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Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) consist of metal nodes that are connected by organic linkers. They are thus highly chemically tunable materials given the broad range of potential linkers and nodes that can be chosen for their synthesis. Their tunability has recently sparked interest in the development of new MOF photo-catalysts for energy-related applications such as hydrogen (H2) evolution and CO2 reduction. The sheer number of potentially synthesizable MOFs requires defining descriptors that allow prediction of their performance with this aim. Herein we propose a systematic computational protocol to determine two energy-based descriptors that are directly related to the performance of a MOF as a photocatalyst. These descriptors assess the UV-vis light absorption capability and the band energy alignment with respect to redox processes and/or co-catalyst energy levels. High-throughput screening based on cost-effective computations of these features is envisioned to aid the discovery of new promising photoactive systems.

We introduce the SPRIG (Smart Proofs via Recursive Information Gathering) protocol. SPRIG allows agents to propose, question, and defend mathematical proofs in a decentralized fashion. A structure of stakes and bounties aims at producing debates in good faith and if those persist, they must go down to machine-level details, where they can be settled automatically. This combination of economic incentives and an oracle is designed to promote succinct and informative proofs. SPRIG can run autonomously as a smart contract on a blockchain platform, and hence it does not rely on a central trusted institution. We translate SPRIG into a general game-theoretic model and prove that the protocol satisfies two desirable properties: no spamming and monotonicity. We then characterize analytically the equilibrium of a simple two-player specification of the model: this provides important insights into the impact of the protocol’s parameters on the probabilities that it induces type I/II errors. We conclude by discussing the main attacks SPRIG’s designers will need to take into account.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are increasingly used in applications that rely on the optical and electronic properties of these materials. These applications require a fundamental understanding on how the structure of these materials, and in particular the electronic interactions of the metal node and organic linker, determines these properties. Herein, we report a combined experimental and computational study on two families of lanthanide-based MOFs: Ln-SION-1 and Ln-SION-2. Both comprise the same metal and ligand but with differing structural topologies. In the Ln-SION-2 series the optical absorption is dominated by the ligand and using different lanthanides has no impact on the absorption spectrum. The Ln-SION-1 series shows a completely different behavior in which the ligand and the metal node do interact electronically. By changing the lanthanide in Ln-SION-1, we were able to tune the optical absorption from the UV region to absorption that includes a large part of the visible region. For the early lanthanides we observe intraligand (electronic) transitions in the UV region, while for the late lanthanides a new band appears in the visible. DFT calculations showed that the new band in the visible originates in the spatial orbital overlap between the ligand and metal node. Our quantum calculations indicated that Ln-SION-1 with late lanthanides might be (photo)conductive. Experimentally, we confirm that these materials are weakly conductive and that with an appropriate co-catalysts they can generate hydrogen from a water solution using visible light. Our experimental and theoretical analysis provides fundamental insights for the rational design of Ln-MOFs with the desired optical and electronic properties., Computational and experimental study into two families of lanthanide-based metal organic frameworks with the same ligand, tuned to have different structural and optical properties.

The photoactive MIL-125 and MIL-125-NH$_{2}$ Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), despite a very similar crystalline structure, exhibit different optically behaviour. Luminescence in MIL-125 decays in about 1 ns while for its amino counterpart the lifetime of the charge-carriers is at least one order of magnitude larger. The origin of this difference is the key element for understanding the photocatalytic behaviour of MIL-125-NH2 when associated with active nanoparticles, behaviour that is completely absent in MIL-125. By performing advancedab-initio electronic structure calculations, we find that charge-carriers interact differently in the two MOFs with subsequent effects on the luminescence lifetimes and their catalytic performances. To confirm the predictions of our model we synthesized a novel material in the MIL-125 family, MIL-125-NH2-[10%](OH)2, and confirm that our theory correctly predicts a faster decay compared to MIL-125-NH2.

The use of photosensitizers as organic ligands in Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) is a common practice to engineer their UV/Vis optical absorption. For instance, MOFs consisting of porphyrin ligand...

