Search

The modification of polymer surfaces using laser light is important for many applications in the nano‐, bio‐ and chemical sciences. Such capabilities have supported advances in biomedical devices, electronics, information storage, microfluidics, and other applications. In most cases, these modifications require high power lasers that are expensive and require specialized equipment and facilities to minimize risk of hazardous radiation. Additionally, polymer systems that can be easily modified by lasers are often complex and costly to prepare. In this report, these challenges are addressed with the discovery of low‐cost sulfur copolymers that can be rapidly modified with lasers emitting low‐power infrared and visible light. The featured copolymers are made from elemental sulfur and either cyclopentadiene or dicyclopentadiene. Using a suite of lasers with discreet wavelengths (532, 638 and 786 nm) and powers, a variety of surface modifications could be made on the polymers such as controlled swelling or etching via ablation. The facile synthesis and laser modification of these polymer systems were exploited in applications such as direct laser lithography and erasable information storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The torsional constant (F) is a parameter extracted from spectroscopic analyses of molecules possessing a methyl group. Its value depends primarily on the methyl structure. Widely varying F values have been reported for substituted toluenes in their ground electronic state, first excited singlet electronic state or the ground electronic state of the cation. Conventionally, this variability is assumed to indicate significant changes in the methyl structure with substituent, its position on the ring and the electronic state. However, when the large amplitude methyl torsion interacts with other, small amplitude vibrations, this interpretation is misleading as the torsional states are shifted to lower energy, resulting in a reduced, 'effective' F being determined. We have observed coupling between methyl torsion and the low frequency, methyl group out-of-plane wag vibration in toluene, p-fluorotoluene, m-fluorotoluene and N-methylpyrrole, leading us to postulate that, since such motion will be present whenever the methyl group is attached to a planar frame, this type of interaction is widespread. This is tested for a series of substituted toluenes by comparing the methyl group structure calculated by quantum chemistry with the experimental torsional constants. The quantum chemistry calculations predict little variation in the methyl structure across a wide range of substituents, ring positions and electronic state. The wide variation in F values observed in experimental analyses is attributed to the torsion-vibration interaction affecting the torsional band structure, so that measured F values become 'effective constants'. Comparisons between calculated and experimental torsional constants need to be cognisant of this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of the torsional and low-lying vibrational–torsional states of toluene, p-fluorotoluene, and m-fluorotoluene using the technique of two dimensional laser induced fluorescence (2D-LIF) have revealed interactions between the methyl torsion and low frequency out-of-plane methyl wagging vibration. These interactions can change the values of constants extracted from the analysis of rotational spectra, which usually assume that the large amplitude torsional motion can be treated independent of the small amplitude vibrations. Since out-of-plane methyl wagging modes will be present whenever a methyl group is attached to a planar frame, this type of torsion–vibration interaction is potentially widespread; it is thus important to establish the extent and strength of this type of interaction. 2D-LIF is limited to molecules that fluoresce from excited electronic states, and to explore interactions between torsion and methyl wagging vibrations in a wide range of molecules necessitates developing alternative experimental approaches. Infrared absorption spectroscopy is one such approach. It is shown that for the low torsional barrier case, the torsional sequence bands accompanying the out-of-plane methyl wagging transition provide a sensitive probe of the interaction. As an illustration, the far infrared absorption spectrum of toluene in the region of the M20 band (∼205 cm−1) is presented and analyzed. The torsional sequence structure provides insight into the higher torsional states (up to m = 7) in the ground vibrational state and M20. An analysis of these bands enables the torsion–vibration coupling and torsional constants to be extracted. A general method to analyze such spectra is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report results of a two dimensional laser induced fluorescence study of torsional states, low frequency vibrations, and combinations of torsion with low frequency vibration in m-fluorotoluene up to 560 cm−1 in S0 and 350 cm−1 in S1. Evidence is presented for interactions between torsion and low frequency vibrations in both S0 and S1, demonstrating that the coupling of torsion and vibration observed previously in toluene and p-fluorotoluene extends to a molecule with a threefold torsional barrier. This barrier is low in S0 (20 cm−1) and modest in S1 (116 cm−1). The methyl torsion-vibration interaction is much larger for the mode involving out-of-plane wagging of the methyl group with respect to the planar frame compared with the analogous out-of-plane fluorine atom motion. Methyl group out-of-plane modes were found to be most important for torsion-vibration interactions in toluene and p-fluorotoluene, and the evidence is accumulating that this motion