Syntheses and quadratic nonlinear optical properties of 2,7-fluorenylene- and 1,4-phenylene-functionalized o-carboranes.

o-Carboranes C-functionalized by (4-substituted-phen-1-yl)ethynyl-1,4-phenyl groups or (2-substituted-fluoren-7-yl)ethynyl-2,7-fluorenyl groups, in which the pendant functionalization is electron-withdrawing nitro or electron-donating diphenylamino groups, have been synthesized and in many cases structurally characterized. Diphenylamino-containing examples coupled via the two π-delocalizable bridges to the electron-accepting o-carborane unit exhibit the greater quadratic optical nonlinearities at 1064 nm (hyper-Rayleigh scattering, ns pulses), the nonlinearities also increasing on proceeding from 1,4-phenylene- to 2,7-fluorenylene-containing bridge. The most NLO-efficient example 2-(n-butyl)-1-(2-((9,9-di(n-butyl)-2-(N,N-diphenylamino)-9H-fluoren-7-yl)ethynyl)-9,9-di(n-butyl)-9H-fluoren-7-yl)-1,2-ortho-carborane, consisting of diphenylamino donor, fluorenyl-containing bridge, o-carborane acceptor, and solubilizing n-butyl units, exhibits large 〈ß〉HRS (230 × 10-30 esu) and frequency-independent (two-level model) 〈ß0〉 (96 × 10-30 esu) values. Coupling two (2-((9,9-di(n-butyl)-2-(N,N-diphenylamino)-9H-fluoren-7-yl)ethynyl)-9,9-di(n-butyl)-9H-fluoren-7-yl) units to the 1,2-ortho-carborane core affords a di-C-functionalized compound with enhanced nonlinearities (309 × 10-30 esu and 129 × 10-30 esu, respectively).

Photovoltaic Effect of a Ferroelectric-Luminescent Heterostructure under Infrared Light Illumination.

In this report, a ferroelectric-luminescent heterostructure is designed to convert infrared light into electric power. We use BiFeO3 (BFO) as the ferroelectric layer and Y2O3:Yb,Tm (YOT) as the upconversion layer. Different from conventional ferroelectric materials, this heterostructure exhibits switchable and stable photovoltaic effects under 980 nm illumination, whose energy is much lower than the band gap of BFO. The energy transfer mechanism in this heterostructure is therefore studied carefully. It is found that a highly efficient nonradiative energy transfer process from YOT to BFO plays a critical role in achieving the below-band-gap photon-excited photovoltaic effects in this heterostructure. Our results also indicate that by introducing asymmetric electrodes, both the photovoltage and photocurrent are further enhanced when the built-in field and the depolarization field are aligned. The construction of ferroelectric-luminescent heterostructure is consequently proposed as a promising route to enhance the photovoltaic effects of ferroelectric materials by extending the absorption of the solar spectrum.

Quadratic and cubic hyperpolarizabilities of nitro-phenyl/-naphthalenyl/-anthracenyl alkynyl complexes.