We investigate the ultrafast transient absorption response of tetrakis(μ-pyrophosphito)diplatinate(II), [Pt₂(μ-P₂O₅H₂)₄]⁴⁻ [hereafter abbreviated Pt(pop)], in acetonitrile upon excitation of its lowest singlet ¹A_(2u) state. Compared with previously reported solvents [van der Veen RM, Cannizzo A, van Mourik F, Vlček A, Jr, Chergui M (2011) J Am Chem Soc 133:305–315], a significant shortening of the intersystem crossing (ISC) time (

The excited state properties of transition metal complexes have become a central focus of research owing to a wide range of possible applications that seek to exploit their luminescence properties. Herein, we use density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent DFT (TDDFT), classical and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to provide a full understanding on the role of the geometric and electronic structure, spin-orbit coupling, singlet-triplet gap and the solvent environment on the emission properties of nine prototypical copper(I)-phenanthroline complexes. Our calculations reveal clear trends in the electronic properties that are strongly correlated to the luminescence properties, allowing us to rationalize the role of specific structural modifications. The MD simulations show, in agreement with recent experimental observations, that the lifetime shortening of the excited triplet state in donor solvents (acetonitrile) is not due to the formation of an exciplex. Instead, the solute-solvent interaction is transient and arises from solvent structures that are similar to the ones already present in the ground state. These results based on a subset of the prototypical mononuclear Cu(I) complexes shed general insight into these complexes that may be exploited for development of mononuclear Cu(I) complexes for applications as, for example, emitters in third generation OLEDs.

We present a theoretical analysis for the K- and L-2/3-edge static and picosecond X-ray absorption spectra of [Fe(bpy)(3)](2+). Simulations of the pre-edge region at the Fe K-edge using time-dependent density functional theory demonstrate the importance of Hartree-Fock exchange within the exchange-correlation functional, especially when describing charge transfer and 1s -> 3d transitions. This becomes particularly relevant for range separated functionals, for which the incorporation of Hartree-Fock exchange at short range decreases the absolute error in the excitation energy usually observed using TD-DFT. Finally, we compute and interpret the L-2/3-edge spectrum using the Restricted Open-Shell Configuration Interaction Singles method. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We report on an element-selective study of the fate of charge carriers in photoexcited inorganic CsPbBr3 and CsPb(ClBr)3 perovskite nanocrystals in toluene solutions using time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy with 80 ps time resolution. Probing the Br K-edge, the Pb L3-edge, and the Cs L2-edge, we find that holes in the valence band are localized at Br atoms, forming small polarons, while electrons appear as delocalized in the conduction band. No signature of either electronic or structural changes is observed at the Cs L2-edge. The results at the Br and Pb edges suggest the existence of a weakly localized exciton, while the absence of signatures at the Cs edge indicates that the Cs+ cation plays no role in the charge transport, at least beyond 80 ps. This first, time-resolved element-specific study of perovskites helps understand the rather modest charge carrier mobilities in these materials., Structural Dynamics, 4 (4), ISSN:2329-7778

The ultrafast nonadiabatic dynamics of a prototypical Cu(I)phenanthroline complex, [Cu(dmp)(2)](+) (dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline), initiated after photoexcitation into the optically bright metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) state (S-3) is investigated using quantum nuclear dynamics. In agreement with recent experimental conclusions, we find that the system undergoes rapid (similar to 100 fs) internal conversion from S-3 into the S-2 and S-1 states at or near the FranckCondon (FC) geometry. This is preceded by a dynamic component with a time constant of similar to 400 fs, which corresponds to the flattening of the ligands associated with the pseudo JahnTeller distortion. Importantly, our simulations demonstrate that this latter aspect is in competition with subpicosecond intersystem crossing (ISC). The mechanism for ISC is shown to be a dynamic effect, in the sense that it arises from the system traversing the pseudo JahnTeller coordinate where the singlet and triplet states become degenerate, leading to efficient crossing. These first-principles quantum dynamics simulations, in conjunction with recent experiments, allow us to clearly resolve the mechanistic details of the ultrafast dynamics within [Cu(dmp)(2)](+), which have been disputed in the literature.

We present a model Hamiltonian to study the nonadiabatic dynamics of photoexcited [Cu(dmp)2]+, (dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline). The relevant normal modes, identified by the magnitude of the first order coupling constants, correspond closely to those observed experimentally. The potential energy surfaces (PES) and nonadiabatic couplings for these modes are computed and provide a first interpretation of the nonadiabatic relaxation mechanism. The Hamiltonian incorporates both the low lying singlet and triplet states, which will make it possible to follow the dynamics from the photoexcitation event to the initial stages of intersystem crossing.