is fundamental in torsion-vibration interactions. Fits of the experimental band positions yield torsion-vibration coupling constants, torsional potential terms (V3 and V6), and rotational constants (F) for the methyl torsion in S0 and S1. The inclusion of torsion-vibration coupling primarily affects V6 and F: |V6| is reduced and F increased, as was seen previously for the G12 molecules, toluene and p-fluorotoluene. The torsional barrier height does not appear to influence the magnitude of the torsion-vibration interaction: the coupling constants for the out-of-plane CH3 wag mode are almost the same in S0 and S1 (15.5 cm−1 and 14.0 cm−1, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report two dimensional laser induced fluorescence spectral images exploring the lower torsion-vibration manifolds in S0 (E < 560 cm−1) and S1 (E < 420 cm−1) p-fluorotoluene. Analysis of the images reveals strong torsion-vibration interactions and provides an extensive set of torsion-vibration state energies in both electronic states (estimated uncertainty ±0.2 cm−1), which are fit to determine key constants including barrier heights, torsional constants, and torsion-vibration interaction constants. The dominant interactions in both electronic states are between methyl torsion (internal rotation) and the lowest frequency out-of-plane modes, D20 and D19, both of which involve a methyl wagging motion. This is the second aromatic (following toluene) for which a significant interaction between torsion and methyl out-of-plane wagging vibrations has been quantified. Given the generic nature of this motion in substituted toluenes and similar molecules, this mechanism for torsion-vibration coupling may be common in these types of molecules. The inclusion of torsion-vibration coupling affects key molecular constants such as barrier heights and torsional (and rotational) constants, and the possibility of such an interaction should thus be considered in spectral analyses when determining parameters in these types of molecules. p-Fluorotoluene is the first molecule in which the role of methyl torsion in promoting intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) was established and the observed torsion-vibration coupling provides one conduit for the state mixing that is a precursor to IVR, as originally proposed by Moss et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 86, 51 (1987)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoionization efficiency spectra are recorded by monitoring the signal of each cluster as a function of wavelength. An oscillation in the ionization potentials is observed that corresponds to an even and odd number of carbon atoms in the cluster.

This pilot study investigates the formation of aggregates within a desalination plant, before and after pre-treatment, as well as their potential impact on fouling. The objective is to provide an understanding of the biofouling potential of the feed water within a seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant, due to the limited removal of fouling precursors. The 16S and 18S rRNA was extracted from the water samples, and the aggregates and sequenced. Pre-treatment systems, within the plant remove < 5 µm precursors and organisms; however, smaller size particles progress through the plant, allowing for the formation of aggregates. These become hot spots for microbes, due to their nutrient gradients, facilitating the formation of niche environments, supporting the proliferation of those organisms. Aggregate-associated organisms are consistent with those identified on fouled SWRO membranes. This study examines, for the first time, the factors supporting the formation of aggregates within a desalination system, as well as their microbial communities and biofouling potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single pulse, solid-state 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy offers an additional method of characterisation of opal-A and opal-CT through spin-lattice (T1) relaxometry. Opal T1 relaxation is characterised by stretched exponential (Weibull) function represented by scale (speed of relaxation) and shape (form of the curve) parameters. Relaxation is at least an order of magnitude faster than for silica glass and quartz, with Q3 (silanol) usually faster than Q4 (fully substituted silicates). 95% relaxation (Q4) is achieved for some Australian seam opals after 50 s though other samples of opal-AG may take 4000 s, while some figures for opal-AN are over 10,000 s. Enhancement is probably mostly due to the presence of water/silanol though the presence of paramagnetic metal ions and molecular motion may also contribute. Shape factors for opal-AG (0.5) and opal-AN (0.7) are significantly different, consistent with varying water and silanol environments, possibly reflecting differences in formation conditions. Opal-CT samples show a trend of shape factors from 0.45 to 0.75 correlated to relaxation rate. Peak position, scale and shape parameter, and Q3 to Q4 ratios offer further differentiating feature to separate opal-AG and opal-AN from other forms of opaline silica. T1 relaxation measurement may have a role for provenance verification. In addition, definitively determined Q3/Q4 ratios are in the range 0.1 to 0.4 for opal-AG but considerably lower for opal-AN and opal-CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetic energy distributions associated with ejection of Ar from the cation van der Waals species (C(sub 6)H(sub 6)...Ar(sub 2))(sub +) were measured by ion imaging with a velocity mapping configuration. The studies reported that the (C(sub 6)H(sub 6)...Ar(sub 2))(super +) dissociation was observed for the isomer with an Ar atom on each side of the benzene ring.

