The properties of methylene- and amine-substituted zeolites from first principles

All-silica zeolite frameworks doped with methylene and amine groups are studied using density functional theory-based electron structure calculations. Strain energies are calculated in a novel way, by comparing zeolite energies with appropriate polymer reference systems. The modified zeolites are found to be mechanically stable structures with surprisingly little strain. Distortions due to impurities result in broadened Si-O-Si angle distributions in the lattice surrounding defects. Our results suggest that zeolites can accommodate both methylene and amine groups at high concentrations with minimal strain. The amine-doped zeolites are strong Lewis bases suggesting novel applications in base catalysis.     

Electronic and vibrational properties of nickel sulfides from first principles

We report the results of first-principles calculations (generalized gradient approximation-Perdew Wang 1991) on the electronic and vibrational properties of several nickel sulfides that are observed on Ni-based anodes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) upon exposure to H2S contaminated fuels: heazlewoodite Ni3S2, millerite NiS, polydymite Ni3S4, and pyrite NiS2. The optimized lattice parameters of these sulfides are within 1% of the values determined from x-ray diffraction. The electronic structure analysis indicates that all Ni-S bonds are strongly covalent. Furthermore, it is found that the nickel d orbitals shift downward in energy, whereas the sulfur p orbitals shift upward with increasing sulfur content; this is consistent with the decrease in conductivity and catalytic activity of sulfur-contaminated Ni-based electrodes (or degradation in SOFC performance). In addition, we systematically analyze the classifications of the vibrational modes at the point from the crystal symmetry and calculate the corresponding vibrational frequencies from the optimized lattice constants. This information is vital to the identification with in situ vibrational spectroscopy of the nickel sulfides formed on Ni-based electrodes under the conditions for SOFC operation. Finally, the effect of thermal expansion on frequency calculations for the Ni3S2 system is also briefly examined.     

Optical properties of alkaline-earth metal oxides from first principles

This study reports the results of an ab initio electronic and optical calculation of alkaline-earth metal oxides (MgO, CaO, SrO and BaO) in the NaCl crystal structure using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within the density functional theory. The exchange-correlation potential is treated by the generalized gradient approximation within the Perdew et al scheme. Moreover, the Engel–Vosko GGA formalism is applied so as to optimize the corresponding potential for band structure calculations. The real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function ?(ω), the optical absorption coefficient I(ω), the reflectivity R(ω) and the energy loss function are calculated by random phase approximation (RPA). The calculated results show a qualitative agreement with the available experimental results in the sense that we can recognize some peaks qualitatively, those due to single particle transitions. Furthermore the interband transitions responsible for the structures in the spectra are specified. It is shown that the oxygen 2p states and metal d states play the major role in optical transitions as initial and final states respectively. The effect of the spin–orbit coupling on the optical properties is also investigated and found to be quite small, especially in the low energy region. The dielectric constants are calculated and compared with the available theoretical and experimental results.     

Elastic, electronic and thermal properties of YSZ from first principles

First principles calculations were performed to investigate the elastic, electronic and thermal properties of 14% cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) using the pseudo potential plane-wave method within the gradient generalized approximation (GGA) for the exchange and correlation potential. Computed lattice constant parameters are in good agreement with the available experimental results. The three independent elastic constants were computed by means of the stress-strain method, indicating that 14% cubic YSZ is a mechanically stable structure. From the knowledge of the elastic constants, a set of related properties, namely bulk, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, sound velocity, Debye temperature, thermal capacity and minimum thermal conductivity are numerically estimated in the frame work of the Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation for YSZ polycrystalline. The calculated bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, sound velocity, Debye temperature, thermal capacity and minimum thermal conductivity are in reasonable agreement with the available experimental and theory data. Density of states, charge density and Mulliken population analysis show that the 14% cubic YSZ is covalent and possess ionic character.     

