Study-unit FEMTOCHEMISTRY

Course name Chemical sciences
Study-unit Code GP000986
Curriculum Comune a tutti i curricula
Lecturer Benedetta Carlotti
Lecturers
  • Benedetta Carlotti
Hours
  • 42 ore - Benedetta Carlotti
CFU 6
Course Regulation Coorte 2023
Supplied 2024/25
Supplied other course regulation
Learning activities Affine/integrativa
Area Attività formative affini o integrative
Sector CHIM/02
Type of study-unit Opzionale (Optional)
Type of learning activities Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction Italian
Contents Basic principles of Non-Linear Optics and Photophysics. Description of the main femtosecond resolved spectroscopic techniques both in absorption and in emission. Study of ultrafast processes of excited state deactivation (charge, energy, proton transfers and photochemical reactions) in organic compounds of different kind (Femtochemistry) and in biological macromolecules (Femtobiology).
Reference texts A. Douhal, J. Santamaria, FEMTOCHEMISTRY AND FEMTOBIOLOGY, 2001, World Scientific.
F. C. De Schryver, S. De Feyter, G. Schweitzer, FEMTOCHEMISTRY, 2001, Wiley.
M. A. El Sayed, I. Tanaka, Y. Molin, ULTRAFAST PROCESSES IN CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY, Blackwell Science.
Educational objectives The student will become familiar with the most important concepts of Femtochemistry and will acquire knowledge about the advanced spectroscopic techniques used for the study of ultrafast processes.
Prerequisites In order to understand the topics covered in the course, basic knowledge of Molecular Spectroscopy and Chemical Kinetics are required. These issues will be addressed in some lessons that will be held at the beginning of the course of Femtochemistry.
Teaching methods Lectures with slide projections. Some lessons will be dedicated to the deepening of the addressed issues, some others to the visit of the ultrafast spectroscopy laboratory of our department.
Other information Tutoring activity is planned during the course and for the students who request it to assist them in the preparation of the exam.
Learning verification modality The exam consists in an oral test. The oral examination is a discussion lasting about 30 minutes aimed at ascertaining the level of knowledge and understanding reached by the student on the topics listed in the program. The oral exam will also serve to verify the communication skills of the student and ability in autonomous organization of the exposition.
Extended program Concepts of optics. Light and its propagation in vacuum and in a dielectric medium. Second order polarisation: second-harmonic generation; sum- and difference- frequency generation. Third order polarisation: white light generation and two-photon absorption. Light pulses: dispersion.

Concepts of photophysics and photochemistry. Absorption of light and deactivation of electronic excited states: rates of the processes. Solvation. Polarisation and molecular orientation. Excitation energy transfer. Electron transfer.

Ultrafast spectroscopic techniques. Ultraviolet-visible transient absorption. Fluorescence up-conversion: examples of broadband and high temporal resolution experimental set-ups. Infrared transient absorption. Ultrafast spectroscopies in the x-ray and extreme ultraviolet spectral ranges.

Femtochemistry. Photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in push-pull systems: excited state dynamics; effect of solvent polarity and viscosity. Bimolecular photoinduced electron transfer (BPET): electronic coupling and solvation; examples in organic photovoltaics. Excitation energy transfer in multichromophoric systems. Excited state intra/intermolecular proton transfer (ESIPT): photoacids and photobases.

Femtobiology. Ultrafast spectroscopy to investigate DNA and protein dynamics.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile