Möbius and twisted graphene nanoribbons: stability, geometry, and electronic properties

Results of classical force field geometry optimizations for twisted graphene nanoribbons with a number of twists N(t) varying from 0 to 7 (the case N(t)=1 corresponds to a half-twist M?bius nanoribbon) are presented in this work. Their structural stability was investigated using the Brenner reactive force field. The best classical molecular geometries were used as input for semiempirical calculations, from which the electronic properties (energy levels, HOMO, LUMO orbitals) were computed for each structure. CI wavefunctions were also calculated in the complete active space framework taking into account eigenstates from HOMO-4 to LUMO+4, as well as the oscillator strengths corresponding to the first optical transitions in the UV-VIS range. The lowest energy molecules were found less symmetric than initial configurations, and the HOMO-LUMO energy gaps are larger than the value found for the nanographene used to build them due to electronic localization effects created by the twisting. A high number of twists leads to a sharp increase of the HOMO-->LUMO transition energy. We suggest that some twisted nanoribbons could form crystals stabilized by dipolar interactions.     

Synthesis and properties of Alkyl α-D-Galactopyranoside

Alkyl α-D-galactopyranosides are sugar-based nonionic surfactants, and it is necessary to research their structure–property relationships since it is not quite clear that the change of the alkyl chain length has effects on a series of physicochemical properties. Here, alkyl α-D-galactopyranosides were prepared by galactose and alcohols through three steps including acetylation, coupling with alcohols in the presence of a catalyst stannic chloride, and deprotection. Furthermore, their water solubility and other properties were investigated. Alkyl α-D-galactopyranosides (4a ～ 4e, n = 6 ～ 10) were water soluble, and their dissolution process in water was an endothermic process. Nonyl α-D-galactopyranoside (4d) showed excellent foaming ability and foam stability. Octyl α-D-galactopyranoside (4c) had the strongest emulsifying ability for toluene and nonyl α-D-galactopyranoside (4d) had the strongest emulsifying ability for rapeseed oil. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values and surface tension at the CMC were decreasing with increasing alkyl chain length. Their standard free energy of adsorption (ΔG_ads) was more negative than their standard free energy of micellization (ΔG_mic). The moisture-absorption abilities were weakening with increasing alkyl chain length. Alkyl α-D-galactopyranosides (4a ～4f) were thermally stable below 280°C. Alkyl α-D-galactopyranosides (4c ～4f) had the optical texture of the thermotropic liquid crystal smectic A phase.     

Viscous and dielectric properties of α-tocopherol and α-tocopherol acetate

This article presents the results of the shear viscosity and the dielectric relaxation measurements performed for α-tocopherol and α-tocopherol acetate, two principal compounds from the vitamin E group. The temperature dependence of the viscosity and dielectric relaxation time of the compounds can be very well reproduced with the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation. It was found that for both tocopherols, the viscosity and the relaxation time attain their infinite high value (solid-like state) at the temperature of ～60 K below the transition to the glass state.     

First-principles study of structural,elastic, electronic and optical properties of rutile GeO2 and α-quartz GeO2

Structural parameters, elastic, electronic, bonding and optical properties of rutile GeO₂ and α-quartz GeO₂ have been investigated using the plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential technique based on the first-principles density functional theory (DFT). The ground-state properties obtained by minimizing the total energy are in favorable agreement with the previous work. Two phases of GeO₂ are found to be elastically stable and we have derived the bulk, shear and Young’s modulus, Poisson coefficient for rutile GeO₂ and α-quartz GeO₂. We estimated the Debye temperature of rutile GeO₂ and α-quartz GeO₂ from the acoustic velocity. Electronic and chemical bonding properties have been studied from the calculation of band structure, density of states and charge densities. Furthermore, in order to clarify the mechanism of optical transitions for rutile GeO₂ and α-quartz GeO₂, the complex dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, optical reflectivity, absorption coefficient, energy-loss spectrum and the complex conductivity function are calculated, which show the significant optical anisotropy in the components of polarization directions (100) and (001) for rutile GeO₂ and α-quartz GeO₂.     

Half-metallicity and spin-contamination of the electronic ground state of graphene nanoribbons and related systems: an impossible compromise?

An analysis using the formalism of crystalline orbitals for extended systems with periodicity in one dimension demonstrates that any antiferromagnetic and half-metallic spin-polarization of the edge states in n-acenes, and more generally in zigzag graphene nanoislands and nanoribbons of finite width, would imply a spin contamination S(2) that increases proportionally to system size, in sharp and clear contradiction with the implications of Lieb's theorem for compensated bipartite lattices and the expected value for a singlet (S = 0) electronic ground state. Verifications on naphthalene, larger n-acenes (n = 3-10) and rectangular nanographene islands of increasing size, as well as a comparison using unrestricted Hartree-Fock theory along with basis sets of improving quality against various many-body treatments demonstrate altogether that antiferromagnetism and half-metallicity in extended graphene nanoribbons will be quenched by an exact treatment of electron correlation, at the confines of non-relativistic many-body quantum mechanics. Indeed, for singlet states, symmetry-breakings in spin-densities are necessarily the outcome of a too approximate treatment of static and dynamic electron correlation in single-determinantal approaches, such as unrestricted Hartree-Fock or Density Functional Theory. In this context, such as the size-extensive spin-contamination to which it relates, half-metallicity is thus nothing else than a methodological artefact.     

