Electronic excitations in molecular solids: bridging theory and experiment

Skelton, Jonathan M., Lora da Silva, E., Crespo-Otero, Rachel, Hatcher, Lauren E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1549-9727, Raithby, Paul R., Parker, Stephen C. and Walsh, Aron 2015. Electronic excitations in molecular solids: bridging theory and experiment. Faraday Discussions 177 10.1039/C4FD00168K

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Abstract

As the spatial and temporal resolution accessible to experiment and theory converge, computational chemistry is an increasingly powerful tool for modelling and interpreting spectroscopic data. However, the study of molecular processes, in particular those related to electronic excitations (e.g. photochemistry), frequently pushes quantum-chemical techniques to their limit. The disparity in the level of theory accessible to periodic and molecular calculations presents a significant challenge when modelling molecular crystals, since accurate calculations require a high level of theory to describe the molecular species, but must also take into account the influence of the crystalline environment on their properties. In this article, we briefly review the different classes of quantum-chemical techniques, and present an overview of methods that account for environmental influences with varying levels of approximation. Using a combination of solid-state and molecular calculations, we quantitatively evaluate the performance of implicit-solvent models for the [Ni(Et4dien)(η2-O,ON)(η1-NO2)] linkage-isomer system as a test case. We focus particularly on the accurate reproduction of the energetics of the isomerisation, and on predicting spectroscopic properties to compare with experimental results. This work illustrates how the synergy between periodic and molecular calculations can be exploited for the study of molecular crystals, and forms a basis for the investigation of more challenging phenomena, such as excited-state dynamics, and for further methodological developments.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Chemistry
Publisher:	Royal Society of Chemistry
ISSN:	1359-6640
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	18 March 2020
Date of Acceptance:	22 October 2014
Last Modified:	04 May 2023 08:22
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/130484

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