Electronic structure and peculiar bonding properties of NdNiMg5 from first principles

The newly found ternary compound NdNiMg₅ has been studied within DFT based methodologies. Results of cohesive energy, charge transfers, elastic constants and electron localized function mapping as well as electronic structure and bonding properties have been compared with those of isostructural binary NdNi. The calculation results have shown that Mg substructures interlayering NdNi – like slabs exhibit different magnitudes of charge transfers all within range of metallic behavior and the different Mg substructures selectively bind with Nd and Ni substructures. As a consequence an enhanced cohesion with respect to binary intermetallic NdNi is identified. The whole set of elastic constants and their combinations in orthorhombic symmetry confirm the mechanical stability of NdNiMg₅ with larger compressibility and less ductility (more brittleness) with respect substructures to NdNi. While in an intermetallic compound such as NdNi the bonding is ensured mainly by Nd–Ni interaction, in NdNiMg₅ Nd–Ni, Nd–Mg, Ni–Mg as well as Mg–Mg participate to the bonding and the extra electrons brought by Mg are found within bonding states thus illustrating furthermore the enhanced cohesion of the ternary versus the binary systems.     

Über die Mischbarkeit von ThC mit LaN,CeN, PrN,NdN, SmN,GdN und ErN

ThC is completely miscible with LaN, CeN, PrN, NdN, SmN and GdN at 1800°C. A miscibility gap is observed in the system ThC–ErN.

     

Hydration properties of magnesium and calcium ions from constrained first principles molecular dynamics

We studied the solvation structures of the divalent metal cations Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) in ambient water by applying a Car-Parrinello-based constrained molecular dynamics method. By employing the metal-water oxygen coordination number as a reaction coordinate, we could identify distinct aqua complexes characterized by structural variations of the first coordination shell. In particular, our estimated free-energy profile clearly shows that the global minimum for Mg(2+) is represented by a rather stable sixfold coordination in the octahedral arrangement, in agreement with experiments. Conversely, for Ca(2+) the free-energy curve shows several shallow local minima, suggesting that the hydration structure of Ca(2+) is highly variable. Implications for water exchange reactions are also discussed.     

Tafel slopes from first principles

Tafel slopes for multistep electrochemical reactions are derived from first principles. The derivation takes place in two stages. First, Dirac’s perturbation theory is used to solve the Schrödinger equation. Second, current–voltage curves are obtained by integrating the single-state results over the full density of states in electrolyte solutions. Thermal equilibrium is assumed throughout. Somewhat surprisingly, it is found that the symmetry factor that appears in the Butler–Volmer equation is different from the symmetry factor that appears in electron transfer theory, and a conversion formula is given. Finally, the Tafel slopes are compiled in a convenient look-up table.     

Beta-sheet preferences from first principles

The natural amino acids have different preferences of occurring in specific types of secondary protein structure. Simulations are performed on periodic model beta-sheets of 14 different amino acids, at the level of density functional theory, employing the generalized gradient approximation. We find that the statistically observed beta-sheet propensities correlate very well with the calculated binding energies. Analysis of the calculations shows that the beta-sheet propensities are determined by the local flexibility of the individual polypeptide strands.     

Über die Mischbarkeit von UN mit LaN,CeN, PrN,NdN, SmN,GdN, DyN,und ErN

X-Ray studies of the mixed nitride phases indicate complete miscibility in all cases. Lattice parameters generally showed negative deviations from the additivity rule.

Teilauszug aus der Dissertation des Dipl.-Ing.J. Waldhart an der Technischen Universität Wien, Österreich.     

Über die Mischkristallbildung von ThN mit LaN,CeN, PrN,NdN, SmN,GdN, DyN und ErN

X-Ray studies of the mixed nitride phases indicate complete solid solubility in all cases.

Teilauszug aus der Dissertation von Dipl.-Ing.J. Waldhart Technische Universität Wien.     

