Magnetochimica AA 2011-2012 Marco Ruzzi Marina Brustolon

1. Magnetochimica AA 2011-2012 Marco Ruzzi Marina Brustolon 3. The exchange spin Hamiltonian

2. Spin Hamiltonians are Hamiltonians containing only spin operators. The energy values of quantum particles should be obtained as eigenvalues of an Hamiltonian containing spatial and spin operators. In some cases it is very convenient to integrate over all spatial variables, leaving only the spin operators multiplied by numerical parameters. By studying the magnetic properties of the system (e.g. by magnetic resonance methods) one can obtain these numerical parameters and relate them to the property of the system. For example, let us consider two electrons with repulsive coulombic interaction, in two different orbitals. We know that an energy contribution (exchange energy) depends on the relative orientations of the two spins (parallel or antiparallel). This is due to the Pauli principle, as two identical fermions (as two electrons) must be described by an antisymmetric function, the product of the spin and of the spatial functions must be antisymmetric by exchanging the two electrons. Therefore the spatial and spin functions are interdipendent as their product must be antisymmetric.

3. The energies of the two wavefunctions are different because the two electrons have a minor electrostatic repulsion in the triplet state thanks to the antisymmetric simmetry of the spatial function. spatial function spin function The symmetric spin function is a triplet The antisymmetric spin function is a singlet as we will show.

4. The energies Etriplet and Esinglet can be referred to the two triplet and singlet spin states A and S. We will show that by defining a parameter: we can build a spin Hamiltonian such that, acting on the spin states, it gives the energy difference between the two states due to their different spatial functions. This convenient spin Hamiltonian is: where J is called the exchange integral. This parameter measures therefore the extent of the electrostatic repulsion between the two electrons depending on the relative orientation of their spins.

5. Let obtain the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the spin exchange Hamiltonian starting from the functions: (uncoupled basis) We will show that the eigenfunctions of this hamiltonian are the singlet and triplet functions, and we will find that their energy gap obtained from the eigenvalues of the spin Hamiltonian is in fact 2J. • We will do the following: • Develop the spin Hamiltonian in its component operators; • Build the Hamiltonian matrix; • Diagonalize the Hamiltonian matrix finding eigenvalues; • Find the spin eigenfunction corresponding to each eigenvalue.

6. 1. How to develop the spin hamiltonian In the following slides we will use the symbol I for the angular momenta components. Let us express the spin components x and y as combinations of raising and lowering operators: I+ I- are the so called“raising” and “lowering” operators (operatori scaletta).

7. Therefore: Now, let us apply this hamiltonian to the spin functions for two electrons. We use the uncoupled basis:

8. In conclusion: Whereas  and  are eigenfunctions of -2JI1I2,  and  are not eigenfunctions of this spin hamiltonian. Therefore we must find now the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of -2JI1I2 on the basis  and  .

9. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2., 3. How to build and diagonalize the matrix of the Hamiltonian To find the eigenfunctions of a Hamiltonian on a given complete functions basis we can build the matrix on that basis, and then diagonalize it. In the present case  and  are eigenfunctions of the hamiltonian, but the other two functions are not. If a function of the basis is an eigenfunction of the Hamiltonian, all its out diagonal integrals are equal to zero. We say that the function is not “mixed” with other functions by the operator.

10. We obtain the Hamiltonian matrix elements: Therefore: We must find the two linear combinations of the functions  and  which diagonalize this block. To do this before we have to find the eigenvalues of the hamiltonian.

11. To diagonalize the 2x2 block we must find the energy eigenvalues by solving the secular determinant: Now we will find the linear combinations of  and  corresponding to each of these eigenvalues.

12. For For singlet triplet Singlet Triplet 4. How to find the spin eigenfunctions Then we can now solve the equations for the coefficients corresponding to the two eigenstates: By normalization we obtain:

13. In conclusion • The eigenfunctions of the spin exchange operator are the coupled functions for two spins ½:

14. E E 2J> 0 2J< 0 0 0 Singlet or Triplet? The energy of a system of two electrons, described by different spatial wavefunctions, and near enough to feel a substantial electrostatic inter-electronic repulsion, depends on the relative orientation of their spins. The spins can be parallel (triplet, three states) or antiparallel (a singlet). The energy gap is equal to 2J, where J is called exchange integral. The energy order of the spins state depends on the sign of J.

