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PubMed2004

The effect of beam diameter on the electron skirt in a high pressure scanning electron microscope.

Helium gas and air are commonly used in the high pressure scanning electron microscope (HPSEM). The presence of a gaseous environment in the specimen chamber modifies the electron beam profile. In order to fully understand the beam-gas interaction, we have investigated the beam-diameter effect for two gases (helium and air) by Monte Carlo simulation. In this calculation, we have assumed that the electron beam is Gaussian and we have explored the influence of the nature of the gas at low voltage. When the beam diameter varies between 1 and 100 nm, there is no influence on the beam profile for these two gases. The resolving power of the HPSEM is not affected by the beam-gas interaction. These theoretical results have been compared with experimental images obtained at low voltage under air and helium gases. The variation of image quality at low voltage has confirmed the interest of helium for use in a Field Emission Gun SEM (FEGSEM) in high pressure (or low vacuum) conditions.

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PubMed2004

Dynamic profile calculation of deposition resolution by high-energy electrons in electron-beam-induced deposition.

The effect of the accelerating voltage of incident electrons on the resolution of electron-beam-induced deposition was investigated by a dynamic Monte Carlo profile simulator which includes the electron scattering in the already grown deposit structure. By simulating the deposition at two different accelerating voltages of 20 and 200 kV with an idealistic zero-diameter incident probe on a bulk substrate, it was revealed that the smaller size structures were attainable by 200 keV than by 20 keV. The effect of the substrate was also argued by comparing the above results with the simulation results obtained for a point-like starting substrate. Surprisingly, the shapes of the deposits grown on bulk substrates were reproduced well by the simulations starting from point-like substrates indicating the small effect of the substrate on the shape of deposits.

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PubMed2005

Valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy in monochromated scanning transmission electron microscopy.

With the development of monochromators for (scanning) transmission electron microscopes, valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy (VEELS) is developing into a unique technique to study the band structure and optical properties of nanoscale materials. This article discusses practical aspects of spatially resolved VEELS performed in scanning transmission mode and the alignments necessary to achieve the current optimum performance of approximately 0.15 eV energy resolution with an electron probe size of approximately 1 nm. In particular, a collection of basic concepts concerning the acquisition process, the optimization of the energy resolution, the spatial resolution and the data processing are provided. A brief study of planar defects in a Y(1)Ba(2)Cu(3)O(7-)(delta) high-temperature superconductor illustrates these concepts and shows what kind of information can be accessed by VEELS.

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PubMed2005

Critical assessment of the speckle statistics in fluctuation electron microscopy and comparison to electron diffraction.

The technique of fluctuation electron microscopy (FEM) is applied to thin films of amorphous germanium and of polycrystalline gold in a transmission electron microscope. Even though the method was introduced as a tool for quantitative analysis of structural fluctuations in amorphous materials, the basic principles are applicable to any disordered specimen independent of the dimension of disorder. Hence, we extended the technique of FEM to a well-known specimen, gold, whereby it was possible to reinterpret the results of the measurements on amorphous germanium. The hollow-cone dark field images, the statistical analysis of which is the basis of FEM, are examined with respect to the effects of frequency filtering, and are compared to electron diffraction. We find that the angular dependence of the normalised variance, as measured by FEM, yields information similar to the average intensity of hollow-cone dark field image series. Both plots are basically identical to a scan through a selected-area diffraction pattern convoluted by the corresponding angular resolution function. Hence, it appears questionable whether standard FEM analysis provides more information than the classical pair distribution function, which is experimentally limited to short-range order. Frequency selective analysis of the normalised variance, however, gives supplementary information on preferred inter-atomic distances related to the medium-range order of the specimen.

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PubMed2001

Glassy cholesteric structure: thickness variation induced by electron radiation in transmission electron microscopy investigated by atomic force microscopy.

During the observation of glassy cholesteric liquid crystals in transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a new contrast is created or enhanced by electron radiation which has a direct relationship with the periodic microstructure of the specimen. In this paper, we investigate the variations of the sample thickness and mass density as possible causes of this irradiation contrast. By means of observations in atomic force microscopy (AFM) coupled to TEM, we compared the surface corrugations of non-irradiated and irradiated specimens. It is shown that the final contrast is the result of several processes. including fracture during ultramicrotomy and mass loss during irradiation. Mass loss acts as an etching, and hence results in a decrease of the sample thickness. The etching depends on the initial molecular orientation, thus evidencing the latent structure. An electron channelling mechanism is suggested to explain this behaviour.

