TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kunnus, Kristjan
A1  - Josefsson, I.
A1  - Schreck, Simon Frederik
A1  - Quevedo, W.
A1  - Miedema, P. S.
A1  - Techert, S.
A1  - de Groot, F. M. F.
A1  - Föhlisch, Alexander
A1  - Odelius, M.
A1  - Wernet, Ph.
T1  - Quantifying covalent interactions with resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering
BT  - case study of Ni2+ aqua complex
JF  - Chemical physics letters
N2  - We analyze the effects of covalent interactions in Ni 2p3d resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra from aqueous Ni2+ ions and find that the relative RIXS intensities of ligand-to-metal charge-transfer final states with respect to the ligand-field final states reflect the covalent mixing between Ni 3d and water orbitals. Specifically, the experimental intensity ratio at the Ni L-3-edge allows to determine that the Ni 3d orbitals have on average 5.5% of water character. We propose that 2p3d RIXS at the Ni L-3-edge can be utilized to quantify covalency in Ni complexes without the use of external references or simulations.
KW  - Transition-metal ion
KW  - Aqueous solution
KW  - Covalent interaction
KW  - Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering
KW  - Ligand-field state
KW  - Charge-transfer state
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cplett.2016.12.046
SN  - 0009-2614
SN  - 1873-4448
VL  - 669
SP  - 196
EP  - 201
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kunnus, Kristjan
A1  - Josefsson, Ida
A1  - Schreck, Simon
A1  - Quevedo, Wilson
A1  - Miedema, Piter S.
A1  - Techert, Simone
A1  - de Groot, Frank M. F.
A1  - Odelius, Michael
A1  - Wernet, Philippe
A1  - Föhlisch, Alexander
T1  - From Ligand Fields to Molecular Orbitals: Probing the Local Valence Electronic Structure of Ni2+ in Aqueous Solution with Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering
JF  - The journal of physical chemistry : B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces & biophysical chemistry
N2  - Bonding of the Ni2+(aq) complex is investigated with an unprecedented combination of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) measurements and ab initio calculations at the Ni L absorption edge. The spectra directly reflect the relative energies of the ligand-field and charge-transfer valence-excited states. They give element-specific access with atomic resolution to the ground-state electronic structure of the complex and allow quantification of ligand-field strength and 3d-3d electron correlation interactions in the Ni2+(aq) complex. The experimentally determined ligand-field strength is 10Dq = 1.1 eV. This and the Racah parameters characterizing 3d-3d Coulomb interactions B = 0.13 eV and C = 0.42 eV as readily derived from the measured energies match very well with the results from UV-vis spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate how L-edge RIXS can be used to complement existing spectroscopic tools for the investigation of bonding in 3d transition-metal coordination compounds in solution. The ab initio RASPT2 calculation is successfully used to simulate the L-edge RIXS spectra.
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/jp4100813
SN  - 1520-6106
VL  - 117
IS  - 51
SP  - 16512
EP  - 16521
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
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  - Meibohm, Jan
A1  - Schreck, Simon
A1  - Wernet, Philippe
T1  - Temperature dependent soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy of liquids
JF  - Review of scientific instruments : a monthly journal devoted to scientific instruments, apparatus, and techniques
N2  - A novel sample holder is introduced which allows for temperature dependent soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy of liquids in transmission mode. The setup is based on sample cells with x-ray transmissive silicon nitride windows. A cooling circuit allows for temperature regulation of the sample liquid between -10 degrees C and +50 degrees C. The setup enables to record soft x-ray absorption spectra of liquids in transmission mode with a temperature resolution of 0.5K and better. Reliability and reproducibility of the spectra are demonstrated by investigating the characteristic temperature-induced changes in the oxygen K-edge x-ray absorption spectrum of liquid water. These are compared to the corresponding changes in the oxygen K-edge spectra from x-ray Raman scattering. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4896977
SN  - 0034-6748
SN  - 1089-7623
VL  - 85
IS  - 10
PB  - American Institute of Physics
CY  - Melville
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Premont-Schwarz, Mirabelle
A1  - Schreck, Simon
A1  - Iannuzzi, Marcella
A1  - Nibbering, Erik T. J.