15. E E 2J> 0 2J< 0 0 0 When J>0 the ground state is a triplet When J<0 the ground state is a singlet The spin coupling for two interacting electrons is said to be: Antiferromagnetic Ferromagnetic

16. Warning! • Some authors use a spin exchange Hamiltonian with a J’=-2J • Sometimes the triplet-singlet energy separation is called 2K

17. When the exchange integral is relevant in determining the electronic properties of a pair of electron spins? 1. Two electrons in same molecule 2. Biradicals 3. Complexes of pairs of paramagnetic transition ions 4. Near paramagnetic centers S=1/2 in a solid

18. 1. Two electrons in same molecule Usually in molecules all the molecular orbitals are doubly occupied. Therefore in the ground state each pair of electrons is in singlet state, and the molecule is diamagnetic. Molecules in an excited state with the two electrons occupying two different orbitals can be in a singlet or in a triplet state. Usually for the states with the same spatial configuration of orbitals the triplet is at lower energy than the singlet, i.e. J>0. Photoexcitation takes a molecule from its ground singlet state to an excited singlet, but spin-orbit coupling can produce the intersystem-crossing with the two spins passing from a singlet to a photoexcited triplet state at lower energy.

19. Photoexcited triplet states Se gli stati di singoletto e di tripletto hanno dei livelli vibrazionali molto vicini, in presenza di perturbazioni dovute all’accoppiamento spin-orbita (più grande per atomi pesanti) uno degli spin si gira e si passa dallo stato di singoletto a quello di tripletto che è più basso in energia. Questo fenomeno si chiama “Intersystem Crossing” o ISC. Energy difference for antracene 2 eV Dallo stato di tripletto la molecola può subire una emissione spontanea di un fotone (fosforescenza) passando allo stato fondamentale. Diagramma di Jablonski

20. H P h e n y l c a r b e n e N P h e n y l n i t r e n e Triplet ground states In carbenes and nitrenes the two unpaired electrons are accommodated in a  orbital and in a  orbital respectively on a single C or N atom. These species can be obtained by photolysis of a suitable precursor in a glassy matrix or in a crystal, since in solution they would be non persistent. Energy difference 2J for phenylnitrene 0.35 eV

21. Radicali nitrossido Biradicali nitrossido Energy difference 2J 10-6-10-8 eV

22. The two Cu(II) ions (S=1/2), are coupled antiferromagnetically. J depends on the bridge ion. 0.1 eV Inorg. Chem., 2012, 51 (15), pp 7966–7968

23. A radical nitronyl nitroxide with its spin density distribution The pattern of exchange interactions between pairs of radicals at different positions The structure of the radical crystal Polyhedron 24 (2005) 2368–2376

24. E E 0 0 2J> 0 2J< 0 The triplet states are degenerate? The three triplet states, corresponding to Ms= +1, 0, -1 (as far as the spin exchange Hamiltonian H= -2J S1S2 is concerned), should have the same energy -1/2 J. BUT: The energies of the three states are different, and depend on the Ms quantum number, thanks to magnetic energy contributions: a. in presence of a magnetic field B, for the Zeeman interaction between the two spins magnetic moments and the field; b. for the dipolar interaction between the magnetic moments of the two electrons. As this interaction is always present, also without an external magnetic field, it is called Zero Field Splitting (ZFS). This will be treated in the following lectures.

25. Spin Hamiltonian for two interacting electron spins in a magnetic field Let us consider first the spin Hamiltonian given by the sum of the Zeeman terms and of the exchange term. In an magnetic field B0, is the following: Consider B0//z. Then: If g1g2 the eigenfunctionsof the Zeemanterm and of the exchange term are respectively those of the uncoupled and of the coupled basis. This means that neither of the two basis diagonalizes the Hamiltonian matrix, and the eigenfunctions of H will be a specific linear combination depending on the relative values of the difference in Zeeman energies and the exchange parameter J. This combinations will be found by diagonalizing the Hamiltonian matrix.

26. In conclusion • We have seen that an energy contribution due to electrostatic electron-electron repulsion can be represented by a spin hamiltonian, -2JS1S2 • The eigenfunctions of the exchange Hamiltonian are the triplet and singlet functions. • If J>0 the triplet lies lower in energy than the singlet; the absolute value of energy difference is 2J. • The value of J depends on the extent of electrostatic interaction between the two electrons; approximately it decreases linearly on increasing the distance rbetween the electrons. • J is “large” for electrons on the same molecule, asin photoexcited triplets for molecules with a ground singlet state, or in molecules with ground triplet states, as carbene and nitrene. In these cases all the magnetic interactions are smaller than the spin exchange term (the spin coupled basis is a good basis). • J is “small” for biradicals, which are usually two stable radicals linked together by a non-conjugated chain. The energy difference 2J can be of the same order as kT, and the populations of the triplet and singlet in this case depend on the temperature. The spin eigenfunctions depend on the relative values of the various terms of the spin Hamiltonian.