Christopher Elles

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - Chemistry

Associate Professor

Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison

elles@ku.edu

Primary office:

785-864-1922

Malott Hall
Room B031

University of Kansas

1251 Wescoe Hall Drive

Lawrence, KS 66045

Bio
Academics
Publications
Awards/Honors

Elles Research Group web site

Education

Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison

B.S., Chemistry, Colorado State University

Research

The primary focus of our work is to better understand the reaction dynamics of molecules in solution. We use ultrafast spectroscopy to monitor chemical reactions on the time scale of atomic motion and look for new ways to probe the dynamics in order to learn more about the fundamental physical processes that govern chemistry.

For example, we are interested in the excited state dynamics of "molecular photoswitches" that will be used in the next generation of data storage. Reversible opening and closing of a 6-member ring at the heart of these photochromic (color-changing) molecules enables them to store information based on the different absorption and refraction properties of each state. From a fundamental standpoint, these color changing reactions are fascinating because they involve dynamics on several different potential energy surfaces. Non-adiabatic transitions, vibrational relaxation, and solvent-solute interactions all play a role as the system moves along the reaction coordinate. We examine each of these, and try to exploit what we learn to control the outcome of the reaction.

Research Interests

Condensed-phase chemical reaction dynamics
Excited-state dynamics of photochromic molecular switches, photo-triggers, and photoactive materials
Nanoplasmon-mediated photochemistry
Ultrafast laser spectroscopy

Selected Publications

de Wergifosse, M. Elles, C. G., & Krylov, A. I. (2017). Two-photon absorption spectroscopy of stilbene and phenanthrene: Excited-state analysis and comparison with ethylene and toluene. Journal of Chemical Physics, 146, 174102.

de Wergifosse, M. Houk, A. L., Krylov, A. I., & Elles, C. G. (2017). Two-photon absorption spectroscopy of trans-stilbene, cis-stilbene, and phenanthrene: Theory and experiment. Journal of Chemical Physics, 146, 144305.

Houk, A. L., Givens, R. S., & Elles, C. G. (2016). Two-Photon Activation of p-Hydroxyphenacyl Phototriggers: Toward Spatially Controlled Release of Diethyl Phosphate and ATP. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 120, 3178. DOI:10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b12150

Batignani, G. Pontecorvo, E. Ferrante, C. Aschi, M. Elles, C. G., & Scopigno, T. (2016). Visualizing excited-state dynamics of a diaryl thiophene: Femtosecond stimulated Raman scattering as a probe of conjugated molecules. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 7, 2981.

Houk, A. L., Zheldakov, I. L., Tommey, T. A., & Elles, C. G. (2015). Two-photon excitation of trans-stilbene: Spectroscopy and dynamics of electronically excited states above S1. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 119, 9335-44. DOI:10.1021/jp509959n

Ward, C. L., & Elles, C. G. (2014). Cycloreversion dynamics of a photochromic molecular switch via one-photon and sequential two-photon excitation. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 118, 10011.

Pontecorvo, E. Ferrante, C. Elles, C. G., & Scopigno, T. (2014). Structural rearrangement accompanying the ultrafast electrocyclization reaction of a photochromic molecular switch. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 118, 6915.

Sarkany, L. Wasylenko, J. M., Roy, S. Higgins, D. A., Elles, C. G., & Chikan, V. (2013). Investigation of fluorescence emission from CdSe nanorods in PMMA and P3HT/PMMA films. Journal of Physical Chemistry C , 117, 18818.

Pontecorvo, E. Ferrante, C. Elles, C. G., & Scopigno, T. (2013). Optimally shaped narrowband pulses for femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy in the range 330-750 nm. Optics Express, 21, 6866.

Ward, C. L., & Elles, C. G. (2012). Controlling the excited-state reaction dynamics of a photochromic molecular switch with sequential two-photon excitation. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 3, 2995.

Zheldakov, I. L., Wasylenko, J. M., & Elles, C. G. (2012). Excited-state dynamics and efficient triplet formation in phenylthiophene compounds. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 14, 6211.

» Show All Publications

All Publications

de Wergifosse, M. Elles, C. G., & Krylov, A. I. (2017). Two-photon absorption spectroscopy of stilbene and phenanthrene: Excited-state analysis and comparison with ethylene and toluene. Journal of Chemical Physics, 146, 174102.

de Wergifosse, M. Houk, A. L., Krylov, A. I., & Elles, C. G. (2017). Two-photon absorption spectroscopy of trans-stilbene, cis-stilbene, and phenanthrene: Theory and experiment. Journal of Chemical Physics, 146, 144305.

Houk, A. L., Givens, R. S., & Elles, C. G. (2016). Two-Photon Activation of p-Hydroxyphenacyl Phototriggers: Toward Spatially Controlled Release of Diethyl Phosphate and ATP. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 120, 3178. DOI:10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b12150

Batignani, G. Pontecorvo, E. Ferrante, C. Aschi, M. Elles, C. G., & Scopigno, T. (2016). Visualizing excited-state dynamics of a diaryl thiophene: Femtosecond stimulated Raman scattering as a probe of conjugated molecules. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 7, 2981.

