Ultrafast dissociation dynamics of 2-Ethylpyrrole

To explore the effects of ring substitution on dissociation dynamics, the primary photochemistry of 2-ethylpyrrole has been explored using ultrafast ion imaging techniques. Photoexcitation to the S1 state, a πσ* state, in the range of 238 to 265 nm results in cleavage of the N–H bond with an H-atom appearance lifetime of ca. 70 fs. The insensitivity of this lifetime to photon energy, combined with a small kinetic isotope effect, suggests that tunneling does not play a major role in N–H bond cleavage. Total kinetic energy release spectra reveal modest vibrational excitation in the radical counter-fragment, increasing with photon energy. At wavelengths ≤ 248 nm a second, low kinetic energy H-atom loss mechanism becomes available with an appearance lifetime of approximately 1.5 ps and possibly due to the population of higher lying 1ππ* states

Bottom-up excited state dynamics of two cinnamate-based sunscreen filter molecules

Methyl-E-4-methoxycinnamate (E-MMC) is a model chromophore of the commonly used commercial sunscreen agent, 2- ethylhexyl-E-4-methoxycinnamate (E-EHMC). In an effort to garner a molecular-level understanding of the photoprotection mechanisms in operation with E-EHMC, we have used time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy to explore E-MMC’s and E-EHMC’s excited state dynamics upon UV-B photoexcitation to the S1 (11ππ*) state in both the gas- and solution-phase. In the gas-phase, our studies suggest that the excited state dynamics are driven by non-radiative decay from the 11ππ* to the S3 (11nπ*) state, followed by de-excitation from the 11nπ* to the ground electronic state (S0). Using both a non-polar-aprotic solvent, cyclohexane, and a polar-protic solvent, methanol, we investigated E-MMC and EEHMC’s photochemistry in a more realistic, ‘closer-to-shelf’ environment. A stark change to the excited state dynamics in the gas-phase is observed in the solution-phase suggesting that the dynamics are now driven by efficient E/Z isomerisation from the initially photoexcited 11ππ*state to S0

Infrared spectroscopy of thin films of functional oxides deposited on silicon : the ab initio contribution to modeling

Le PbZr₁₋ₓTiₓO₃ (PZT) est une pérovskite mixte possédant de nombreuses propriétés, dont certaines sont déjà utilisées dans l’industrie, ce qui en fait un matériau encore très étudié à l’heure actuelle, malgré la toxicité du plomb et de ses oxydes. Au cours de cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés à la spectroscopie d’absorption IR de ce composé, tant au niveau expérimental que théorique. Nous avons donc réalisé des modélisations, via le code de calcul CRYSTAL basé sur les méthodes de Combinaison Linéaire d’Orbitales Atomiques et de la Théorie de la Fonctionnelle de la Densité (LCAO-DFT) périodique, afin d’aider à l’interprétation des spectres expérimentaux réalisés sur la ligne AILES du synchrotron SOLEIL. Dans ce but, nous avons commencé par modéliser les composés de base du PZT : le PbTiO₃ (PT) et le PbZrO₃ (PZ). Nos résultats reproduisant très bien les données de la littérature sur ces deux composés, nous avons pu faire une analyse fine de leur spectre d’absorption IR. D’autre part, leur modélisation nous a permis de déterminer des paramètres de calcul transférables (base et fonctionnelle notamment) et de les appliquer sur le PZT en utilisant la méthode de la supermaille, couplée à une analyse statistique. Les résultats obtenus sont prometteurs pour l’interprétation, car tout à fait comparables aux spectres expérimentaux. Afin de nous rapprocher au mieux du cristal réel de PT, nous nous sommes intéressés à la modélisation de couches ultraminces et de lacunes d’oxygène, dans le but de voir leur effet sur le spectre d’absorption IR du PT.PbZr₁₋ₓTiₓO₃ (PZT) is a complex perovskite that has many properties, some of which are already used industrially. Thus, in spite of the toxicity of lead and its oxides, this material is still under extensive investigation. In this thesis, we are interested of both experimental and theoretical IR absorption spectroscopy of this compound. To do so, we used the CRYSTAL code, based on the Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals method and periodic Density Functional Theory (LCAO-DFT) in order to facilitate the interpretation of experimental spectra, recorded on the AILES beamline of synchrotron SOLEIL. In this goal, we first studied the two building blocks of PZT: PbTiO₃ (PT) and PbZrO₃ (PZ). Our results are in very good agreement with what has already been done in the literature. We, thus, could carry out a precise interpretation of their absorbance spectra. Moreover, transferable parameters (in particular the basis set and the functional) have been determined and used to study PZT. The supercell method, coupled with a statistical analysis, provided promising results, comparable with experimental data and, thus, helpful for their interpretation. In order to make a step towards the real PT crystal, we started the simulation of ultrathin films and oxygen vacancies to investigate their effects on the IR absorption spectrum

