A theoretical analysis of the TiO2/Sn doped (1 1 0) surface properties

We have used the periodic quantum-mechanical method with density functional theory at the B3LYP level in order to study TiO₂/Sn doped (1 1 0) surfaces and have investigated the structural, electronic and energy band properties of these oxides. Our calculated relaxation directions for TiO₂ is the experimental one and is also in agreement with other theoretical results. We also observe for the doped systems relaxation of lattice positions of the atoms. Modification of Sn, O and Ti charges depend on the planes and positions of the substituted atoms. Doping can modify the Fermi levels, energy gaps as well as the localization and composition of both valence and conduction band main components. Doping can also modify the chemical, electronic and optical properties of these oxides surfaces increasing their suitability for use as gas sensors and optoelectronic devices.     

A theoretical investigation of the interaction between H,Li, Na,K, and fullerenes

We studied the interaction between H, Li, Na, and K with one and two C₆₀ molecules using unrestricted Hartree–Fock (UHF) methods. We investigated the effects of distances between the doping atoms and the C₆₀ clusters, total charges, interaction energies, stabilities, HOMO‐LUMO energy differences, charge distribution, and potential energy surfaces. The effect of each doping atom was analyzed and potential technological applications discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

A theoretical approach to substituent effects. A comparison of the isoelectronic BH,CH3, and NH groups and their interaction with substituents in disubstituted benzenes

Ab initio molecular orbital theory with the STO -3G basis set is used to examine both charge and energy interactions in a series of meta- and para-substituted phenylborate anions and toluenes. Comparison of the results is made with data for substituted anilinium cations. It is concluded that whereas NH is a powerful σ acceptor, with essentially no π interaction, BH is primarily a π donor, and, to a slight extent only, a π donor. CH₃ is indicated to be both a weak σ and π donor. Energies of interaction of BH and NH with a series of substituents are an order of magnitude larger than corresponding values for CH₃. Interaction energies for BH are of opposite sign to those for NH. The results may be understood qualitatively using perturbation molecular orbital (PMO ) theory.     

Thermal and solvent effects on the NMR and UV parameters of some bioreductive drugs

15N NMR chemical shifts and n-->pi* electronic transition energy for metronidazole (1) has been calculated and compared with experimental data. A detailed computational study of 1 is presented, with special attention to the performance of various theoretical methods for reproducing spectroscopic parameters in solution. The most sophisticated approach involves density functional based on the Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations of 1 in aqueous solution (BP86 level) and averaging chemical shifts and deltaE(n-->pi*) over snapshots from the trajectory. In the NMR and UV calculations for these snapshots (performed at the B3LYP level), a small number of discrete water molecules are retained, and the remaining bulk solution effects are included via a polarizable continuum model (PCM). A good agreement with experiment is also obtained using static geometry optimization and NMR computation of pristine 1 employing a PCM approach. Further theoretical predictions are also reported for 17O NMR and deltaE(n-->pi*) of three hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, which suggest that it is essential to incorporate the dynamics and solvent effects for NMR and UV calculations in the condensed phase.     

Effects of finite temperatures,valence bands and energy gaps on the indirect exchange interaction in intrinsic semiconductors

The indirect exchange interaction between localized magnetic moments via virtual excitations from the valence band in intrinsic semiconductors is calculated taking into account the temperature, energy gaps, finite valence bands and effective masses. The inclusion of finite temperature effects changes significantly the phase and magnitude of the oscillations. For small gap semiconductors the oscillatory character and the possibility of ferro-magnetic as well as anti-ferromagnetic coupling are obtained. The exchange interaction oscillates with temperature suggesting interesting applications of this model.     

Linear solvation energy relationships VIII—solvent effects on NMR spectral shifts and coupling constants

The solvatochromic comparison method is used to unravel solvent polarity and hydrogen bonding effects on a variety of NMR spectral shifts and coupling constants. Solvent effects are rationalized in terms of the solvatochromic parameters π*, δ, α and β. Properties analyzed include ¹⁹F shifts of 5-fluoroindole, ¹H shifts of fluorodinitromethane, tert-butanol, phenol, 2-methylbut-1-en-3-yne, and thioacetamide, ¹H and ¹³C shifts and J(¹³C¹H) coupling constants of chloroform, ¹³C shifts of acetone, ¹⁵N shifts of pyridine, ¹⁵N and ²⁹Si shifts of 1-methylsilatrane, and some J(¹¹⁹Sn,C,¹⁹F) coupling constants of polyalkyltin compounds.     

Niobium oxide solid catalyst: esterification of fatty acids and modeling for biodiesel production

Biodiesel can be obtained from fatty acid raw materials through esterification. The reactivity of lauric, palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic fatty acids with methanol using powdered niobic acid as a heterogeneous catalyst was investigated in this work, both experimentally (in a batch reactor) and theoretically. A 2³ experimental design was used, with methanol/fatty acid molar ratio, catalyst concentration, and temperature as main factors. An empirical model demonstrated that temperature is the most important variable. Fourteen heterogeneous and 56 homogeneous‐like kinetic models were tested. A homogeneous‐like model considering zero order for all species and inhibition by water was the most adequate for experiments without catalyst. A homogeneous‐like model considering a second‐order reaction in relation to the fatty acid and no water inhibition was the most adequate for niobic acid catalyzed reaction. Molecular modeling confirmed the experimental results showing that the reactivity is directly related to the increase of unsaturated bonds and the reduction of carbon chain length. The polarity of the fatty acid is determinant in the reactivity. At the molecular level, reaction occurs between the HOMO orbital of methanol and LUMO orbitals of fatty acids and reactivity is higher when the energy difference between these orbitals is lower. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cancer protector activity of antioxidant compounds

Considering a DNA to carcinogen electron transfer mechanism for the carcinogenesis process whereas carcinogens react as a electrophilic and DNA as nucleophilic species we propose that the cancer protecting compounds will compete with the DNA for the donation of the electron for the carcinogens. In this work, theoretical calculations of several compounds with well-known protecting activity are performed. The results were treated by a multivariant analysis (principal component analysis) in order to relate the calculated electronic parameters with the protecting activities.     

Some Quantum-like Hopf Algebras which Remain Noncommutative when q = 1

Starting with only three of the six relations defining the standard (Manin) GL _q (2), we try to construct a quantum group. The antipode condition requires some new relations, but the process stops at a Hopf algebra with a Birkhoff–Witt basis of irreducible monomials. The quantum determinant is group-like but not central, even when q = 1. So, the two Hopf algebras constructed in this way are not isomorphic to the Manin GL _q (2), all of whose group-like elements are central. Analogous constructions can be made starting with the Dipper–Donkin version of GL _q (2), but these turn out to be included in the two classes of Hopf algebras described above.     

Charge distribution and covalency effects on mössbauer parameters in KFeS2

In this paper we report the effects of covalency on the Mössbauer Hyperfine parameters in KFeS₂. We emphasize the use of simple bonding schemes and models based on isomer shift calibration, point charge calculations and electronegativity differences in order to determine the ionic character of the atoms in the crystal. The previous Mossbauer spectroscopic work is also extended to liquid nitrogen temperature and it has been shown how the simple concept of electronegativity difference can also account for the order of magnitude of the measured saturation value of magnetic field.