Search results for "Density Functional Theory."

Short hydrogen bonds enhance nonaromatic protein-related fluorescence

2021

Significance Intrinsic fluorescence of nonaromatic amino acids is a puzzling phenomenon with an enormous potential in biophotonic applications. The physical origins of this effect, however, remain elusive. Herein, we demonstrate how specific hydrogen bond networks can modulate fluorescence. We highlight the key role played by short hydrogen bonds, present in the protein structure, on the ensuing fluorescence. We provide detailed experimental and molecular evidence to explain these unusual nonaromatic optical properties. Our findings should benefit the design of novel optically active biomaterials for applications in biosensing and imaging.

ZrO2 Acting as a Redox Catalyst

2016

Surface defects are discussed and reviewed with regards to the use of ZrO2 in applications involving interactions with CO, H2, CH4, CO2, water and hydrocarbons. Studies of catalytic partial oxidation of methane reveal that part of the surface lattice oxygen in terraces can be removed by methane at high temperatures (e.g. 900 °C). The reaction proceeds via a surface confined redox mechanism. The studies presented here also highlight that defects play a decisive role in the water–gas-shift reaction, since the reaction is likely carried out via OH groups present at defect sites, which are regenerated by dissociating water. Hydroxyl chemistry on ZrO2 is briefly reviewed related to the studies p…

Large-Cavity Coronoids with Different Inner and Outer Edge Structures

2020

Coronoids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with geometrically defined cavities, are promising model structures of porous graphene. Here, we report the on-surface synthesis of C168 and C140 coronoids, referred to as [6]- and [5]coronoid, respectively, using 5,9-dibromo-14-phenylbenzo[m]tetraphene as the precursor. These coronoids entail large cavities (>1 nm) with inner zigzag edges, distinct from their outer armchair edges. While [6]coronoid is planar, [5]coronoid is not. Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and noncontact atomic force microscopy unveil structural and electronic properties in accordance with those obtained from density functional theory calculation…

Geometric Structure and Torsional Potential of Biisothianaphthene. A Comparative DFT and ab Initio Study

1997

We present a study of the torsional potential of biisothianaphthene and compare it to that of bithiophene. The calculations are performed at the ab initio and semiempirical Hartree−Fock (HF), ab initio post-Hartree−Fock, and density functional theory (DFT) levels. Our study has two major aims:  (i) on the physico-chemical side, to asses the optimal conformation of biisothianaphthene and evaluate the rotational barriers toward coplanar structures and (ii) on the methodological side, to asses the usefulness of DFT approaches. In contrast to previous estimates, the torsional potential of biisothianaphthene is found to differ markedly from that of bithiophene. For biisothianaphthene, strongly r…

2017

The adsorption of molecular acceptors is a viable method for tuning the work function of metal electrodes. This, in turn, enables adjusting charge injection barriers between the electrode and organic semiconductors. Here, we demonstrate the potential of pyrene-tetraone (PyT) and its derivatives dibromopyrene-tetraone (Br-PyT) and dinitropyrene-tetraone (NO2-PyT) for modifying the electronic properties of Au(111) and Ag(111) surfaces. The systems are investigated by complementary theoretical and experimental approaches, including photoelectron spectroscopy, the X-ray standing wave technique, and density functional theory simulations. For some of the investigated interfaces the trends expecte…

Ab initio study of the electronic and atomic structure of the wolframite-type ZnWO4

2009

Abstract Ab initio quantum chemistry calculations of the structural and electronic properties of monoclinic wolframite-type ZnWO 4 crystal have been performed within the periodic linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method using six different Hamiltonians, based on density functional theory (DFT) and hybrid Hartree-Fock-DFT theory. The obtained results for optimized structural parameters, band gap and partial density of states are compared with available experimental data, and the best agreement is observed for hybrid Hamiltonians. The calculations show that zinc tungstate is a wide band gap material, with the direct gap about 4.6 eV, whose valence band has largely O 2p character, w…

A Comparative Analysis of the Electrophilicity of Organic Molecules between the Computed IPs and EAs and the HOMO and LUMO energies

2007

[EN] The electrophilicity index, omega, of a series of substituted ethylenes used in some relevant organic reactions has been evaluated from the ionization potential JP) and the electron affinity (EA) computed by vertical ionization at the B3LYP/aug-cc-PVTZ level. The corresponding electrophilicity values are well correlated with those obtained from the HOMO and LUMO energies of the neutral molecules. The good linear correlation found between omega(I,A) and omega(H,L)(LBS), and between omega(H,L)(LBS) and omega(H,L)(SBS) allows to confirm the use of the easily available B3LYP/6-31G(*) HOMO and LUMO energies to obtain reasonable values of the global electrophilicity index of organic molecule…

A hollow tetrahedral cage of hexadecagold dianion provides a robust backbone for a tuneable sub-nanometer oxidation and reduction agent via endohedra…

2007

We show, via density functional theory calculations, that dianionic Au16(2-) cluster has a stable, hollow, Td symmetric cage structure, stabilized by 18 delocalized valence electrons. The cage maintains its robust geometry, with a minor Jahn-Teller deformation, over several charge states (q = -1,0,+1), forming spin doublet, triplet and quadruplet states according to the Hund's rules. Endohedral doping of the Au16 cage by Al or Si yields a geometrically robust, tuneable oxidation and reduction agent. Si@Au16 is a magic species with 20 delocalized electrons. We calculate a significant binding energy for the anionic Si@Au16/O2- complex and show that the adsorbed O2 is activated to a superoxo-s…

Capillary Hysteresis in Nanopores: Theoretical and Experimental Studies of Nitrogen Adsorption on MCM-41

1995

Capillary hysteresis in cylindrical nanopores has been studied using MCM-41 as the prime example of a mesoporous material. These materials, due to their regular pore structure, can be considered to be candidates for reference adsorbents for standardizing adsorption measurements and methods for characterization of porous solids. They provide a unique opportunity for verification of theoretical models employed for predicting phase equilibrium in confined geometry. Three samples with monodisperse pore channels have been synthesized and examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Nitrogen adsorption isotherms were modeled using nonlocal density functional theory (NLDFT) in a wide range of pore size…

9-Methyl-3-phenyldiazenyl-9H-carbazole: X-ray and DFT-calculated structures

2006

The title compound, C19H15N3, was prepared by condensation of 3-nitroso­carbazole and aniline with subsequent methyl­ation. The structure is built up of stacks of almost planar mol­ecules. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations predict a completely planar conformation, different from that observed in the crystal lattice. HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) indices, calculated for three aromatic rings, demonstrate the small influence of the azo substituent on π electrons in the carbazole system.