Research was conducted to examine the vibrational deactivation of highly excited hexafluorobenzene(HFB). The HFB molecules in the electronic ground state were prepared using infrared multiphoton absorption by CO2 laser pumping through the PP(38) line at 1029.43/cm. Time-resolved infrared fluorescence was used to monitor the vibrational deactivation of the HFB by monatomic collider gases. Results indicate that the <> values for HFB are much greater than those for the closely relate aromatics, benzene, toluene and pyrazine.

The velocity map imaging technique was used in the investigation of gold(I) butadiynylide, AuC4H-, with images recorded at two excitation wavelengths. The resultant photodetachment spectra show a well defined vibrational progression in the neutral with an energy spacing of 343 ± 3 cm-1. The adiabatic electron affinity was determined to be 1.775 ± 0.005 eV and assigned to the X¹Σ+ X²Σ+ transition between the anionic and neutral ground states. Franck-Condon simulations performed on density functional theory optimized geometries assisted the assignment of linear geometries to the neutral and anion and the observed vibrational progression to that of the Au-C4H stretch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a two dimensional, laser induced fluorescence study of the lowest 345 cm-1 region of S0 toluene. Methyl rotor levels of 00 up to m = 6 and of 201 up to m = 4 are observed. The rotor levels of 00 and 201 have quite different energy spacings that are well fit by a model that includes strong torsion-vibration coupling between them. The model requires that the rotor barrier height be revised from -4.84 cm-1 (methyl hydrogens in a staggered conformation) to +1.57 cm-1 (eclipsed conformation). However, the 3a2'' state lies below the 3aa'' state as expected for a staggered conformation due to energy shifts associated with the torsion-vibration coupling. It is shown that the rotor wave-functions exhibit little localization at the torsional energy minima. The variation in the m = 0 wavefunction probability distribution with torsional angle is shown to be very similar for the previously accepted negative V6 value and the torsion-vibration coupling model as this coupling shifts the phase of the wavefunction by 30° compared with its phase for V6 alone. The presence of a strong ΔƲ = ±1 torsion-vibration coupling involving the lowest frequency vibrational mode provides a potential pathway for rapid intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution at higher energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Franck-Condon forbidden transitions involving methyl rotor modes are seen in the S1 ←S0 spectrum of toluene and toluene-like molecules. The strongest of these rotor transitions (m" = 1→m' = 2, m" = 0→m' = 3a1 ", and m" = 1→m' = 4) have been shown by Walker et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 102, 8718 (1995)] to gain intensity through the rotor equivalent of the Herzberg-Teller mechanism. Despite the m" = 0→m' = 3a2 " transition being forbidden in this formalism, it is sporadically observed. We show that this transition derives oscillator strength from incomplete mixing of the -3 and +3 free rotor basis states due to torsion-rotation coupling. Calculations demonstrate that this mechanism quantitatively explains the intensities observed for toluene, including their temperature dependence. Because the -3/+3 mixing is weakest when the torsional barrier height, V6, is small, the m" = 0→m' = 3a2 " transition increases in intensity as ∣V6∣ decreases. The temperature and ∣V6∣ dependencies explain why reports of the 0→3a2 " transition have been intermittent. The torsionrotation coupling mechanism is predicted to also give significant intensity to m = 0→m = 6a2 ' transitions relative to m = 0→m = 6a1 ' transitions and to provide intensity to 0→3a2 transitions in molecules with a 3-fold (V3) barrier. Comparison between the observed and calculated rotor band contours shows, unexpectedly, that the 3a1 " constants fail to predict the 3a2 " contour despite these two states being derived from the same free rotor basis states. Comparison with the observed spectrum also reveals differences in the