A1  - Odelius, Michael
A1  - Wernet, Philippe
T1  - Correlating Infrared and X-ray Absorption Energies for Molecular-Level Insight into Hydrogen Bond Making and Breaking in Solution
JF  - The journal of physical chemistry : B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces & biophysical chemistry
N2  - While ubiquitous, the making and breaking of hydrogen bonds in solution is notoriously difficult to study due to the associated complex changes of nuclear and electronic structures. With the aim to reduce the according uncertainty in correlating experimental observables and hydrogen-bond configurations, we combine the information from proximate methods to study the N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bond in solution. We investigate hydrogen-bonding of the N-H group of N-methylaniline with oxygen from liquid DMSO and acetone with infrared spectra in the N-H stretching region and X-ray absorption spectra at the N K-edge. We experimentally observe blue shifts of the infrared stretching band and an X-ray absorption pre-edge peak when going from DMSO to acetone. With ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and calculated spectra, we qualitatively reproduce the experimental observables but we do not reach quantitative agreement with experiment. The infrared spectra support the notion of weakening the N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bond from DMSO to acetone. However, we fail to theoretically reproduce the measured shift of the X-ray absorption pre-edge peak. We discuss possible shortcomings of the simulation models and spectrum calculations. Common features and distinct differences with the O-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bond are highlighted, and the implications for monitoring hydrogen-bond breaking in solution are discussed.
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b02954
SN  - 1520-6106
VL  - 119
IS  - 25
SP  - 8115
EP  - 8124
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kunnus, Kristjan
A1  - Schreck, Simon
A1  - Föhlisch, Alexander
T1  - Free-electron laser based resonant inelastic X-ray scattering on molecules and liquids
JF  - Journal of electron spectroscopy and related phenomena : the international journal on theoretical and experimental aspects of electron spectroscopy
N2  - The unprecedented beam properties of free-electron laser based X-ray sources enable novel resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) experiments. Femtosecond time-resolved RIXS can be used to follow charge, spin and structural dynamics of dilute solute molecules in solution. Ultrashort X-ray pulses allow probing of highly radiation sensitive states of matter such as the metastable phase of supercooled liquid water. Nonlinear X-ray probes like amplified spontaneous emission and stimulated resonant X-ray scattering provide an enhanced selectivity and sensitivity as well as a path to control radiation damage and increase the photon yields in RIXS experiments. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
KW  - Free-electron laser
KW  - RIXS
KW  - Pump-probe
KW  - Nonlinear X-ray spectroscopy
KW  - Molecules
KW  - Liquids
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elspec.2015.08.012
SN  - 0368-2048
SN  - 1873-2526
VL  - 204
SP  - 345
EP  - 355
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wernet, Philippe
A1  - Kunnus, Kristjan
A1  - Schreck, Simon
A1  - Quevedo, Wilson
A1  - Kurian, Reshmi
A1  - Techert, Simone
A1  - de Groot, Frank M. F.
A1  - Odelius, Michael
A1  - Föhlisch, Alexander
T1  - Dissecting local atomic and intermolecular interactions of transition-metal ions in solution with selective X-ray spectroscopy
JF  - The journal of physical chemistry letters
N2  - Determining covalent and charge-transfer contributions to bonding in solution has remained an experimental challenge. Here, the quenching of fluorescence decay channels as expressed in dips in the L-edge X-ray spectra of solvated 3d transition-metal ions and complexes was reported as a probe. With a full set of experimental and theoretical ab initio L-edge X-ray spectra of aqueous Cr3+, including resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, we address covalency and charge transfer for this prototypical transition-metal ion in solution. We dissect local atomic effects from intermolecular interactions and quantify X-ray optical effects. We find no evidence for the asserted ultrafast charge transfer to the solvent and show that the dips are readily explained by X-ray optical effects and local atomic state dependence of the fluorescence yield. Instead, we find, besides ionic interactions, a covalent contribution to the bonding in the aqueous complex of ligand-to-metal charge-transfer character.
