1. |
- Aleksich, Mariya, et al.
(author)
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XFEL Microcrystallography of Self-Assembling Silver n-Alkanethiolates
- 2023
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In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - 0002-7863. ; 145:31, s. 17042-17055
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- New synthetic hybrid materials and their increasing complexity have placed growing demands on crystal growth for single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Unfortunately, not all chemical systems are conducive to the isolation of single crystals for traditional characterization. Here, small-molecule serial femtosecond crystallography (smSFX) at atomic resolution (0.833 Å) is employed to characterize microcrystalline silver n-alkanethiolates with various alkyl chain lengths at X-ray free electron laser facilities, resolving long-standing controversies regarding the atomic connectivity and odd-even effects of layer stacking. smSFX provides high-quality crystal structures directly from the powder of the true unknowns, a capability that is particularly useful for systems having notoriously small or defective crystals. We present crystal structures of silver n-butanethiolate (C4), silver n-hexanethiolate (C6), and silver n-nonanethiolate (C9). We show that an odd-even effect originates from the orientation of the terminal methyl group and its role in packing efficiency. We also propose a secondary odd-even effect involving multiple mosaic blocks in the crystals containing even-numbered chains, identified by selected-area electron diffraction measurements. We conclude with a discussion of the merits of the synthetic preparation for the preparation of microdiffraction specimens and compare the long-range order in these crystals to that of self-assembled monolayers.
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2. |
- Boström, Mathias, et al.
(author)
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Modifying the Poisson-Boltzmann Approach to Model Specific Ion Effects
- 2010
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In: Specific Ion Effects. - Singapore : World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.. - 9789814271578 ; , s. 293-309
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Specific ion effects are important in numerous fields of science and technology. They have been discussed for over 100 years, ever since the pioneering work done by Franz Hofmeister and his group in Prague. Over the last decades, hundreds of examples have been published and periodically explanations have been proposed. However, it is only recently that a profound understanding of the basic effects and their reasons could be achieved. Today, we are not far from a general explanation of specific ion effects. This book summarizes the main new ideas that have come up in the last ten years.In this book, the efforts of theoreticians are substantially supported by the experimental results stemming from new and exciting techniques. Both the new theoretical concepts and the experimental landmarks are collected and critically discussed by eminent scientists and well-known specialists in this field. Beyond the rigorous explanations, guidelines are given to non-specialists in order to help them understand the general rules governing specific ion effects in chemistry, biology, physics and engineering.
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3. |
- Canton, Sophie E., et al.
(author)
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Ultrafast Jahn-Teller Photoswitching in Cobalt Single-Ion Magnets
- 2023
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In: Advanced Science. - 2198-3844. ; 10:21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Single-ion magnets (SIMs) constitute the ultimate size limit in the quest for miniaturizing magnetic materials. Several bottlenecks currently hindering breakthroughs in quantum information and communication technologies could be alleviated by new generations of SIMs displaying multifunctionality. Here, ultrafast optical absorption spectroscopy and X-ray emission spectroscopy are employed to track the photoinduced spin-state switching of the prototypical complex [Co(terpy)2]2+ (terpy = 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) in solution phase. The combined measurements and their analysis supported by density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) and multireference quantum chemistry calculations reveal that the complex undergoes a spin-state transition from a tetragonally elongated doublet state to a tetragonally compressed quartet state on the femtosecond timescale, i.e., it sustains ultrafast Jahn-Teller (JT) photoswitching between two different spin multiplicities. Adding new Co-based complexes as possible contenders in the search for JT photoswitching SIMs will greatly widen the possibilities for implementing magnetic multifunctionality and eventually controlling ultrafast magnetization with optical photons.
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4. |
- Lima, Eduardo R. A., et al.
(author)
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Attractive double-layer forces between neutral hydrophobic and neutral hydrophilic surfaces
- 2011
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In: Physical Review E. Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics. - : American Physical Society. - 1539-3755 .- 1550-2376. ; 84:6, s. 061903-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The interaction between surface patches of proteins with different surface properties has a vital role to play driving conformational changes in proteins in different salt solutions. We demonstrate the existence of ion-specific attractive double-layer forces between neutral hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces in the presence of certain salt solutions. This is performed by solving a generalized Poisson-Boltzmann equation for two unequal surfaces. In the calculations, we utilize parametrized ion-surface potentials and dielectric-constant profiles deduced from recent non-primitive-model molecular dynamics simulations that partially account for molecular structure and hydration effects.
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5. |
- Lima, Eduardo R A, et al.
