Theory of chemical bonds in metalloenzymes XXII: a concerted bond-switching mechanism for the oxygen–oxygen bond formation coupled with one electron transfer for water oxidation in the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II

ABSTRACT

QM(UB3LYP)/MM(AMBER) calculations were performed for the locations of the transition structure (TS) of the oxygen–oxygen (O–O) bond formation in the S₄ state of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII). The natural orbital (NO) analysis of the broken-symmetry (BS) solutions was also performed to elucidate the nature of the chemical bonds at TS on the basis of several chemical indices defined by the occupation numbers of NO. The computational results revealed a concerted bond switching (CBS) mechanism for the oxygen–oxygen bond formation coupled with the one-electron transfer (OET) for water oxidation in OEC of PSII. The orbital interaction between the σ-HOMO of the Mn(IV)₄–O₍₅₎ bond and the π*-LUMO of the Mn(V)₁=O₍₆₎ bond plays an important role for the concerted O–O bond formation for water oxidation in the CaMn₄O₆ cluster of OEC of PSII. One electron transfer (OET) from the π-HOMO of the Mn(V)₁=O₍₆₎ bond to the σ*-LUMO of the Mn(IV)₄–O₍₅₎ bond occurs for the formation of electron transfer diradical, where the generated anion radical [Mn(IV)₄–O₍₅₎]^-? part is relaxed to the ?Mn(III)₄?…?O₍₅₎^- structure and the cation radical [O₍₆₎=Mn(V)₁]⁺ ? part is relaxed to the ⁺O₍₆₎–Mn(IV)₁? structure because of the charge-spin separation for the electron-and hole-doped Mn–oxo bonds. Therefore, the local spins are responsible for the one-electron reductions of Mn(IV)₄->Mn(III)₄ and Mn(V)₁->Mn(IV)₁. On the other hand, the O₍₅₎^- and O₍₆₎⁺ sites generated undergo the O–O bond formation in the CaMn₄O₆ cluster. The Ca(II) ion in the cubane- skeleton of the CaMn₄O₆ cluster assists the above orbital interactions by the lowering of the orbital energy levels of π*-LUMO of Mn(V)₁=O₍₆₎ and σ*-LUMO of Mn(IV)₄–O₍₅₎, indicating an important role of its Lewis acidity. Present CBS mechanism for the O–O bond formation coupled with one electron reductions of the high-valent Mn ions is different from the conventional radical coupling (RC) and acid-base (AB) mechanisms for water oxidation in artificial and native photosynthesis systems. The proton-coupled electron transfer (PC-OET) mechanism for the O–O bond formation is also touched in relation to the CBS-OET mechanism.     

棒状LiZnPO4的低温合成与表征

LiZnPO₄的性能与其形貌密切相关,其合成常用的固相法和水热法均无控制其微观形貌的优势。 本文采用改进的沉淀法成功合成了具有棒状结构的LiZnPO₄。 利用热重-差热分析仪(TG-DSC)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)以及场发射扫描电子显微镜(FE-SEM)等技术研究了LiZnPO₄形成过程、晶相组成、微观结构和形貌。 同时探究了合成方法、煅烧温度、煅烧时间、酸的种类对LiZnPO₄形貌的影响。 结果表明,相比较于固相法,以醋酸为原料的改进沉淀法不仅可以有效降低LiZnPO₄的合成温度至500 ℃,而且很容易控制棒状LiZnPO₄的形成。 在600 ℃下煅烧2 h后可以获得分散性良好、横截面为矩形、直径约为2 μm的规则棒状LiZnPO₄。 此外,对比颗粒状LiZnPO₄和棒状LiZnPO₄的光响应能力,发现棒状LiZnPO₄的光响应能力明显增强。     

Positive ground state solutions for Schrödinger–Poisson system with critical nonlocal term in ℝ3

This paper is dedicated to studying the following Schrödinger–Poisson system $$\left\{\begin{array}{ll}-\mathrm{\Delta }u+V(x)u-K(x)\varphi |u{|}^{3}u=a(x)f(u),& x\in {ℝ}^3,\\ -\mathrm{\Delta }\varphi =K(x)|u{|}^5,& x\in {ℝ}^3.\end{array}\right.$$ Under some different assumptions on functions V(x), K(x), a(x) and f(u), by using the variational approach, we establish the existence of positive ground state solutions.     

限域量子态调控研究

电子、激子和声子等量子态在固体中的行为早已被人们所熟知. 然而，当体系的尺寸只有纳米量级的时候，已有的固体理论常常不能适用，需要新的低维物理理论的建立. 我们系统研究了低维体系限域量子态（包括电子、激子和声子）的行为对环境、应力、压力及光的响应和性质的调控. 较早认识到低维体系之显著的表面-体积比对量子态性质调控之有效性，系统地揭示了低维体系的一系列由表面和应力决定的新颖性质，证明了低维体系的表面和应力效应同量子限域效应同等重要. 本文概况了如下五个方面的结果：（1）一种使用应力效应调控电子能带结构的方法和（2）一种使用表面效应调控电子能带结构的方法（这两个方法都可将低维体系能带从间接能隙调控至直接能隙能带结构）；（3）一种低维体系表面掺杂方法，该方法将在低维体系掺杂中取代传统方法；（4）量子点表面诱导的光致异构现象；（5）基于表面自催化半导体低维结构的形成机理. 希望我们的研究工作有助于促进低维体系在光电子、纳电子、环境、能源、生物和医学等领域的应用.     

