Effect of Molecular Guest Binding on the d-d Transitions of Ni of CPO-27-Ni: A Combined UV-Vis, Resonant-Valence-to-Core X-ray Emission Spectroscopy, and Theoretical Study.

We used Ni K-edge resonant-valence-to-core X-ray emission spectroscopy (RVtC-XES, also referred to as direct RIXS), an element-selective bulk-sensitive synchrotron-based technique, to investigate the electronic structure of the CPO-27-Ni metal-organic framework (MOF) upon molecular adsorption of significant molecular probes: HO, CO, HS, and NO. We compare RVtC-XES with UV-vis spectroscopy, and we show that the element selectivity of RVtC-XES is of strategic significance to observe the full set of d-d excitations in Ni, which are partially overshadowed by the low-energy π-π* transitions of the Ni ligands in standard diffuse-reflectance UV-vis experiments. Our combined RVtC-XES/UV-vis approach provides access to the whole set of d-d excitations, allowing us a complete discussion of the changes undergone by the electronic configuration of the Ni sites hosted within the MOF upon molecular adsorption.

Detailed Characterization of a Nanosecond-Lived Excited State: X-ray and Theoretical Investigation of the Quintet State in Photoexcited [Fe(terpy)].

Theoretical predictions show that depending on the populations of the Fe 3d , 3d , and 3d orbitals two possible quintet states can exist for the high-spin state of the photoswitchable model system [Fe(terpy)]. The differences in the structure and molecular properties of these B and E quintets are very small and pose a substantial challenge for experiments to resolve them. Yet for a better understanding of the physics of this system, which can lead to the design of novel molecules with enhanced photoswitching performance, it is vital to determine which high-spin state is reached in the transitions that follow the light excitation.

Selective catalytic reduction of NO over Fe-ZSM-5: mechanistic insights by operando HERFD-XANES and valence-to-core X-ray emission spectroscopy.

An in-depth understanding of the active site requires advanced operando techniques and the preparation of defined catalysts. We elucidate here the mechanism of the selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3 (NH3-SCR) over a Fe-ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst. 1.

Taking snapshots of photosynthetic water oxidation using femtosecond X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy.

The dioxygen we breathe is formed by light-induced oxidation of water in photosystem II. O2 formation takes place at a catalytic manganese cluster within milliseconds after the photosystem II reaction centre is excited by three single-turnover flashes. Here we present combined X-ray emission spectra and diffraction data of 2-flash (2F) and 3-flash (3F) photosystem II samples, and of a transient 3F' state (250 μs after the third flash), collected under functional conditions using an X-ray free electron laser.

Valence to core X-ray emission spectroscopy.

This Progress Report discusses the chemical sensitivity of Kβ valence to core X-ray emission spectroscopy (vtc-XES) and its applications for investigating 3d-transition-metal based materials. Vtc-XES can be used for ligand identification and for the characterization of the valence electronic levels. The technique provides information that is similar to valence band photoemission spectroscopy but the sample environment can be chosen freely and thus allows measurements in presence of gases and liquids and it can be applied for measurements under in situ/operando or extreme conditions.

Interaction of NH3 with Cu-SSZ-13 Catalyst: A Complementary FTIR, XANES, and XES Study.

In the typical NH3-SCR temperature range (100-500 °C), ammonia is one of the main adsorbed species on acidic sites of Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst. Therefore, the study of adsorbed ammonia at high temperature is a key step for the understanding of its role in the NH3-SCR catalytic cycle. We employed different spectroscopic techniques to investigate the nature of the different complexes occurring upon NH3 interaction.

High energy resolution core-level X-ray spectroscopy for electronic and structural characterization of osmium compounds.

A comprehensive study of the bulk solid OsCl3 and the molecular ion [Os(bpy)2(CO)Cl](+) is presented illustrating the application of RIXS and HERFD XANES spectroscopies to the investigation of both bulk materials and molecular complexes. In order to analyze the experimental results, DFT simulations were performed taking into account spin-orbit interaction. Calculations for both compounds resulted in good agreement with the experimental RIXS and HERFD XANES data, shedding light on the details of their local atomic and electronic structure.

Silica-supported Ti chloride tetrahydrofuranates, precursors of Ziegler-Natta catalysts.

The structural and electronic properties of silica-supported titanium chloride tetrahydrofuranates samples, obtained by impregnating a polymer-grade dehydroxylated silica with TiCl4(thf)2 and TiCl3(thf)3 complexes, precursors of Ziegler-Natta catalysts, are investigated by means of FT-IR, XAS, XES and diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy, coupled with DFT calculations. The properties of the two silica-supported samples are very similar, irrespective of the starting precursor. In both cases, most of the chlorine ligands originally surrounding the Ti sites are substituted by oxygen ligands upon grafting on silica.

dd excitations in CPO-27-Ni metal-organic framework: comparison between resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and UV-vis spectroscopy.

We identify the dd excitations in the metal-organic framework CPO-27-Ni by coupling resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) and UV-vis spectroscopy, and we show that the element selectivity of RIXS is crucial to observing the full dd multiplet structure, which is not visible in UV-vis. The combination of calculations using crystal-field multiplet theory and density functional theory can reproduce the RIXS spectral features, crucially improving interpretation of the experimental data. We obtain the crystal-field splitting and magnitude of the electron-electron interactions and correct previously reported values.

Resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy reveals d-d ligand-field states involved in the self-assembly of a square-planar platinum complex.

Resonant X-ray Emission Spectroscopy (RXES) is used to characterize the ligand field states of the prototypic self-assembled square-planar complex, [Pt(tpy)Cl]Cl (tpy=2,2':6',2''-terpyridine), and determine the effect of weak metal-metal and π-π interactions on their energy.

Spectroscopic and adsorptive studies of a thermally robust pyrazolato-based PCP.

The pyrazolato-based PCP [Ni(8)(μ(4)-OH)(4)(μ(4)-OH(2))(2)(μ(4)-PBP)(6)] (NiPBP, H(2)PBP = 4,4'-bis(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)biphenyl), whose 3-D architecture is built upon octametallic hydroxo clusters reciprocally connected by organic spacers, is a very promising candidate for gas adsorption applications, owing to its remarkable thermal stability (up to 400 °C in air) and its high void volume (70%). As such, NiPBP was selected as a proof-of-concept material to demonstrate how an optimized set of solid state techniques can concur to create a comprehensive and coherent picture, relating (average and local) structural features to adsorptive properties. To this aim, the response of NiPBP toward different gases, retrieved by gas adsorption measurements (N(2) at 77 K, in the low pressure region; H(2) at 77 K, in the high pressure region), was explained in terms of local-level details, as emerged by coupling electronic, X-ray (absorption and emission), and variable temperature IR spectroscopy.

Investigation of the valence electronic states of Ti(IV) in Ti silicalite-1 coupling X-ray emission spectroscopy and density functional calculations.

We present an application of valence to core X-ray emission spectroscopy to understand the electronic structure of the industrially relevant catalyst titanium silicalite-1. The experimental spectrum was modelled within density functional theory, adopting a one electron approach, investigating the effects of different basis sets, density functionals and cluster sizes. The description of titanium silicalite-1 valence states follows the Kohn-Sham evaluation of the molecular orbitals involved in the computed transitions.