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Universität Potsdam

Ultrafast electron dynamics in Fe(CO)5 and Cr(CO)6

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In this thesis, the two prototype catalysts Fe(CO)₅ and Cr(CO)₆ are investigated with time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy at a high harmonic setup. In both of these metal carbonyls, a UV photon can induce the dissociation of one or more ligands of the complex. The mechanism of the dissociation has been debated over the last decades. The electronic dynamics of the first dissociation occur on the femtosecond timescale. For the experiment, an existing high harmonic setup was moved to a new location, was extended, and characterized. The modified setup can induce dynamics in gas phase samples with photon energies of 1.55eV, 3.10eV, and 4.65eV. The valence electronic structure of the samples can be probed with photon energies between 20eV and 40eV. The temporal resolution is 111fs to 262fs, depending on the combination of the two photon energies. The electronically excited intermediates of the two complexes, as well as of the reaction product Fe(CO)₄, could be observed with photoelectron spectroscopy in the gas phase for the first time. However, photoelectron spectroscopy gives access only to the final ionic states. Corresponding calculations to simulate these spectra are still in development. The peak energies and their evolution in time with respect to the initiation pump pulse have been determined, these peaks have been assigned based on literature data. The spectra of the two complexes show clear differences. The dynamics have been interpreted with the assumption that the motion of peaks in the spectra relates to the movement of the wave packet in the multidimensional energy landscape. The results largely confirm existing models for the reaction pathways. In both metal carbonyls, this pathway involves a direct excitation of the wave packet to a metal-to-ligand charge transfer state and the subsequent crossing to a dissociative ligand field state. The coupling of the electronic dynamics to the nuclear dynamics could explain the slower dissociation in Fe(CO)₅ as compared to Cr(CO)₆.

Degree

thesis:*
Level thesis:degree_level
thesis.doctoral
Grantor dc:publisher
Universität Potsdam
Year
2016

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Schröder, Henning
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Föhlisch, Alexander

Subjects

dc:subject × 20

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Keine öffentliche Lizenz: Unter Urheberrechtsschutz

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:kobv.de-opus4-uni-potsdam:9458

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Universität Potsdam - Diss
Base URL
publishup.uni-potsdam.de/opus4-ubp/oai
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Schröder, Henning. Ultrafast electron dynamics in Fe(CO)5 and Cr(CO)6. thesis.doctoral thesis, Universität Potsdam, 2016. https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/9458