Revealing and comparing different excited-state intramolecular proton transfer processes for 3-(4-dimethylamino-phenyl)-1-(4-fluoro-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-propenone and 3-(4-dimethylamino-phenyl)-1-(4-fluoro-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-hydroxy-propenon

Two novel 2′-hydroxychalcone derivatives (i.e., M1 and M2) are explored in this work. We mainly focus on investigating the effects of photoexcitation on hydrogen bonds and on the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. On the basis of calculations of electrostatic potential surface and intramolecular interactions, we verify the formation of hydrogen bond O1 H2···O3 in both S₀ and S₁ states. Exploring the ultraviolet–visible spectra in the liquid phase, our simulated results reappear in the experimental phenomenon. Analyzing molecular geometry and infrared stretching vibrational spectra, we confirm O1 H2···O3 is strengthened for both M1 and M2 in the S₁ state. We further confirm that charge redistribution facilitates ESIPT tendency. Constructing potential energy curves, we find the ultrafast ESIPT behavior for M1, which is because of the deficiency of side hydroxyl moiety comparing with M2. This work makes a reasonable affiliation of the ESIPT mechanism for M1 and M2. We wish this paper could facilitate understanding these two novel systems and promote their applications.     

Accurate theoretical prediction of optical properties of BODIPY dyes

Boron-dipyrromethene dyes (BODIPY) are of great interest nowadays mostly due to their valuable optical properties. Nevertheless, no systematic research of the optical property dependence on the structure of dyes has been performed yet. In this work, analysis of the available quantum-chemical methods for BODIPY optical property calculations has been carried out. The accuracy of eight DFT functionals has been studied. The solvation effects upon excitation have been considered within two schemes. The methods that predict the absorption and emission spectra of BODIPY derivatives with high accuracy have been proposed. Using the suggested methods, the influence of nature of substituents and their position in the BODIPY core on the optical spectra of the dyes has been studied. A complex pattern of red- and blue-shifts in optical spectra in dependence of nature and position of substituents has been revealed. The results of this work provide the way for efficient design of BODIPY derivatives with desired optical properties.     

Gas-phase 21Ne NMR studies and the nuclear magnetic dipole moment of neon-21

Gas-phase ²¹Ne nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were measured at the natural abundance of ²¹Ne isotope for samples consisting of pressurized neon up to 60 bar at room temperature and applying the magnetic field of the strength B₀ = 11.7574 T. It showed that the nuclear magnetic resonance frequency is linearly dependent on the density of gaseous neon. The resonance frequency was extrapolated to the zero-density point, and it permitted the determination of the ²¹Ne nuclear magnetic moment, μ(²¹Ne) = 0.6617774(10) μ_N. The present value of μ(²¹Ne) is not influenced by the bulk magnetic susceptibility of neon and interactions between neon atoms; therefore, it is more precise and reliable than the previous result obtained for μ(²¹Ne).     

LiB6Si: An indirect band gap semiconductor

Using first-principle calculations, mechanical properties, electronic structure, and Raman spectra of LiB₆Si structure were investigated. The band structures calculated by GGA-PBE and HSE06 methods reveal that LiB₆Si is an indirect band gap semiconductor. The band gap estimated by HSE06 method is about 2.24 eV, which is in good agreement with that of experimental value 2.27 eV. The calculated tensile stress-strain curves of LiB₆Si reveal that [010] direction is the cleavage direction under tensile strains. The calculated Raman spectra of LiB₆Si are also in good agreement with that of measured. The position of the band gap may provide a basis for further photocatalysis research on LiB₆Si.     

Molecular structure,vibrational spectroscopic and chemical reactivity of nematogenic p-n-alkylbenzoic acids: A comparative computational analysis

Molecular structure and vibrational spectroscopic studies of higher homologous series nematogenic p-n-alkylbenzoic acids (nBAC) that have 6 (6BAC) and 7 (7BAC) carbon atoms in the alkyl chain have been investigated using the Density Functional Becke3-Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) level with the basis set 6-31++G (d.p) and Hartree Fock (HF) with the same basis set. The observed vibrational spectra has been resolved and assigned in detail for comparision with both the molecules. These results indicate that DFT and HF values are slightly different at both the levels. A comparision of chemical reactivity such as HOMO (E_H), LUMO (E_L) energies, energy gap (E_g), ionization energy (I), electron affinity (A), electro negativity (χ), chemical hardness (η), electronic chemical potential (μ), electrophilicity index (ω), and softness (S) has been made. It has been observed that the decrement has occurred in the energy band gap value of isolated molecule with increment in alkyl chain length. This provides valuable information regarding enhancing the stability of liquid crystal materials by maintaining the conductivity.     

Characteristic material parameters of CIGS solar cell related with device performance

CIGS solar cells with power conversion efficiency (PCE) in the range of 1.82%–12.30% were obtained by using two-step process, and were further analyzed through various measurement techniques. Material parameters showed diverse values and some trends depending on the device performance. The lower performance device showed small integrated PL intensity, short minority life time, larger defect density and lower activation energy, whereas the higher performance device showed opposite values. We investigated relationship between material parameters and PCE of solar cells, and found that some physical parameters such as integrated PL intensity, minority life time, defect density, and difference between band gap and activation energy (E_g-E_a), which all reflect defect states in bulk and at pn interface, are strongly related with PCE and would be used as a good indicator to evaluate device performance quickly.