition to the elemental, chemical, orbital and magnetic selectivity of x-rays. This unparalleled selectivity extracts low concentration excited state species along the pathway of photo induced ligand exchange of Fe(CO)(5) in ethanol. Conceptually a full theoretical treatment of all accessible insights to excited state dynamics with AS-RXRS with transform-limited x-ray pulses is given-which will be covered experimentally by upcoming transform-limited x-ray sources. KW - ultrafast photochemistry KW - excited state selectivity KW - anti-Stokes resonant x-ray raman scattering KW - free electron lasers KW - resonant inelastic x-ray scattering Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/10/103011 SN - 1367-2630 VL - 18 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kunnus, Kristjan A1 - Rajkovic, Ivan A1 - Schreck, Simon A1 - Quevedo, Wilson A1 - Eckert, Sebastian A1 - Beye, Martin A1 - Suljoti, Edlira A1 - Weniger, Christian A1 - Kalus, Christian A1 - Gruebel, Sebastian A1 - Scholz, Mirko A1 - Nordlund, Dennis A1 - Zhang, Wenkai A1 - Hartsock, Robert W. A1 - Gaffney, Kelly J. A1 - Schlotter, William F. A1 - Turner, Joshua J. A1 - Kennedy, Brian A1 - Hennies, Franz A1 - Techert, Simone A1 - Wernet, Philippe A1 - Föhlisch, Alexander T1 - A setup for resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering on liquids at free electron laser light sources JF - Review of scientific instruments : a monthly journal devoted to scientific instruments, apparatus, and techniques N2 - We present a flexible and compact experimental setup that combines an in vacuum liquid jet with an x-ray emission spectrometer to enable static and femtosecond time-resolved resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering (RIXS) measurements from liquids at free electron laser (FEL) light sources. We demonstrate the feasibility of this type of experiments with the measurements performed at the Linac Coherent Light Source FEL facility. At the FEL we observed changes in the RIXS spectra at high peak fluences which currently sets a limit to maximum attainable count rate at FELs. The setup presented here opens up new possibilities to study the structure and dynamics in liquids. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4772685 SN - 0034-6748 VL - 83 IS - 12 PB - American Institute of Physics CY - Melville ER -