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At least 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Nitrogen-related intermediate band in P-rich GaN x P y As 1-x-y alloys

The electronic band structure of phosphorus-rich GaN x P y As 1-x-y alloys (x ~ 0.025 and y ≥ 0.6) is studied experimentally using optical absorption, photomodulated transmission, contactless electroreflectance, and photoluminescence. Here, it is shown that incorporation of a few percent of N atoms has a drastic effect on the electronic structure of the alloys. The change of the electronic band structure is very well described by the band anticrossing (BAC) model in which localized nitrogen states interact with the extended states of the conduction band of GaAsP host. The BAC interaction results in the formation of a narrow intermediate band (E - band in BAC model) with the minimum at the Γ point of the Brillouin zone resulting in a change of the nature of the fundamental band gap from indirect to direct. The splitting of the conduction band by the BAC interaction is further confirmed by a direct observation of the optical transitions to the E + band using contactless electroreflectance spectroscopy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

A tunable band gap of the layered semiconductor Zn 3 In 2 S 6 under pressure

The band gap is an important property of a semiconductor, and a candidate material with a highly tunable band gap under external tuning parameters will offer wider applications in optoelectronic devices and photocatalytic fields. Here, we show that the layered semiconductor Zn 3 In 2 S 6 possesses a band gap that is highly tunable with pressure. In situ optical absorption shows that the band gap unexpectedly widens with pressure up to ~13 GPa. Sudden gap narrowing then occurs above 14 GPa, which is followed by progressive gap decreases on further compression and the gap finally closes above 20 GPa. Our study, encompassing X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy experiments and theoretical calculations revealed that the selective responses of the different bonds are responsible for the band gap increase in the low-pressure ranges. We show that the pressure-induced irreversible amorphization is responsible for the sudden gap narrowing whereas the semiconductor–metallic transition is related to the amorphous–amorphous transition at high-pressure due to a change in the local coordination number of Zn atoms. This work demonstrates the high tunability of the electronic and optical properties of layered ternary semiconductors under pressure, providing a potential way for wider applications of this class of materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

An oil-in-water self-assembly synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties of nano Ag@AgCl surface-sensitized K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9}

Highlights: • The plasmatic Ag@AgCl surface-sensitized K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9} composite photocatalysts. • Ag@AgCl greatly increased visible light absorption for K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9}. • The photocatalysts exhibited enhanced photocatalytic dye degradation. - Abstract: Nano-sized plasmonic Ag@AgCl surface-sensitized K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9} composite photocatalysts (hereafter designated as Ag@AgCl/K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9}) was synthesized via a facile oil-in-water self-assembly method. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared materials for RhB (Rhodamine B) degradation was examined under visible light irradiation. The results reveal that the size of Ag@AgCl, which evenly dispersed on the surface of K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9}, distributes about 20–50 nm. The UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicate that Ag@AgCl/K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9} samples have a significantly enhanced optical absorption in 380–700 nm. The photocatalytic activities of the Ag@AgCl/K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9} samples increase first and then decrease with increasing amount of loading Ag@AgCl and the Ag@AgCl(20 wt.%)/K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9} sample exhibits the best photocatalytic activity and 94.47% RhB was degraded after irradiation for 2 h. Additionally, studies performed using radical scavengers indicated that O{sub 2}·{sup −} and Cl{sup 0} acted as the main reactive species. The electronic interaction was systematically studied and confirmed by the photo-electrochemical measurements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Impact of high-temperature annealing on hafnia-silica composite coatings deposited via ion beam sputtering for high-peak power 1064 nm lasers

The maximum power handling fluence of high-peak and average power laser systems is often limited by the laser damage of the coatings on optical components. Furthermore, these multilayer dielectric coatings are limited in their maximum power handling due to laser-damage-prone defects in the lower optical bandgap, higher optical index material. Some of these defects can be mitigated by thermal annealing to high temperatures, which can greatly reduce the linear absorbative precursors. Typically, hafnia and silica are the materials of choice for high-peak and average power laser systems in the ultraviolet through infrared spectral range; however, hafnia crystalizes readily when annealed at high temperatures. In this study, we prepare composite HfO 2 -SiO 2 coatings by co-sputtering hafnia and silica in an ion beam sputtering system and compare them to pure hafnia-based coatings. We demonstrate that crystallinity in hafnia can be completely suppressed when it is mixed with silica, such as the composite coatings in this study. High reflectors were fabricated and annealed, demonstrating that the multilayer dielectric stacks can survive high-temperature annealing and exhibit an excellent linear absorption of 0.2 +/- 1 ppm at 1064 nm. Short- and long-pulse laser damage was explored, demonstrating the complex relationship between linear absorption and the non-linear absorption which drives pulsed laser damage. These results provide an excellent route to the creation of very low linear absorption optical coatings, which also utilize low scattering materials that are best suited for high-peak and average power applications.

