Speaker
Description
Transition metal complexes play a central role in modern photophysics and photochemistry due to their ability to harvest light and mediate charge transfer processes [1,2] . However, many of the most efficient photoactive systems are based on scarce and expensive noble metals such as Ru, Ir, or Pt, which limits their large-scale application in photocatalysis, light-emitting devices, and solar energy conversion. In this context, first-row transition metals such as Cu have emerged as sustainable alternatives thanks to their earth abundance and tunable electronic properties [3,4].
In this work, we investigate the ultrafast excited-state dynamics of Cu(I) complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. The Cu(I) systems are heteroleptic, containing bulky diphosphine co-ligands to stabilize the photoactive metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) state and hinder flattening distortion in the excited state [5].
Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and time resolved optical emission provides direct insight into the temporal evolution of the MLCT states, revealing their formation, nonradiative pathways, and decay on the tens of femtosecond up to milisecond timescales. Complementary time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations aid in interpreting the steady-state absorption spectra and assigning the nature of the excited states involved.
By combining experimental and theoretical approaches, this study elucidates the lifetimes of the involved excited states and the structural processes along the deactivation mechanism, thereby contributing to the rational design of efficient, earth-abundant photoactive coordination compounds for sustainable photochemical applications