X-ray fluorescence in some rare earth and high Z elements excited by 661.6 keV γ-rays

The K-shell X-ray fluorescence cross sections are determined experimentally for 10 elements such as Pb, Hg, Ir, W, Lu, Tm, Dy, Tb, Gd and Nd at excitation energy of 661.6 keV associated with γ-rays of ¹³⁷Cs radioisotope. The technique employed involves the measurement of total intensity of fluorescent K X-rays that follow the photoeffect absorption of a known flux of γ-rays using a well type Nal(Tl) detector. The obtained results are compared with the available theoretical values and other measured values.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of xLi(Ni0.8Co0.15Mg0.05)O2–(1−x)Li[Li1/3Mn2/3]O2 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) cathodes for Li rechargeable batteries

Using solution based processing route, we have successfully synthesized xLi(Ni_0.8Co_0.15Mg_0.05)O₂–(1?x)Li[Li_1/3Mn_2/3]O₂ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) cathode materials for lithium rechargeable batteries. The phase formation behavior of these cathode materials is characterized by X-ray diffraction measurements. The Galvanostatic charge–discharge characteristic of these cathodes is reported in various cut-off voltage limits. When these composite cathodes are charged to 4.8 V, electrochemical extraction of lithium takes place from active (Li[Ni_0.8Co_0.15Mg_0.05]O₂) as well as inactive (Li[Li_1/3Mn_2/3]O₂) components. Good cycleability of these cathodes is obtained when cycled in the cut-off voltage limits of 4.6–3.0 V. The cycleability of these cathodes are deteriorated when charged above 4.8 V and deep discharged up to 1.2 V followed by repeated cycling in these voltage limits. Based on the analyses of impedance spectra at various charge and discharge states, the probable reasons for such findings are discussed.     

Gold behaves as hydrogen: prediction on the existence of a new class of boron-containing radicals, AuBX (X = F,Cl,Br)

In this Communication we have reported the prediction of a new class of compounds, AuBX (with X = F,Cl,Br), using the results obtained from ab initio quantum-chemical calculations. We have compared their electronic structures, bonding, and stability with that of the recently discovered HBX radicals and demonstrated an excellent one-to-one quantitative correspondence between the structures, nature of bonding, and stability of AuBX radicals with the corresponding HBX radicals, which is of considerable significance. Comparison has also been made with the radicals containing other coinage metal atoms, viz., CuBX and AgBX. Structurally they are found to be quite similar to the HBX radicals. However, the stability in terms of some of the bond dissociation energy values differs considerably from the corresponding values in HBX or AuBX species. This feature is attributed to the unusually high relativistic effects in gold. The present results suggest that AuBX radicals are stable enough to be prepared experimentally in analogy with the experimentally observed HBX radicals. The gold-hydrogen analogy demonstrated here quantitatively would motivate further research to predict gold analogs of novel hydride species and vice versa.     

Twisting dynamics in the excited singlet state of Michler's ketone

Ultrafast relaxation dynamics of the excited singlet (S(1)) state of Michler's ketone (MK) has been investigated in different kinds of solvents using a time-resolved absorption spectroscopic technique with 120 fs time resolution. This technique reveals that conversion of the locally excited (LE) state to the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state because of twisting of the N,N-dimethylanilino groups with respect to the central carbonyl group is the major relaxation process responsible for the multi-exponential and probe-wavelength-dependent transient absorption dynamics of the S1 state of MK, but solvation dynamics does not have a significant role in this process. Theoretical optimization of the ground-state geometry of MK shows that the dimethylanilino groups attached to the central carbonyl group are at a dihedral angle of about 51 degrees with respect to each other because of steric interaction between the phenyl rings. Following photoexcitation of MK to its S1 state, two kinds of twisting motions have been resolved. Immediately after photoexcitation, an ultrafast "anti-twisting" motion of the dimethylanilino groups brings back the pretwisted molecule to a near-planar geometry with high mesomeric interaction and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character. This motion is observed in all kinds of solvents. Additionally, in solvents of large polarity, the dimethylamino groups undergo further twisting to about 90 degrees with respect to the phenyl ring, to which it is attached, leading to the conversion of the ICT state to the TICT state. Similar characteristics of the absorption spectra of the TICT state and the anion radical of MK establish the nearly pure electron transfer (ET) character of the TICT state. In aprotic solvents, because of the steep slope of the potential energy surface near the Franck-Condon (FC) or LE state region, the LE state is nearly nonemissive at room temperature and fluorescence emission is observed from only the ICT and TICT states. Alternatively, in protic solvents, because of an intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interaction between MK and the solvent, the LE region is more flat and stimulated emission from this state is also observed. However, a stronger hydrogen-bonding interaction between the TICT state and the solvent as well as the closeness between the two potential energy surfaces due to the TICT and the ground states cause the nonradiative coupling between these states to be very effective and, hence, cause the TICT state to be weakly emissive. The multi-exponentiality and strong wavelength-dependence of the kinetics of the relaxation process taking place in the S1 state of MK have arisen for several reasons, such as strong overlapping of transient absorption and stimulated emission spectra of the LE, ICT, and TICT states, which are formed consecutively following photoexcitation of the molecule, as well as the fact that different probe wavelengths monitor different regions of the potential energy surface representing the twisting motion of the excited molecule.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Some BODIPY‐based Substituted Salicylaldimine Schiff Bases

Salicylaldimine Schiff bases represent an important class of hetero‐polydentate ligands capable of forming mononuclear, binuclear, and polynuclear complexes with transition and non‐transition metals. In this report, we developed an easy synthesis of BODIPY‐based salicylaldimine Schiff bases and synthesized five new derivatives. These were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, UV‐Vis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X‐ray crystallography. Finally, one of the Schiff bases was reacted with BF₃·OEt₂ to synthesize corresponding bis‐BF₂ boron complex. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the Schiff bases and the boron complex were evaluated and rationalized by theoretical calculations. The bis‐BF₂ boron complex showed excited state charge redistribution, thus could be useful as sensitizers for designing new dye‐sensitized solar cells.     

