Influence of Molecular Separation on Through-Space Intervalence Transient Charge Transfer in Metal-Organic Frameworks with Cofacially arranged Redox Pairs.

We demonstrate direct evidence of photoinduced through-space intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) between two cofacially arranged redox-active pairs in metal-organic frameworks and their dynamic variation with their molecular separation. Two homologous MOFs [Co2 (NDC)2 (DPTTZ)2 ]. DPTTZ. DMF, 1 and [Co2 (BDC)2 (DPTTZ)2 ]. DMF, 2 (where NDC=naphthalene dicarboxylate, BDC=benzene dicarboxylate, DPTTZ=N, N'-di(4-pyridyl)thiazolo-[5,4-d]thiazole, DMF=N, N'-dimethyl formamide) are considered for this, whose intra-dimer distance of redox-active DPTTZ ligands differs ca. 1 Šfrom one system to another. Spectroelectrochemical study detects the formation of IVCT band at the NIR region between cofacially oriented DPTTZ molecules in both MOFs. Transient spectroscopy shows faster charge separation as well as charge recombination when intra-dimer distance is lesser (in MOF 2) due to stronger electronic coupling. We quantify the extent of IVCT by charge transfer integral calculation; and also by optical pump terahertz probe spectroscopy, where MOF 2 shows three times higher carrier mobility due to lesser inter-DPTTZ distance than MOF 1. These findings reveal a more localized aspect of through-space IVCT between cofacially organized redox-active pair in a three-dimensional framework.

Cascading electron and hole transfer dynamics in a CdS/CdTe core-shell sensitized with bromo-pyrogallol red (Br-PGR): slow charge recombination in type II regime.

Ultrafast cascading hole and electron transfer dynamics have been demonstrated in a CdS/CdTe type II core-shell sensitized with Br-PGR using transient absorption spectroscopy and the charge recombination dynamics have been compared with those of CdS/Br-PGR composite materials. Steady state optical absorption studies suggest that Br-PGR forms strong charge transfer (CT) complexes with both the CdS QD and CdS/CdTe core-shell. Hole transfer from the photo-excited QD and QD core-shell to Br-PGR was confirmed by both steady state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy. Charge separation was also confirmed by detecting electrons in the conduction band of the QD and the cation radical of Br-PGR as measured from femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Charge separation in the CdS/Br-PGR composite materials was found to take place in three different pathways, by transferring the photo-excited hole of CdS to Br-PGR, electron injection from the photo-excited Br-PGR to the CdS QD, and direct electron transfer from the HOMO of Br-PGR to the conduction band of the CdS QD. However, in the CdS/CdTe/Br-PGR system hole transfer from the photo-excited CdS to Br-PGR and electron injection from the photo-excited Br-PGR to CdS take place after cascading through the CdTe shell QD. Charge separation also takes place via direct electron transfer from the Br-PGR HOMO to the conduction band of CdS/CdTe. Charge recombination (CR) dynamics between the electron in the conduction band of the CdS QD and the Br-PGR cation radical were determined by monitoring the bleach recovery kinetics. The CR dynamics were found to be much slower in the CdS/CdTe/Br-PGR system than in the CdS/Br-PGR system. The formation of the strong CT complex and the separation of charges cascading through the CdTe shell help to slow down charge recombination in the type II regime.

New Ru(II)/Os(II)-polypyridyl complexes for coupling to TiO2 surfaces through acetylacetone functionality and studies on interfacial electron-transfer dynamics.

New Ru(ii)- and Os(ii)-polypyridyl complexes have been synthesized with pendant acetylacetone (acac) functionality for anchoring on nanoparticulate TiO2 surfaces with a goal of developing an alternate sensitizer that could be utilized for designing an efficient dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopic studies in the femtosecond time domain have been carried out. The charge recombination rates are observed to be very slow, compared with those for strongly coupled dye molecules having catechol as the anchoring functionality. The results of such studies reveal that electron-injection rates from the metal complex-based LUMO to the conduction band of TiO2 are faster than one would expect for an analogous complex in which the chromophoric core and the anchoring moiety are separated with multiple saturated C-C linkages. Such an observation is rationalized based on computational studies, and a relatively smaller spatial distance between the dye LUMO and the TiO2 surface accounted for this. Results of this study are compared with those for analogous complexes having a gem-dicarboxy group as the anchoring functionality for covalent binding to the TiO2 surface to compare the role of binding functionalities on electron-transfer dynamics.

Synthesis, steady-state, and femtosecond transient absorption studies of resorcinol bound ruthenium(II)- and osmium(II)-polypyridyl complexes on nano-TiO2 surface in water.

