Stefan Lijewski

Structure and dynamics of S3− radicals in ultramarine-type pigment based on zeolite A: Electron spin resonance and electron spin echo studies

X-band electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of S(3)(-) radicals in ultramarine analog (pigment) prepared from zeolite A and maintaining the original structure of parent zeolite were recorded in the temperature range of 4.2-380 K. Electron spin echo experiments (echo detected ESR, electron spin-lattice relaxation, and spin echo dephasing) were performed in the temperature range of 4.2-50 K. The rigid lattice g factors are g(x) = 2.0016, g(y) = 2.0505, and g(z) = 2.0355, and they are gradually averaged with temperature to the final collapse into a single line with g = 2.028 above 300 K. This is due to reorientations of S(3)(-) molecule between 12 possible orientations in the sodalite cage through the energy barrier of 2.4 kJ/mol. The low-lying orbital states of the open form of S(3)(-) molecule having C(2v) symmetry are considered and molecular orbital (MO) theory of the g factors is presented. The orbital mixing coefficients were calculated from experimental g factors and available theoretical orbital splitting. They indicate that the unpaired electron spin density in the ground state is localized mainly (about 50%) on the central sulfur atom of S(3)(-) anion radical, whereas in the excited electronic state the density is localized mainly on the lateral sulfur atoms (90%). A strong broadening of the ESR lines in directions around the twofold symmetry axis of the radical S(3)(-) molecule (z-axis) is discovered below 10 K. It is due to a distribution of the S-S-S bond angle value influencing mainly the energy of the (2)B(2)-symmetry MO. This effect is smeared out by molecular dynamics at higher temperatures. A distribution of the g factors is confirmed by the recovery of the spin system magnetization during spin-lattice relaxation measurements, which is described by a stretched exponential function. Both the spin-lattice relaxation and electron spin echo dephasing are governed by localized phonon mode of energy of about 40 cm(-1). Thus, the anion-radical S(3)(-) molecules are weakly bonded to the zeolite framework, and they do not participate in the phonon motion of the host lattice because of their own local dynamics.

EPR and ESE of CuS4 complex in Cu(dmit)2: g-Factor and hyperfine splitting correlation in tetrahedral Cu–sulfur complexes

Pseudotetrahedral CuS4 complexes of Cu(dmit)2 compound in DMF solution were studied by EPR, UV-Vis and electron spin echo methods. After rapid freezing at 77 K a good glassy state is formed and the CuS4 complex has a D(2d) symmetry of a compressed tetrahedron with xy ground state and spin-Hamiltonian parameters g||=2.089, g⊥=2.026, A||=146×10(-4) cm(-1) and A⊥=30×10(-4) cm(-1). The complex is not deformed in the glassy state and is very rigid as indicated by the echo detected spectrum and by electron spin relaxation which is governed by reorientations of methyl groups of surrounding DMF molecules as shown by electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectrum. The g|| and A|| of Cu(dmit)2 and other CuS4 complexes collected in Peisach-Blumberg correlation diagram were analyzed using extended Molecular Orbital theory. We explain why the correlation line for copper-sulfur complexes has larger slope compared to the CuO4 and CuN4 tetrahedra. Along the correlation line the delocalization of unpaired electron density onto ligand is constant and varies from β=0.78-0.83 for g|| in the range 2.06-2.10 of correlation diagram. The slope of the line is determined by the product of MO-coefficients αc1, where α is a parameter characterizing delocalization of unpaired electron in x(2)-y(2) and c1<1 is a mixing parameter decreasing when 4p contribution grows. We found, unexpectedly, that αc1≈0.7 for all CuS4 complexes suggesting a correlation between degree of tetrahedral deformation and MO-parameters. MO-coefficients for Cu(dmit)2 are α=0.753, β=0.752 and c1=0.930 confirming a strong delocalization of unpaired electron in xy and x(2)-y(2) orbitals.

Dynamics of CO2? radiation defects in natural calcite studied by ESR, electron spin echo and electron spin relaxation

ESR spectra were recorded in the X-band (9.6 GHz) and in the W-band (94 GHz) and electron spin relaxation was measured by electron spin echo (ESE) in the temperature range 4.2–300 K for radicals in natural calcite samples obtained from a cave stalactite and a dripstone layer. Four types of carbonate radical spectra and two sulfate radical spectra were identified and high accuracy g-factors were derived. Time and temperature behaviour of the spectra show that the dominating CO2− radicals are rigidly bonded or undergo free reorientations, whereas CO3−, SO2− and SO3− only undergo free reorientations. Below 200 K the free reorientations of CO2− are suppressed and a hindered rotation around single local axis appears. The ESE detected spectrum proves that the lines of free rotating radicals are homogeneously broadened, thus they cannot participate in electron spin echo formation. Spin–lattice relaxation data show that CO2− radicals are decoupled from lattice phonons and relax via local mode tunnelling motion between inequivalent oxygen positions of CO2− molecules. The tunnelling appears in two excited vibrational states of energy 71 and 138 cm−1. Librational motions of CO2− molecules were detected by electron spin echo decay (phase relaxation) with energy 153 cm−1. Two kinds of impurity hydrogen atoms were distinguished from ESEEM: in-water inclusions and water coordinated to the calcium ions.

Molecular structure and dynamics of off-center Cu2+ ions and strongly coupled Cu2+–Cu2+ pairs in BaF2 crystals: Electron paramagnetic resonance and electron spin relaxation studies

X-band and Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of Cu(2+) in BaF(2) crystal were recorded in the temperature range of 4.2-200 K. Spin-Hamiltonian parameters of single Cu(2+) complexes and of Cu(2+)-Cu(2+) pairs were derived and discussed. A special attention was paid to the dimeric species. Their molecular ground state configuration was found as having antiferromagnetic intradimer coupling with the singlet-triplet splitting J=-35 cm(-1). The zero-field splitting being D=0.0365 cm(-1) at 4.2 K increases with temperature as an effect of thermal population of excited dimer configurations. Electron spin echo (ESE) method was used for measurements of electron spin lattice and phase relaxation. The spin-lattice relaxation data show that except for coupling to the host lattice phonons the Cu(2+) ions are involved in local mode motions with energy of 82 cm(-1). Phase relaxation (ESE dephasing) of single Cu(2+) ions is due to spin diffusion at low temperatures. This relaxation is hampered for temperatures higher than 30 K due to the triplet state population of neighboring Cu(2+)-Cu(2+) dimers, which disturb dipolar coupling between Cu(2+) ions. For higher temperatures the relaxation is dominated by Raman T(1) processes. Fourier transform ESE spectrum displays dipolar Cu-F splitting which allowed determination of the off-center shift of Cu(2+) as delta(s)=0.132 nm. The dynamical effects observed in EPR spectra and in electron spin relaxation both for single Cu(2+) ions and Cu(2+)-Cu(2+) pairs are discussed as due to jumps between six off-center positions in the crystal unit cell and jumps between various dimer configurations.

Electron spin relaxation of exchange coupled pairs of transition metal ions in solids. Ti2+–Ti2+ pairs and single Ti2+ ions in SrF2 crystals

EPR (X- and Q-band) and electron spin relaxation measured by electron spin echo method (X-band) were studied for Ti(2+)(S=1) and Ti(2+)-Ti(2+) pairs in SrF(2) crystal at room temperature and in the temperature range 4.2-115 K. EPR spectrum consists of a strong line from Ti(2+) and quartets 2:3:3:2 from titanium pairs (S=2). Spin-Hamiltonian parameters of the pairs are g( parallel)=1.883, g( perpendicular)=1.975 and D=0.036 cm(-1). Temperature behavior of the dimer spectrum indicates ferromagnetic coupling between Ti(2+). Spin-lattice relaxation of individuals Ti(2+) is dominated by the ordinary two-phonon Raman process involving the whole phonon spectrum up to the Debye temperature Theta(D)=380 K with spin-phonon coupling parameter equal to 215 cm(-1). Important contribution to the relaxation arises from local mode vibrations of energy 133 cm(-1). The pair relaxation is faster due to the exchange coupling modulation mechanism with the relaxation rate characteristic for ferromagnetic ground state of the pairs 1/T(1) is proportional to [exp(2J/kT)-1](-1) which allowed to estimate the exchange coupling J=36 cm(-1). The theories of electron-lattice relaxation governed by exchange interaction are outlined for extended spin systems, for clusters and for individual dimers. Electron spin echo decay is strongly modulated by coupling with surrounding (19)F nuclei. FT-spectrum of the modulations shows a dipolar splitting of the fluorine lines, which allows the evaluation of the off-center shift of Ti(2+) in pair as 0.132 nm. The electron spin echo dephasing is dominated by an instantaneous diffusion at low temperatures and by the spin-lattice relaxation processes above 18K.

EPR and potentiometric studies of copper(II) binding to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in water solution.

Coordination of Cu(II) by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) molecule has been studied in water solutions of various pH by potentiometry and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron spin echo (ESE) spectroscopy. Potentiometric results indicate Cu(II) coordination by protonated NAD(+) at low pH and by deprotonated NAD(+) at high pH. At medium pH value (around pH=7) NAD(+) is not able to coordinate Cu(II) ions effectively and mainly the Cu(H(2)O)(6) complexes exist in the studied solution. This has been confirmed by EPR results. Electronic structure of Cu(II)-NAD complex and coordination sites is determined from EPR and ESE measurements in frozen solutions (at 77K and 6K). EPR spectra exclude coordination with nitrogen atoms. Detailed analysis of EPR parameters (g(||)=2.420, g(perpendicular)==2.080, A(||)=-131×10(-4)cm(-1) and A(perpendicular)=8×10(-4)cm(-1)) performed in terms of molecular orbital (MO) theory shows that Cu(II)NAD complex has elongated axial octahedral symmetry with a relatively strong delocalization of unpaired electron density on in-plane and axial ligands. The distortion of octahedron is analyzed using A(||) vs. g(||) diagram for various CuO(x) complexes. Electron spin echo decay modulation excludes the coordination by oxygen atoms of phosphate groups. We postulate a coordination of Cu(II) by two hydroxyl oxygen atoms of two ribose moieties of the NAD molecules and four solvated water molecules both at low and high pH values with larger elongation of the octahedron at higher pH.

