An Idea for Extracting Sub-E–K Diagrams of Different Materials from a Representative Composite E–K Diagram, and Extracting Information from Time-Resolved E–K–t Plots

Abstract

Chemical reactions can induce significant changes in the electronic structure of materials, leading to alterations in their electrical conductivity and magnetic properties. In this article, we explore the idea that a three-dimensional Energy–Wave Vector–Time (E–K–t) diagram – essentially a time-resolved band structure – can reveal valuable information about how a material’s electronic structure evolves during a reaction. By mapping the occupied electronic states in energy € vs. crystal momentum (k) over time (t), one can follow the electrons involved in bonding changes in real time. We discuss how such dynamic E–K–t analysis sheds light on the speed, intermediates, and extent of chemical reactions, and we introduce the concept of “reaction noise” to describe fluctuations in a material’s electronic and magnetic behavior caused by ongoing reactions. This approach provides a new perspective for understanding reaction mechanisms, with potential applications in improving material performance (e.g., conductivity and magnetism) and in developing sensors to detect reaction-induced changes. We support these ideas with recent findings in ultrafast spectroscopy and operando measurements from the literature. Finally, a comprehensive reference list of 8–10 relevant studies (from journals such as Nature, Science, RSC, IEEE, etc.) is provided to situate this work in the context of current scientific research.