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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 163 records · Page 9

The Influence of Structural Dynamics in Two-Dimensional Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Perovskites on Their Photoluminescence Efficiency — Neutron Scattering Analysis

Two-dimensional hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) have emerged as promising materials for light-emitting diode applications. In this study, by using time-of-flight neutron spectroscopy we identified and quantitatively separated the lattice vibrational and molecular rotational dynamics of two perovskites, butylammonium lead iodide (BA)2PbI4 and phenethyl-ammonium lead iodide (PEA) 2 PbI 4 . By examining the corresponding temperature dependence, we found that the lattice vibrations, as evidenced by neutron spectra, are consistent with the lattice dynamics obtained from Raman scattering. We revealed that the rotational dynamics of organic molecules in these materials tend to suppress their photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) while the vibrational dynamics did not show predominant correlations with the same. Additionally, we observed photoluminescence emission peak splitting for both systems, which becomes prominent above certain critical temperatures where the suppression of PLQY begins. This study suggests that the rotational motions of polarized molecules may lead to a reduction in exciton binding energy or the breaking of degeneracy in exciton binding energy levels, enhancing non-radiative recombination rates, and consequently reducing photoluminescence yield. These findings offer a deeper understanding of fundamental interactions in 2D HOIPs and could guide the design of more efficient light-emitting materials for advanced technological applications.

Rajeev, Haritha Sindhu [Univ. of Virginia, Charlot↗

Electronic structure and dynamics of confined atoms

Confined atomic systems are of great importance owing a multitude of possible applications in various areas of science and technology. Of particular interest are atoms encaged in the C 60 molecule, A@C 60 , since the near-spherical symmetry of C 60 simplifies theoretical studies, and the stability of C 60 renders it amenable to experimental examination. Herein a review of investigations of the electronic structure and dynamics of A@C 60 is presented in this manuscript focusing on developments in the last decade. Addressed mainly are how the confinement affects electronic structure properties such as ionization potentials, localization of atomic electrons, Shannon entropy, correlation effects, relativistic interactions, and others. In the area of dynamics, photoionization and e-A@C 60 scattering are reviewed and summarized, and the major effects of confinement on the dynamical properties, e.g., confinement resonances, hybridization, Wigner time delay, are delineated.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Sequence Modulates Polypeptoid Hydration Water Structure and Dynamics

We use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect of polypeptoid sequence on the structure and dynamics of its hydration waters. Polypeptoids provide an excellent platform to study small-molecule hydration in disordered polymers, as they can be precisely synthesized with a variety of sidechain chemistries. We examine water behavior near a set of peptoid oligomers in which the number and placement of nonpolar versus polar sidechains are systematically varied. To do this, we leverage a new computational workflow enabling accurate sampling of polypeptoid conformations. We find that the hydration waters are less dense, are more tetrahedral, and have slower dynamics compared to bulk water. The magnitude of these shifts increases with the number of nonpolar groups. Here, we also find that shifts in the water structure and dynamics are strongly correlated, suggesting that experimental insight into the dynamics of hydration water obtained by Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (ODNP) also contains information about water structural properties. We then demonstrate the ability of ODNP to probe site-specific dynamics of hydration water near these model peptoid systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Conformationally Adaptable Extractant Flexes Strong Lanthanide Reverse-Size Selectivity

Chemical selectivity is traditionally understood in the context of rigid molecular scaffolds with precisely defined local coordination and chemical environments that ultimately facilitate a given transformation of interest. By contrast, nature leverages dynamic structures and strong coupling to enable specific interactions with target species in otherwise complex media. Taking inspiration from nature, we demonstrate unconventional selectivity in the solvent extraction of light over heavy lanthanides using a conformationally flexible ligand called octadecyl acyclopa (ODA). This novel ligand forms pseudocyclic molecular complexes with lanthanide ions at organic/aqueous interfaces, revealed by vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy. These complexes are extracted into the organic phase, where femtosecond structural dynamics are probed by two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to mechanistically frame the macroscopic selectivity trends. We find larger-than-expected structural fluctuations and bond lengths for heavy Ln–ODA complexes that arise from an inability of ODA to contort around the smaller ions to satisfy all would-be bonding interactions, despite forming some individually strong bonds. This finding contrasts with the binding of ODA with lighter lanthanides where, despite individually weaker bonds, collective interactions manifest that minimize structural fluctuations and give rise to enhanced thermodynamic stability. Furthermore, these results point to a new paradigm where conformational dynamics and cumulative bonding interactions can be used to facilitate unconventional chemical transformations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