Conformational Relaxation Dynamics of Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Photoexcited in Solution as Studied by Femtosecond Time-Resolved Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy in 1190-1550 nm Region.

When a conjugated polymer is photoexcited in solution, its effective conjugation length in the singlet exciton state often increases through the conformational relaxation of the polymer main chain and/or hopping of the excitation. We measured femtosecond time-resolved near-IR stimulated Raman spectra of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) photoexcited in four organic solvents for understanding the dynamics of the exciton elongation through the conformational relaxation separately from that through the exciton hopping. In the ring CC stretch frequency region, a band appears at around 1415 cm and decays, while a new band rises at around 1370 cm.

Energy Transfer Characteristics of Lipid Bilayer Membranes of Liposomes Examined with Picosecond Time-Resolved Raman Spectroscopy.

A number of biochemical reactions proceed inside biomembranes. Since the rate of a chemical reaction is influenced by chemical properties of the surrounding environment, it is important to examine the chemical environment inside the biomembranes. Although the energy transfer characteristics are a basic and important property of a reaction medium, experimental investigation of the thermal conducting capabilities of the biomembranes is a challenging task.

Quest for a Rational Molecular Design of Alkyl-Distyrylbenzene Liquid by Substitution Pattern Modulation.

Alkyl-π functional molecular liquids (FMLs) are of interest for fabricating soft electronic devices due to their fluidic nature and innate optoelectronic functions from the π-conjugated moiety. However, predictable development of alkyl-π FMLs with the desired liquid and optoelectronic properties is challenging. A series of alkyl-distyrylbenzene (DSB) liquids was studied in terms of the substituent position effect by attaching 2-octyldodecyl chains at (2,4-), (2,5-), (2,6-), and (3,5-).

Dynamics of electron ejection on photoionization of -stilbene and biphenyl in acetonitrile as observed with femtosecond time-resolved near-IR absorption spectroscopy.

Photoionization in solution is a basic but complex phenomenon involving a solute, an ejected electron and surrounding solvent molecules. It may seem obvious that an electron is released immediately after the parent molecule is excited to an electronic state that directly leads to the electron dissociation. However, it has been reported that the radical cations are formed in 17 ps, 24 ps, and 38 ps for -stilbene and 20 ps for biphenyl, based on time-resolved Raman and visible absorption measurements.

Direct estimation of NIR reflection spectra utilizing a snapshot-type spectrometer with photonic crystal multi-spectral filter arrays.

We fabricated 16-, 25-, 36-, and 64-channel distributed passband-type multi-spectral filter arrays by utilizing a multilayer-type photonic crystal and integrated them onto a CCD to form a snapshot-type spectroscopic sensor. Reflection spectra from target objects (fruits) under broadband light illumination were estimated directly using the Wiener estimation method. A root mean square error of the reflectivity on the order of 2∼5 was obtained under optical shot noise with 6×6 pixel binning.

Ultrafast Time-resolved Near-IR Stimulated Raman Measurements of Functional π-conjugate Systems.

Femtosecond time-resolved stimulated Raman spectroscopy is a promising method of observing the structural dynamics of short-lived transients with near infrared (near-IR) transitions, because it can overcome the low sensitivity of spontaneous Raman spectrometers in the near-IR region. Here, we describe technical details of a femtosecond time-resolved near-IR multiplex stimulated Raman spectrometer that we have recently developed. A description of signal generation and optimization, measurement, data acquisition, and calibration and correction of recorded data is provided as well.

Soft chromophore featured liquid porphyrins and their utilization toward liquid electret applications.

Optoelectronically active viscous liquids are ideal for fabricating foldable/stretchable electronics owing to their excellent deformability and predictable π-unit-based optoelectronic functions, which are independent of the device shape and geometry. Here we show, unprecedented 'liquid electret' devices that exhibit mechanoelectrical and electroacoustic functions, as well as stretchability, have been prepared using solvent-free liquid porphyrins. The fluidic nature of the free-base alkylated-tetraphenylporphyrins was controlled by attaching flexible and bulky branched alkyl chains at different positions.

