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At least 19 records

DNA-Enabled Chiral Gold Nanoparticle–Chromophore Hybrid Structure with Resonant Plasmon–Exciton Coupling Gives Unusual and Strong Circular Dichroism

Circular dichroism (CD) from hybrid complexes of plasmonic nanostructures and chiral molecules has recently attracted significant interest. Yet, the hierarchical chiral self-assembly of molecules on surfaces of metal nanostructures has remained challenging. As a result, a deep understanding of plasmon–exciton coupling between surface plasmons and chiral collective molecular excitations has not been achieved. In particular, the critical impact of resonant plasmon–exciton coupling within the hybrid is unclear. Here, we employed DNA-templated strategies to control the chiral self-assembly of achiral chromophores with rationally tuned exciton transitions on gold nanosphere (AuNP) or gold nanorod (AuNR) surfaces. Unlike many previous chiral plasmonic hybrids utilizing chiral biomolecules with CD signals in the UV range, we designed structures with the chiral excitonic resonances at visible wavelengths. The constructed hybrid complexes displayed strong chiroptical activity that depends on the spectral overlap between the chiral collective molecular excitations and the plasmon resonances. We find that when spectral overlap is optimized, the molecular CD signal originating from the chiral self-assemblies of chromophores was strongly enhanced (maximum enhancement of nearly an order of magnitude) and a plasmonic CD signal was induced. Surprisingly, the sign of the molecular CD was reversed despite different self-assembly mechanisms of the Au nanoparticle–chromophore hybrids. Our findings offer new insight into plasmonic CD enhancements and will inspire further studies on chiral light–matter interactions in strongly coupled plasmonic–excitonic systems.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Atomic moments in Mn{sub 2}CoAl thin films analyzed by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism

Spin gapless semiconductors are known to be strongly affected by structural disorder when grown epitaxially as thin films. The magnetic properties of Mn{sub 2}CoAl thin films grown on GaAs (001) substrates are investigated here as a function of annealing. This study investigates the atomic-specific magnetic moments of Mn and Co atoms measured through X-ray magnetic circular dichroism as a function of annealing and the consequent structural ordering. The results indicate that the structural distortion mainly affects the Mn atoms as seen by the reduction of the magnetic moment from its predicted value.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Note: Derivation of two-photon circular dichroism—Addendum to “Two-photon circular dichroism” [J. Chem. Phys. 62, 1006 (1975)]

This addendum shows the detailed derivation of the fundamental equations for two-photon circular dichroism which are given in a very condensed form in the original publication [I. Tinoco, J. Chem. Phys. 62, 1006 (1975)]. In addition, some minor errors are corrected and some of the derivations in the original publication are commented.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The Structural Origins of Intense Circular Dichroism in a Waggling Helicene Nanoribbon

We report the synthesis of a new perylene-diimide-based helical nanoribbon, which exhibits the largest molar electronic circular dichroism in the visible range of any molecule. Here, this nanoribbon also displays a substantial increase in molar circular dichroism relative to a smaller helical analogue, even though they share a similar structure: both nanoribbons incorporate two conformationally dynamic double-[4]helicene termini and a rigid [6]helicene-based core within their helical superstructures. Using DFT and TDDFT calculations, we find that the double-[4]helicenes within both nanoribbons orient similarly in solution; as such, conformational differences do not account for the disparities in circular dichroism. Instead, our results implicate the configuration of the double-[6]helicene within the larger nanoribbon as the source of the observed chiroptical amplification.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electronic structure and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism in YbAgCu4 and YbInCu4

X-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectra at the L-3 edge of Yb have been studied theoretically in the mixed-valent compounds YbAgCu4 and YbInCu4 using the fully relativistic Dirac linear muffin-tin orbital band structure method. The effect of the spin-orbit (SO) interaction and Coulomb repulsion U on the electronic structure of YbAgCu4 and YbInCu4 is examined in the frame of the local spin-density approximation (LSDA)+SO+U method. The core-hole effect in the final states as well as the effect of the electric quadrupole E-2 and magnetic dipole M-1 transitions have been investigated. The calculated results are compared with available experimental data.