Harthcock, Colin [Lawrence Livermore National Labo↗
DOE OSTI2011

BLAZAR 3C 454.3 IN OUTBURST AND QUIESCENCE DURING 2005-2007: TWO VARIABLE SYNCHROTRON EMISSION PEAKS

We monitored the flaring blazar 3C 454.3 during 2005 June-July with the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS: 15 epochs), Infrared Array Camera (IRAC: 12 epochs), and Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS: 2 epochs). We also made Spitzer IRS, IRAC, and MIPS observations from 2006 December to 2007 January when the source was in a low state, the latter simultaneous with a single Chandra X-ray observation. In addition, we present optical and submillimeter (sub-mm) monitoring data. The 2005-2007 period saw three major outbursts. We present evidence that the radio-optical spectral energy distribution (SED) actually consists of two variable synchrotron peaks, the primary at IR and the secondary at sub-mm wavelengths. The lag between the optical and sub-mm outbursts may indicate that these two peaks arise from two distinct regions along the jet separated by a distance of 0.9-3 pc. The flux at 5-35 {mu}m varied by a factor of 40 and the IR peak varied in frequency from 4 x 10{sup 12} Hz to 4 x 10{sup 13} Hz between the highest and lowest states in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Variability was well correlated across the mid-IR band, with no measurable lag. Flares that doubled in flux occurred on a timescale of {approx}5 days, yielding a variability size of <0.05 pc. The IR SED peak moved to higher frequency as a flare brightened, then returned to lower frequency as it decayed. The fractional variability amplitude increased with frequency, which we attribute to decreasing synchrotron self-absorption optical depth. Mid-IR flares may signal the re-energization of a shock that runs into inhomogeneities along the pre-existing jet or in the external medium. The synchrotron peak frequencies during each major outburst may depend upon both the distance from the jet apex and the physical conditions in the shocks. Variation of the Doppler parameter along a curved or helical jet is another possibility. Frequency variability of the IR synchrotron peak may have important consequences for the interpretation of the blazar sequence, and the presence of a secondary peak may give insight into jet structure.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Strong Induced Circular Dichroism in a Hybrid Lead‐Halide Semiconductor Using Chiral Amino Acids for Crystallite Surface Functionalization

Abstract Chirality is a desired property in functional semiconductors for optoelectronic, catalytic, and spintronic applications. Here, introducing enantiomerically‐pure 3‐aminobutyric acid (3‐ABA) into thin films of the 1D semiconductor dimethylammonium lead iodide (DMAPbI 3 ) is found to result in strong circular dichroism (CD) in the optical absorption. X‐ray diffraction and grazing incidence small angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) are applied to gain molecular‐scale insights into the chirality transfer mechanism, which is attributed to a chiral surface modification of DMAPbI 3 crystallites. This study demonstrates that the CD signal strength can be controlled by the amino‐acid content relative to the crystallite surface area. The CD intensity is tuned by the composition of the precursor solution and the spin‐coating time, thereby achieving anisotropy factors ( g abs ) as high as 1.75 × 10 –2 . Grazing incidence wide angle scattering reveals strong preferential ordering that can be suppressed via tailored synthesis conditions. Different contributions to the chiroptical properties are resolved by a detailed analysis of the CD signal utilizing an approach based on the Mueller matrix model. This report of a novel class of chiral hybrid semiconductors with precise control over their optical activity presents a promising approach for the design of circularly polarized light detectors and emitters.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Z-scan study of nonlinear absorption in reduced LiNbO{sub 3} crystals

The nonlinear absorption (NLA) was studied by open-aperture Z-scan experiments in the chemically reduced nominally pure LiNbO{sub 3} crystals at cw-illumination with the red (644 nm) and green (514.5 nm) laser beams. The magnitude of the measured NLA is considerably different from the reported Z-scan results obtained in as-grown LiNbO{sub 3}. The positive sign of NLA obtained with the red light has been related to the generation of the small bound polarons absorbing in red and near-IR ranges. Application of green light results in the light-induced transparency, i.e., the Z-scan traces show negative sign of NLA. Intensity dependence of Z-scan traces allows for conclusion that the photo-induced dissociation of small Nb{sub Li}{sup 4+}:Nb{sub Nb}{sup 4+} bipolarons and sequent generation of small polarons gives the dominating contribution to the nonlinear optical absorption in reduced crystals with a large bipolarons concentration.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Exciton Lifetime and Optical Line Width Profile via Exciton–Phonon Interactions: Theory and First-Principles Calculations for Monolayer MoS 2

