Branching mechanism of photoswitching in an Fe(II) polypyridyl complex explained by full singlet-triplet-quintet dynamics

Excited-state structural characterization of a series of nanosecond-lived [Fe(terpy)2]2+ derivatives using x-ray solution scattering

[ F e ( t e r p y ) 2 ] 2 + (terpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine) is a transition metal complex where the spin state is photoswitchable and where the properties of the metal-centered quintet excited state (5MC) can be tuned by substituting different electron withdrawing or electron donating groups on the 4' position of the terpyridine. To better understand the physics determining the photoswitching performance, a deeper insight into the positions of the relevant potential energy surfaces and the molecular structure of the 5MC state is needed. We present a structural investigation based on Time Resolved x-ray Solution Scattering (TR-XSS) by which we determine the average dFe-N bond-length elongation following population of the 5MC state as well as the lifetime of this state in a series of seven modified [Fe(terpy)2]2+ systems in aqueous solution following photo-excitation. The analysis of the TR-XSS data is supported by Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Molecular Dynamics calculations. The quintet state lifetime is determined to vary by more than a factor of 10 (from 1.5 to 16 ns) based on the electron withdrawing/donating properties of the substituting group. Both the DFT calculations and the structural analysis of the experimental data show that the main photo-induced change in metal-ligand bond lengths ΔdFe-N is ∼0.2 Å for all systems.

Simulation of Ultrafast Excited-State Dynamics in Fe(II) Complexes: Assessment of Electronic Structure Descriptions

The assessment of electronic structure descriptions utilized in the simulation of the ultrafast excited-state dynamics of Fe(II) complexes is presented. Herein, we evaluate the performance of the RPBE, OPBE, BLYP, B3LYP, B3LYP*, PBE0, TPSSh, CAM-B3LYP, and LC-BLYP (time-dependent) density functional theory (DFT/TD-DFT) methods in full-dimensional trajectory surface hopping (TSH) simulations carried out on linear vibronic coupling (LVC) potentials. We exploit the existence of time-resolved X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) data for the [Fe(bmip)2]2+ and [Fe(terpy)2]2+ prototypes for dynamics between metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) and metal-centered (MC) states, which serve as a reference to benchmark the calculations (bmip = 2,6-bis(3-methyl-imidazole-1-ylidine)-pyridine, terpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine). The results show that the simulated ultrafast population dynamics between MLCT and MC states with various spin multiplicities (singlet, triplet, and quintet) highly depend on the utilized DFT/TD-DFT method, with the percentage of exact (Hartree-Fock) exchange being the governing factor. Importantly, B3LYP* and TPSSh are the only DFT/TD-DFT methods with satisfactory performance, best reproducing the experimentally resolved dynamics for both complexes, signaling an optimal balance in the description of MLCT-MC energetics. This work demonstrates the power of combining TSH/LVC dynamics simulations with time-resolved experimental reference data to benchmark full-dimensional potential energy surfaces.

Asymmetric conformation of the high-spin state of iron(II)-tris(2,2-bipyridine): Time-resolved x-ray absorption and ultraviolet circular dichroism

We analyze the structures of the low-spin (LS) ground state and the high-spin (HS) lowest excited state of the iron-(II)-tris bipyridine complex ([Fe(bpy)3]2+) using density functional theory PBE methods, modeling the solvent interactions with conductor-like polarizable continuum model. These calculations are globally benchmarked against a wide range of experimental observables that include ultraviolet-visible linear absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectra and Fe K-edge x-ray absorption near edge spectra (XANES). The calculations confirm the already established D3 geometry of the LS state, as well as a departure from this geometry for the HS state, with the appearance of inequivalent Fe-N bond elongations. The simulated structures nicely reproduce the above-mentioned experimental observables. We also calculate the vibrational modes of the LS and HS states. For the former, they reproduce well the vibrational frequencies from published infrared and Raman data, while for the latter, they predict very well the low-frequency vibrational coherences, attributed to Fe-N stretch modes, which were reported in ultrafast spectroscopic experiments. We further present calculations of the high-frequency region, which agree with recent ultrafast transient infrared spectroscopy studies. This work offers a common basis to the structural information encoded in the excited state CD and the Fe K XANES of the HS state tying together different structural IR, UV-visible, and x-ray observables.

Light-Induced Ring-to-Chain Transformations of Elemental Sulfur: Nonadiabatic Dynamics Simulations

The emergence of high-sulfur content polymeric materials and their diverse applications underscore the need for a comprehensive understanding of the ring-to-chain transformation of elemental sulfur. In this study, we delve into the ultrafast transformation of the elemental sulfur S8 ring upon photoexcitation employing advanced nonadiabatic dynamics simulations. Our findings reveal that the bond breaking of the S8 ring occurs within tens of femtoseconds. At the time of bond breaking, most molecules are in the lowest singlet excited state S1. S1 survives for 40-450 fs before relaxing to the quasi-degenerate manifolds formed by the T1 and S0 states of the S8 chain. This suggests that upon photoexcitation the polymerization of the S8 chains might proceed before the chains relax to their lowest energy states. The derived temporal resolution provides a detailed perspective on the dynamics of S8 rings upon photoexcitation, shedding light on the intricate processes involved in its excited-state transformations.