Suppression of Raman electron spin relaxation of radicals in crystals. Comparison of Cu2+ and free radical relaxation in triglycine sulfate and Tutton salt single crystals

Electron spin-lattice relaxation was measured by the electron spin echo method in a broad temperature range above 4.2 K for Cu(2+) ions and free radicals produced by ionizing radiation in triglycine sulfate (TGS) and Tutton salt (NH4)(2)Zn(SO4)2 ⋅ 6H2O crystals. Localization of the paramagnetic centres in the crystal unit cells was determined from continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance spectra. Various spin relaxation processes and mechanisms are outlined. Cu(2+) ions relax fast via two-phonon Raman processes in both crystals involving the whole phonon spectrum of the host lattice. This relaxation is slightly slower for TGS where Cu(2+) ions are in the interstitial position. The ordinary Raman processes do not contribute to the radical relaxation which relaxes via the local phonon mode. The local mode lies within the acoustic phonon band for radicals in TGS but within the optical phonon range in (NH4)(2)Zn(SO4)2 ⋅ 6H2O. In the latter the cross-relaxation was considered. A lack of phonons around the radical molecules suggested a local crystal amorphisation produced by x- or γ-rays.

Raman electron spin–lattice relaxation with the Debye-type and with real phonon spectra in crystals

Electron spin-lattice relaxation temperature dependence was measured for Ti(2+) (S=1) and for Cu(2+) (S=1/2) ions in SrF(2) single crystal by electron spin echo method in temperature range 4-109K. The spin relaxation was governed by the two-phonon Raman processes. The relaxation theory is outlined and presented in a form suitable for applying with real phonon spectra. The experimental relaxation results were described using Debye-type phonon spectrum and the real phonon spectrum of SrF(2) crystal. The Debye approximation does not fit well the results for SrF(2) both at low and at high temperature. The relaxation rate is faster than that predicted by Debye-type phonon spectrum at low temperatures where excess of lattice vibrations over the Debye model exists but is slower at higher temperatures (above 50K) where density of phonon states continuously decreases when approaching to the maximal acoustic phonon frequency. The expected deviation from Debye approximation was analyzed also for Cu(2+) in NaCl and MgSiO(3) crystals for which phonon spectra are available. The fitting with the real phonon spectrum allowed us to calculate spin-phonon coupling parameter as 267 cm(-1) for Ti(2+) and 1285 cm(-1) for Cu(2+) in SrF(2).

Phonon spectrum, electron spin–lattice relaxation and spin–phonon coupling of Cu2+ ions in BaF2 crystal

Electron spin-lattice relaxation rate is determined by electron spin echo method in temperature range 4-60K. The Raman relaxation processes dominate and its theory is outlined in a form suitable for calculations of relaxation rate using real phonon spectrum. A few approximations have been considered: when phonon spectrum and Debye temperature are not available; when Debye temperature is available but phonon spectrum is not; and when spin-phonon coupling is known. All these approximations use the Debye model of phonons and give a non-satisfactory description the temperature dependence of the relaxation rate. A perfect description of experimental results is obtained when real phonon spectrum is considered. The value of the spin-phonon coupling parameter was determined as G=〈a|V|b〉=1362cm(-1). This value is discussed by a comparison with G-values published for various ions and crystals.

Electron spin echo and spin relaxation of low-symmetry Mn2+-complexes in ammonium oxalate monohydrate single crystal

Pulse EPR experiments were performed on low concentration Mn(2+) ions in ammonium oxalate monohydrate single crystals at X-band, in the temperature range 4.2-60K at crystal orientation close to the D-tensor z-axis. Hyperfine lines of the resolved spin transitions were selectively excited by short nanosecond pulses. Electron spin echo signal was not observed for the low spin transition (+5/2↔+3/2) suggesting a magnetic field threshold for the echo excitation. Echo appears for higher spin transitions with amplitude, which grows with magnetic field. Opposite behavior displays amplitude of echo decay modulations, which is maximal at low field and negligible for high field spin transitions. Electron spin-lattice relaxation was measured by the pulse saturation method. After the critical analysis of possible relaxation processes it was concluded that the relaxation is governed by Raman T(7)-process. The relaxation is the same for all spin transitions except the lowest temperatures (below 20K) where the high field transitions (-3/2↔-1/2) and (-5/2↔-3/2) have a slower relaxation rate. Electron spin echo dephasing is produced by electron spectral diffusion mainly, with a small contribution from instantaneous diffusion for all spin transitions. For the highest field transition (-5/2↔-3/2) an additional contribution from nuclear spectral diffusion appears with resonance type enhancement at low temperatures.