A broadband ultrafast investigation of sodide charge transfer to solvent (CTTS) dynamics

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Thomas Elsässer
• Co-Applicant: Professor Sanford Ruhman, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 29181571

Electron transfer reactions are ubiquitous in chemistry and biology and underlie the function of numerous (macro)molecular systems. Electron transfer from an atomic anion into the surrounding solvent represents an important prototype process known as charge transfer to solvent (CITS). In this project, sodide CTTS will be studied as a model system in a variety of solvents. The experiments aim at identifying the nature and the time scales of the microscopic steps occurring during CTTS by applying femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopies in a spectral range between 0.5 and 3 µm. Such broadband spectroscopy with a time resolution of up to 10 fs will allow for determining the absorption spectra of the transient intermediates and - in particular - of the electron released into the solvent cage. Three-pulse secondary photolysis experiments will be performed to clarify the nature of the Na0 intermediate absorbing around 900 nm and its precursor absorbing around 600 nm. Such results will be relevant for establishing the correct reaction scheme of CTTS and represent a benchmark for theoretical simulations of CTTS.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Israel