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PubMed2001

Determination of the van der Waals, electron donor and electron acceptor surface tension components of static Gram-positive microbial biofilms.

A large number of studies have shown the influence of the physico-chemical properties of a surface on microbial adhesion phenomenon. In this study, we considered that the presence of a bacterial biofilm may be regarded as a "conditioning film" that may modify the physico-chemical characteristics of the support, and thus the adhesion capability of planktonic micro-organisms coming into contact with this substratum. In this context, we adapted a protocol for biofilm formation that allows, under our experimental conditions, contact angle measurements, the reference method to determine the energetic surface properties of a substratum. This made it possible to determine the van der Waals, electron acceptor and electron donor properties of static biofilms grown at 25 degrees C on stainless-steel slides with six Gram-positive bacteria isolated in dairy plants. A variance analysis indicated significant effects (P<0.05) of the bacterial strains and of the physiological state of the micro-organisms (planktonic or sessile) on the contact angles. To link the energetic properties of the six biofilms with direct adhesion experiments, we measured the affinity of fluorescent carboxylate-modified polystyrene beads for the different biofilm surfaces. The results correlated best with the electron-acceptor components of the biofilm surface energies, stressing the importance of Lewis acid-base interactions in adhesion mechanisms.

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PubMed2002

A new type of scanning electron microscope using the coaxial backscattered electrons.

A new coaxial detection system for backscattered electrons in SEM is described. This coaxial detection system allows us to collect only the backscattered electrons that have lost a small percentage of the primary energy, emerging from the sample surface with a take-off angle defined by the objective lens. This new configuration reinforces the atomic-number contrast and suppresses effectively the topographic contrast. The simulation and experimental results confirm these expectations: this new type of SEM is very suitable for observing differences in atomic number. Moreover, by associating the obtained image with a conventional secondary electron image, we build a third (color) image that allows us to give finally at the same time, in a single image, both of the chemical and topographic information.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Unusual electronic effects of electron-withdrawing sulfonamide groups in optically and magnetically active self-assembled noncovalent heterodimetallic d-f podates.

The segmental ligand 2-(6-(N,N-diethylcarbamoyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1,1'-dimethyl-2'-(5-(N,N-diethylsulfonamido)-pyridin-2-yl)-5,5'-methylenebis[1H-benzimidazole] (L3) is synthesized via a multistep strategy that allows the selective introduction of an electron-withdrawing sulfonamide group into the ligand backbone and its subsequent hydrolysis to the hydrophilic sulfonate group. Compared to that of the methylated analogue L1, the affinity of the bidentate binding unit of L3 for H+ and for trivalent lanthanide ions (LnIII) in [Ln(L3)3]3+ and [Ln2(L3)3]6+ is reduced because the electron-withdrawing sulfonamide substituent weakens sigma-bonding, but improved retro-pi-bonding between the bidentate binding units of L3 and soft 3d-block ions (M(II) = FeII, ZnII) overcomes this effect and leads to homometallic complexes [Mn(L(i))m]2n+ (i = 1, 3) displaying similar stabilities. Theoretical ab initio calculations associate this dual effect with a global decrease in energy of pi and sigma orbitals when the sulfonamide group replaces the methyl group, with an extra stabilization for the LUMO (pi). The reaction of L3 with a mixture of LnIII and M(II) (M = Fe, Ni, Zn) in acetonitrile gives the noncovalent podates [LnM(L3)3]5+ in which LnIII is nine-coordinated by the three wrapped tridentate segments, while the bidentate binding units provide a facial pseudooctahedral site around M(II). The X-ray structure of [EuZn(L3)3](ClO4)4(PF6)(CH3NO2)3(H2O) reveals that the bulky sulfonamide group at the 5-position of the pyridine ring only slightly increases the Zn-N bond distances as a result of sigma/pi compensation effects. The introduction of spectroscopically and magnetically active FeII and NiII into the pseudooctahedral site allows the detailed investigation of the electronic structure of the bidentate segment. Absorption spectra, combined with electrochemical data, experimentally demonstrate the dual effect associated with the attachment of the sulfonamide group (decrease of the sigma-donating ability of the pyridine lone pair and increase of the pi-accepting properties of the coordinated bidentate binding unit). The influences on the ligand field strength and on tunable room-temperature FeII spin-crossover processes occurring in [LnFe(L3)3]5+ are discussed, together with the origin of the entropic control of the critical temperature in these thermal switches.