Direct Observation of Structure and Dynamics of Photogenerated Charge Carriers in Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Films by Femtosecond Time-Resolved Near-IR Inverse Raman Spectroscopy.

The initial charge separation process of conjugated polymers is one of the key factors for understanding their conductivity. The structure of photogenerated transients in conjugated polymers can be observed by resonance Raman spectroscopy in the near-IR region because they exhibit characteristic low-energy transitions. Here, we investigate the structure and dynamics of photogenerated transients in a regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl-C-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend film, as well as in a pristine P3HT film, using femtosecond time-resolved resonance inverse Raman spectroscopy in the near-IR region.

Control of Electron Flow Direction in Photoexcited Cycloplatinated Complex Containing Conjugated Polymer-Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Hybrids.

Conjugated polymers incorporated with cycloplatinated complexes (P1-Pt and P2-Pt) were used as dispersants for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Significant changes in the UV-vis absorption spectra were observed after the formation of the polymer/SWCNT hybrids. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed the presence of a strong interaction between the cycloplatinated complex moieties and the SWCNT surface.

Vibrational relaxation dynamics of β-carotene and its derivatives with substituents on terminal rings in electronically excited states as studied by femtosecond time-resolved stimulated Raman spectroscopy in the near-IR region.

The electronic and vibrational relaxation of carotenoids is one of the key processes in the protection of living cells as well as in the functions of proteins involved in photosynthesis. In this study, the electronic and vibrational relaxation dynamics of β-carotene and its derivatives with substituents on the terminal rings is investigated using femtosecond time-resolved absorption and stimulated Raman spectroscopy in the near-IR region. The carbonyl substituent induces low-frequency shifts of the steady-state and transient absorption bands, decreases of the excited-state lifetimes and the acceleration of vibrational relaxation of the conjugated main chain, whereas the hydroxyl substituent only slightly affects them.

The impact of metal complex lipids on viscosity and curvature of hybrid liposomes.

A morphology transformation of hybrid liposomes was shown to occur from spherical vesicles to tubular micelles when increasing the ratio of the metal complex lipid present. Phase transition temperatures increased while viscosities decreased, indicating that the hybrids exhibit stronger interaction between heads but weaker interaction between alkyl chains than occurs in pristine liposomes.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of fluorescence solvatochromism of dialkoxyphenyl-pyrene molecules.

We investigated the fluorescence properties of dialkoxyphenyl-pyrene molecules experimentally as well as theoretically. Our experiments confirmed fluorescence solvatochromism in 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl-pyrene and, in contrast there was no significant solvent-effect on the emission properties of the isomers, 3,5- and 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl-pyrene. This clear difference in the solvent-dependence would reflect the difference in character of the excited-state between the isomers, which differ only in the substitution positions of the two methoxy groups.

A Guide to Design Functional Molecular Liquids with Tailorable Properties using Pyrene-Fluorescence as a Probe.

Solvent-free, nonvolatile, room-temperature alkylated-π functional molecular liquids (FMLs) are rapidly emerging as a new generation of fluid matter. However, precision design to tune their physicochemical properties remains a serious challenge because the properties are governed by subtle π-π interactions among functional π-units, which are very hard to control and characterize. Herein, we address the issue by probing π-π interactions with highly sensitive pyrene-fluorescence.

Development of a femtosecond time-resolved near-IR multiplex stimulated Raman spectrometer in resonance with transitions in the 900-1550 nm region.

Charge transfer and charge delocalisation processes play key roles in the functions of large biomolecular systems and organic/inorganic devices. Many of the short-lived transients involved in these processes can be sensitively detected by monitoring their low-energy electronic transitions in the near-IR region. Ultrafast time-resolved near-IR Raman spectroscopy is a promising tool for investigating the structural dynamics of the short-lived transients as well as their electronic dynamics.

Relaxation mechanism of β-carotene from S2 (1Bu(+)) state to S1 (2Ag(-)) state: femtosecond time-resolved near-IR absorption and stimulated resonance Raman studies in 900-1550 nm region.