Etude par spectroscopie infrarouge de films minces d’oxydes fonctionnels intégrés sur silicium : apport des modélisations ab initio

PbZr₁₋ₓTiₓO₃ (PZT) is a complex perovskite that has many properties, some of which are already used industrially. Thus, in spite of the toxicity of lead and its oxides, this material is still under extensive investigation. In this thesis, we are interested of both experimental and theoretical IR absorption spectroscopy of this compound. To do so, we used the CRYSTAL code, based on the Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals method and periodic Density Functional Theory (LCAO-DFT) in order to facilitate the interpretation of experimental spectra, recorded on the AILES beamline of synchrotron SOLEIL. In this goal, we first studied the two building blocks of PZT: PbTiO₃ (PT) and PbZrO₃ (PZ). Our results are in very good agreement with what has already been done in the literature. We, thus, could carry out a precise interpretation of their absorbance spectra. Moreover, transferable parameters (in particular the basis set and the functional) have been determined and used to study PZT. The supercell method, coupled with a statistical analysis, provided promising results, comparable with experimental data and, thus, helpful for their interpretation. In order to make a step towards the real PT crystal, we started the simulation of ultrathin films and oxygen vacancies to investigate their effects on the IR absorption spectrum.Le PbZr₁₋ₓTiₓO₃ (PZT) est une pérovskite mixte possédant de nombreuses propriétés, dont certaines sont déjà utilisées dans l’industrie, ce qui en fait un matériau encore très étudié à l’heure actuelle, malgré la toxicité du plomb et de ses oxydes. Au cours de cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés à la spectroscopie d’absorption IR de ce composé, tant au niveau expérimental que théorique. Nous avons donc réalisé des modélisations, via le code de calcul CRYSTAL basé sur les méthodes de Combinaison Linéaire d’Orbitales Atomiques et de la Théorie de la Fonctionnelle de la Densité (LCAO-DFT) périodique, afin d’aider à l’interprétation des spectres expérimentaux réalisés sur la ligne AILES du synchrotron SOLEIL. Dans ce but, nous avons commencé par modéliser les composés de base du PZT : le PbTiO₃ (PT) et le PbZrO₃ (PZ). Nos résultats reproduisant très bien les données de la littérature sur ces deux composés, nous avons pu faire une analyse fine de leur spectre d’absorption IR. D’autre part, leur modélisation nous a permis de déterminer des paramètres de calcul transférables (base et fonctionnelle notamment) et de les appliquer sur le PZT en utilisant la méthode de la supermaille, couplée à une analyse statistique. Les résultats obtenus sont prometteurs pour l’interprétation, car tout à fait comparables aux spectres expérimentaux. Afin de nous rapprocher au mieux du cristal réel de PT, nous nous sommes intéressés à la modélisation de couches ultraminces et de lacunes d’oxygène, dans le but de voir leur effet sur le spectre d’absorption IR du PT

Confinement Effects on the Nuclear Spin Isomer Conversion of H ₂ O

International audienceThe mechanism for interconversion between the nuclear spin isomers (NSI) of H2O remains shrouded in uncertainties. The temperature dependence displayed by NSI interconversion rates for H2O isolated in an argon matrix provides evidence that confinement effects are responsible for the dramatic increase in their kinetics with respect to the gas phase, providing new pathways for o-H2O↔p-H2O conversion in endohedral compounds. This reveals intramolecular aspects of the interconversion mechanism which may improve methodologies for the separation and storage of NSI en route to applications ranging from magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging to interpretations of spin temperatures in the interstellar medium

FDDYNAM16 Towards elucidating the photochemistry of the sunscreen filter ethyl ferulate using time-resolved gas-phase spectroscopy

Ultrafast time-resolved ion yield (TR-IY) and velocity map imaging spectroscopies are employed to reveal the relaxation dynamics after photoexcitation in ethyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamate (ethyl ferulate, EF), an active ingredient in commercially available sunscreens. In keeping with a bottom-up strategy, the building blocks of EF, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (MVP) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamyl alcohol (coniferyl alcohol, ConA), were also studied to assist in our understanding of the dynamics of EF as we build up in molecular complexity. In contrast to the excited state dynamics of MVP and ConA, which are described by a single time constant (>900 ps), the dynamics of EF are described by three time constants (15 ± 4 ps, 148 ± 47 ps, and >900 ps). A mechanism is proposed involving internal conversion (IC) between the initially excited S1(11ππ*) and S2(11nπ*) states followed by intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) on both states, in competition with intersystem crossing onto neighbouring triplet states (15 ± 4 ps). IVR and IC within the triplet manifold then ensues (148 ± 47 ps) to populate a low-lying triplet state (>900 ps). Importantly, the fluorescence spectrum of EF at the S1 origin, along with the associated lifetime (6.9 ± 0.1 ns), suggests that population is trapped, during initial IVR, on the S1(11ππ*) state. This serves to demonstrate the complex, competing dynamics in this sunscreen filter molecule