Y1  - 2012
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/jz301486u
SN  - 1948-7185
VL  - 3
IS  - 23
SP  - 3448
EP  - 3453
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schreck, Simon
A1  - Wernet, Philippe
T1  - Isotope effects in liquid water probed by transmission mode x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the oxygen K-edge
JF  - The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr
N2  - The effects of isotope substitution in liquid water are probed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the O K-edge as measured in transmission mode. Confirming earlier x-ray Raman scattering experiments, the D2O spectrum is found to be blue shifted with respect to H2O, and the D2O spectrum to be less broadened. Following the earlier interpretations of UV and x-ray Raman spectra, the shift is related to the difference in ground-state zero-point energies between D2O and H2O, while the difference in broadening is related to the difference in ground-state vibrational zero-point distributions. We demonstrate that the transmission-mode measurements allow for determining the spectral shapes with unprecedented accuracy. Owing in addition to the increased spectral resolution and signal to noise ratio compared to the earlier measurements, the new data enable the stringent determination of blue shift and broadening in the O K-edge x-ray absorption spectrum of liquid water upon isotope substitution. The results are compared to UV absorption data, and it is discussed to which extent they reflect the differences in zero-point energies and vibrational zero-point distributions in the ground-states of the liquids. The influence of the shape of the final-state potential, inclusion of the Franck-Condon structure, and differences between liquid H2O and D2O resulting from different hydrogen-bond environments in the liquids are addressed. The differences between the O K-edge absorption spectra of water from our transmission-mode measurements and from the state-of-the-art x-ray Raman scattering experiments are discussed in addition. The experimentally extracted values of blue shift and broadening are proposed to serve as a test for calculations of ground-state zero-point energies and vibrational zero-point distributions in liquid H2O and D2O. This clearly motivates the need for new calculations of the O K-edge x-ray absorption spectrum of liquid water. Published by AIP Publishing.
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4962237
SN  - 0021-9606
SN  - 1089-7690
VL  - 145
SP  - 24
EP  - 32
PB  - American Institute of Physics
CY  - Melville
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  - Josefsson, I.
A1  - Rajkovic, Ivan
A1  - Schreck, Simon
A1  - Quevedo, Wilson
A1  - Beye, Martin
A1  - Weniger, C.
A1  - Gruebel, S.
A1  - Scholz, M.
A1  - Nordlund, D.
A1  - Zhang, W.
A1  - Hartsock, R. W.
A1  - Gaffney, K. J.
A1  - Schlotter, W. F.
A1  - Turner, J. J.
A1  - Kennedy, B.
A1  - Hennies, F.
A1  - de Groot, F. M. F.
A1  - Techert, S.
A1  - Odelius, Michael
A1  - Wernet, Ph.
A1  - Föhlisch, Alexander
T1  - Identification of the dominant photochemical pathways and mechanistic insights to the ultrafast ligand exchange of Fe(CO)(5) to Fe(CO)(4)EtOH
JF  - Structural dynamics
N2  - We utilized femtosecond time-resolved resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and ab initio theory to study the transient electronic structure and the photoinduced molecular dynamics of a model metal carbonyl photocatalyst Fe(CO)(5) in ethanol solution. We propose mechanistic explanation for the parallel ultrafast intra-molecular spin crossover and ligation of the Fe(CO)(4) which are observed following a charge transfer photoexcitation of Fe(CO)(5) as reported in our previous study [ Wernet et al., Nature 520, 78 (2015)]. We find that branching of the reaction pathway likely happens in the (1)A(1) state of Fe(CO)(4). A sub-picosecond time constant of the spin crossover from B-1(2) to B-3(2) is rationalized by the proposed B-1(2) -> (1)A(1) -> B-3(2) mechanism. Ultrafast ligation of the B-1(2) Fe(CO)(4) state is significantly faster than the spin-forbidden and diffusion limited ligation process occurring from the B-3(2) Fe(CO)(4) ground state that has been observed in the previous studies. We propose that the ultrafast ligation occurs via B-1(2) -> (1)A(1) -> (1)A'Fe(CO)(4)EtOH pathway and the time scale of the (1)A(1) Fe(CO)(4) state ligation is governed by the solute-solvent collision frequency. Our study emphasizes the importance of understanding the interaction of molecular excited states with the surrounding environment to explain the relaxation pathways of photoexcited metal carbonyls in solution. (C) 2016 Author(s).
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4941602
SN  - 2329-7778
VL  - 3
PB  - American Institute of Physics
CY  - Washington
ER  -