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PubMed2001

Photoinduced electron transfer and electronic energy transfer in naphthyl-appended cyclams.

A series of novel macrocyclic tetraaza ligands that incorporate a naphthalene moiety as a photoactive chromophore have been prepared and structurally characterized as their Cu(II) complexes. Variable-temperature photophysical studies have concluded that the luminescence quenching evident in the Cu(II) complexes is due to intramolecular electronic energy transfer (EET). In their free-base forms, these ligands undergo reductive luminescence quenching via photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reactions, with proximate amine lone pairs acting as electron donors. Consequently, the emission behavior can be modulated by variations in pH and/or the presence of other Lewis acids such as Zn(II).

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PubMed2002

Excited-state electronic coupling and photoinduced multiple electron transfer in two related ligand-bridged hexanuclear mixed-valence compounds.

The synthesis, characterization, electrochemical, photophysical, and photochemical properties of two hexanuclear mixed-valence compounds are reported. Each supramolecular species consists of two cyano-bridged [(NC)(5)Fe(II)-CN-Pt(IV)(NH(3))(3)L-NC-Fe(II)(CN)(5)] triads that are linked to each other through a Pt(IV)-L-Pt(IV) bridge, where L = 4,4'-dipyridyl (bpy) or 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-dipyridyl (dmb). The major difference between the two compounds is the electronic nature of the bridging ligand between the two Pt atoms. Both species exhibit a broad Fe(II) --> Pt(IV) intervalent (IT) absorption band at 421 nm with an oscillator strength that is approximately four times that for [(NC)(5)Fe(II)-CN-Pt(IV)(NH(3))(5)] and twice that for [(NC)(5)Fe(II)-CN-Pt(IV)(NH(3))(4)-NC-Fe(II)(CN)(5)].(4-) When L = bpy, the resonance Raman spectrum obtained by irradiating the IT band at 488 nm exhibits several dipyridyl ring modes at 1604, 1291, and 1234 cm(-1) which are not present in the spectrum when L = dmb. In addition, femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy performed at 400 nm yields a transient bleach of the IT absorption band with a single exponential decay of 3.5 ps for L = bpy, compared with only 1.8 ps for L = dmb and 2.1 ps for [(NC)(5)Fe(II)-CN-Pt(IV)(NH(3))(4)-NC-Fe(II)(CN)(5)].(4-) Last, prolonged irradiation of the complexes at 488 nm leads to the formation of 4 equiv of ferricyanide with a quantum efficiency of 0.0014 for L = bpy and 0.0011 for L = dmb. The transient absorption, resonance Raman, and photochemical data suggest that the degree of excited electronic coupling in these compounds is tunable by changing the electronic nature of the Pt-L-Pt bridging ligand.

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PubMed2003

Slow electron transfer rates for fluorinated cobalt porphyrins: electronic and conformational factors modulating metalloporphyrin ET.