Exciton dynamics dictates the evolution of photoexcited carriers in photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices. However, interpreting their experimental signatures is a challenging theoretical problem due to the presence of both electron–phonon and many-electron interactions. Here, we develop and apply here a first-principles approach to exciton dynamics resulting from exciton–phonon coupling in monolayer MoS 2 and reveal the highly selective nature of exciton–phonon coupling due to the internal spin structure of excitons, which leads to a surprisingly long lifetime of the lowest-energy bright A exciton. Moreover, we show that optical absorption processes rigorously require a second-order perturbation theory approach, with photon and phonon treated on an equal footing, as proposed by Toyozawa and Hopfield. Such a treatment, thus far neglected in first-principles studies, gives rise to off-diagonal exciton–phonon self-energy, which is critical for the description of dephasing mechanisms and yields exciton line widths in excellent agreement with experiment.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Nanocrystalline sol-gel TiO{sub 2}-SnO{sub 2} coatings: Preparation, characterization and photo-catalytic performance

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer SnO{sub 2} additive enhanced significantly photo-catalytic properties of TiO{sub 2} based thin film for remove of organic compounds. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Structural and optical properties are dependent on dopant concentration. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TiO{sub 2}-SnO{sub 2} nanocrystalline thin film is promising for photocatalytic properties in visible light. -- Abstract: In this study, preparation of SnO{sub 2} (0-30 mol% SnO{sub 2})-TiO{sub 2} dip-coated thin films on glazed porcelain substrates via sol-gel process has been investigated. The effects of SnO{sub 2} on the structural, optical, and photo-catalytic properties of applied thin films have been studied by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Surface topography and surface chemical state of thin films were examined by atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. XRD patterns showed an increase in peak intensities of the rutile crystalline phase by increasing the SnO{sub 2} content. The prepared Sn doped TiO{sub 2} photo-catalyst films showed optical absorption in the visible light area exhibited excellent photo-catalytic ability for the degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. Best photo-catalytic activity of Sn doped TiO{sub 2} thin films was measured in the TiO{sub 2}-15 mol% SnO{sub 2} sample by the Sn{sup 4+} dopants presented substitution Ti{sup 4+} into the lattice of TiO{sub 2} increasing the surface oxygen vacancies and the surface hydroxyl groups.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Shape fluctuations and optical transition of He 2 * excimer tracers in superfluid He 4

Metastable He$_{2}^{*}$ excimer molecules have been utilized as tracer particles of the normal component in superfluid $^4$He (He II) which can be imaged via laser-induced fluorescence. These excimer molecules form tiny bubbles in He II and can bind to quantized vortices at sufficiently low temperatures, thereby allowing for direct visualization of vortex dynamics in an inviscid superfluid. However, the $a^{3}\Sigma^+_{u}$${\rightarrow}$$c^{3}\Sigma^+_{g}$ optical absorption line, which is responsible for the fluorescence imaging of the He$_{2}^{*}$ molecules, is controlled by fluctuations on the bubble shape, and its exact line profile is not known at low temperatures. In this paper, we present a bubble model for evaluating the surface fluctuation eigenmodes of the excimers in He II. The line profile of the $a^{3}\Sigma^+_{u}{\rightarrow}c^{3}\Sigma^+_{g}$ transition is calculated at different temperatures by considering both the zero-point and thermal fluctuations on the bubble shape. We show that, as the temperature drops from 2~K to 20 mK, the peak absorption strength is enhanced by a factor of about five, accompanying a blueshift of the peak location by about 2 nm. A double-peak line profile due to the rotational levels of the molecular core can be resolved. This bubble model also allows us to evaluate the stiffness of the He$_{2}^{*}$ bubbles and hence their diffusion constant in He II due to scattering off thermal phonons. Our results will aid the design of future experiments on imaging quantized vortices in He II using He$_{2}^{*}$ tracers.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Experimental and theoretical investigations of non-centrosymmetric 8-hydroxyquinolinium dibenzoyl-(L)-tartrate methanol monohydrate single crystal

