Comparison of Penta and Tetra-pyridyl Cobalt-based Catalysts for Water Reduction: H2 Production Cycle,Solvent Response and Reduction Free Energy

Understanding water reduction towards H₂ generation is crucial to overcome today's renewable energy obstacles. Previous studies have shown the superior H₂ production performances of Cobalt based penta-pyridyl (CoaPPy) and tetra-pyridyl (CoaTPy) complexes in solution. We investigate H₂ production cycles of CoaPPy and CoaTPy complexes immersed in water solution by means of Ab-initio Molecular Dynamics and Density Functional Theory. We monitor dynamic properties of the systems, solvent response and structural changes occurring in the catalysts, by simulating all intermediate steps of the H₂ production cycle. Reduction free energies and reorganization energies are calculated. Our results show that, following the first electron injection, H₂ production proceeds with the singlet spin state. Following the first electron insertion, we observe a significant rearrangement of the hydrogen bonding network in the first solvation shell. The cobalt center turns out to be more accessible for the surrounding water molecules in the case of CoaTPy at all the intermediate steps, which explains its higher catalytic performance over CoaPPy. Following the first reduction reaction, a larger gain in reduction free energy is estimated for CoaTPy with respect to CoaPPy, with a difference of 0.14 eV, in line with the experiments. For the second reduction, instead, CoaPPy shows more negative reduction potential, by 0.41 eV.     

利用可见-近红外-中红外超快光谱揭示离子交换法制备的少层MoS2中缺陷介导的载流子动力学

本文结合可见-近红外-中红外瞬态吸收光谱技术对离子交换法制备的少层MoS₂中缺陷介导的载流子动力学进行了详细的解析. 在近红外瞬态吸收光谱中观察到的宽带漂白信号表明少层MoS₂纳米片带隙中分布着大量的缺陷态. 实验结果明确揭示了载流子被缺陷态的快速捕获以及进一步的复合过程，证明带隙中的缺陷态对MoS₂光生载流子动力学过程起着至关重要的作用. 在中红外瞬态吸收光谱中观察到的正信号到负信号的转变进一步证实了在导带下小于0.24 eV处存在被载流子占据的缺陷态. 这些在少层MoS₂纳米片中存在的缺陷态可以作为有效的载流子捕获中心来辅助光生载流子在皮秒时间尺度内完成非辐射复合过程.     

Antiferromagnetic-vortex dynamics driven by spin-polarized current in small thin disks

We investigate vortex configuration confined in antiferromagnetic thin disks. By virtue of sublattice mismatch at the disk borders, we propose a model that takes such a magnetostatic-like cost into account. The model predicts that onion-like configuration interpolates between curly and divergent vortex. Concerning its dynamics, it is shown that the vortex acquires oscillatory dynamics with well-defined amplitude and frequency that may be controlled on demand by an alternating spin-polarized current. These findings may be useful for the emerging field of antiferromagnetic topological spintronics, once vortex dynamics may be controlled by purely electronic means.     

A study on the phase transformation behaviour of Cu-20wt.Sn alloy produced using powder metallurgy method: Experimental and molecular dynamics modelling

In this study, Cu-20wt.Sn alloy was produced by powder metallurgy (PM) method by using high purity element powders. The phases in the microstructure of the produced alloy were determined by XRD study. The phase transformation behaviour of the alloy was investigated by DSC and modelling method. Moreover, the Cu-20wt.Sn alloy system was modelled with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation based on modified Embedded Atom Method (MEAM). The radial distribution function (RDF) was calculated to determine the structural properties of system during the phase transformations. The experimental results showed that the transformation ($\alpha +\delta$) → ($\alpha +\gamma$) occur at temperature above 500°C. The simulation results showed that the phase transformation $\alpha +\delta \to \alpha +\gamma$ occurs at 550°C temperature. Our simulation results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.     

Computational study of the formation of aluminum-graphene nanocrystallites

The molecular dynamics method is used to study the formation of the Al/graphene nanocomposite in the structural grains of different size under the action of internal stresses. The behavior of graphene sheets inside an individual structural grain as well as in the process of two Al grains containing graphene are joined is investigated. The motion of graphene films, starting from the middle of the aluminum matrix, ends with their location at the crystallite boundaries. Graphene moves in the Al matrix along closely packed planes. In this case, graphene sheets acquire curvature. An intergrowth of graphene sheets is also observed. A contact between two Al-C nanocrystallites through a graphene interlayer is created. The self-diffusion coefficients of atoms and the partial potential energies increased with decreasing nanocrystallite size. The angular distribution of the nearest geometric neighbors and the distribution of distances to the nearest neighbors are determined using the construction of Voronoi polyhedra.     

三维格子Boltzmann方法研究上升双气泡的运动特性

应用格子Boltzmann三维模型，对双气泡在静水中的运动进行数值研究.采用八点差分和十八点差分格式分别求解一阶▽φ和二阶▽²φ可以有效避免气液密度比过大造成的数值不稳定问题.结果表明：当两个相同直径的气泡在上升时，位置靠上的气泡形状变化像单气泡上升一样，而位置靠下的气泡会受到前一个气泡尾迹的影响，并有很明显的形状变化.当两个气泡直径不同时，不管初始位置如何，大气泡总会对小气泡造成强烈的影响.     

Excited State Dynamics of Isolated 6- and 8-Hydroxyquinoline Molecules

The photoinduced dynamics of isolated n-hydroxyquinoline (nHQ) molecules (n=6,8) was investigated in femtosecond pump-probe experiments. A qualitative difference was found between 8HQ and 6HQ. After an initial rapid decay corresponding to the departure of the initial wavepacket out of the Franck-Condon region of the excitation, the 8HQ probe signal decays to zero in 0.37 ps whereas a much longer time constant of 10.4 ps is observed in 6HQ. This interrogates on the role played by the intramolecular H-bond N HO which is at play the 8HQ molecule. Ab-initio were performed at the MCSCF/aug-cc-pVDZ level on the 8HQ molecule to help the discussion. A complex energy landscape was found, which includes a conical intersection.     

Molecular insight for the role of key residues of calreticulin in its binding activities: A computational study

Calreticulin (CRT) is localized to and has functions in multiple cellular compartments, including the cell surface, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the extracellular matrix. Mutagenesis studies have identified several residues on a concave β-sheet surface of CRT critical for CRT binding to carbohydrate and other proteins/peptides. How the mutations of these key residues in CRT affect the conformation and dynamics of CRT, further influencing CRT binding to carbohydrates and other proteins to signal the important biological activities remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of three key point mutations (C105A, C137A and W319A) on CRT conformation and dynamics via atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Results show that these three key residues mutations induced the changes of CRT local backbone flexibility and secondary structure of CRT N-domain, which could further affect CRT’s binding activity. C137A mutation led to dramatic decrease of the overall size of CRT due to the P-domain fold back to the globular domain and formed new inter-domain contacts, which can cause blockage of CRT’s binding with other large substrates. Furthermore, for CRT concave β-strand surface patch containing lectin binding site, CRT C105A, C137A and W319A point mutation resulted in the changes in solvent accessible surface area, key residues’ side chain atom positions and dynamical correlated motions between residues. All these changes could directly affect CRT binding behavior. Results of this study provide molecular and structural insights into understanding the role of key residues of CRT in its binding behavior.