Antonov, VN↗

Giant Apparent Optical Circular Dichroism in Thin Films of Bismuth-Based Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Metal Halide Semiconductor Through Preferred Orientation

Introducing chirality into organic/inorganic hybrid materials can impart chiroptical properties such as circular dichroism. The ability to tune chiroptical properties in self-assembled materials can have important implications for spintronic and optoelectronic applications. Here, a chiral organic cation, (R/S)-4-methoxy-a-methylbenzylammonium, is incorporated to synthesize the bismuth-based hybrid organic-inorganic metal halide semiconductor, (R/S-MeOMePMA)BiI4. Thin films of this Bi-based compound demonstrate large chiroptical responses, with circular dichroism anisotropy (gCD) values up to ˜0.1, close to the highest value observed in another chiral metal-halide semiconductor, (R-MBA2CuCl4). Detailed investigation reveals that this large gCD in (R/S-MeOMePMA)BiI4 is caused by the apparent CD effect. Careful selection of deposition conditions and the concomitant thin-film orientation enables the control of gCD, with maximum value observed when its thin film has a well-crystallized preferred (001) orientation parallel to the substrate. The results support a growing body of evidence that low symmetry plays an important role in achieving unusually large gCD in these chiral metal-halide materials and provides design rules for achieving large chiroptical response via morphology control.

chiroptic response↗

An atomic orbital based real-time time-dependent density functional theory for computing electronic circular dichroism band spectra

One of the challenges of interpreting electronic circular dichroism (ECD) band spectra is that different states may have different rotatory strength signs, determined by their absolute configuration. If the states are closely spaced and opposite in sign, observed transitions may be washed out by nearby states, unlike absorption spectra where transitions are always positive additive. To accurately compute ECD bands, it is necessary to compute a large number of excited states, which may be prohibitively costly if one uses the linear-response time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) framework. Here we implement a real-time, atomic-orbital based TDDFT method for computing the entire ECD spectrum simultaneously. The method is advantageous for large systems with a high density of states. In contrast to previous implementations based on real-space grids, the method is variational, independent of nuclear orientation, and does not rely on pseudopotential approximations, making it suitable for computation of chiroptical properties well into the X-ray regime.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism as operando probes of complex oxide electrolyte gate transistors

Electrolyte-based transistors utilizing ionic liquids/gels have been highly successful in the study of charge-density-controlled phenomena, particularly in oxides. Experimental probes beyond transport have played a significant role, despite challenges in their application in electric double-layer transistors. Here, we demonstrate the application of synchrotron soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) as operando probes of the charge state and magnetism in ion-gel-gated ferromagnetic perovskite films. Electrochemical response via oxygen vacancies at positive gate bias in LaAlO 3 (001)/La 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3-δ is used as a test case. XAS/XMCD measurements of 4–25 unit-cell-thick films first probe the evolution of hole doping (from the O K-edge pre-peak) and ferromagnetism (at the Co L-edges), to establish a baseline. Operando soft XAS/XMCD of electrolyte-gated films is then demonstrated, using optimized spin-coated gels with a thickness of ~1 μm and a specific composition. The application of gate voltages up to +4 V is shown to dramatically suppress the O K-edge XAS pre-peak intensity and Co L-edge XMCD, thus enabling the Co valence and ferromagnetism to be tracked upon gate-induced reduction. Soft XAS and XMCD, with appropriate electrolyte design, are thus established to be viable for the operando characterization of electrolyte-gated oxides.

Yu, Biqiong↗

Itinerant ferromagnetism in the As 4p conduction band of Ba 0.6 K 0.4 Mn 2 As 2 identified by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism

In this study, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements on single-crystal and powder samples of Ba 0.6 K 0.4 Mn 2 As 2 show that the ferromagnetism below T C ≈ 100 K arises in the As 4p conduction band. No XMCD signal is observed at the Mn x-ray absorption edges. Below T C , however, a clear XMCD signal is found at the As K edge which increases with decreasing temperature. The XMCD signal is absent in data taken with the beam directed parallel to the crystallographic c axis indicating that the orbital magnetic moment lies in the basal plane of the tetragonal lattice. These results show that the previously reported itinerant ferromagnetism is associated with the As 4p conduction band and that distinct local-moment antiferromagnetism and itinerant ferromagnetism with perpendicular easy axes coexist in this compound at low temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Investigation of a Spin Transition in a LaCoO 3 Single Crystal by the Method of X-Ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism at the Cobalt K - and L 2,3 -Edges

