Chemical reactivity on excited electronic states is governed by solute and solvent motions on the ultrafast timescale. In this talk I will describe the use of ultrafast X-ray techniques to probe an ultrafast charge transfer process in a mixed valence transition metal complex. Ultrafast X-ray emission and absorption spectroscopy at the Fe K-edge probes the rate of ultrafast back electron transfer, identifies vibrational motions coupled to the changing electron density at the Fe atom and determines the extend of hole delocalization on a short lived electronic excited state. Ultrafast X-ray diffuse scattering provides a window into coupled solute-solvent motions following the rapid back electron transfer with high spatial resolution.

Watching solute and solvent motions during ultrafast photochemical reactions with high spatial and temporal resolution

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.