Department of Chemistry

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    White Light Emission in Butadiyne Bridged Pyrene–Phenyl Hybrid Fluorophore: Understanding the Photophysical Importance of Diyne Spacer and Utilizing the Excited-State Photophysics for Vapor Detection
    (ACS, 2016-07) Pati, Avik K.
    Generation of white light emission (WLE) from a single organic fluorophore is challenging because of the need to get fluorescence covering the visible region (400–700 nm) upon excitation of the dye at near-ultraviolet wavelength. Herein, we report WLE from a butadiyne bridged pyrene–phenyl hybrid fluorophore in mixed-aqueous solvents as well as in polymer film matrices. The ability of the butadiynyl dye to emit from multiple excited states such as locally excited (LE; 400–500 nm), aggregate (excimer type; 475–600 nm), and charge transfer (CT; 500–750 nm) states spanning the emission almost throughout the visible range has made the generation of the white light to be possible. In highly polar solvent such as acetonitrile, the butadiynyl dye emits from the LE and CT states, and the WLE is achieved through a control of the dye concentration such that intermolecular CT (exciplex type) contributes along with the intramolecular CT and LE emissions. In mixed-aqueous systems such as water–acetonitrile and water–N,N-dimethylformamide, the CT emission is red-shifted (because of the high dielctric constant of water), and the contribution of the aggregate emission (originated because of the poor solvent water) is important in maintaining the relative distribution of the fluorescence intensities (LE, excimer, and CT) in the entire visible region. The significance of the diyne spacer in achieving the WLE is delineated through a control study with a single acetylenic analogue. The LE, aggregate, and CT emissions are involved in generating bluish-white light in a poly(vinyl alcohol) film matrix of the butadiynyl dye. Blue emission is noted in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film matrix of the dye with a major contribution from the LE and a minor contribution from the aggregate state. Exposure of the PMMA film of the dye to polar aprotic vapors assists in gaining the CT state emission such that the LE, aggregate, CT emissions cover the entire visible region to produce the WLE. This opens a new strategy for selective vapor sensing.
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    Photophysical Impact of Diacetylenic Conjugation on Classical Donor–Acceptor Electronic Energy Pair
    (ACS, 2018-12) Pati, Avik K.
    Organic fluorophores with extended π-conjugation are important for their widespread applications. The present work provides photophysical insights into a diacetylene bridged classical donor–acceptor electronic energy pair, naphthalene–pyrene, in comparison with its constituents’ molecular structures, naphthyl and pyrenyl acetylenes, as well as parent naphthalene and pyrene chromophores. The diacetylenic dye loses the individual spectral identities of the donor and acceptor fluorophores exhibiting a locally excited (LE) emission (∼411 nm) from the overall molecular entity with high fluorescence quantum yields (0.55–0.84) in nonaqueous media. In contrast to the parent pyrene, the hybrid derivative shows a strongly allowed S0 → S1 transition. In mixed-aqueous media, the dye forms aggregates displaying a new red-shifted absorption (∼425 nm) as well as emission (∼510 nm) band. Unlike the hybrid dye, the naphthyl and pyrenyl acetylenes do not form aggregates. In the aggregate state of the hybrid fluorophore, electronic energy transfer takes place from the naphthyl moiety to pyrenyl ring. The excited-state photophysical properties of the dye are exploited in vapor sensing in the solid state.
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    Long-Range Single-Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer between Alexa Dyes in Zero-Mode Waveguides
    (ACS, 2020-03) Patra, Satyajit
    Zero-mode waveguide (ZMW) nano-apertures milled in metal films were proposed to improve the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency and enable single-molecule FRET detection beyond the 10 nm barrier, overcoming the restrictions of diffraction-limited detection in a homogeneous medium. However, the earlier ZMW demonstrations were limited to the Atto 550–Atto 647N fluorophore pair, asking the question whether the FRET enhancement observation was an artifact related to this specific set of fluorescent dyes. Here, we use Alexa Fluor 546 and Alexa Fluor 647 to investigate single-molecule FRET at large donor–acceptor separations exceeding 10 nm inside ZMWs. These Alexa fluorescent dyes feature a markedly different chemical structure, surface charge, and hydrophobicity as compared to their Atto counterparts. Our single molecule data on Alexa 546–Alexa 647 demonstrate enhanced FRET efficiencies at large separations exceeding 10 nm, extending the spatial range available for FRET and confirming the earlier conclusions. By showing that the FRET enhancement inside a ZMW does not depend on the set of fluorescent dyes, this report is an important step to establish the relevance of ZMWs to extend the sensitivity and detection range of FRET, while preserving its ability to work on regular fluorescent dye pairs.