First-principles study of the crystal and electronic structures of α-tetragonal boron

The crystal and electronic structures of α-tetragonal (α-t) boron were investigated by first-principles calculation. Application of a simple model assuming 50 atoms in the unit cell indicated that α-t boron had a metallic density of state, thus contradicting the experimental fact that it is a p-type semiconductor. The presence of an additional two interstitial boron atoms at the 4c site made α-t boron semiconductive and the most stable. The cohesive energy per atom was as high as those of α- and β-rhombohedral boron, suggesting that α-t boron is produced more easily than was previously thought. The experimentally obtained α-t boron in nanobelt form had about two interstitial atoms at the 8i sites. We consider that the shallow potential at 8i sites generates low-energy phonon modes, which increase the entropy and consequently decrease the free energy at high temperatures. Calculation of the electronic band structure showed that the highest valence band had a larger dispersion from Γ to Z than from Γ to X; this indicated a strong anisotropy in hole conduction.     

Synthesis and spectral properties of arylmercury derivatives of α-thiopicolinanilide

A series of thirteen arylmercury derivatives of α-thiopicolinanilide have been synthesizedand characterized by elemental analysis,IR,~1H NMR and MS.The intramolecular coordination andthe substituent effects on the MS and ~(199)Hg NMR behaviours have been studie6.It has been shownthat a linear correlation exists between the ~(199)Hg chemical shifts and the Hammett-Brown constantsσ~+,and the electron-donating groups cause the chemical shift to move upfield.     

Periodic DFT study of structural,electronic, absorption,and thermodynamic properties of crystalline α-RDX under hydrostatic compression

Periodic density functional theory calculations have been performed to study the structural, electronic, absorption, and thermodynamic properties of crystalline α-RDX under hydrostatic compression of 0–50 GPa. As the pressure increases, its lattice parameters, bond lengths, bonds angels, torsion angles, cell volumes, and band structure crystal change regularly except at the pressure of 13 GPa, where a structural transformation occurs. The remarkable changes in the bond lengths and bond angles indicate that there are several possible initiation decomposition mechanisms of RDX under compression. An analysis of density of states shows that the interactions between electrons, especially for the valence electrons, are strengthened under the influence of pressure. The absorption spectra show that the structural transformation makes the absorption coefficient of C–H stretching increase significantly. An analysis of thermodynamic properties indicates that the structural transformation is endothermic and not spontaneous at room temperature. The increasing temperature is not favorable for the structural transformation.     

Synthesis and properties of α-sulfo carboxyl disodium salt

The synthesis and properties of α-sulfo carboxyl disodium salt (SCDS) were studied in detail for the first time in this paper. SCDS was synthesized via saponification reaction of fatty acid methyl ester sulfonate sodium (MES). FT-IR was used to characterize the molecular structure of target product. The yield of disodium salt was greater than 98% by two-phase titration. The performance of SCDS was studied and was compared with raw materials MES, conventional anionic surfactant AES and nonionic surfactant AEO₉. The result shows SCDS can reduce the surface tension of the solution to 27.89?mN/m at critical micelle concentration (CMC). The wetting ability of SCDS was significantly enhanced with the increase of temperature. The emulsification effect of SCDS on the soybean oil is better than that on the liquid paraffin. Surprisingly, SCDS has a good foamability and foaming stability.     

Synthesis and antioxidant properties of novel α-tocopherol glycoconjugates

Glycoconjugates of α-tocopherol (1), synthesized using click chemistry between α-tocopherol-azide and glyco-alkynes are solids, have enhanced water solubility and exhibit radical-scavenging activities comparable to 1, as determined by DPPH and lipid peroxidation assay methods.     

Magnetic properties of UFe12−xSix

The homogeneity range of the system UFe_12−xSi_x with tetragonal ThMn₁₂ structure was determined to extend from x = 1 to x = 3. The Curie temperature and magnetic moment depend on the silicon content with maximum values T_c = 653 K and μ_m = 17.5 μ_B per formula unit reached at x = 2.0. The thermal expansion of UFe₁₀Si₂ was investigated by X-ray diffractometry. A volume magnetostriction of ω_s = 1% at T = 5 K was found. The hysteresis properties of powdered, sintered and melt-spun samples of UFe₁₀Si₂ were studied.     

Structural and electronic properties of zinc blende BxGa1−xN nitrides

First principles total energy calculations were carried out to investigate structural and electronic properties of zinc blende GaN, BN and B_xGa_1?xN solid solutions. We have calculated lattice parameters, bulk modulus, pressure derivative and B_xGa_1?xN band gap energy for zinc blende-type crystals of the compositions x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1. Discussions will be given in comparison with results obtained with other available theoretical and experimental results.     