Control of Iron(II)-Tris(2,2'-Bipyridine) Light-Induced Excited-State Trapping via External Electromagnetic Fields

Light-induced excited spin-state trapping reactions in iron pyridinic complexes allow the iron's low-to-high spin transition in a sub-picosecond timescale. Employing a recently developed model for [Fe(2,2'-bipyridine)3]2+ photochemical spin-crossover reaction in conjunction with quantum wavepacket dynamics, we explore the possibility of controlling the reaction through external electromagnetic fields, aiming at stabilizing the initial metal-to-ligand charge transfer states. We show that simple Gaussian-shaped electromagnetic fields have a minor effect on the population kinetics. However, introducing vibrationally excited initial wavepacket representations allows for maintaining the population trapped in the metal-to-ligand charge transfer states. Using optimal control theory, we propose an electromagnetic field shape that increases the lifetime of metal-to-ligand charge transfer states. These results open the route for controlling the iron photochemistry through the action of external electric fields.

Two-Dimensional Spin-Crossover Molecular Solid Solutions with Tunable Transition Temperatures across 90 K

Spin-crossover (SCO) materials exhibit remarkable potential as bistable switches in molecular devices. However, the spin transition temperatures (Tc) of known compounds are unable to cover the entire ambient temperature spectrum, largely limiting their practical utility. This study reports an exemplary two-dimensional SCO solid solution system, [FeIII(H0.5LCl)2-2x(H0.5LF)2x]·H2O (H0.5LX = 5-X-2-hydroxybenzylidene-hydrazinecarbothioamide, X = F or Cl, x = 0 to 1), in which the adjacent layers are adhered via hydrogen bonding. Notably, the Tc of this system can be fine-tuned across 90 K (227-316 K) in a linear manner by modulating the fraction x of the LF ligand. Elevating x results in strengthened hydrogen bonding between adjacent layers, which leads to enhanced intermolecular interactions between adjacent SCO molecules. Single-crystal diffraction analysis and periodic density functional theory calculations revealed that such a special kind of alteration in interlayer interactions strengthens the FeIIIN2O2S2 ligand field and corresponding SCO energy barrier, consequently resulting in increased Tc. This work provides a new pathway for tuning the Tc of SCO materials through delicate manipulation of molecular interactions, which could expand the application of bistable molecular solids to a much wider temperature regime.

Vibrational Coherences of the Photoinduced Mixed-Valent Creutz-Taube Ion Revealed by Excited State Dynamics

A recent study of photoinduced mixed-valency in the one-electron reduced form (μ-pz)[RuII(NH3)5]24+ of the Creutz-Taube ion used transient absorption spectroscopy with vis-NIR broadband detection to uncover a mixed-valent excited state with a typical intervalence charge transfer band and a nanosecond lifetime [Pieslinger et al. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202211747]. Herein, we use excited state dynamics simulations with implicit solvation to elucidate the electronic and vibrational evolution in the first 10 ps after the optical excitation. A manifold of excited states with weak interaction between the metal centers is populated already at time zero due to the breakdown of the Condon approximation and dominates the population of electronic states at short time scales (<0.5 ps). A long-lived vibrational wave packet mostly confined to oscillations of the metal center-bridge distances is observed. The oscillations are traced to the electronic structure properties of states with weak metal-metal coupling. The long-lived mixed-valent excited state of the Creutz-Taube ion analogue is formed vibrationally cold and has a more compact geometry. While experimentally, intersystem crossing and vibrational relaxation were deduced to be completed within 1 ps, our analysis indicates that both processes might persist at longer times.

Ultrafast Jahn-Teller Photoswitching in Cobalt Single-Ion Magnets

Single-ion magnets (SIMs) constitute the ultimate size limit in the quest for miniaturizing magnetic materials. Several bottlenecks currently hindering breakthroughs in quantum information and communication technologies could be alleviated by new generations of SIMs displaying multifunctionality. Here, ultrafast optical absorption spectroscopy and X-ray emission spectroscopy are employed to track the photoinduced spin-state switching of the prototypical complex [Co(terpy)2 ]2+ (terpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine) in solution phase. The combined measurements and their analysis supported by density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) and multireference quantum chemistry calculations reveal that the complex undergoes a spin-state transition from a tetragonally elongated doublet state to a tetragonally compressed quartet state on the femtosecond timescale, i.e., it sustains ultrafast Jahn-Teller (JT) photoswitching between two different spin multiplicities. Adding new Co-based complexes as possible contenders in the search for JT photoswitching SIMs will greatly widen the possibilities for implementing magnetic multifunctionality and eventually controlling ultrafast magnetization with optical photons.

Ultrafast Electronic Relaxation in Aqueous [Fe(bpy)3]2+: A Surface Hopping Study

Trajectory surface hopping simulations are performed to better understand the electronic relaxation dynamics of [Fe(bpy)₃]²⁺ in aqueous solution. Specifically, the ultrafast relaxation from the photoexcited singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) to the metastable quintet metal-centered (MC) states is simulated through the surface hopping method, where the MLCT and MC states of [Fe(bpy)₃]²⁺ in aqueous solution are computed by using a model electronic Hamiltonian developed previously. As a result, most of the trajectories are interpreted to show the sequential relaxation pathways via the triplet MC states, though some are the direct pathway from MLCT to the quintet MC states. Even though the triplet MC states are involved in the relaxation, the population transfer to the singlet MC ground state is very small, and the population of the quintet MC states reaches more than ∼96%, reasonably consistent with the unity quantum efficiency discussed experimentally.