separation of the S1 3a2 " and 3a1 " levels. The V6 value determined from analysis of the high resolution, rotationally resolved m" = 0→m' = 3a1 " spectrum overestimates the 3a2 "-3a1 " separation by 0.6 cm-1. We postulate that this may be due to torsionvibration coupling. The observed toluene torsion-rotation contours have been modeled to provide estimates of the rotational constants for several of the torsional states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methyl rotor and van der Waals vibrational levels in the S1 and S0 states of toluene-Ar have been investigated by the technique of two-dimensional laser induced fluorescence (2D-LIF). The S0 van der Waals and methyl rotor levels are reported for the first time, while improved S1 values are presented. The correlations seen in the 2D-LIF images between the S0 and S1 states lead to a reassignment of key features in the S1 ← S0 excitation spectrum. This reassignment reveals that there are significant changes in the methyl rotor levels in the complex compared with those in bare toluene, particularly at low m. The observed rotor energies are explained by the introduction of a three-fold, V3, term in the torsion potential (this term is zero in toluene) and a reduction in the height of the six-fold, V6, barriers in S0 and S1 from their values in bare toluene. The V3 term is larger in magnitude than the V6 term in both S0 and S1. The constants determined are |V3(S1)| = 33.4 ± 1.0 cm-1, |V3(S0)| = 20.0 ± 1.0 cm-1, V6(S1) = -10.7 ± 1.0 cm-1, and V6(S0) = -1.7 ± 1.0 cm-1. The methyl rotor is also found to couple with van der Waals vibration; specifically, the m″ = 2 rotor state couples with the combination level involving one quantum of the long axis bend and m″ = 1. The coupling constant is determined to be 1.9 cm-1, which is small compared with the values typically reported for torsion-vibration coupling involving ring modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen intermolecular vibrational levels of the S0 state of the fluorobenzene-Ar van der Waals complex have been observed using dispersed fluorescence. The levels range up to ∼130 cm-1 in vibrational energy. The vibrational energies have been modelled using a complete set of harmonic and quartic anharmonic constants and a cubic anharmonic coupling between the stretch and long axis bend overtone that becomes near ubiquitous at higher energies. The constants predict the observed band positions with a root mean square deviation of 0.04 cm-1. The set of vibrational levels predicted by the constants, which includes unobserved bands, has been compared with the predictions of ab initio calculations, which include all vibrational levels up to 70-75 cm-1. There are small differences in energy, particularly above 60 cm-1, however, the main differences are in the assignments and are largely due to the limitations of assigning the ab initio wavefunctions to a simple stretch, bend, or combination when the states are mixed by the cubic anharmonic coupling. The availability of these experimental data presents an opportunity to extend ab initio calculations to higher vibrational energies to provide an assessment of the accuracy of the calculated potential surface away from the minimum. The intermolecular modes of the fluorobenzene-Ar2 trimer complex have also been investigated by dispersed fluorescence. The dominant structure is a pair of bands with a ∼35 cm-1 displacement from the origin band. Based on the set of vibrational modes calculated from the fluorobenzene-Ar frequencies, they are assigned to a Fermi resonance between the symmetric stretch and symmetric short axis bend overtone. The analysis of this resonance provides a measurement of the coupling strength between the stretch and short axis bend overtone in the dimer, an interaction that is not directly observed. The coupling matrix elements determined for the fluorobenzene-Ar stretch-long axis bend overtone and stretch-short axis bend overtone couplings are remarkably similar (3.8 cm-1 cf. 3.2 cm-1). Several weak features seen in the fluorobenzene-Ar2 spectrum have also been assigned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the power of high resolution, two dimensional laser induced fluorescence (2D-LIF) spectroscopy for observing rovibronic transitions of polyatomic molecules. The technique involves scanning a tunable laser over absorption features in the electronic spectrum while monitoring a segment, in our case 100 cm-1 wide, of the dispersed fluorescence spectrum. 