DFT study of the electronic and charge transfer properties of perfluoroarene–thiophene oligomers

The ground state structures of 5,5″-diperfluorophenyl-2,2′:5′,2″:5″,2‴-quaterthiophene (1), 5,5′-bis{1-[4-(thien-2-yl)perfluorophenyl]}-2,2′-dithiophene (2), 4,4′-bis[5-(2,2′-dithiophenyl)]-perfluorobiphenyl (3), 5,5″-diperfluorophenyl-2,2′:5′,2″-tertthiophene (4), 5,5′-diperfluorophenyl-2,2′-dihiophene (5), and 5,5-diperfluorophenylthiophene (6) have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), PBE0/6-31G(d), and PBE0/6-31G(d,p) level of theories. The B3LYP/6-31+G(d) and PBE0/6-31+G(d) level of theories have been applied to investigate the absorption spectra. The PBE0 functional is good to predict the C–S bond lengths while the C–F bond lengths are good envisaged with B3LYP functional. The increment of thiophene rings between two perfluoroarene rings leads to red shift in absorption spectra. The electron affinities are energetically destabilized while energetic stabilization of the radical-cation increases by decreasing the thiophene rings from four to one. The perfluoroarene rings leads to enhance the electron injection.     

Iron–sulfur clusters and their electronic and magnetic properties

Iron–sulfur clusters of diverse nuclearities constitute the active sites of a large and prominent family of metalloproteins which play essential roles in all living organisms, such as in electron transfer chains, reduction catalysis, photosynthesis, the respiratory chain and nitrogen fixation. This review is devoted to the presentation of the current state of understanding of their electronic and magnetic properties, which is here derived from their Mössbauer, EPR and ENDOR spectroscopic properties. These techniques constitute fine tools for characterization and provide knowledge of the different oxidation states of these proteins, although our interest here will be mainly centered on the [4Fe–4S*]ⁿ⁺ clusters (with n=1–3). A qualitative physical model involving the competing magnetic interactions in these clusters is discussed. Moreover, this article contains new developments on two more specialized subjects:

• 1.some quantitative consequences of an already published theory of the g-tensors of [4Fe–4S*]ⁿ⁺ clusters (n=1,3) will be derived in Section 3;
• 2.a model permitting the rationalization, from very simple ingredients and formulae, of the redox potentials of a whole set of known synthetic redox clusters (with 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 iron atoms) will be presented in the final Section 6.

     

Silicon-containing esters of α-cyanoacrylic acid: synthesis and properties

A number of cyanoacetates have been synthesized: cyanoacetoxymethyitrimethylsilane (1), cyanoacetoxymethylpentamethyldisiloxane (2), cyanoacetoxyetoxymethylpentamethyldisiloxane (3). They were converted by the Knoevenagel reaction to novel esters of a-cyanoacrylic acid (4–13) containing silicon atoms in the ester groups and having the general formula RCH=C(CN)COOCH₂X (where R=H, 4-MeOC₆H₄, MeCH=CH, 2-furyl; X=SiMe₃, SiMe₂OSiMe₃, CH₂OCH₂SiMe₂OSiMe₃). These compounds are capable of copolymerization with esters of cyanoacrylic acid which are the precursors to adhesives for cold curing.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 949–952, May, 1993.     

Acid-base and complexation properties of α-L-alanin in water-formamide mixtures

The constants of copper (II) complexation with α-L-alanine in water and water-formamide solvents were determined potentiometrically at 298 K; the dissociation constants for alanine amino group was also determined. It was found that the stability of the [CuAla]⁺ complex is significantly reduced with an increase in the formamide content in solution. The heat balance of the Cu²⁺-alanine-water-formamide system was considered for the process of Cu(NO₃)₂ transfer from water to an aqueous solution of alanine using the earlier determined K _stab and thermochemical data.     

Acid-base properties of α-aminomethylphosphine oxides

Ionization constants of a series of aminomethylphosphine oxides and respective amino precursors, as well as their isostructural amino phosphonates in water-2-propanol or water medium were determined. The main regularities of the effect of the phosphoryl group on the protolytic equilibria involving mono- and bisphosphorylated amines and diamines were found. The environment effect on the ionization constants of hydrophilic aminophosphoryl compounds and amines was estimated quantitatively. The relationship between the dissociation constants of aminophosphoryl compounds and related constants of amino precursors in the framework of the principle of linearity of free energies was demonstrated.     

Quantum-chemical study of structural and electronic properties of a new tin monosulfide polymorph π-SnS

By means of the density functional theory (DFT) method, the electronic structure of the new tin monosulfide polymorph π-SnS has been calculated, its unit cell parameters have been optimized, and the relative enthalpy of formation and bulk modulus have been evaluated and compared with known and well-characterized crystalline and two-dimensional SnS modifications. It has been demonstrated that the π-SnS polymorph ranks next in stability to thermodynamically stable α-SnS. The new modification is predicted to be a semiconductor with a wider band gap than for α-SnS. It has been shown that identification of π-SnS in nanocrystalline SnS samples by X-ray crystallography could be considerably complicated by overlapping with broadened reflections of α-SnS.