Solvent dependence of solvatochromic shifts and the first hyperpolarizability of para-nitroaniline: A nonmonotonic behavior

Solvent dependence of the electronic structure and nonlinear optical properties of the para-nitroaniline (pNA) molecule on the polarity of the solutions has been studied using the polarizable continuum model in combination with the hybrid density functional theory. With a supermolecular approach, specific hydrogen bonding effects have also been fully considered. Good agreement between theory and experiments are obtained for both solvatochromic shifts of the charge transfer state and the solvent-induced first hyperpolarizability of pNA.