The investigation of the ultrafast excited state deactivation mechanisms for coumarin 307 in different solvents

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 13; no. 31; pp. 21746 - 21753
• Main Authors: Ge, Jing, Zhang, Xue-Dong, Li, Zhi-Biao, Xue, Bing-Qian, Bai, Xi-Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 12.07.2023; The Royal Society of Chemistry
• Subjects: Bonding strength; Charge transfer; Chemistry; Coumarin; Deactivation; Dimethylformamide; Excitation; Hydrogen; Hydrogen bonding; Hydrogen bonds; Mathematical analysis; Photoluminescence; Solvents; Spectroscopy; Steady state; Time dependence
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/d3ra03159d

The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) processes of coumarin 307 (C307) in different solvents were investigated by performing steady-state/time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopic and steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopic characterizations in combination with time-dependent density functional theoretical calculation (TDDFT). The study unveiled the remarkable influence of solvent polarity and the strength of intermolecular hydrogen bonds formed between the solutes and solvents on the relaxation dynamics of the electronic excited state. Significantly, the emergence of the TICT state was observed in polar solvents, specifically dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxidemethanol (DMSO), owing to their inherent polarity as well as the enhanced intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. Interestingly, even in a weak polar solvent such as methanol (MeOH), the TICT state was also observed due to the intensified hydrogen bonding effects. Conversely, nonpolar solvents, exemplified by 1,4-dioxane (Diox), resulted in the stabilization of the ICT state due to the augmented N-H O hydrogen bonding interactions. The experimental findings were corroborated by the computational calculations, thus ensuring the reliability of the conclusions drawn. Furthermore, schematic diagrams were presented to illustrate the mechanisms underlying the excited-state deactivation. Overall, this investigation contributes valuable mechanistic insights and provides a comprehensive understanding of the photochemical and photophysical properties exhibited by coumarin dyes. The excited-state dynamics of C307 have been investigated through steady-state/time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy and steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopy, combined with theoretical calculations.