X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES or NEXAFS) is a powerful technique for electronic structure determination.  Recent developments in extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light sources using the laser-based technique of high-harmonic generation have enabled core-level spectroscopy to be performed on femtosecond to attosecond timescales.  We have extended the scope of tabletop XUV spectroscopy and demonstrated that M<sub>2,3</sub>-edge XANES, corresponding to 3p→3d transitions, can reliably measure the electronic structure of first-row molecular transition metal complexes with femtosecond time resolution.  We use this ability to track the excited-state relaxation pathways of photocatalysts and spin crossover complexes.  The spin selectivity of M-edge XANES is an especially good diagnostic of intersystem crossing in d6 metals and allows us to understand and design new earth-abundant chromophores.

What did the metals know, and when did they know it?  Tabletop M-edge XANES reveals femtosecond dynamics in transition metal complexes

ACS Spring 2022

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