The synthesis of two new ruthenium(II)- and osmium(II)-polypyridyl complexes 3 and 4, respectively, with resorcinol as the enediol anchoring moiety, is described. Steady-state photochemical and electrochemical studies of the two sensitizer dyes confirm strong binding of the dyes to TiO2 in water. Femtosecond transient absorption studies have been carried out on the dye-TiO2 systems in water to reveal <120 fs and 1.5 ps electron injection times along with 30% slower back electron transfer time for the ruthenium complex 3. However, the corresponding osmium complex 4 shows strikingly different behavior for which only a <120 fs ultrafast injection is observed. Most remarkably, the back electron transfer is faster as compared to the corresponding catechol analogue of the dye. The origin and the consequences of such profound effects on the ultrafast interfacial dynamics are discussed. This Article on the electron transfer dynamics of the aforesaid systems reinforces the possibility of resorcinol being explored and developed as an extremely efficient binding moiety for use in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Photophysical properties of ligand localized excited state in ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes: a combined effect of electron donor-acceptor ligand.

We have synthesized ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes (1) Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(L(1)), (2) Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(L(2)) and (3) Ru(II)(bpy)(L(1))(L(2)), where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl, L(1) = 4-[2-(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridinyl-4-yl)vinyl]benzene-1,2-diol) and L(2) = 4-(N,N-dimethylamino-phenyl)-(2,2'-bipyridine) and investigated the intra-ligand charge transfer (ILCT) and ligand-ligand charge transfer (LLCT) states by optical absorption and emission studies. Our studies show that the presence of electron donating -NMe(2) functionality in L(2) and electron withdrawing catechol fragment in L(1) ligands of complex 3 introduces low energy LLCT excited states to aboriginal MLCT states. The superimposed LLCT and MLCT state produces redshift and broadening in the optical absorption spectra of complex 3 in comparison to complexes 1 and 2. The emission quantum yield of complex 3 is observed to be extremely low in comparison to that of complex 1 and 2 at room temperature. This is attributed to quenching of the (3)MLCT state by the low-emissive (3)LLCT state. The emission due to ligand localized CT state (ILCT and LLCT) of complexes 2 and 3 is revealed at 77 K in the form of a new luminescence band which appeared in the 670-760 nm region. The LLCT excited state of complex 3 is populated either via direct photoexcitation in the LLCT absorption band (350-700 nm) or through internal conversion from the photoexcited (3)MLCT (400-600 nm) states. The internal conversion rate is determined by quenching of the (3)MLCT state in a time resolved emission study. The internal conversion to LLCT and ILCT excited states are observed to be as fast as ∼200 ps and ∼700 ps for complexes 3 and 2, respectively. The present study illustrates the photophysical property of the ligand localized excited state of newly synthesized heteroleptic ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes.

Ultrafast exciton dynamics of J- and H-aggregates of the porphyrin-catechol in aqueous solution.

The aggregation behavior of 5,10,15-trisphenyl-20-(3,4-dihydroxy phenyl) porphyrin (L) in aqueous solution has been studied as a function of pH and concentration with the help of steady state absorption and emission spectroscopy. Our studies revealed that, for a particular concentration range, molecules of L undergo a reversible aggregation process and form two different aggregates at two different pH ranges, namely, J- and H-aggregates. We have monitored the excited state lifetimes of different aggregates by picosecond time-resolved emission spectroscopy and found that the emission lifetime of L reduces drastically with the formation of these aggregates. To study the dynamics associated with the excited state of both non-aggregated and aggregated (both J and H) porphyrins in an ultrafast time domain, we have carried out femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in the visible region following excitation of the respective samples at 400 nm. In addition to other de-excitation channels, another extra 100 fs (major) component for H-aggregates and 200 fs (major) component for J-aggregates has been observed and attributed to the exciton decay components of the respective aggregates.

Sensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2 anchored with pendant catechol functionality using a new tetracyanato ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex.

We have synthesized a new photoactive ruthenium(II) complex having a pendant catechol functionality (K(2)[Ru(CN)(4)(L)] (1) (L is 4-[2-(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridinyl-4-yl)vinyl]benzene-1,2-diol) for studying the dynamics of the interfacial electron transfer between nanoparticulate TiO(2) and the photoexcited states of this Ru(II) complex using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Steady-state absorption and emission studies revealed that the complex 1 showed a strong solvatochromic behavior in solvents or solvent mixtures of varying polarity. Our steady-state absorption studies further revealed that 1 is bound to TiO(2) surfaces through the catechol functionality, though 1 has two different types of functionalities (catecholate and cyanato) for binding to TiO(2) surfaces. The longer wavelength absorption band tail for 1, bound to TiO(2) through the proposed catecholate functionality, could also be explained on the basis of the DFT calculations. Dynamics of the interfacial electron transfer between 1 and TiO(2) nanoparticles was investigated by studying kinetics at various wavelengths in the visible and near-infrared region. Electron injection to the conduction band of the nanoparticulate TiO(2) was confirmed by detection of the conduction band electron in TiO(2) ([e(-)](TiO(2))(CB)) and cation radical of the adsorbed dye (1(*+)) in real time as monitored by transient absorption spectroscopy. A single exponential and pulse-width limited (<100 fs) electron injection was observed. Back electron transfer dynamics was determined by monitoring the decay kinetics of 1(*+) and [e(-)](TiO(2))(CB). This is the first report on ultrafast ET dynamics on TiO(2) nanoparticle surface using a solvatochromic sensitizer molecule.