The electron transfer (ET) properties of a series of closely related cobalt porphyrins, [2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octafluoro-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato]cobalt, CoF(28)TPP, [2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octafluoro-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl)porphyrinato]cobalt, CoF(8)TPP, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato]cobalt, CoF(20)TPP, and [5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato]cobalt, CoTPP, were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, cyclic voltammetric digital simulation, in situ UV-vis and IR spectroelectrochemistry, kinetic ET studies, bulk electrolysis, (19)F NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and molecular modeling. In benzonitrile containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF(6)) as supporting electrolyte, the ET rate constants for the Co(2+/3+) redox couples were found to be strongly substituent dependent; the heterogeneous ET rate constant (k(el)) varied by a factor of 10(4), and the ET self-exchange rate constants (k(ex)) varied over 7 orders of magnitude for the compounds studied. The remaining observed ring oxidation and metal and ring reduction events exhibited nearly identical k(el) values for all compounds. UV-vis and IR spectroelectrochemistry, bulk electrolysis, and (19)F NMR spectroscopic studies support attribution of different ET rates to widely varying inner sphere reorganization energies (lambda(i)) for these closely related compounds. Structural and semiempirical (PM3) studies indicate that the divergent kinetic behavior of CoTPP, CoF(8)TPP, CoF(20)TPP, and CoF(28)TPP first oxidations arises mainly from large nuclear reorganization energies primarily associated with core contraction and dilation. Taken together, these studies provide rational design principles for modulating ET rate constants in cobalt porphyrins over an even larger range and provide strategies for similar manipulation of ET rates in other porphyrin-based systems: substituents that lower C-C, C-N, and N-M vibrational frequencies or minimize porphyrin orbital overlap with the metal-centered orbital undergoing a change in electron population will increase k(ET). The heme ruffling apparent in electron transfer proteins such as cytochrome c is interpreted as nature's exploitation of this design strategy.

Cobalt↗
PubMed1996

A Tetranuclear Ruthenium(II) Complex Containing both Electron-Rich and Electron-Poor Bridging Ligands. Absorption Spectrum, Luminescence, Redox Behavior, and Intercomponent Energy Transfer.

The first luminescent and redox active multinuclear Ru(II) compound containing both electron-poor (2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, 2,3-dpp) and electron-rich (3,5-bis(pyridyn-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole, Hbpt) polypyridine bridging ligands has been synthesized. The novel compound is [(bpy)(2)Ru(&mgr;-bpt)Ru{(&mgr;-2,3-dpp)Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)](7+) (1; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Its absorption spectrum, luminescence properties, and redox behavior have been studied and are compared with the properties of the parent complexes [Ru{(&mgr;-2,3-dpp)Ru(bpy)(2)}(3)](8+) (2) and [(bpy)(2)Ru(&mgr;-bpt)Ru(bpy)(2)](3+) (3). The absorption spectrum of 1 is dominated by ligand-centered bands in the UV region and by metal-to-ligand charge transfer bands in the visible region. Excited states and oxidation and reduction processes are localized in specific sites of the multicomponent structure. However, perturbations of each component on the redox and excited states of the others, as well as electronic interactions between the chromophores, can be observed. Intercomponent energy transfer from the upper-lying (&mgr;-bpt)(bpy)Ru-->bpy CT excited state of the Ru(bpy)(2)(&mgr;-bpt)(+) component to the lower-lying (bpy)(2)Ru-->&mgr;-2,3-dpp CT excited state of the Ru(bpy)(2)(&mgr;-2,3-dpp)(2+) subunit(s) is efficient in 1 in fluid solution at room temperature, whereas this process is not observed in a rigid matrix at 77 K. A two-step energy transfer mechanism is proposed to explain the photophysical properties of the new compound.

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PubMed1999

Estimation of Electron Transfer Rate Constant from Static (Optical and Thermodynamic) Measurements: A Study of Ru(NH(3))(5)pz(2+) + Fe(CN)(6)(3)(-) right harpoon over left harpoon Ru(NH(3))(5)pz(3+) + Fe(CN)(6)(4)(-) Electron Transfer Reactions.

A kinetic study of the electron-transfer reactions Ru(NH(3))(5)pz(2+) + Fe(CN)(6)(3-) right harpoon over left harpoon Ru(NH(3))(5)pz(3+) + Fe(CN)(6)(4-) was carried out in several water-organic solvent mixtures at 298.2 K. The free energies of activation for these thermal electron-transfer reactions were calculated from a combination of spectroscopic and thermodynamic data and are compared with those obtained from the kinetic study. Quantitative agreement is found between the two series of data. This shows the possibility of estimating activation free energies for electron-transfer reactions from these (static) measurements.

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PubMed1999

Analysis of Bonding and d-Electron Count in the Transition-Metal Carbides and Transition-Metal-Silicide Carbides with Discrete Linear M-C-M Units (M = Cr, Fe, Re) by Electronic Structure Calculations.