1-Nitronaphthalenyl-4-alkynyl and 9-nitroanthracenyl-10-alkynyl complexes [M](C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-4-C10H6-1-NO2) ([M] = trans-[RuCl(dppe)2] (6b), trans-[RuCl(dppm)2] (7b), Ru(PPh3)2(η5-C5H5) (8b), Ni(PPh3)(η5-C5H5) (9b), Au(PPh3) (10b)) and [M](C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-10-C14H8-9-NO2) ([M] = trans-[RuCl(dppe)2] (6c), trans-[RuCl(dppm)2] (7c), Ru(PPh3)2(η5-C5H5) (8c), Ni(PPh3)(η5-C5H5) (9c), Au(PPh3) (10c)) were synthesized and their identities were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Electrochemical studies and a comparison to the 1-nitrophenyl-4-alkynyl analogues [M](C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-4-C6H4-1-NO2) ([M] = trans-[RuCl(dppe)2] (6a), trans-[RuCl(dppm)2] (7a), Ru(PPh3)2(η5-C5H5) (8a), Ni(PPh3)(η5-C5H5) (9a), Au(PPh3) (10a)) reveal a decrease in oxidation potential for ruthenium and nickel complexes on proceeding from the phenyl- to naphthalenyl- and then anthracenyl-containing bridge. HOMO → LUMO transitions characteristic of MC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-1-C6H4 to 4-C6H4-1-NO2 charge transfer red-shift and gain in intensity on proceeding to the ruthenium complexes; the low-energy transitions have increasing ILCT character on proceeding from the phenyl- to naphthalenyl- and then anthracenyl-containing bridge. Spectroelectrochemical studies of the Ru-containing complexes reveal the appearance of low-energy bands corresponding to chloro-to-RuIII charge transfer that red-shift on proceeding from the phenyl- to naphthalenyl- and then anthracenyl-containing bridge. Second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) studies at 1064 nm employing ns pulses and the hyper-Rayleigh scattering technique reveal an increase in quadratic optical nonlinearity upon introduction of metal to the precursor alkyne to afford alkynyl complexes and on proceeding from ligated-gold to -nickel and then to -ruthenium for a fixed alkynyl ligand. Quadratic NLO data of the gold complexes optically transparent at the second-harmonic wavelength reveal an increase in ßHRS on proceeding from the phenyl- to the naphthalenyl-containing complex. Broad spectral range third-order nonlinear optical studies employing fs pulses and the Z-scan technique reveal an increase in two-photon absorption cross-section on replacing ligated-gold by -nickel and then -ruthenium for a fixed alkynyl ligand. Computational studies undertaken using time-dependent density functional theory have been employed to assign the nature of the key optical transitions and suggest that the significant optical nonlinearities observed for the ruthenium-containing complexes correlate with the low-energy formally Ru → NO2 band which possesses strong MLCT character, while the more moderate nonlinearities of the gold complexes correlate with a band higher in energy that is primarily ILCT in character.

Record Multiphoton Absorption Cross-Sections by Dendrimer Organometalation.

Large increases in molecular two-photon absorption, the onset of measurable molecular three-photon absorption, and record molecular four-photon absorption in organic π-delocalizable frameworks are achieved by incorporation of bis(diphosphine)ruthenium units with alkynyl linkages. The resultant ruthenium alkynyl-containing dendrimers exhibit strong multiphoton absorption activity through the biological and telecommunications windows in the near-infrared region. The ligated ruthenium units significantly enhance solubility and introduce fully reversible redox switchability to the optical properties. Increasing the ruthenium content leads to substantial increases in multiphoton absorption properties without any loss of optical transparency. This significant improvement in multiphoton absorption performance by incorporation of the organometallic units into the organic π-framework is maintained when the relevant parameters are scaled by molecular weights or number of delocalizable π-electrons. The four-photon absorption cross-section of the most metal-rich dendrimer is an order of magnitude greater than the previous record value.

Synthesis, Optical, Electrochemical, and Theoretical Studies of Dipolar Ruthenium Alkynyl Complexes with Oligo(phenylenevinylene) Bridges.

The syntheses of oligo(p-phenylenevinylene)s (OPVs) end-functionalized with a ligated ruthenium alkynyl unit as a donor and a nitro as acceptor, namely trans-[Ru{C≡C-1-C6 H4 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-Et2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-Et2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H4 -4-NO2 }Cl(dppe)2 ] (Ru4), trans-[Ru{C≡C-1-C6 H4 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-Et2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-Et2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-(n-hexyl)2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-(n-hexyl)2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H4 -4-NO2 }Cl(dppe)2 ] (Ru6), and trans-[Ru{C≡C-1-C6 H4 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-Et2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-Et2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-(n-hexyl)2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-(n-hexyl)2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-(2-ethyl-n-hexyl)2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,5-(2-ethyl-n-hexyl)2 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H4 -4-NO2 }Cl(dppe)2 ] (Ru8), are reported, together with those of precursor alkynes. Their electrochemical properties were assessed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), their linear optical and quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) properties assayed by UV/Vis-NIR spectroscopy and hyper-Rayleigh scattering studies at 1064 nm, respectively, and their linear optical properties in the formally RuIII state examined by UV/Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry. Computational studies employing time-dependent density functional theory were undertaken on model complexes to rationalize the optical observations.