Evolution of single nanobubbles through multi-state dynamics

Nanobubble is a rising research field, which attracts more and more attentions due to its potential applications in medical science, catalysis, electrochemistry and etc. To better implement these applications, it is urgent to understand one of the most important mechanisms of nanobubbles, the evolution. However, few attentions have been paid in this aspect because of the methodology difficulties. Here we successfully used dark-field microscopy to study the evolution process of single nanobubbles generated from formic acid dehydrogenation on single Pd-Ag nanoplates. We found some of the nanobubbles in this system can exhibit three distinct states representing different sizes, which can transform among each other. These transitions are not direct but through some intermediate states. Further kinetic analysis reveals complicated mechanisms behind the evolution of single nanobubbles. The results acquired from this study can be applicable to nanobubble systems in general and provide insights into the understanding of mechanisms affecting the stability of nanobubbles and their applications.     

Neural network representations of quantum many-body states

Machine learning is currently the most active interdisciplinary field having numerous applications;additionally,machine-learning techniques are used to research quantum many-body problems.In this study,we first propose neural network quantum states(NNQSs)with general input observables and explore a few related properties,such as the tensor product and local unitary operation.Second,we determine the necessary and sufficient conditions for the representability of a general graph state using normalized NNQS.Finally,to quantify the approximation degree of a given pure state,we define the best approximation degree using normalized NNQSs.Furthermore,we observe that some 7V-qubit states can be represented by a normalized NNQS,such as separable pure states,Bell states and GHZ states.     

Ionic Conductivity of β‐Cyclodextrin–Polyethylene‐Oxide/Alkali‐Metal‐Salt Complex

Highly conductive, crystalline, polymer electrolytes, β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD)–polyethylene oxide (PEO)/LiAsF₆ and β‐CD–PEO/NaAsF₆, were prepared through supramolecular self‐assembly of PEO, β‐CD, and LiAsF₆/NaAsF₆. The assembled β‐CDs form nanochannels in which the PEO/X⁺ (X=Li, Na) complexes are confined. The nanochannels provide a pathway for directional motion of the alkali metal ions and, at the same time, separate the cations and the anions by size exclusion.     

Ba3V2S4O3: A Mott Insulating Frustrated Quasi‐One‐Dimensional S=1 Magnet

Through a solid‐state reaction, a practically phase pure powder of Ba₃V₂S₄O₃ was obtained. The crystal structure was confirmed by X‐ray single‐crystal and synchrotron X‐ray powder diffraction (P6₃, a=10.1620(2), c=5.93212(1) Å). X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, in conjunction with multiplet calculations, clearly describes the vanadium in charge‐disproportionated V^IIIS₆ and V^VSO₃ coordinations. The compound is shown to be a strongly correlated Mott insulator, which contradicts previous predictions. Magnetic and specific heat measurements suggest dominant antiferromagnetic spin interactions concomitant with a weak residual ferromagnetic component, and that intrinsic geometric frustration prevents long‐range order from evolving.     

Semiclassical transition state theory/master equation kinetics of HO + CO: Performance evaluation

Previously, master equation (ME) simulations using semiclassical transition state theory (SCTST) and high-accuracy extrapolated ab initio thermochemistry (HEAT) predicted rate constants in excellent agreement with published experimental data over a wide range of pressure and temperatures ≳250 K, but the agreement was not as good at lower temperatures. Possible reasons for this reduced performance are investigated by (a) critically evaluating the published experimental data and by investigating; (b) three distinct ME treatments of angular momentum, including one that is exact at the zero- and infinite-pressure limits; (c) a hindered-rotor model for HOCO that implicitly includes the cis- and trans-conformers; (d) possible empirical adjustments of the thermochemistry; (e) possible empirical adjustments to an imaginary frequency controlling tunneling; (f) including or neglecting the prereaction complex PRC1; and (g) its possible bimolecular reactions. Improvements include better approximations to factors in SCTST and using the Hill and van Vleck treatment of angular momentum coupling. Evaluation of literature data does not reveal any specific shortcomings, but the stated uncertainties may be underestimated. All ME treatments give excellent fits to experimental data at T ≥ 250 K, but the discrepancy at T < 250 K persists. Note that each ME model requires individual empirical energy transfer parameters. Thermochemical adjustments were unable to match the experimental H/D kinetic isotope effects. Adjusting an imaginary frequency can achieve good fits, but the adjustments are unacceptably large. Whether PRC1 and its possible bimolecular reactions are included had little effect. We conclude that none of the adjustments is an improvement over the unadjusted theory. Note that only one set of experimental data exists in the regime of the discrepancy with theory, and data for DO + CO are scanty.     

Platinum Oxide Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution: Influence of Platinum Valence State

Electrochemical hydrogen generation is a rising prospect for future renewable energy storage and conversion. Platinum remains a leading choice of catalyst, but because of its high cost and low natural abundance, it is critical to optimize its use. In the present study, platinum oxide nanoparticles of approximately 2 nm in diameter are deposited on carbon nitride (C3N4) nanosheets by thermal refluxing of C3N4 and PtCl₂ or PtCl₄ in water. These nanoparticles exhibit apparent electrocatalytic activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acid. Interestingly, the HER activity increases with increasing Pt⁴⁺ concentration in the nanoparticles, and the optimized catalyst even outperforms commercial Pt/C, exhibiting an overpotential of only −7.7 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of −26.3 mV dec⁻¹. The results from this study suggest that the future design of platinum oxide catalysts should strive to maximize the Pt⁴⁺ sites and minimize the formation of the less active Pt²⁺ species.