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Angelina Jocic

Publications and source records attributed to Angelina Jocic.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Sulfur-rich Spirofluorene-Bridged N Heterotriangulene Redox-Active Polymers

Sulfur-rich spirofluorene-bridged N-heterotriangulene (FTN) polymers featuring covalently linked oligosulfide units and a terthiophene-based analogue were synthesized via nucleophilic aromatic substitution and Stille cross-coupling polymerization. The resulting materials are amorphous, insoluble solids with high thermal stability and sulfur contents up to 25 wt%. Structural and compositional analyses by combustion analysis, ToF-SIMS, FT-IR, XPS, and solid-state NMR confirm the efficient incorporation of short oligosulfide to disulfide linkages and well-defined terthiophene units in the respective polymers. Electrochemical characterization in lithium half-cells reveals a reversible, high-voltage oxidation of the FTN unit at 3.8-4.0 V (vs. Li/Li+), accompanied by low-voltage sulfur- or terthiophene-based redox processes between 1.5-2.5 V (vs. Li/Li+). Sulfur incorporation markedly increases the theoretical and initial discharge capacities (up to 129 mA h g-1), while the sulfide conversion processes exhibit rapid fading and poor reversibility due to sulfide dissolution. In contrast, the terthiophene-linked polymer shows only transient low-voltage activity while maintaining high Coulombic efficiencies (ca. 99.7%) governed by the persistent FTN backbone redox event. Our results highlight how different redox-active linkers influence the electrochemical behavior of FTN-based polymers and provide insights into the design of functional organic cathode materials featuring multi-redox processes.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Zero-energy band observation in an interfacial chalcogen-organic network

Structurally-defined molecule-based lattices such as covalent organic or metal-organic networks on substrates, have emerged as highly tunable, modular platforms for two-dimensional band structure engineering. The ability to grow molecule-based lattices on diverse platforms, such as metal dichalcogenides, would further enable band structure tuning and alignment to the Fermi level, which is crucial for the exploration and design of quantum matter. In this work, we study the emergence of a zero-energy band in a triarylamine-based network on semiconducting 1T-TiSe2 at low temperatures, by means of scanning probe microscopy and photoemission spectroscopy, together with density-functional theory. Hybridization between the position-selective nitrogens and selenium p-states results in CN-Se interfacial coordination motifs, leading to a hybrid molecule-semiconductor band at the Fermi level. Our findings introduce chalcogen-organic networks and showcase an approach for the engineering of organic-inorganic quantum matter.

physics.chem-ph

Photochemistry upon charge separation in triphenylamine derivatives from fs to $\mathrmμ$s

Quantum chemical methods and time-resolved laser spectroscopy are employed to elucidate ultrafast charge separation processes in triphenylamine (TPA) derivatives upon photoexcitation. When changing the ambient solvent from generic ones to those capable of accepting electrons, such as chloroform, a vastly extended and multifaceted photochemistry is observed. Following the initial excitation, two concurrent charge transfer processes are identified. Firstly, when the TPA derivative and solvent molecules are correctly positioned, an electron transfer to the solvent molecule with immediate charge separation takes place. Consequently, this process gives rise to the formation of the corresponding radical cation of the TPA derivative. This highly reactive species can subsequently combine with other TPA derivative molecules to yield dimeric species. Secondly, when the molecular positioning upon photoexcitation is not optimal, relaxation back to the $\mathrm{S_1}$ state occurs. From this state, an electron transfer process leads to the formation of a charge transfer complex. In this complex, the negatively charged solvent molecule remains closely associated with the positively charged TPA derivative. Within 30 picoseconds, the charges within this complex recombine, yielding a triplet state. This transition to the triplet state is driven by a lower reaction barrier for charge separation compared to the formation of the singlet state.

physics.chem-ph