Syntheses and Optical Properties of Azo-Functionalized Ruthenium Alkynyl Complexes.

The syntheses of trans-[Ru(C≡C-1-C6 H4 -4-N=N-1-C6 H4 -4-C≡C-1-C6 H4 -4-NO2 )Cl(L2 )2 ] (L2 =dppm (Ru1), dppe) (Ru2)), trans-[Ru(C≡C-1-C6 H4 -4-N=N-1-C6 H4 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H4 -4-NO2 )Cl(dppe)2 ] (Ru3), and trans-[Ru(C≡C-1-C6 H4 -4-(E)-CH=CH-1-C6 H2 -2,6-Et2 -4-N=N-1-C6 H4 -4-NO2 )Cl(dppe)2 ] (Ru4) are reported, together with those of precursor alkynes. Their electrochemical properties were assessed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear optical and quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) properties assayed by UV/Vis-NIR spectroscopy and hyper-Rayleigh scattering studies at 1064 nm, respectively, and their linear optical properties in the formally RuIII state examined by UV/Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry. These data were compared to those of analogues with E-ene and yne linkages in place of the azo groups. Computational studies using time-dependent density functional theory were undertaken on model compounds (Ru2'-Ru4') to rationalize the optical behaviour of the experimental complexes.

Synthesis and optical power limiting properties of heteroleptic Mo3S7 clusters.

Substitution of the halide ligands in (Bu4N)2[Mo3S7X6] (X = Cl, Br) by diimine ligands, such as 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy), 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), affords the neutral heteroleptic clusters Mo3S7Cl4(dmbpy) (), Mo3S7Br4(dmbpy) (), Mo3S7Br4(bpy) (), and Mo3S7Br4(phen) (). Further substitution of the halide ligands in Mo3S7Br4(diimine) clusters by dmit (1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate) allows the preparation of the mixed diimine-dithiolene neutral cluster complexes Mo3S7(dnbpy)(dmit)2 (, dnbpy = 4,4'-dinonyl-2,2'-bipyridine), Mo3S7(dcmbpy)(dmit)2 (, dcmbpy = 4,4'-dimethoxycarbonyl-2,2'-bipyridine), and Mo3S7(dcbpy)(dmit)2 (, dcbpy = 2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid). The optical limiting properties of complexes have been assessed by the open-aperture Z-scan technique at 570 nm, employing a nanosecond optical parametric oscillator. In order to investigate the effect of increasing the π-system, complexes , with the general formula Mo3S7X4(diimine), (X = Cl, Br), were compared to clusters , containing the dmit ligand. The influence of the metal content on the optical power limiting properties was also investigated by comparing the trinuclear series of complexes prepared herein with the bis(dithiolene) dinuclear cluster (Et4N)2[Mo2O2S2(BPyDTS2)2], which has been recently prepared by our group. All trinuclear clusters are efficient optical limiters (σeff > σ0) with the threshold limiting fluence F15% decreasing on proceeding from dinuclear to trinuclear clusters and, generally, on extending the π-system.

A hybrid ruthenium alkynyl/zinc porphyrin "Cross Fourchée" with large cubic NLO properties.

A new Zn(ii) porphyrin-cored ruthenium alkynyl dendrimer (2) containing twelve Ru(κ(2)-dppe)2 bis-alkynyl fragments has been prepared in two steps from 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-ethynylphenyl)porphyrinatozinc(ii) and shown to be highly active for third-harmonic generation (THG) at 1907 nm.

Experimental test of the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans theory for light scattering by fractal aggregates.

Calibrated measurements of optical (lambda = 488-nm) scattering cross sections, in the form of Rayleigh ratios, are presented for two fractal aggregate aerosols. The aggregates have radii of gyration of approximately 280 nm, fractal dimensions of approximately 1.75, and monomer sizes of approximately 20 nm with approximately 150 monomers per cluster. One aerosol was composed of vitreous SiO2 with a refractive index of 1.46, the other of anatase TiO2 with a refractive index of 2.61. We found good agreement with the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans prediction for the scattering cross section of fractal aggregates.