Observing photochemical transients by ultrafast x-ray absorption spectroscopy.
Accurate determination of the transient electronic structures, which drive photochemical reactions, is crucial in chemistry and biology. We report the detection of transient chemical changes on the picosecond time scale by x-ray-absorption near-edge structure of photoexcited aqueous [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+). Upon ultrashort laser pulse excitation a charge transfer excited state having a 300 ns lifetime is formed. We detect the change of oxidation state of the central Ru atom at its L3 and L2 edges, at a temporal resolution of 100 ps with the zero of time unambiguously determined.
Saes
Melanie
M
Institut de Physique de la Matière Condensée, Université de Lausanne, BSP, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Bressler
Christian
C
Abela
Rafael
R
Grolimund
Daniel
D
Johnson
Steven L
SL
Heimann
Philip A
PA
Chergui
Majed
M