Electronic structures of the silicide carbides Tm(2)Fe(2)Si(2)C, Th(2)Re(2)Si(2)C, and ThFe(2)SiC and the carbide Ho(2)Cr(2)C(3) were calculated, using the extended Hückel tight binding method, to probe the d-electron counts of their transition metal atoms M (Cr, Fe, Re) the bonding of their linear M-C-M (M = Cr, Fe, Re) units. The nature of the short interlayer X.X (X = C, Si) bonds in Tm(2)Fe(2)Si(2)C, Th(2)Re(2)Si(2)C, and Ho(2)Cr(2)C(3) was also examined. Our study shows that the M-C bonds of the M-C-M units exist as double bonds. There is significant bonding in the interlayer Si.Si contacts of the silicide carbides R(2)M(2)Si(2)C (M = Fe, Re). The transition-metal atoms exist as d(10) ions in Tm(2)Fe(2)Si(2)C and Th(2)Re(2)Si(2)C. The d-electron count is slightly lower than d(10) in ThFe(2)SiC and close to d(5) in Ho(2)Cr(2)C(3).

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PubMed2002

Oxalate-bridged complexes of dimolybdenum and ditungsten supported by pivalate ligands: ((t)BuCO(2))(3)M(2)(mu-O(2)CCO(2))M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(3). Correlation of the solid-state, molecular, and electronic structures with Raman, resonance Raman, and electronic spectral data.

The compounds ((t)BuCO(2))(3)M(2)(mu-O(2)CCO(2))M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(3) (M(4)OXA), where M = Mo or W, are shown by analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data to have extended lattice structures wherein oxygen atoms from the oxalate and pivalate ligands of one M(4)OXA molecule are linked to metal atoms of neighboring molecules. Raman, resonance Raman, electronic absorption (2-325 K in 2-MeTHF), and emission spectra are reported, together with corresponding spectra of the mu-O(2)(13)C(13)CO(2) isotopomers. To aid in the assignment, the Raman spectra of K(2)C(2)O(4).H(2)O and K(2)(13)C(2)O(4).H(2)O have also been recorded. The visible region of the electronic spectra is dominated by intense, fully allowed MLCT transitions, M(2) delta to oxalate pi*, which show pronounced thermochromism and extensive vibronic progressions associated with the oxalate ligand at low temperatures. With excitation into these charge-transfer bands, strong resonance enhancement is seen for Raman bands assigned to the oxalate nu(1)(a(g)) and, to a lesser extent, nu(2)(a(g)) modes. Electronic structure calculations for the model compounds (HCO(2))(3)M(2)(mu-O(2)CCO(2))M(2)(O(2)CH)(3), employing density functional theory (gradient corrected and time-dependent) with the Gaussian 98 and ADF 2000 packages, predict the planar oxalate D(2h) configuration to be favored, which maximizes M(2) delta to oxalate pi* back-bonding, and indicate low barriers (<8 kcal mol(-1)) to rotation about the oxalate C-C bonds.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Switchable electronic coupling in model oligoporphyrin molecular wires examined through the measurement and assignment of electronic absorption spectra.

The use of a quinone functionality in the linkage unit of laterally bridged oligoporphyrins as a switch for controlling electronic coupling between the termini is examined. The quinone-bridged bisporphyrin P(2)TA-O(2) was synthesized by condensation of 2 equiv of the dione 2,3-dioxo-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)chlorin with 2,3,5,6-tetraamino-1,4-benzoquinone. The electronic absorption spectra of P(2)TA-O(2) and its conjugated benzenoid analogue P(2)TA are measured and assigned, in conjunction with the spectra of the fragment monomers and porphyrin-bridge compounds. Band homologies and CASPT2 calculations are used to make the assignments. Chemically, the dimer in one case is bridged by a through-conjugated, pi-delocalized 1,4,5,8-tetraazaanthracene molecule. This is shown to display significant inter-porphyrin coupling, with an observed difference in the exciton couplings of the B(x) and B(y) bands being ca. 0.18 eV. However, the other dimer is bridged using a derivative in which the central ring is converted to a cross-conjugated, pi-localized quinonoid form; this molecule displays no observable inter-porphyrin coupling. This scenario provides a paradigm for the use of molecular electronic devices in sensing, control, and high-capacity relatively low-speed data storage applications.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Perfluoroterephthalate bridged complexes with M-M quadruple bonds: ((t)BuCO(2))(3)M(2)(mu-O(2)CC(6)F(4)CO(2))M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(3), where M = Mo or W. Studies of solid-state, molecular, and electronic structure and correlations with electronic and Raman spectral data.

