261 research outputs found
Capturing molecular structural dynamics by 100 ps time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy
An experimental set-up for time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy with 100 ps time resolution at beamline NW14A at the Photon Factory Advanced Ring is presented
Ultrafast isomerization-induced cooperative motions to higher molecular orientation in smectic liquid-crystalline azobenzene molecules
The photoisomerization of molecules is widely used to control the structure of soft matter in
both natural and synthetic systems. However, the structural dynamics of the molecules
during isomerization and their subsequent response are difficult to elucidate due to their
complex and ultrafast nature. Herein, we describe the ultrafast formation of higherorientation
of liquid-crystalline (LC) azobenzene molecules via linearly polarized ultraviolet
light (UV) using ultrafast time-resolved electron diffraction. The ultrafast orientation is
caused by the trans-to-cis isomerization of the azobenzene molecules. Our observations are
consistent with simplified molecular dynamics calculations that revealed that the molecules
are aligned with the laser polarization axis by their cooperative motion after photoisomerization.
This insight advances the fundamental chemistry of photoresponsive molecules
in soft matter as well as their ultrafast photomechanical applications
Photoinduced phenomena and structural analysis associated with the spin-state switching in the [FeII(DPEA)(NCS)2] complex
International audienceOut-of-equilibrium photoinduced switching from the low-spin to the high-spin state has been investigated on the iron(II) complex [Fe(II)(DPEA)(NCS)2] by both optical reflectivity and magnetic measurements under continuous light irradiation at low temperature. The photoinduced HS state can be observed up to 47 K and the relaxation process has been followed. Structural changes of both the temperature- and the photoinduced spin-state switching have been analyzed in detail by x-ray diffraction indicating no change of symmetry. Short intermolecular contacts and intramolecular deformations associated with the change of molecular spin state have been quantified. Actually a crossover behavior is observed at thermal equilibrium with however a quasiabrupt shape indicating significant cooperative effects. These aspects are compared between the temperature- and photoinduced spin crossovers
Picosecond dynamics in layered cobalt perovskites studied by time-resolved Raman spectroscopy
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Ultrafast gigantic photo-response in (EDO-TTF)2PF6 initiated by 10-fs laser pulses
We photo-exited a charge-ordered organic salt (EDO-TTF)2PF6 with sub-10-fs optical pulses. The photo-induced metallic phase appeared within 80-fs after pumping, characterized by large changes in reflectivity (DELTA R/R~0.8) followed by strong coherent phonon modulatio
Photoinduced dynamics during electronic transfer from narrow to wide bandgap layers in one-dimensional heterostructured materials
Electron transfer is a fundamental energy conversion process widely present in synthetic, industrial, and natural systems. Understanding the electron transfer process is important to exploit the uniqueness of the low-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures because interlayer electron transfer produces the function of this class of material. Here, we show the occurrence of an electron transfer process in one-dimensional layer-stacking of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). This observation makes use of femtosecond broadband optical spectroscopy, ultrafast time-resolved electron diffraction, and first-principles theoretical calculations. These results reveal that near-ultraviolet photoexcitation induces an electron transfer from the conduction bands of CNT to BNNT layers via electronic decay channels. This physical process subsequently generates radial phonons in the one-dimensional vdW heterostructure material. The gathered insights unveil the fundamentals physics of interfacial interactions in low dimensional vdW heterostructures and their photoinduced dynamics, pushing their limits for photoactive multifunctional applications
Direct Observation of Cooperative Protein Structural Dynamics of Homodimeric Hemoglobin from 100 ps to 10 ms with Pump–Probe X-ray Solution Scattering
Proteins serve as molecular machines in performing their biological functions, but the detailed structural transitions are difficult to observe in their native aqueous environments in real time. For example, despite extensive studies, the solution-phase structures of the intermediates along the allosteric pathways for the transitions between the relaxed (R) and tense (T) forms have been elusive. In this work, we employed picosecond X-ray solution scattering and novel structural analysis to track the details of the structural dynamics of wild-type homodimeric hemoglobin (HbI) from the clam Scapharca inaequivalvis and its F97Y mutant over a wide time range from 100 ps to 56.2 ms. From kinetic analysis of the measured time-resolved X-ray solution scattering data, we identified three structurally distinct intermediates (I-1, I-2, and I-3) and their kinetic pathways common for both the wild type and the mutant. The data revealed that the singly liganded and unliganded forms of each intermediate share the same structure, providing direct evidence that the ligand photolysis of only a single subunit induces the same structural change as the complete photolysis of both subunits does. In addition, by applying novel structural analysis to the scattering data, we elucidated the detailed structural changes in the protein, including changes in the heme heme distance, the quaternary rotation angle of subunits, and interfacial water gain/loss. The earliest, R-like I-1 intermediate is generated within 100 ps and transforms to the R-like I-2 intermediate with a time constant of 3.2 +/- 0.2 ns. Subsequently, the late, T-like I-3 intermediate is formed via subunit rotation, a decrease in the heme-heme distance, and substantial gain of interfacial water and exhibits ligation-dependent formation kinetics with time constants of 730 +/- 120 ns for the fully photolyzed form and 5.6 +/- 0.8 mu s for the partially photolyzed form. For the mutant, the overall kinetics are accelerated, and the formation of the T-like I-3 intermediate involves interfacial water loss (instead of water entry) and lacks the contraction of the heme-heme distance, thus underscoring the dramatic effect of the F97Y mutation. The ability to keep track of the detailed movements of the protein in aqueous solution in real time provides new insights into the protein structural dynamics.1149sciescopu
Organic metal (EDO-TTF)2PF6 with multi-instability
The multi-instability of the electronic structure of (EDO-TTF)2PF6, where EDO-TTF means ethylene-dioxytetrathiafulvalene, is reviewed. This complex showed the metal–insulator transition at 280 K associated with distinct molecular deformations. The mechanism is interpreted as the cooperation of Peierls transition, charge ordering, and the order–disorder transition of the countercomponent. The charge ordering pattern in the low-temperature phase is of the novel [0, 0, 1, 1] type. The sensitivity of the electronic state to external perturbations is demonstrated applying not only static but also instantaneous stimuli. In the latter case, the photo-induced phase transition is ultrafast and highly efficient. One photon causes the transition of several hundreds of donor molecules in the low-temperature phase to relax into a highly conducting metastable state within about 1.5 ps. In the early stage of the transient state, the charge ordering of the [1, 0, 1, 0] type occurs. As for the chemical modifications of this material, the partial deuteration of this complex increases the metal–insulator transition temperature. The introduction of a methyl group greatly modulates the electronic structure of the complex, i.e. (methyl-EDO-TTF)2X (X=BF4, ClO4) shows a two-dimensional electronic structure. The working hypotheses for developing the systems with multi-instability are described
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