(author)
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Ion-specific thermodynamical properties of aqueous proteins
- 2010
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In: ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS. - 0001-3765. ; 82:1, s. 109-126
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ion-specific interactions between two colloidal particles are calculated using a modified Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. PB equations present good results of ionic concentration profiles around a macroion, especially for salt solutions containing monovalent ions. These equations include not only electrostatic interactions, but also dispersion potentials originated from polarizabilities of ions and proteins. This enables us to predict ion-specific properties of colloidal systems. We compared results obtained from the modified PB equation with those from MC simulations and integral equations. Phase diagrams and osmotic second virial coefficients are also presented for different salt solutions at different pH and ionic strengths, in agreement with the experimental results observed Hofmeister effects. In order to include the water structure and hydration effect, we have used an effective interaction obtained from molecular dynamics of each ion and a hydrophobic surface combined with PB equation. The method has been proved to be efficient and suitable for describing phenomena where the water structure close to the interface plays an essential role. Important thermodynamic properties related to protein aggregation, essential in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, can be obtained from the method shown here.
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6. |
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7. |
- Naumova, Maria A., et al.
(author)
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Exploring the light-induced dynamics in solvated metallogrid complexes with femtosecond pulses across the electromagnetic spectrum
- 2020
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In: The Journal of chemical physics. - : AIP Publishing. - 0021-9606 .- 1089-7690. ; 152:21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oligonuclear complexes of d4-d7 transition metal ion centers that undergo spin-switching have long been developed for their practical role in molecular electronics. Recently, they also have appeared as promising photochemical reactants demonstrating improved stability. However, the lack of knowledge about their photophysical properties in the solution phase compared to mononuclear complexes is currently hampering their inclusion into advanced light-driven reactions. In the present study, the ultrafast photoinduced dynamics in a solvated [2 × 2] iron(II) metallogrid complex are characterized by combining measurements with transient optical-infrared absorption and x-ray emission spectroscopy on the femtosecond time scale. The analysis is supported by density functional theory calculations. The photocycle can be described in terms of intra-site transitions, where the FeII centers in the low-spin state are independently photoexcited. The Franck-Condon state decays via the formation of a vibrationally hot high-spin (HS) state that displays coherent behavior within a few picoseconds and thermalizes within tens of picoseconds to yield a metastable HS state living for several hundreds of nanoseconds. Systematic comparison with the closely related mononuclear complex [Fe(terpy)2]2+ reveals that nuclearity has a profound impact on the photoinduced dynamics. More generally, this work provides guidelines for expanding the integration of oligonuclear complexes into new photoconversion schemes that may be triggered by ultrafast spin-switching.
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8. |
- Naumova, Maria A., et al.
(author)
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Nonadiabatic Charge Transfer within Photoexcited Nickel Porphyrins
- 2024
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In: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. - 1948-7185. ; 15:13, s. 3627-3638
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Metalloporphyrins with open d-shell ions can drive biochemical energy cycles. However, their utilization in photoconversion is hampered by rapid deactivation. Mapping the relaxation pathways is essential for elaborating strategies that can favorably alter the charge dynamics through chemical design and photoexcitation conditions. Here, we combine transient optical absorption spectroscopy and transient X-ray emission spectroscopy with femtosecond resolution to probe directly the coupled electronic and spin dynamics within a photoexcited nickel porphyrin in solution. Measurements and calculations reveal that a state with charge-transfer character mediates the formation of the thermalized excited state, thereby advancing the description of the photocycle for this important representative molecule. More generally, establishing that intramolecular charge-transfer steps play a role in the photoinduced dynamics of metalloporphyrins with open d-shell sets a conceptual ground for their development as building blocks capable of boosting nonadiabatic photoconversion in functional architectures through “hot” charge transfer down to the attosecond time scale.
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9. |
- Naumova, Maria A., et al.
(author)
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Revealing Hot and Long-Lived Metastable Spin States in the Photoinduced Switching of Solvated Metallogrid Complexes with Femtosecond Optical and X-ray Spectroscopies
- 2020
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In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-7185. ; 11:6, s. 2133-2141
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- An atomistic understanding of the photoinduced spin-state switching (PSS) within polynuclear systems of d4-d7 transition metal ion complexes is required for their rational integration into light-driven reactions of chemical and biological interest. However, in contrast to mononuclear systems, the multidimensional dynamics of the PSS in solvated molecular arrays have not yet been elucidated due to the expected complications associated with the connectivity between the metal centers and the strong interactions with the surroundings. In this work, the PSS in a solvated triiron(II) metallogrid complex is characterized using transient optical absorption and X-ray emission spectroscopies on the femtosecond time scale. The complementary measurements reveal the photoinduced creation of energy-rich (hot) and long-lived quintet states, whose dynamics differ critically from their mononuclear congeners. This finding opens major prospects for developing novel schemes in solution-phase spin chemistry that are driven by the dynamic PSS process in compact oligometallic arrays.
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