Langdon, B. Garlick, J. Ren, X. Wilson, D. J., Summers, A. M., Zigo, S. Kling, M. F., Lei, S. Elles, C. G., Wells, E. Poliakoff, E. D., Carnes, K. D., Kumarappan, V. Ben-Itzhak, I. & Trallero-Herrero, C. A. (2015). A carrier-envelope-phase stabilized terawatt class laser at 1 kHz with a wavelength tunable option. Optics Express, 23(4), 4563-72. DOI:10.1364/OE.23.004563

Houk, A. L., Zheldakov, I. L., Tommey, T. A., & Elles, C. G. (2015). Two-photon excitation of trans-stilbene: Spectroscopy and dynamics of electronically excited states above S1. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 119, 9335-44. DOI:10.1021/jp509959n

Ward, C. L., & Elles, C. G. (2014). Cycloreversion dynamics of a photochromic molecular switch via one-photon and sequential two-photon excitation. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 118, 10011.

Pontecorvo, E. Ferrante, C. Elles, C. G., & Scopigno, T. (2014). Structural rearrangement accompanying the ultrafast electrocyclization reaction of a photochromic molecular switch. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 118, 6915.

Zheldakov, I. L., Grinevich, O. Mejiritski, A. Elles, C. G., & Neckers, D. C. (2014). Transient spectroscopy of 5,7-diiodo-3-butoxy-6-fluorone (DIBF). Photochemistry and Photobiology, 90, 335.

Sarkany, L. Wasylenko, J. M., Roy, S. Higgins, D. A., Elles, C. G., & Chikan, V. (2013). Investigation of fluorescence emission from CdSe nanorods in PMMA and P3HT/PMMA films. Journal of Physical Chemistry C , 117, 18818.

Pontecorvo, E. Ferrante, C. Elles, C. G., & Scopigno, T. (2013). Optimally shaped narrowband pulses for femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy in the range 330-750 nm. Optics Express, 21, 6866.

Ward, C. L., & Elles, C. G. (2012). Controlling the excited-state reaction dynamics of a photochromic molecular switch with sequential two-photon excitation. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 3, 2995.

Zheldakov, I. L., Wasylenko, J. M., & Elles, C. G. (2012). Excited-state dynamics and efficient triplet formation in phenylthiophene compounds. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 14, 6211.

Marsálek, O. Elles, C. G., Pieniazek, P. A., Pluhařová, E. VandeVondele, J. Bradforth, S. E., & Jungwirth, P. (2011). Chasing charge localization and chemical reactivity following photoionization in liquid water. Journal of Chemical Physics, 135, 224510.

Elles, C. G., Rivera, C. A., Zhang, Y. Pieniazek, P. A., & Bradforth, S. E. (2009). Electronic structure of liquid water from polarization-dependent two-photon absorption spectroscopy. Journal of Chemical Physics, 130, 084501.

Elles, C. G., Shkrob, I. A., Crowell, R. A., Arms, D. A., & Landahl, E. C. (2008). Transient x-ray absorption spectroscopy of hydrated halogen atom. Journal of Chemical Physics, 128, 061102.

Elles, C. G., Shkrob, I. A., Crowell, R. A., & Bradforth, S. E. (2007). Excited state dynamics of liquid water: Insight from the dissociation reaction following two-photon excitation. Journal of Chemical Physics, 126, 164503.

Elles, C. G., & Crim, F. F. (2006). Connecting chemical dynamics in gases and liquids. Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, 57, 273.

Elles, C. G., Jailaubekov, A. E., Crowell, R. A., & Bradforth, S. E. (2006). Excitation-energy dependence of the mechanism for two-photon ionization of liquid H2O and D2O from 8.3 to 12.4 eV. Journal of Chemical Physics, 125, 044515.

Korovyanko, O. J., Rey-de-Castro, R. Elles, C. G., Crowell, R. A., & Li, Y. (2006). Optimization of a femtosecond Ti:Sapphire amplifier using an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter and a genetic algorithm. Solid State Lasers XV: Technology and Devices, Proceedings of SPIE (the International Society for Optics and Photonics), 6100, 61000Q.

Oulianov, D. A., Korovyanko, O. J., Crowell, R. A., Gosztola, D. J., Shkrob, I. A., Rey-de-Castro, R. C., & Elles, C. G. (2006). Subpicosecond radiolysis by means of terawatt laser wakefield accelerator. Laser Beam Control and Applications, Proceedings of SPIE (the International Society for Optics and Photonics), 6101, 610126.

Sheps, L. Crowther, A. C., Elles, C. G., & Crim, F. F. (2005). Recombination dynamics and hydrogen abstraction reactions of chlorine radicals in solution. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 109, 4296.

Elles, C. G., Cox, M. J., Barnes, G. L., & Crim, F. F. (2004). Recombination and reaction dynamics following photodissociation of CH3OCl in solution. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 108, 10973.

Elles, C. G., Cox, M. J., & Crim, F. F. (2004). Vibrational relaxation of CH3I in the gas phase and in solution. Journal of Chemical Physics, 120, 6973.

Elles, C. G., Bingemann, D. Heckscher, M. M., & Crim, F. F. (2003). Vibrational relaxation of CH2I2 in solution: Excitation level dependence. Journal of Chemical Physics, 118, 5587.

Elles, C. G., & Levinger, N. E. (2000). Reverse micelles solubilizing DMSO and DMSO/water mixtures. Chemical Physics Letters, 317, 624.

» Show Selected Publications

Selected Awards & Honors

NSF CAREER Award
2012 - 2017

Finalist, Honor for an Outstanding Progressive Educator (H.O.P.E.) Award, University of Kansas
2016

J. Michael Young Academic Advisor Award, KU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
2016

Kansas NSF EPSCoR First Award
2011 - 2012

Visiting Professorship, University of Rome "La Sapienza"
2012

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