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    Newly Designed Resorcinolate Binding for Ru(II)– and Re(I)–Polypyridyl Complexes on Oleic Acid Capped TiO2 in Nonaqueous Solvent: Prolonged Charge Separation and Substantial Thermalized 3MLCT Injection
    (ACS, 2013-01-23) Banerjee, Tanmay
    Femtosecond pump–probe spectroscopic studies on a series of newly synthesized resorcinol-based Ru(II) and Re(I) complexes on oleic acid capped TiO2 nanoparticles have been carried out in chloroform, and the results are compared with those of the catechol analogues. The ruthenium complex shows biexponential injection; the second component arises due to injection from the thermally equilibrated 3MLCT states as a result of a weaker strength of the resorcinolate binding. Also, in comparison with catechol binding, as a result of a greater diffusion of the injected electrons into TiO2, the back electron transfer (BET) is slowed down significantly for the ruthenium complex. These are distinctive observations for any mononuclear ruthenium–polypyridyl–enediol complex reported thus far. However, the rhenium complex educes single exponential ultrafast injection (<120 fs) because of apparent injection in a high density of states and shows the most prominent results with ∼50% slowdown in the charge recombination rate as compared to the analogous catechol bound system. These results exemplify the probable development of highly capable sensitizer dyes with resorcinol as the anchoring group for the development of efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.
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    Synthesis, Steady-State, and Femtosecond Transient Absorption Studies of Resorcinol Bound Ruthenium(II)- and Osmium(II)-polypyridyl Complexes on Nano-TiO2 Surface in Water
    (ACS, 2013-04-05) Banerjee, Tanmay
    The synthesis of two new ruthenium(II)- and osmium(II)-polypyridyl complexes 3 and 4, respectively, with resorcinol as the enediol anchoring moiety, is described. Steady-state photochemical and electrochemical studies of the two sensitizer dyes confirm strong binding of the dyes to TiO2 in water. Femtosecond transient absorption studies have been carried out on the dye–TiO2 systems in water to reveal <120 fs and 1.5 ps electron injection times along with 30% slower back electron transfer time for the ruthenium complex 3. However, the corresponding osmium complex 4 shows strikingly different behavior for which only a <120 fs ultrafast injection is observed. Most remarkably, the back electron transfer is faster as compared to the corresponding catechol analogue of the dye. The origin and the consequences of such profound effects on the ultrafast interfacial dynamics are discussed. This Article on the electron transfer dynamics of the aforesaid systems reinforces the possibility of resorcinol being explored and developed as an extremely efficient binding moiety for use in dye-sensitized solar cells.
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    Superior Grafting and State-of-the-Art Interfacial Electron Transfer Rates for Newly Designed Geminal Dicarboxylate Bound Ruthenium(II)– and Osmium(II)–Polypyridyl Dyes on TiO2 Nanosurface
    (ACS, 2014-02-04) Banerjee, Tanmay
    Two new Ru(II)–/Os(II)–polypyridyl based sensitizer dyes with geminal dicarboxylic acid group as the binding unit for superior grafting of the dye to TiO2 have been designed and synthesized. Steady-state photochemical studies of the two sensitizer dyes in presence of TiO2 in water confirm strong binding of the dyes to TiO2. Femtosecond transient absorption studies of these newly synthesized dyes on TiO2 nanosurface have been carried out in water and the results have been compared with those for the corresponding 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine analogues of the dyes. While the charge recombination rates are considerably slower, interestingly, the electron injection rates are very fast for multiple saturated C–C linkages present between the chromophoric core and the anchoring moiety. The origin and the consequences of such profound effects on the ultrafast interfacial dynamics are discussed. This is the first report on the ultrafast transient absorption studies of dyes with geminal dicarboxylic acid binding groups, which we believe will add significantly to the present research efforts toward the development of robust and efficient dyes for use in dye solar applications.