Carotenoids have two major low-lying excited states, the second lowest (S2 (1Bu(+))) and the lowest (S1 (2Ag(-))) excited singlet states, both of which are suggested to be involved in the energy transfer processes in light-harvesting complexes. Studying vibrational dynamics of S2 carotenoids requires ultrafast time-resolved near-IR Raman spectroscopy, although it has much less sensitivity than visible Raman spectroscopy. In this study, the relaxation mechanism of β-carotene from the S2 state to the S1 state is investigated by femtosecond time-resolved multiplex near-IR absorption and stimulated Raman spectroscopy.

Two different charge transfer states of photoexcited 9,9'-bianthryl in polar and nonpolar solvents characterized by nanosecond time-resolved near-IR spectroscopy in the 4500-10,500 cm(-1) region.

Transient absorption spectra of 9,9'-bianthryl (BA) in heptane, in acetonitrile, and in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (bmimTf(2)N) are observed with a nanosecond time-resolved near-IR absorption spectrometer for the wavenumber range of 4500-10,500 cm(-1) (2200-950 nm). In nonpolar heptane solution, a broad absorption band is observed at 6700 cm(-1) (1500 nm), in addition to a strong absorption band of the locally excited (LE) state centered at 9800 cm(-1) (1020 nm). The broad band is assigned to a partial charge transfer (PCT) band.

Femtosecond time-resolved absorption anisotropy spectroscopy on 9,9'-bianthryl: detection of partial intramolecular charge transfer in polar and nonpolar solvents.

Femtosecond time-resolved absorption anisotropy spectroscopy by multichannel detection has been developed. The charge transfer (CT) character and dynamics of the UV-photoexcited 9,9(')-bianthryl (BA) in heptane, acetonitrile, and ethanol are revealed with this method. The transient absorption spectra are decomposed into two absorption components with different anisotropy values by the absorption anisotropy spectra.

UV excitation of single DNA and RNA strands produces high yields of exciplex states between two stacked bases.

Excited electronic states created by UV excitation of the diribonucleoside monophosphates ApA, ApG, ApC, ApU, and CpG were studied by the femtosecond transient-absorption technique. Bleach recovery signals recorded at 252 nm show that long-lived excited states are formed in all five dinucleosides. The lifetimes of these states exceed those measured in equimolar mixtures of the constituent mononucleotides by one to two orders of magnitude, indicating that electronic coupling between proximal nucleobases dramatically slows the relaxation of excess electronic energy.

A new class of intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded dendrons based on a 2-methoxyisophthalamide repeat unit.

The synthesis and conformational properties of folded dendrons based on a 2-methoxyisophthalamide (2-OMe-IPA) repeat unit are described. The hydrodynamic properties of dendrons preorganized via the syn-syn conformational preference of 2-methoxyisophthalamide are compared with 2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide (2,6-pydic) analogues. The effect of subtle differences in the nature of the conformational equilibria that exist within the 2-OMe-IPA and 2,6-pydic repeat units on the global structural properties of the corresponding dendrons was explored computationally, by (1)H-DOSY NMR spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy (TRFA) measurements.

Charge resonance character in the charge transfer state of bianthryls: effect of symmetry breaking on time-resolved near-IR absorption spectra.

We study the effects of symmetry breaking on the photogenerated intramolecular charge transfer (CT) state of 9,9'-bianthryl (BA) with femtosecond time-resolved near-IR spectroscopy. The time-resolved near-IR spectra are measured in acetonitrile for a symmetric substituted derivative of 10,10'-dicyano-9,9'-bianthryl (DCBA) and asymmetric substituted derivatives of 10-cyano-9,9'-bianthryl (CBA) and 9-(N-carbazolyl)anthracene (C9A), as well as nonsubstituted BA. The transient near-IR absorption spectrum of each compound at 0 ps has a locally excited (LE) absorption band, which agrees with the transient absorption band of the corresponding monomer unit.