Revisiting the basis of the excited states for solvated fluorinated benzenes and pentafluorophenylalanine.

Vapor-phase molecular simulation studies of aromatic compounds with five or more fluorine atoms on the ring reveal emission spectra characterized by S → πσ* and πσ*→S transitions. In this study, the absorption, excitation, and solvent-dependent emission spectra of fluorinated benzenes, including pentaflurophenyalanine (F5Phe), which is a potential marker for biochemical research, were collected and compared to the results of the simulation. Time-dependent self-consistent field (TD-SCF) density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to examine the nature of excited states and relevant photo-physical processes.

Huzinaga projection embedding for efficient and accurate energies of systems with localized spin-densities.

We demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the restricted open-shell and unrestricted formulation of the absolutely localized Huzinaga projection operator embedding method. Restricted open-shell and unrestricted Huzinaga projection embedding in the full system basis is formally exact to restricted open-shell and unrestricted Kohn-Sham density functional theory, respectively. By utilizing the absolutely localized basis, we significantly improve the efficiency of the method while maintaining high accuracy.

Plasmon-Mediated Intramolecular Methyl Migration with Nanoscale Spatial Control.

Plasmonic materials interact strongly with light to focus and enhance electromagnetic radiation down to nanoscale volumes. Due to this localized confinement, materials that support localized surface plasmon resonances are capable of driving energetically unfavorable chemical reactions. In certain cases, the plasmonic nanostructures are able to preferentially catalyze the formation of specific photoproducts, which offers an opportunity for the development of solar-driven chemical synthesis.

Robust, Accurate, and Efficient: Quantum Embedding Using the Huzinaga Level-Shift Projection Operator for Complex Systems.

Using wave function (WF) in density functional theory (DFT) embedding methods provides a framework for performing localized, high-accuracy WF calculations on a system, while not incurring the full computational cost of the WF calculation on the full system. To effectively partition a system into localized WF and DFT subsystems, we utilize the Huzinaga level-shift projection operator within an absolutely localized basis. In this work, we study the ability of the absolutely localized Huzinaga level-shift projection operator method to study complex WF and DFT partitions, including partitions between multiple covalent bonds, a double bond, and transition-metal-ligand bonds.

Absolutely Localized Projection-Based Embedding for Excited States.

We present a quantum embedding method that allows for calculation of local excited states embedded in a Kohn-Sham density functional theory (DFT) environment. Projection-based quantum embedding methodologies provide a rigorous framework for performing DFT-in-DFT and wave function in DFT (WF-in-DFT) calculations. The use of absolute localization, where the density of each subsystem is expanded in only the basis functions associated with the atoms of that subsystem, provide improved computationally efficiency for WF-in-DFT calculations by reducing the number of orbitals in the WF calculation.

Projection-Based Correlated Wave Function in Density Functional Theory Embedding for Periodic Systems.

We present a level shift projection operator-based embedding method for systems with periodic boundary conditions-where the "active" subsystem can be described using either density functional theory (DFT) or correlated wave function (WF) methods and the "environment" is described using DFT. Our method allows for k-point sampling, is shown to be exactly equal to the canonical DFT solution of the full system under the limit that we use the full system basis to describe each subsystem, and can treat the active subsystem either with periodic boundary conditions-in what we term "periodic-in-periodic" embedding-or as a molecular cluster-in "cluster-in-periodic" embedding. We explore each of these methods and show that cluster WF-in-periodic DFT embedding can accurately calculate the absorption energy of CO on to a Si(100)-2×1 surface.

Single-Molecule Imaging Using Atomistic Near-Field Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

Advances in tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) have demonstrated ultrahigh spatial resolution so that the vibrational modes of individual molecules can be visualized. The spatial resolution of TERS is determined by the confinement of the plasmon-induced field in the junction; however, the conditions necessary for achieving the high spatial confinement required for imaging individual molecules are not fully understood. Here, we present a systematic theoretical study of TERS imaging of single molecules, using a hybrid atomistic electrodynamics-quantum mechanical method.

Improved Accuracy and Efficiency in Quantum Embedding through Absolute Localization.

Projection-based quantum embedding methodologies provide a framework for performing wave function-in-density functional theory (WF-in-DFT) calculations. The total WF-in-DFT energy is dependent on the partitioning of the total system and requires similar partitioning in each system for accurate energy differences. To achieve this, we enforce an absolute localization of the WF orbitals to basis functions only associated with the WF subsystem.

Tip-Enhanced Raman Voltammetry: Coverage Dependence and Quantitative Modeling.

Electrochemical atomic force microscopy tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-AFM-TERS) was employed for the first time to observe nanoscale spatial variations in the formal potential, E, of a surface-bound redox couple. TERS cyclic voltammograms (TERS CVs) of single Nile Blue (NB) molecules were acquired at different locations spaced 5-10 nm apart on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. Analysis of TERS CVs at different coverages was used to verify the observation of single-molecule electrochemistry.