Herein, we report the performance of a photocatalytic system based on visible-light active MIL-125-NH2 mixed with nickel phosphide (Ni2P) nanoparticles. This combination boosts the H2 evolution rate to an outstanding value of 894 μmol h−1 g−1 under visible-light irradiation, which is among the highest H2 evolution rates reported to date for metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). The H2 generation rate exhibited by Ni2P/MIL-125-NH2 is almost 3 times higher than that of the Pt/MIL-125-NH2 system, highlighting the impact of the co-catalyst on photocatalytic water splitting. Additionally, our system outperforms the Ni2P/TiO2 system under UV-vis irradiation. The exceptional performance of Ni2P/MIL-125-NH2 is due to the efficient transfer of photogenerated electrons from MIL-125-NH2 to Ni2P, high intrinsic activity of Ni2P and exceptional synergy between them. This system exhibits the highest apparent quantum yields of 27.0 and 6.6% at 400 and 450 nm, respectively, ever reported for MOFs.

We present a static and picosecond X-ray absorption study at the Cu K-edge of bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I) ([Cu(dmp)(2)](+); dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) dissolved in acetonitrile and dichloromethane. The steady-state photoluminescence spectra in dichloromethane and acetonitrile are also presented and show a shift to longer wavelengths for the latter, which points to a stronger stabilization of the excited complex. The fine structure features of the static and transient X-ray spectra allow an unambiguous assignment of the electronic and geometric structure of the molecule in both its ground and excited (MLCT)-M-3 states. Importantly, the transient spectra are remarkably similar for both solvents, and the spectral changes can be rationalized using the optimized ground- and excited-state structures of the complex. The proposed assignment of the lifetime shortening of the excited state in donor solvents (acetonitrile) to a metal-centered exciplex is not corroborated here. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm the lack of complexation; however, in both solvents the molecules come close to the metal but undergo rapid exchange with the bulk. The shortening of the lifetime of the title complex and nine additional related complexes can be rationalized by the decrease in the (MLCT)-M-3 energy. Deviations from this trend may be explained by means of the effects of the dihedral angle between the ligand planes, the solvent, and the (MLCT)-M-3-(MLCT)-M-1 energy gap.

On-the-fly excited state molecular dynamics is a valuable method for studying non-equilibrium processes in excited states and is beginning to emerge as a mature approach much like its ground state counterparts. In contrast to quantum wavepacket dynamics methods, it negates the need for modelling potential energy surfaces, which usually confine nuclear motion within a reduced number of vibrational modes. In addition, on-the-fly molecular dynamics techniques are easily combined with the atomistic description of the solvents (through the QM/MM approach) making it possible to explicitly address the effect of the environment. Herein, we study the nonadiabatic relaxation of photoexcited [Cu(dmp)(2)](+) (dmp = 2,9-dimethyl- 1,10-phenanthroline) using QM/MM Trajectory Surface Hopping (TSH). We show that the decay of the initially excited singlet state into the lowest singlet (S-1) state occurs within 100 fs, in agreement with previous experiments, and is slightly influenced by the solvent. Using a principal component analysis (PCA), we also identify the dominant normal modes activated during the excited state decay, which are then used to design the vibronic Hamiltonian for quantum wavepacket dynamics simulations.

The advent of x-ray free electron lasers is providing new opportunities for probing the ultrafast excited state dynamics using structurally sensitive techniques. Herein we use excited state wavepacket dynamics of a prototypical Cu(I)-phenanthroline complex, [Cu(dmp)(2)](+) (dmp = 2, 9-dimethyl-1, 10-phenanthroline) to investigate how femtosecond vibrational and electronic relaxation is translated into transient x-ray absorption and emission. Using realistic experimental parameters we also derive the anticipated signal strengths for these transient features. This indicates that although recording a signal capturing the strongest transient (i.e. excited state-ground state) changes will be possible for all cases, only with x-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended x-ray absorption fine structure will it be possible to resolve the fine details associated with the wavepacket dynamics within realistic experimental acquisition times.

International audience; We report here two isoreticular ytterbium (Yb) 2D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) emitting near-infrared (NIR) luminescence with 1.26(2)% quantum yield values, which are among the highest values reported to date for MOFs incorporating NIR-emitting lanthanide cations. The excitation wavelength of the Yb-III MOFs can be red-shifted to the visible range by introducing an amino group to the organic chromophore. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to gain insights into the photophysical properties of this new family of MOFs.