Molecular symmetry | EPFL Graph Search

In chemistry, molecular symmetry describes the symmetry present in molecules and the classification of these molecules according to their symmetry. Molecular symmetry is a fundamental concept in chemistry, as it can be used to predict or explain many of a molecule's chemical properties, such as whether or not it has a dipole moment, as well as its allowed spectroscopic transitions. To do this it is necessary to use group theory. This involves classifying the states of the molecule using the irreducible representations from the character table of the symmetry group of the molecule. Symmetry is useful in the study of molecular orbitals, with applications to the Hückel method, to ligand field theory, and to the Woodward-Hoffmann rules. Many university level textbooks on physical chemistry, quantum chemistry, spectroscopy and inorganic chemistry discuss symmetry. Another framework on a larger scale is the use of crystal systems to describe crystallographic symmetry in bulk materials.

Atomic scale symmetry and polar nanoclusters in the paraelectric phase of ferroelectric materials

Dragan Damjanovic, Sina Hashemi Zadeh, Takuya Hoshina, Emadeddin Oveisi

The nature of the "forbidden" local- and long-range polar order in nominally nonpolar paraelectric phases of ferroelectric materials has been an open question since the discovery of ferroelectricity in oxide perovskites (ABO3). A currently considered model suggests locally correlated displacements of B-site atoms along a subset of cubic directions. Such offsite displacements have been confirmed experimentally, however, being essentially dynamic in nature they cannot account for the static nature of the symmetry-forbidden polarization implied by the macroscopic experiments. Here, in an atomically resolved study by aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) complemented by Raman spectroscopy, we reveal, directly visualize and quantitatively describe static, 2-4 nm large polar nanoclusters in the nominally nonpolar cubic phases of (Ba,Sr)TiO3 and BaTiO3. These results have implications on understanding of the atomic-scale structure of disordered materials, the origin of precursor states in ferroelectrics, and may help answering ambiguities on the dynamic-versus-static nature of nano-sized clusters

2020

Uniaxial 2D Superlattice of Fe-4 Molecular Magnets on Graphene

Harald Brune, Luca Gragnaniello, Fabian Paschke, Stefano Rusponi

We demonstrate that electrospray deposition enables the fabrication of highly periodic self-assembled arrays of Fe4H single molecule magnets on graphene/Ir(111). The energetic positions of molecular states are probed by means of scanning tunneling spectroscopy, showing pronounced long- and short-ranged spatial modulations, indicating the presence of both locally varying intermolecular as well as adsorption-site dependent molecule substrate interactions. From the magnetic field dependence of the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism signal, we infer that the magnetic easy axis of each Fe4H molecule is oriented perpendicular to the sample surface and that after the deposition the value of the uniaxial anisotropy is identical to the one in bulk. Our findings therefore suggest that the observed interaction of the molecules with their surrounding does not modify the molecular magnetism, resulting in magnets that retain their bulk magnetic properties.

American Chemical Society2017

Complexes luminescents de lanthanides avec des dérivés du cyclène comme briques pour l'ingénierie de sondes analytiques biomédicales

This work deals with the engineering of a new luminescent complex of lanthanide, able to be specifically grafted onto biological materials and to emit a characteristic light useful in quantifying the concentration of the target molecules. We have based our molecular design on TbL1, wich possesses a significant quantum yield in water pointing to an efficient intramolecular energy transfer. We have elaborated the synthesis of a ligand derived from L1 and named L3, by functionalizing one of the chromophoric groups into a moiety able to couple the luminescent sensor to biological materials. The synthesis of the complexes was then realized. The thermodynamic study of the ligands L1 and L3, and their terbium complexes in water was made to establish the distribution diagrams and to compare their behaviour, especially at neutral pH. In addition, EuL1 was also investigated and the complexation constants of TbL1, EuL1 and TbL3 in water showed that these molecules are thermodynamically stable in aqueous media. Characterization of EuL3 in the solid state by high resolution luminescence allowed us to determine the geometry of the coordination sphere of the Eu(III) ion, which possesses a distorded C4 symmetry. The detailed study of the Eu(III) ion transitions evidenced two different sites, possibly arising from an equilibrium induced by the competition between a water molecule and the carboxylate function. This interpretation is in line with the measured lifetimes of the Tb(III) and Eu(III) excited states and the calculation of the hydration number of the complexes in aqueous solution. The determination of the energy of the singlet state and triplet states of the ligand, as well as of the emitting levels of the Ln(III) ions in solution showed that their relative values are favorable for a good intramolecular energy transfer. The quantum yields of TbL3 and EuL3, which amount to 2.6 % and 1.4 %, respectively, are lower than those of the complexes with L1, denoting that the presence of the acid function increases losses in the energy transfer. However, these values remain sizeable enough for potential biomedical applications. The study of the intermolecular energy transfer from EuL1, EuL3 and TbL3 to the acceptor Cy5 has proved promising, and the resulting yields were 90 % for EuL1 and 80 % for the complexes with L3.

EPFL2004

Complexes luminescents de lanthanides avec des dérivés du cyclène comme briques pour l'ingénierie de sondes analytiques biomédicales

EPFL2004