Christopher Elles
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - ChemistryEducation
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
Barclay, M. S., Quincy, T. J., Williams-Young, D. B., Caricato, M. & Elles, C. G. (2017). Accurate Assignments of Excited-State Resonance Raman Spectra: A Benchmark Study Combining Experiment and Theory. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 121, 7937. DOI:10.1021/acs.jpca.7b09467
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.
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