2D-LIF images separate features that overlap in the usual laser induced fluorescence spectrum. The technique is illustrated by application to the S1-S0 transition in fluorobenzene. Images of room temperature samples show that overlap of rotational contours by sequence band structure is minimized with 2D-LIF allowing a much larger range of rotational transitions to be observed and high precision rotational constants to be extracted. A significant advantage of 2D-LIF imaging is that the rotational contours separate into their constituent branches and these can be targeted to determine the three rotational constants individually. The rotational constants determined are an order of magnitude more precise than those extracted from the analysis of the rotational contour and we find the previously determined values to be in error by as much as 5% [G. H. Kirby, Mol. Phys. 19, 289 (1970)]. Comparison with earlier ab initio calculations of the S0 and S1 geometries [I. Pugliesi, N. M. Tonge, and M. C. R. Cockett, J. Chem. Phys. 129, 104303 (2008)] reveals that the CCSD/6-311G** and RI-CC2/def2-TZVPP levels of theory predict the rotational constants, and hence geometries, with comparable accuracy. Two ground state Fermi resonances were identified by the distinctive patterns that such resonances produce in the images. 2D-LIF imaging is demonstrated to be a sensitive method capable of detecting weak spectral features, particularly those that are otherwise hidden beneath stronger bands. The sensitivity is demonstrated by observation of the three isotopomers of fluorobenzene-d1 in natural abundance in an image taken for a supersonically cooled sample. The ability to separate some of the 13C isotopomers in natural abundance is also demonstrated. The equipment required to perform 2D-LIF imaging with sufficient resolution to resolve the rotational features of large polyatomics is available from commercial suppliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a comprehensive photoelectron imaging study of the O2(X 3Σg-,v′=0-6)←O2-(X 2Πg,v″=0) and O2(a 1Δg,v′=0-4)←O2-(X 2Πg,v″=0) photodetachment bands at wavelengths between 900 and 455 nm, examining the effect of vibronic coupling on the photoelectron angular distribution (PAD). This work extends the v′=1-4 data for detachment into the ground electronic state, presented in a recent communication [R. Mabbs, F. Mbaiwa, J. Wei, M. Van Duzor, S. T. Gibson, S. J. Cavanagh, and B. R. Lewis, Phys. Rev. A 82, 011401(R) (2010)]. Measured vibronic intensities are compared to Franck-Condon predictions and used as supporting evidence of vibronic coupling. The results are analyzed within the context of the one-electron, zero core contribution (ZCC) model [R. M. Stehman and S. B. Woo, Phys. Rev. A 23, 2866 (1981)]. For both bands, the photoelectron anisotropy parameter variation with electron kinetic energy, β(E), displays the characteristics of photodetachment from a d-like orbital, consistent with the πg* 2p highest occupied molecular orbital of O2-. However, differences exist between the β(E) trends for detachment into different vibrational levels of the X 3Σg- and a 1Δg electronic states of O2. The ZCC model invokes vibrational channel specific 'detachment orbitals' and attributes this behavior to coupling of the electronic and nuclear motion in the parent anion. The spatial extent of the model detachment orbital is dependent on the final state of O2: the higher the neutral vibrational excitation, the larger the electron binding energy. Although vibronic coupling is ignored in most theoretical treatments of PADs in the direct photodetachment of molecular anions, the present findings clearly show that it can be important. These results represent a benchmark data set for a relatively simple system, upon which to base rigorous tests of more sophisticated models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]