The role of ion pairs in the second-order NLO response of 4-X-1-methylpiridinium salts.

A series of 4-X-1-methylpyridinium cationic nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores (X = (E)-CH=CHC(6)H(5); (E)-CH=CHC(6)H(4)-4'-C(CH(3))(3); (E)-CH=CHC(6)H(4)-4'-N(CH(3))(2); (E)-CH=CHC(6)H(4)-4'-N(C(4)H(9))(2); (E,E)-(CH=CH)(2)C(6)H(4)-4'-N(CH(3))(2)) with various organic (CF(3)SO(3)(-), p-CH(3)C(6)H(4)SO(3)(-)), inorganic (I(-), ClO(4)(-), SCN(-), [Hg(2)I(6)](2-)) and organometallic (cis-[Ir(CO)(2)I(2)](-)) counter anions are studied with the aim of investigating the role of ion pairing and of ionic dissociation or aggregation of ion pairs in controlling their second-order NLO response in anhydrous chloroform solution. The combined use of electronic absorption spectra, conductimetric measurements and pulsed field gradient spin echo (PGSE) NMR experiments show that the second-order NLO response, investigated by the electric-field-induced second harmonic generation (EFISH) technique, of the salts of the cationic NLO chromophores strongly depends upon the nature of the counter anion and concentration. The ion pairs are the major species at concentration around 10(-3) M, and their dipole moments were determined. Generally, below 5x10(-4) M, ion pairs start to dissociate into ions with parallel increase of the second-order NLO response, due to the increased concentration of purely cationic NLO chromophores with improved NLO response. At concentration higher than 10(-3) M, some multipolar aggregates, probably of H type, are formed, with parallel slight decrease of the second-order NLO response. Ion pairing is dependent upon the nature of the counter anion and on the electronic structure of the cationic NLO chromophore. It is very strong for the thiocyanate anion in particular and, albeit to a lesser extent, for the sulfonated anions. The latter show increased tendency to self-aggregate.

A time-dependent density functional theory investigation on the nature of the electronic transitions involved in the nonlinear optical response of [Ru(CF3CO2)3T] (T = 4'-(C6H4-p-NBu2)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine).

We report a theoretical study based on density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations on the nature and role of the absorption bands involved in the nonlinear optical response of the complexes [Ru(CF3CO2)3T] (T = T1, T2; T1 = 4'-(C6H4-p-NBu2)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, T2 = 4'-(C6H4-p-NMe2)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine). Geometry optimizations, performed without any symmetry constraints, confirm a twisting of the -C6H4-p-NBu2 moiety with respect to the plane of the chelated terpyridine. Despite this lack of strong pi interaction, TDDFT excited states calculations of the electronic spectrum in solution provide evidence of a relevant role of the NBu2 donor group in the low-energy LMCT band at 911 nm. Calculations also show that the two bands at higher energy (508 and 455 nm) are not attributable only to LMCT and ILCT transitions but to a mixing of ILCT/MLCT and ILCT/pi-pi* transitions, respectively. The 911 nm LMCT band, appearing at lower wavelength of the second harmonic (670 nm) of the EFISH experiment, controls the negative value of the second-order NLO response. This is confirmed by our calculations of the static component beta0(zzz) of the quadratic hyperpolarizability tensor, showing a large positive value. In addition we have found that the increase of the dipole moment upon excitation occurs, in all the characterized transitions, along the dipole moment axis, thus explaining why the EFISH and solvatochromic experimental values of the quadratic hyperpolarizability agree as sign and value.

Optimization of an urban particulate matter multi-element analysis method by inductively coupled plasma--atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).

In the present work a method for simultaneous metals determination, in urban air particulate matter by ICP-AES has been set up. A large number of elements (18) has been analyzed, including major (Al, Fe, K, and Mg), minor (Na, Pb and Zn) and trace (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Sb, Sr and V) elements. The procedure consists of microwave sample acidic total digestion by HNO3/HF mixture and subsequent analysis by ICP-AES, using different assemblies depending on sample treatment procedure: a quartz Meinhard nebulizer/cyclonic chamber, if HF excess was eliminated, or a cross-flow nebulizer/plastic Scott chamber, suitable for application with HF. A cyclonic chamber for hydride generation was used for As, Sb and Hg determination. The procedure was tested with Standard Reference Materials 1648 NIST Urban Particulate Matter and Certified Reference Material No8 NIES "Vehicle Exhaust Particulates". Two sampling supports, quartz fibre and polycarbonate filters, have been examined in order to find the most suitable i.e. the one characterized by less interference. Some real samples of urban air particulate matter, TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 fractions, collected during an intercomparison campaign promoted by Regione Lombardia, have been analyzed with the procedure developed.