Conformational Contrast of Surface-Mediated Molecular Switches Yields Ångstrom-Scale Spatial Resolution in Ultrahigh Vacuum Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) combines the ability of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to resolve atomic-scale surface features with the single-molecule chemical sensitivity of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Here, we report additional insights into the nature of the conformational dynamics of a free-base porphyrin at room temperature adsorbed on a metal surface. We have interrogated the conformational switch between two metastable surface-mediated isomers of meso-tetrakis(3,5-ditertiarybutylphenyl)-porphyrin (HTBPP) on a Cu(111) surface.

Simulating Surface-Enhanced Hyper-Raman Scattering Using Atomistic Electrodynamics-Quantum Mechanical Models.

Surface-enhanced hyper-Raman scattering (SEHRS) is the two-photon analogue of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), which has proven to be a powerful tool to study molecular structures and surface enhancements. However, few theoretical approaches to SEHRS exist and most neglect the atomistic descriptions of the metal surface and molecular resonance effects. In this work, we present two atomistic electrodynamics-quantum mechanical models to simulate SEHRS.

Theory of Linear and Nonlinear Surface-Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopies.

The vibrational spectroscopy of molecules adsorbed on metal nanoparticles can be enhanced by many orders of magnitude so that the detection and identification of single molecules are possible. The enhancement of most linear and nonlinear vibrational spectroscopies has been demonstrated. In this review, we discuss theoretical approaches to understanding linear and nonlinear surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopies.

External orthogonality in subsystem time-dependent density functional theory.

Subsystem density functional theory (subsystem DFT) is a DFT partitioning method that is exact in principle, but depends on approximations to the kinetic energy density functional (KEDF). One may avoid the use of approximate KEDFs by ensuring that the inter-subsystem molecular orbitals are orthogonal, termed external orthogonality (EO). We present a method that extends a subsystem DFT method, that includes EO, into the time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) regime.

Frozen Density Embedding with External Orthogonality in Delocalized Covalent Systems.

Frozen density embedding (FDE) has become a popular subsystem density functional theory (DFT) method for systems with weakly overlapping charge densities. The failure of this method for strongly interacting and covalent systems is due to the approximate kinetic energy density functional (KEDF), although the need for approximate KEDFs may be eliminated if each subsystem's Kohn-Sham (KS) orbitals are orthogonal to the other, termed external orthogonality (EO). We present an implementation of EO into the FDE framework within the Amsterdam density functional program package, using the level-shift projection operator method.

Molecular-Resolution Interrogation of a Porphyrin Monolayer by Ultrahigh Vacuum Tip-Enhanced Raman and Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) and optically excited tip-enhanced fluorescence (TEF) of a self-assembled porphyrin monolayer on Ag(111) are studied using an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope (UHV-STM). Through selectively exciting different Q-bands of meso-tetrakis- (3,5-ditertiarybutylphenyl)-porphyrin (H2TBPP), chemical information regarding different vibronic excited states is revealed by a combination of theory and experiment; namely, TERS and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) simulations. The observed TEF spectra suggest a weak coupling of H2TBPP to the substrate due to the bulky t-butyl groups and a possible alternative excited state decay path.

Plasmonic circular dichroism of 310- and α-helix using a discrete interaction model/quantum mechanics method.

Plasmonic circular dichroism (CD) of chiral molecules in the near field of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) may be used to enhance molecular CD signatures or to induce a CD signal at the plasmon resonance. A recent few-states theory explored these effects for model systems and showed an orientation dependence of the sign of the induced CD signal for spherical NPs. Here, we use the discrete interaction model/quantum mechanical (DIM/QM) method to simulate the CD and plasmonic CD of the 310- and α-helix conformations of a short alanine peptide.

Simulating surface-enhanced Raman optical activity using atomistic electrodynamics-quantum mechanical models.

Raman optical activity has proven to be a powerful tool for probing the geometry of small organic and biomolecules. It has therefore been expected that the same mechanisms responsible for surface-enhanced Raman scattering may allow for similar enhancements in surface-enhanced Raman optical activity (SEROA). However, SEROA has proved to be an experimental challenge and mirror-image SEROA spectra of enantiomers have so far not been measured.

Intramolecular insight into adsorbate-substrate interactions via low-temperature, ultrahigh-vacuum tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) provides chemical information for adsorbates with nanoscale spatial resolution, single-molecule sensitivity, and, when combined with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), Ångstrom-scale topographic resolution. Performing TERS under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions allows pristine and atomically smooth surfaces to be maintained, while liquid He cooling minimizes surface diffusion of adsorbates across the solid surface, allowing direct STM imaging. Low-temperature TER (LT-TER) spectra differ from room-temperature TER (RT-TER), RT surface-enhanced Raman (SER), and LT-SER spectra because the vibrational lines are narrowed and shifted, revealing additional chemical information about adsorbate-substrate interactions.

The origin of relative intensity fluctuations in single-molecule tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

An explanation of the relative intensity fluctuations observed in single-molecule Raman experiments is described utilizing both single-molecule tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and time-dependent density functional theory calculations. No correlation is observed in mode to mode intensity fluctuations indicating that the changes in mode intensities are completely independent. Theoretical calculations provide convincing evidence that the fluctuations are not the result of diffusion, orientation, or local electromagnetic field gradients but rather are the result of subtle variations of the excited-state lifetime, energy, and geometry of the molecule.