Here, the spin transitions of cobalt ions in LaCoO 3 single crystals have been studied by the method of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at the K - and L 2,3 -edges of Co 3+ ions. The orbital momentum of cobalt ions obtained for the K -edge at the 3d level in the region of the spin transition in the temperature range from 25 to 120 K increases by a factor of approximately 1.6, whereas the slope of the magnetization curve value in the same temperature range and magnetic field increases by a factor of more than 10. XMCD experiments at the cobalt L 2,3 )-edges demonstrate gradual growth of the ratio of the orbital momentum to the spin one L/S from 0.48 to 0.53 in the temperature range from 60 K to 120 K.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Anisotropic elliptical dichroism and influence of imperfection of circular polarization upon anisotropic circular dichroism

In spite of the importance of anisotropic circular dichroism, in practice, it is difficult to get rid of the artifacts that arise from the imperfection of the circular polarization. Undesirable linear dichroism, interference of two orthogonal polarization states, and linear birefringence prevent us from making accurate measurements. We propose a theoretical method for evaluating the contributions of the first two, which are thought to be the main artifacts when specimens are not thick enough. Using the time-dependent perturbation theory and taking into account the direction of light propagation toward an orientationally fixed molecule, we formulated the transition probability of systems perturbed by arbitrarily polarized light and the absorption difference associated with two kinds of polarized light. We also formulated, as an extension of the dissymmetry factor of circular dichroism, a newly defined dissymmetry factor associated with two arbitrary polarization states. Furthermore, we considered a mixed-state of photon ensemble in which polarization states distribute at a certain width around a certain average. Although the purity of polarization and ellipticity does not correspond immediately, by considering the mixed state it is possible to treat them consistently. We used quantum statistical mechanics to describe the absorption difference for two kinds of photon ensembles and applied the consequent formula to examine the reported experimental results of single-molecule chiroptical responses under discussion in the recent past. The artifacts are theoretically suggested to be sensitive to the incident direction of elliptically polarized light and to the oriented systems, the ellipticity, and the orientation of ellipse. The mixed state has little, if any, effect when the polarization state distribution is narrow.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Generation of circularly polarized radiation from a compact plasma-based extreme ultraviolet light source for tabletop X-ray magnetic circular dichroism studies

Generation of circularly polarized light in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral region (about 25 eV–250 eV) is highly desirable for applications in spectroscopy and microscopy but very challenging to achieve in a small-scale laboratory. We present a compact apparatus for generation of linearly and circularly polarized EUV radiation from a gas-discharge plasma light source between 50 eV and 70 eV photon energy. In this spectral range, the 3p absorption edges of Fe (54 eV), Co (60 eV), and Ni (67 eV) offer a high magnetic contrast often employed for magneto-optical and electron spectroscopy as well as for magnetic imaging. We simulated and designed an instrument for generation of linearly and circularly polarized EUV radiation and performed polarimetric measurements of the degree of linear and circular polarization. Furthermore, we demonstrate first measurements of the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the Co 3p absorption edge with a plasma-based EUV light source. Our approach opens the door for laboratory-based, element-selective spectroscopy of magnetic materials and spectro-microscopy of ferromagnetic domains.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Quantum Enhanced Probes of Magnetic Circular Dichroism

Magneto-optical microscopies, including optical measurements of magnetic circular dichroism, are increasingly ubiquitous tools for probing spin-orbit coupling, charge-carrier g-factors, and chiral excitations in matter, but the minimum detectable signal in classical magnetic circular dichroism measurements is fundamentally limited by the shot-noise limit of the optical readout field. Here, a two-mode squeezed light source is used to improve the minimum detectable signal in magnetic circular dichroism measurements by 3 decibels compared with state-of-the-art classical measurements, even with relatively lossy samples like terbium gallium garnet. Furthermore, these results provide a framework for new quantum-enhanced magneto-optical microscopies that are particularly critical for environmentally sensitive materials and for low temperature measurements where increased optical power can introduce unacceptable thermal perturbations.

42 ENGINEERING↗