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    Ultrafast Electron Injection, Hole Transfer, and Charge Recombination Dynamics in CdSe QD Super-Sensitized Re(I)–Polypyridyl Complexes with Catechol and Resorcinol Moiety: Effect of Coupling
    (ACS, 2015-01-26) Banerjee, Tanmay
    Ultrafast charge-transfer dynamics have been demonstrated in CdSe quantum dots (QD) using two Re(I)–polypyridyl complexes having pendent catechol (Re1,2) and resorcinol (Re1,3) as the sensitizer molecules. The energy level diagram of CdSe QD and Re1,2 and Re1,3 sensitizer reveals that photoexcited hole of CdSe QD can be transferred to both Re1,2 and Re1,3 molecule, and photoexcited Re1,2 and Re1,3 can inject electron in the conduction band, which has been confirmed by steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence studies with selective photoexcitation. Femtosecond transient absorption studies have been carried out to monitor charge-transfer dynamics in early time scale. Transient absorption spectra show formation of cation radicals for both Re1,2 and Re1,3 in the 550–650 nm region with a peak at 590 nm region and broad absorption in the 650–1000 nm region, which can be attributed to photoexcited electron in the conduction band of CdSe QD. Charge recombination was determined by monitoring the decay of cation radicals as well as decay of an electron and found to be slower in the Re1,3/CdSe system as compared to that of the Re1,2/CdSe system, which is due to weaker electronic coupling in the former system.
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    Diphenylisobenzofuran Bound to Nanocrystalline Metal Oxides: Excimer Formation, Singlet Fission, Electron Injection, and Low Energy Sensitization
    (ACS, 2018-11-20) Banerjee, Tanmay
    We report the photophysical properties of the dicarboxylated diphenylisobenzofuran dye (1) bound to nanocrystalline metal oxide surfaces. With increased surface loading of 1, emission from the films is significantly quenched but with a small amount of excimer emission at maximum surface loadings. Long-lived triplets were observed by ns TA spectroscopy that are consistent with singlet fission occurring on mesoporous ZrO2. The evolution of these triplets, however, could not be convincingly resolved by our subnanosecond TA spectroscopy. Dye-sensitized devices composed of 1 on a TiO2|Al2O3 core–shell structure exhibited an unusual decrease, increase, and then decrease in Jsc with respect to the thickness of Al2O3. In these films the Al2O3 acts as a tunneling barrier to slow electron injection from the singlet excited state such that singlet fission, and electron injection from the triplet state becomes competitive. Proof-of-principle self-assembled bilayer films that exhibit efficient triplet energy transfer from a low energy absorbing dye to 1 is demonstrated as another step toward a SF-based DSSC that can circumvent the Shockley–Queisser limit.
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    NEXT Evolution of Hierarchical Hexagonal Stacked Plates of CuS from Liquid−Liquid Interface and its Photocatalytic Application for Oxidative Degradation of Different Dyes under Indoor Lighting
    (ACS, 2010) Basu, Mrinmoyee
    Blue solution of copper(II) acetylacetonate complex, [Cu(acac)2] in dichloromethane (DCM) and an aqueous alkaline solution of thioacetamide (TAA) constitute a biphasic system. The system in a screw cap test tube under a modified hydrothermal (MHT) reaction condition produces a greenish black solid at the liquid−liquid interface. It has been characterized that the solid mass is an assembly of hexagonal copper sulfide (CuS) nanoplates representing a hierarchical structure. The as-synthesized CuS nanoplates are well characterized by several physical techniques. An ethanolic dispersion of CuS presents a high band gap energy (2.2 eV) which assists visible light photocatalytic mineralization of different dye molecules. Thus a cleanup measure of dye contaminated water body even under indoor light comes true.