Acid-base catalysis in zeolites from first principles

Zeolite materials are microporous aluminosilicates with various uses, including acting as important catalysts in many processes. One such process is the methanol to gasoline reaction, used widely in industry. This reaction is known to be associated with Brønsted acid sites in the zeolite, formed when Si is substituted by Al in the framework, with an associated H⁺ being bound nearby to maintain charge neutrality. However, it is not clear exactly what role the proton plays in this reaction. Because of the large unit cell (generally 50-300 atoms, depending on the particular zeolite) of such structures, most ab initio calculations of these materials have focused on studying small clusters representing just a portion of the framework. However, by choosing the chabazite zeolite structure, which has only 36 atoms in the primitive unit cell, we have been able to perform a full periodic ab initio calculation. This has used density functional theory with a generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation energy, a plane-wave basis set, and norm-conserving optimized pseudopotentials. Using these methods we have examined the geometry and electronic structure of a zeolite acid site and considered one way in which a methanol molecule may bind to such a site. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Simulating fluid-phase equilibria of water from first principles

Efficient Monte Carlo algorithms and a mixed-basis set electronic structure program were used to compute from first principles the vapor-liquid coexistence curve of water. A water representation based on the Becke-Lee-Yang-Parr exchange and correlation functionals yields a saturated liquid density of 900 kg/m3 at 323 K and normal boiling and critical temperatures of 350 and 550 K, respectively. An analysis of the structural and electronic properties of the saturated liquid phase shows an increase of the asymmetry of the local hydrogen-bonded structure despite the persistence of a 4-fold coordination and decreases of the molecular dipole moment and of the spread of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital with increasing temperature.     

Structural,electronic, elastic,thermodynamic and vibration properties of TbN compound from first principles calculations

We have predicted structural, electronic, elastic, thermodynamic and vibration characteristics of TbN, using density functional theory within generalized-gradient (GGA) apraximation. For the total energy calculation we have used the projected augmented plane-wave (PAW) implementation of the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP). We have used to examine structure parameter in eight different structures such as in NaCl (B1), CsCl (B2), ZB (B3), Tetragonal (L1₀), WC (Bh), NiAs (B8), PbO (B10) and Wurtzite (B4). We have performed the thermodynamics properties for TbN by using quasi-harmonic Debye model. We have, also, predicted the temperature and pressure variation of the volume, bulk modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, heat capacities and Debye temperatures in a wide pressure (0–130 GPa) and temperature ranges (0–2000 K). Furthermore, the band structure, phonon dispersion curves and corresponding density of states are computed. Our results are compared to other theoretical and experimental works, and excellent agreement is obtained.     

Comparative study of Ti and Ni clusters from first principles

Icosahedral clusters in Ti and Ni are studied with first-principles density functional calculations. We find significant distortion on the Ti icosahedron caused by the strong interaction between surface atoms on the icosahedron but not between the center atom and surface atoms, whereas no such distortion is observed on Ni clusters. In addition, distortion becomes more severe when atoms are added to the Ti(13) cluster resulting in short bonds. Such distorted icosahedra having short bonds are essential in explaining the structure factor of Ti liquid obtained in experiment.     

Polarizability of small carbon cluster anions from first principles

We examine the applicability of density functional theory (DFT) to the polarizability of Cn- (n = 3-9) cluster anions. This was achieved by comparing DFT calculations using two different exchange-correlation functionals (the non-empirical local density approximation, LDA, and the semiempirical hybrid functional B97-1) to quantum chemical calculations using the coupled cluster method in the CCSD(T) "gold standard" approximation. We find that, unless the extra electron is not bound at all by DFT, both LDA and B97-1 agree with the CCSD(T) calculation to within 5-10%, allowing for a meaningful qualitative and semiquantitative analysis. Furthermore, the polarizability is found to increase monotonically with chain size, consistent with the trend inferred from electron detachment experiments.     

Defect formation and magnetic properties of carbon-doped ZnO nanowires by the first principles

Theoretical calculation based on density functional theory (DFT) and local density approximation (LDA) with Hubbard parameters has been carried out in studying defect formation energy, transition energy and ferromagnetism of carbon-doped ZnO nanowires (NW). The formation and ionization characteristics of the defects [C_O (B), C_O (S), C_Zn (B), V_O (B), V_Zn (B), I_O (oct) and I_Zn (oct)] in ZnO NW are analyzed in the text. Ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) coupling between C atoms are also investigated by 9 different configurations. The FM and AFM stability are explained by the interaction of C energy level. In addition, the vacancies [V_O (B) and V_Zn (B)] and interstitials [I_O (oct) and I_Zn (oct)] affecting the FM coupling are also investigated. It is found that magnetic moment of C 2p can be mediated by these defects.