Graphical abstract: ORTEP diagram of HQDBT. - Highlights: • Single crystal XRD and NMR studies confirm the formation of the title compound. • SHG efficiency was found to be 0.6 times that of KDP. • First-order hyperpolarizability (β) was calculated using HF and B3LYP methods. - Abstract: A novel 8-hydroxyquinolinium dibenzoyl-(L)-tartrate methanol monohydrate crystal has been grown by slow evaporation technique. The single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis has been done for the title compound and is found to crystallize in orthorhombic space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}. The optical absorption cut-off wavelength is found to be 440 nm. The vibrational analysis has been carried out to assess the functional groups present in the title compound. The molecular structure of the title compound has been confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric, differential scanning calorimetric and differential thermal analyses reveal the melting point and thermal stability of the title compound. The second harmonic generation efficiency is confirmed by Kurtz–Perry powder technique. Further quantum chemical calculations are performed using Gaussian 03 software.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Magnetic and Optical Properties of Au–Co Solid Solution and Phase-Separated Thin Films and Nanoparticles

The chemical composition and morphology of Au x Co 1–x thin films and nanoparticles are controlled via a combination of cosputtering, pulsed laser-induced dewetting (PLiD), and annealing, leading to tunable magnetic and optical properties. Regardless of chemical composition, the as-deposited thin films and as-PLiD nanoparticles are found to possess a face-centered cubic (FCC) Au x Co 1–x solid-solution crystal structure. Annealing results in large phase-separated grains of Au and Co in both the thin films and nanostructures for all chemical compositions. The magnetic and optical properties are characterized via vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), ellipsometry, optical transmission spectroscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Despite the exceptionally high magnetic anisotropy inherent to Co, the presence of sufficient Au (72 atom %) in the Au x Co 1–x solid solution results in superparamagnetic thin films. Among the as-PLiD nanoparticle samples, an increased Co composition leads to a departure from traditional ferromagnetism in favor of wasp-waisted hysteresis caused by magnetic vortices. Phase separation resulting from annealing leads to ferromagnetism for all compositions in both the thin films and nanoparticles. The optical properties of Au x Co 1–x nanostructures are also largely influenced by the chemical morphology, where the Au x Co 1–x intermixed solid solution has significantly damped plasmonic performance relative to pure Au and comparable to pure Co. Phase separation greatly enhances the quality factor, optical absorption, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) signatures. The enhancement of the localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) scales with the reduction in Co composition, despite EELS evidence that excitation of the Co portions of a nanoparticle can provide a similar, and in some instances enhanced, LSPR resonance compared to Au. This behavior, however, is seemingly limited to the LSPR dipole mode, while higher-order modes are greatly damped by a Co aloof position. As a result, this observed magneto-plasmonic functionality and tunability could be applicable in biomedicine, namely, cancer therapeutics.

annealing (metallurgy)↗
DOE OSTI2015

Probing the effect of intrinsic defects and dopants on the structural evolution and optical properties of ZnO nanocrystallites

Role of intrinsic defects and external impurities in modifying the structural and optical properties of ZnO nanostructures has been studied and discussed. ZnO nanocrystallites doped with B, N and S elements have been prepared by ultrasound assisted wet chemical method. Structural evolution of ZnO in presence of dopant ions has been studied by XRD and electron microscopic measurements. Elemental analysis like XPS has been carried out to ascertain the dopant configuration. A variation in crystallographic parameters and microstructure is found to be observed as impurity is incorporated into ZnO. This has been explained on the basis of the substitution of dopant at Zn{sup 2+} and O{sup −} sites rearranging the lattice. Optical absorption measurements and PL studies reflect a change in band gap of ZnO by impurity adsorption. Most of the cases, the band gap is found to be broadened which has been explained in the line of Moss-Burstein effect. The excitonic emission in ZnO is observed to blue shift supporting the above results and the defect emissions also get modified in terms of position and intensity. New PL bands observed have been assigned to the transitions related to the defect states present in the band gap of ZnO along with intrinsic defects.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

Polarization effects associated with thermal processing of HY-80 structural steel using high-power laser diode array