The Decisive Role of Spin States and Spin Coupling in Dictating Selective O2 Adsorption in Chromium(II) Metal–Organic Frameworks**

The coordinatively unsaturated chromium(II)-based Cr₃[(Cr₄Cl)₃(BTT)₈]₂ (Cr−BTT; BTT³⁻=1,3,5-benzenetristetrazolate) metal–organic framework (MOF) has been shown to exhibit exceptional selectivity towards adsorption of O₂ over N₂/H₂. Using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we attempted to decipher the origin of this puzzling selectivity. By computing and analyzing the magnetic exchange coupling, binding energies, the partial density of states (pDOS), and adsorption isotherms for the pristine and gas-bound MOFs [(Cr₄(X)₄Cl)₃(BTT)₈]³⁻ (X=O₂, N₂, and H₂), we unequivocally established the role of spin states and spin coupling in controlling the gas selectivity. The computed geometries and gas adsorption isotherms are consistent with the earlier experiments. The binding of O₂ to the MOF follows an electron-transfer mechanism resulting in a Cr^III superoxo species (O₂^.−) with a very strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two centers, whereas N₂/H₂ are found to weakly interact with the metal center and hence only slightly perturb the associated coupling constants. Although the gas-bound and unbound MOFs have an S=0 ground state (GS), the nature of spin the configurations and the associated magnetic exchanges are dramatically different. The binding energy and the number of oxygen molecules that can favorably bind to the Cr center were found to vary with respect to the spin state, with a significant energy margin (47.6 kJ mol⁻¹). This study offers a hitherto unknown strategy of using spin state/spin couplings to control gas adsorption selectivity in MOFs.     

Ab initio studies of properties of small potassium clusters

We have studied the properties of various isomers of potassium clusters containing even number of atoms ranging from 2 to 20 at the ab initio level. The geometry optimization calculations of the isomers of each cluster are performed by using all-electron density functional theory with gradient corrected exchange-correlation functional. Using the optimized geometries of different isomers we investigate the evolution of binding energy, ionization potential, and static polarizability with the increasing size of the clusters. The polarizabilities are calculated by employing M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory and time-dependent density functional theory. The polarizabilities of dimer and tetramer are also calculated by employing large basis set coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations and perturbative triple excitations. The time-dependent density functional theory calculations of polarizabilities are carried out with two different exchange-correlation potentials: (i) an asymptotically correct model potential and (ii) within the local density approximation. A systematic comparison with the other available theoretical and experimental data for various properties of small potassium clusters mentioned above has been performed. These comparisons reveal that both the binding energy and the ionization potential obtained with gradient-corrected potential match quite well with the already published data. Similarly, the polarizabilities obtained with M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory and with model potential are quite close to each other and also close to experimental data.     

Ionized state of hydroperoxy radical-water hydrogen-bonded complex: (HO2-H2O)+

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been employed to characterize the structure and bonding of the (HO2-H2O)+ radical cation system. Geometry optimization of this system was carried out using unrestricted density functional theory in conjunction with the BHHLYP functional and 6-311++G(2df,2p) as well as 6-311++G(3df,3p) basis sets, the second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation (MP2) method with the 6-311++G(3df,3p) basis set, and the couple cluster (CCSD) method with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. The effect of spin multiplicity on the stability of the (HO2-H2O)+ system has been studied and also compared with that of oxygen. The calculated results suggest a proton-transferred hydrogen bond between HO2 and H2O in H3O3+ wherein a proton is partially transferred to H2O producing the O2...H3O+ structure. The basis set superposition error and zero-point energy corrected results indicate that the H3O3+ system is energetically more stable in the triplet state; however, the singlet state of H3O3+ is more stable with respect to its dissociation into H3O+ and singlet O2. Since the resulting proton-transferred hydrogen-bonded complex (O2...H3O+) consists of weakly bound molecular oxygen, it might have important implications in various chemical processes and aquatic life systems.     

Density functional study of the relationship between energy,hardness, and polarizability of molecules in nonequilibrium situations

We have studied the variation of hardness, polarizability, and electronic and nuclear repulsion energy components of molecules in different nonequilibrium situations obtained by bond distortion and also by placing external point charges on the symmetry axis of the molecules. The above quantities are calculated through Kohn-Sham version of spin-polarized density functional theory with nonlocal exchange correlation functional. Interesting correlations have been found to exist between different energy components, hardness, and polarizability. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 63: 917–926, 1997     

Interesting periodic variations in physical and chemical properties of homonuclear diatomic molecules

We carry out a systematic study of various ground state and response properties of homonuclear diatomic molecules (from hydrogen to rubidium, including transition metals) as a function of atomic number of constituent atoms. We perform the ground state and response property calculations by using state of the art density functional theory/time dependent density functional theory. We observe that several properties of homonuclear diatomic molecules show periodic variations along rows and columns of the periodic table. The periodic variations in the ground state properties of diatomic molecules may be explained by the nature and type of the bond that exists between the constituent atoms. Similarly, the periodic variations in the response properties such as static dipole polarizability and strength of the van der Waals interaction between diatomic molecules have been correlated with the variations in metallic/nonmetallic character of the elements along the periodic table. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012