TY - JOUR A1 - Titov, Evgenii A1 - Lysyakova, Liudmila A1 - Lomadze, Nino A1 - Kabashin, Andrei V. A1 - Saalfrank, Peter A1 - Santer, Svetlana T1 - Thermal Cis-to-Trans Isomerization of Azobenzene-Containing Molecules Enhanced by Gold Nanoparticles: An Experimental and Theoretical Study JF - The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces N2 - We report on the experimental and theoretical investigation of a considerable increase in the rate for thermal cis -> trans isomerization of azobenzene-containing molecules in the presence of gold nanopartides. Experimentally, by means of UV vis spectroscopy, we studied a series of azobenzene-containing surfactants and 4-nitroazobenzene. We found that in the presence of gold,nanoparticles the thermal lifetime of the cis isomer of the azobenzenecontaining molecules was decreased by up to 3 orders of magnitude in comparison to the lifetime in solution without nanoparticles. The electron transfer between azobenzene-containing molecules and a surface of gold nanopartides is a possible reason to promote the thermal cis trans switching. To investigate the effect of electron attachment to, and withdrawal from, the azobenzene-containing molecules on the isomerization rate, we performed density functional theory calculations of activation energy barriers of the reaction together with Eyring's transition state theory calculations of the rates for azobenzene derivatives with donor and acceptor groups in para position of one of the phenyl rings, as well as for one of the azobenzene-containing surfactants. We found that activation barriers are greatly lowered for azobenzene-containing molecules, both upon electron attachment and withdrawal, which leads, in turn, to a dramatic increase in the thermal isomerization rate. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b02473 SN - 1932-7447 VL - 119 IS - 30 SP - 17369 EP - 17377 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - GEN A1 - Schulze, Michael A1 - Utecht, Manuel Martin A1 - Moldt, Thomas A1 - Przyrembel, Daniel A1 - Gahl, Cornelius A1 - Weinelt, Martin A1 - Saalfrank, Peter A1 - Tegeder, Petra T1 - Nonlinear optical response of photochromic azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers N2 - The combination of photochromic and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) constitutes an intriguing step towards novel photonic and optoelectronic devices. By utilizing the second-order NLO process of second harmonic generation (SHG), supported by density-functional theory and correlated wave function method calculations, we demonstrate that the photochromic interface provides the necessary prerequisites en route towards possible future technical applications: we find a high NLO contrast on the order of 16% between the switching states. These are furthermore accessible reversibly and with high efficiencies in terms of cross sections on the order of 10−18 cm2 for both photoisomerization reactions, i.e., drivable by means of low-power LED light sources. Finally, both photostationary states (PSSs) are thermally stable at ambient conditions. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 196 Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-81198 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ehlert, Christopher A1 - Kröner, Dominik A1 - Saalfrank, Peter T1 - A combined quantum chemical/molecular dynamics study of X-ray photoelectron spectra of polyvinyl alcohol using oligomer models JF - Journal of electron spectroscopy and related phenomena : the international journal on theoretical and experimental aspects of electron spectroscopy N2 - X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a powerful tool for probing the local chemical environment of atoms near surfaces. When applied to soft matter, such as polymers, XPS spectra are frequently shifted and broadened due to thermal atom motion and by interchain interactions. We present a combined quantum mechanical QM/molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of X-ray photoelectron spectra of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using oligomer models in order to account for and quantify these effects on the XPS (C1s) signal. In our study, molecular dynamics at finite temperature were performed with a classical forcefield and by ab initio MD (AIMD) using the Car-Parrinello method. Snapshots along, the trajectories represent possible conformers and/or neighbouring environments, with different C1s ionization potentials for individual C atoms leading to broadened XPS peaks. The latter are determined by Delta-Kohn Sham calculations. We also examine the experimental practice of gauging XPS (C1s) signals of alkylic C-atoms in C-containing polymers to the C1s signal of polyethylene. We find that (i) the experimental XPS (C1s) spectra of PVA (position and width) can be roughly represented by single-strand models, (ii) interchain interactions lead to red-shifts of the XPS peaks by about 0.6 eV, and (iii) AIMD simulations match the findings from classical MD semi-quantitatively. Further, (iv) the gauging procedure of XPS (C1s) signals to the values of PE, introduces errors of about 0.5 eV. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. KW - Simulation of polymer XPS KW - Delta-Kohn Sham method KW - Thermal broadening effects KW - Interchain interactions KW - Classical MD KW - Poly vinyl alcohol Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elspec.2014.12.007 SN - 0368-2048 SN - 1873-2526 VL - 199 SP - 38 EP - 45 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Banerjee, Shiladitya A1 - Stueker, Tony A1 - Saalfrank, Peter T1 - Vibrationally resolved optical spectra of modified diamondoids obtained from time-dependent correlation function methods JF - Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies N2 - Optical properties of modified diamondoids have been studied theoretically using vibrationally resolved electronic absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectra. A time-dependent correlation function approach has been used for electronic two-state models, comprising a ground state (g) and a bright, excited state (e), the latter determined from linear-response, time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The harmonic and Condon approximations were adopted. In most cases origin shifts, frequency alteration and Duschinsky rotation in excited states were considered. For other cases where no excited state geometry optimization and normal mode analysis were possible or desired, a short-time approximation was used. The optical properties and spectra have been computed for (i) a set of recently synthesized sp(2)/sp(3) hybrid species with CQC double-bond connected saturated diamondoid subunits, (ii) functionalized (mostly by thiol or thione groups) diamondoids and (iii) urotropine and other C-substituted diamondoids. The ultimate goal is to tailor optical and electronic features of diamondoids by electronic blending, functionalization and substitution, based on a molecular-level understanding of the ongoing photophysics. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c5cp02615f SN - 1463-9076 SN - 1463-9084 VL - 17 IS - 29 SP - 19656 EP - 19669 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schulze, Michael A1 - Utecht, Manuel Martin A1 - Moldt, Thomas A1 - Przyrembel, Daniel A1 - Gahl, Cornelius A1 - Weinelt, Martin A1 - Saalfrank, Peter A1 - Tegeder, Petra T1 - Nonlinear optical response of photochromic azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers JF - Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies N2 - The combination of photochromic and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) constitutes an intriguing step towards novel photonic and optoelectronic devices. By utilizing the second-order NLO process of second harmonic generation (SHG), supported by density-functional theory and correlated wave function method calculations, we demonstrate that the photochromic interface provides the necessary prerequisites en route towards possible future technical applications: we find a high NLO contrast on the order of 16% between the switching states. These are furthermore accessible reversibly and with high efficiencies in terms of cross sections on the order of 10(-18) cm(2) for both photoisomerization reactions, i.e., drivable by means of low-power LED light sources. Finally, both photostationary states (PSSs) are thermally stable at ambient conditions. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c5cp03093e SN - 1463-9076 SN - 1463-9084 VL - 17 IS - 27 SP - 18079 EP - 18086 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lorenz, Ulf A1 - Saalfrank, Peter T1 - Measures for the non-Markovianity of a harmonic oscillator coupled to a discrete bath derived from numerically exact references JF - The European physical journal : D, Atomic, molecular, optical and plasma physics N2 - System-bath problems in physics and chemistry are often described by Markovian master equations. However, the Markov approximation, i.e., neglect of bath memory effects is not always justified, and different measures of non-Markovianity have been suggested in the literature to judge the validity of this approximation. Here we calculate several computable measures of non-Markovianity for the non-trivial problem of a harmonic oscillator coupled to a large number of bath oscillators. The Multi Configurational Time Dependent Hart ree nietliod is used to provide a numerically converged solution of the system-bath Schrodinger equation, from which the appropriate quantities can be calculated. In particular, we consider measures based on trace-distances and quantum discord for a variety of initial states. These quantities have proven useful in the case of two-level and other small model systems Tpically encountered in quantum optics; but are less straightforward to interpret for the more complex model systems that are relevant for chemical physics. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2014-50727-8 SN - 1434-6060 SN - 1434-6079 VL - 69 IS - 2 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Matis, Jochen Rene A1 - Schoenborn, Jan Boyke A1 - Saalfrank, Peter T1 - A multi-reference study of the byproduct formation for a ring-closed dithienylethene photoswitch JF - Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies N2 - Photodriven molecular switches are sometimes hindered in their performance by forming byproducts which act as dead ends in sequences of switching cycles, leading to rapid fatigue effects. Understanding the reaction pathways to unwanted byproducts is a prerequisite for preventing them. This article presents a study of the photochemical reaction pathways for byproduct formation in the photochromic switch 1,2-bis-(3-thienyl)-ethene. Specifically, using single-and multi-reference methods the post-deexcitation reaction towards the byproduct in the electronic ground state S-0 when starting from the S-1-S-0 conical intersection (CoIn), is considered in detail. We find an unusual low-energy pathway, which offers the possibility for the formation of a dyotropic byproduct. Several high-energy pathways can be excluded with high probability. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c5cp00987a SN - 1463-9076 SN - 1463-9084 VL - 17 IS - 21 SP - 14088 EP - 14095 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schulze, Michael A1 - Utecht, Manuel Martin A1 - Hebert, Andreas A1 - Rück-Braun, Karola A1 - Saalfrank, Peter A1 - Tegeder, Petra T1 - Reversible Photoswitching of the Interfacial Nonlinear Optical Response JF - The journal of physical chemistry letters N2 - Incorporating photochromic molecules into organic/inorganic hybrid materials may lead to photoresponsive systems. In such systems, the second-order nonlinear properties can be controlled via external stimulation with light at an appropriate wavelength. By creating photochromic molecular switches containing self-assembled monolayers on Si(111), we can demonstrate efficient reversible switching, which is accompanied by a pronounced modulation of the nonlinear optical (NLO) response of the system. The concept of utilizing functionalized photoswitchable Si surfaces could be a way for the generation of two-dimensional NLO switching materials, which are promising for applications in photonic and optoelectronic devices. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/jz502477m SN - 1948-7185 VL - 6 IS - 3 SP - 505 EP - 509 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Floss, Gereon A1 - Saalfrank, Peter T1 - The Photoinduced E -> Z Isomerization of Bisazobenzenes: A Surface Hopping Molecular Dynamics Study JF - The journal of physical chemistry : A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment & general theory N2 - The photoinduced E -> Z isomerization of azobenzene is a prototypical example of molecular switching. On the way toward rigid molecular rods such as those for opto-mechanical applications, multiazobenzene structures have been suggested in which several switching units are linked together within the same molecule (Bleger et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 2011, 115, 9930-9940). Large differences in the switching efficiency of multiazobenzenes have been observed, depending on whether the switching units are electronically decoupled or not. In this paper we study, on a time-resolved molecular level, the E -> Z isomerization of the simplest multiazobenzene, bisazobenzene (BAB). Two isomers (ortho- and para-BAB), differing only in the connectivity of two azo groups on a shared phenyl ring will be considered.To do so, nonadiabatic semiclassical dynamics after photo-excitation of the isomers are studied by employing an "on-the-fly", fewest switches surface hopping approach. States and couplings are calculated by Configuration Interaction (CI) based on a semiempirical (AM1) Hamiltonian (Persico and co-workers, Chem. Eur. J. 2004, 10, 2327-2341). In the case of para-BAB, computed quantum yields for photoswitching are drastically reduced compared to pristine azobenzene, due to electronic coupling of both switching units. A reason for this (apart from altered absorption spectra and reduced photochromicity) is the drastically reduced lifetimes of electronically excited states which are transiently populated. In contrast for meta-connected species, electronic subsystems are largely decoupled, and computed quantum yields are slightly higher than that for pristine azobenzene because of new isomerization channels. In this case we can also distinguish between single- and double-switch events and we find a cooperative effect: The isomerization of a single azo group is facilitated if the other azo group is already in the Z-configuration. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.5b02933 SN - 1089-5639 VL - 119 IS - 20 SP - 5026 EP - 5037 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Martinez-Mesa, Aliezer A1 - Saalfrank, Peter T1 - Semiclassical modelling of finite-pulse effects on non-adiabatic photodynamics via initial condition filtering: The predissociation of NaI as a test case JF - The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr N2 - Femtosecond-laser pulse driven non-adiabatic spectroscopy and dynamics in molecular and condensed phase systems continue to be a challenge for theoretical modelling. One of the main obstacles is the "curse of dimensionality" encountered in non-adiabatic, exact wavepacket propagation. A possible route towards treating complex molecular systems is via semiclassical surface-hopping schemes, in particular if they account not only for non-adiabatic post-excitation dynamics but also for the initial optical excitation. One such approach, based on initial condition filtering, will be put forward in what follows. As a simple test case which can be compared with exact wavepacket dynamics, we investigate the influence of the different parameters determining the shape of a laser pulse (e.g., its finite width and a possible chirp) on the predissociation dynamics of a NaI molecule, upon photoexcitation of the A(0(+)) state. The finite-pulse effects are mapped into the initial conditions for semiclassical surface-hopping simulations. The simulated surface-hopping diabatic populations are in qualitative agreement with the quantum mechanical results, especially concerning the subpicosend photoinduced dynamics, the main deviations being the relative delay of the non-adiabatic transitions in the semiclassical picture. Likewise, these differences in the time-dependent electronic populations calculated via the semiclassical and the quantum methods are found to have a mild influence on the overall probability density distribution. As a result, the branching ratios between the bound and the dissociative reaction channels and the time-evolution of the molecular wavepacket predicted by the semiclassical method agree with those computed using quantum wavepacket propagation. Implications for more challenging molecular systems are given. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4919780 SN - 0021-9606 SN - 1089-7690 VL - 142 IS - 19 PB - American Institute of Physics CY - Melville ER -