Localized heating of roughened steel surfaces using disperse laser light emitted from high power laser diode arrays was experimentally demonstrated and compared with theoretical predictions. The Fresnel equations were used to analyze the optical absorptivity in terms of the angle of incidence and polarization state to understand the laser-induced temperature rise of HY-80 steel plates under 383-612 W laser irradiation. Laser-induced, transient temperature distributions were directly measured using bulk thermocouple probes and thermal imaging. Finite element analysis yielded quantitative assessment of energy deposition and heat transport in HY-80 steel using absorptivity as a tuning parameter. The extracted absorptivity values ranged from 0.62 to 0.75 for S-polarized and 0.63 to 0.85 for P-polarized light, in agreement with partially oxidized iron surfaces. Microstructural analysis using electron backscatter diffraction revealed a heat affected zone for the highest temperature conditions (612 W, P-polarized) as evidence of rapid quenching and an austenite to martensite transformation. In conclusion, the efficient use of diode arrays for laser-assisted advanced manufacturing technologies such as hybrid friction stir welding is discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Facile synthesis of Ag–Cu{sub 2}O composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Highlights: • Ag–Cu{sub 2}O nanocomposites were synthesized via awet-chemical precipitation route. • The growth temperature does not exceed 50 °C in any step of the synthesis. • Enhanced photocurrent of Ag–Cu{sub 2}O composites, compared to pure Cu{sub 2}O particles. • The photocatalytic property was studied upon simulated sunlight. • Enhanced photocatalytic property of Ag–Cu{sub 2}O composites, compared to pure Cu{sub 2}O particles. - Abstract: Silver–cuprous oxide (Ag–Cu{sub 2}O) microcomposites are successfully prepared by a facile low-cost solution method. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Experiments demonstrated that the formation of Ag–Cu{sub 2}O microcomposites was significantly influenced by the concentration of AgNO{sub 3}, and with increasing the concentration of AgNO{sub 3}, the optical absorption of the composites becomes strong. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared Ag–Cu{sub 2}O composites was determined by measuring the degradation of methyl orange solution under visible light, to find out its potential application in waste water treatment. The results reveal that the photocurrent of the composite is about 4 times higher than that of pure Cu{sub 2}O and the visible light photocatalytic activity of the composite is enhanced greatly on degradation of methyl orange. The reason for improvement in photocatalytic activity of the Ag–Cu{sub 2}O composites was also discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Growth and characterization of high-quality Zr doped AlN epilayers

AlN stands out for its remarkable figures of merit for electronic and photonic devices, attributed to its ultrawide bandgap of ∼6.1 eV and an exceptionally high critical field of ∼15 MV/cm. More recently, zirconium (Zr) doped AlN (AlN:Zr) has also been identified as a promising material platform for the exploration of solid-state qubits for quantum information and technology, high performance piezoelectric acoustic wave resonators, and optically triggered ultrafast power switching devices facilitated by optically activating Zr related impurities. Despite the significant potential, the ability for producing AlN:Zr epitaxial structures has yet to be established. In this study, we have achieved AlN:Zr epilayers with a high Zr doping level [NZr] of up to 1020 cm−3 using industrial standard metal-organic chemical vapor deposition growth technique. High crystalline quality of AlN:Zr was confirmed by x-ray diffraction, revealing a narrow full width at half maximum of the (002) rocking curve at 216 arcsec for 1.8 μm thick epilayers deposited on sapphire at [NZr]=1020 cm−3. Zr doping was observed to slightly increase the c-lattice constant to 4.992 Å for AlN:Zr (at [NZr]=1020 cm−3) compared to 4.980 Å for undoped AlN. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement results verified the substitution of Zr at the Al site (ZrAl). The formation of (ZrAl–VN) complexes, which are predicted to possess all the desired properties required by quantum qubits, was confirmed through optical absorption studies. The realization of high-quality AlN:Zr epilayers significantly broadens the scope of technologically significant device applications for AlN.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Solvent control of charge transfer excited state relaxation pathways in [Fe(2,2'-bipyridine)(CN) 4 ] 2-

The excited state dynamics of solvated [Fe(bpy)(CN) 4 ] 2- , where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, show significant sensitivity to the solvent Lewis acidity. Using a combination of optical absorption and X-ray emission transient spectroscopies, we have previously shown that the metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited state of [Fe(bpy)(CN) 4 ] 2- has a 19 picosecond lifetime and no discernable contribution from metal centered (MC) states in weak Lewis acid solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide and acetonitrile. Here, in the present work, we use the same combination of spectroscopic techniques to measure the MLCT excited state relaxation dynamics of [Fe(bpy)(CN) 4 ] 2- in water, a strong Lewis acid solvent. The charge-transfer excited state is now found to decay in less than 100 femtoseconds, forming a quasi-stable metal centered excited state with a 13 picosecond lifetime. We find that this MC excited state has triplet ( 3 MC) character, unlike other reported six-coordinate Fe(II)-centered coordination compounds, which form MC quintet ( 5 MC) states. The solvent dependent changes in excited state non-radiative relaxation for [Fe(bpy)(CN) 4 ] 2- allows us to infer the influence of the solvent on the electronic structure of the complex. Lastly, the robust characterization of the dynamics and optical spectral signatures of the isolated 3 MC intermediate provides a strong foundation for identifying 3 MC intermediates in the electronic excited state relaxation mechanisms of similar Fe-centered systems being developed for solar applications.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