The compounds [((t)BuCO(2))(3)M(2)(mu-O(2)CC(6)F(4)CO(2))M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(3)], M(4)PFT, where M = Mo or W, are shown by model fitting of the powder X-ray diffraction data to have an infinite "twisted" structure involving M.O intermolecular interactions in the solid state. The dihedral angle between the M(2) units of each molecule is 54 degrees. Electronic structure calculations employing density functional theory (Gaussian 98 and ADF2000.01, gradient corrected and time dependent) on the model compounds (HCO(2))(3)M(2)(mu-O(2)CC(6)F(4)CO(2))M(2)(O(2)CH)(3), where M = Mo or W, reveal that in the gas phase the model compounds adopt planar D(2)(h) ground-state structures wherein M(2) delta to bridge pi back-bonding is maximized. The calculations predict relatively small HOMO-LUMO gaps of 1.53 eV for M = Mo and 1.22 eV for M = W for this planar structure and that, when the "conjugation" is removed by rotation of the plane of the C(6)F(4) ring to become orthogonal to the M(4) plane, this energy gap is nearly doubled to 2.57 eV for M = Mo and 2.18 eV for M = W. The Raman and resonance Raman spectra of solid M(4)PFT and of Mo(4)PFT in THF solution are dominated by bands assigned to the bridging perfluoroterephthalate (pft) group. The intensities of certain Raman bands of solid W(4)PFT are strongly enhanced on changing the excitation line from 476.5 nm (off resonance) to 676.5 nm, which is on resonance with the W(2) delta --> CO(2) (pft) pi transition at ca. 650 nm. The resonance enhanced bands are delta(s)(CO(2)) (pft) at 518 cm(-)(1) and its first overtone at 1035 cm(-)(1), consistent with the structural change to W(4)PFT expected on excitation from the ground to this pi excited state. The electronic transitions for solid Mo(4)PFT (lowest at 410 nm) were not accessible with the available excitation lines (457.9-676.5 nm), and no resonance Raman spectra of this compound could be obtained. For Mo(4)PFT in THF solution, it is the band at 399 cm(-)(1) assigned to nu(MoMo) which is the most enhanced on approach to resonance with the electronic band at 470 nm; combination bands involving the C(6)F(4) ring-stretching mode, 8a, are also enhanced.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Quinonoid oligothiophenes as electron-donor and electron-acceptor materials. A spectroelectrochemical and theoretical study.

Two quinonoid bis(dicyanomethylene) oligothiophenes, terthiophene and quaterthiophene analogues of TCNQ, have been investigated by spectroelectrochemical experiments and density functional theory calculations. Electrochemical data show that the molecules can be both reduced and oxidized at relatively low potentials, and that the quaterthiophene derivative forms four stable redox species, the dianion, neutral, cation radical, and dication. The neutral oligomers are characterized by a strong electronic absorption in the red or near-infrared region and can be viewed as structural and electronic analogues of aromatic oligothiophenes in the dication or bipolaron state. Upon reduction, dianions, not anion radicals, are formed which absorb in the visible region. The theoretical calculations show that the dianions have aromatic oligothiophene moieties with two anionic dicyanomethylene groups. The transition from a quinonoid to an aromatic structure is fully supported by UV-vis-near-IR and vibrational spectroscopic data. Oxidation, generating cation radicals and dications, occurs at rather low potentials similar to those reported for oligothiophenes. The electronic spectra of these cations are understood from the calculations, which suggest that the oxidized species are stabilized by the partial aromatization of the oligothiophene backbone. IR spectra of the species, especially the CN stretching frequencies, confirm the structural conclusions and allow comparison with TCNQ and the TCNQ dianion.

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