Interaction of peroxyformic acid with water molecules: a first-principles study

The present article comprises a theoretical study of structures and energetics of the lowest energy conformers of peroxyformic acid (PFA) and its hydrated variants, viz. PFA...(H2O)n (n = 1-4), at the molecular level. We have employed two different ab initio quantum chemical methods, viz. restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) and the second-order M?ller-Plesset (MP2) perturbation theory with the basis sets 6-31G(d,p) and 6-311++G(2d,2p). Modifications in the structure as well as vibrational frequencies of PFA brought about by successive addition of H2O molecules are also discussed. Cooperativity of hydrogen bonding in these clusters can be gauged through a detailed many body interaction energy analysis.     

Dehydrogenation reaction for Na-O-H system: a first-principles study.

The crystal structures, electronic, dielectric, and vibrational properties of NaH, Na(2)O and NaOH are systematically investigated by first-principles calculations and the quasiharmonic approximation. The phonon dispersion relations and the phonon density of states of the phases and their thermodynamic functions including the heat capacity, the vibrational enthalpy, and the vibrational entropy are calculated using a direct force-constant method. Based on these results, the dehydrogenation reaction, NaH+NaOH-->H(2)+Na(2)O, is predicted to take place at 528 K, which is in agreement with the experimental observed value.     

Mixed aromatic-alkyne system on a Pd surface: a first-principles study

The chemistry of mixed aromatic-alkyne systems on a metal surface is of general interest in many industrial processes. We use density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the chemistry of one such system (i.e., 1,4-diphenyl-butadiyne (DPB) in contact with Pd(110) and Pd(111) surfaces). Reaction pathways and the energetics of important processes are explored, including H2 adsorption, dissociation and migration on the metal surface, the DPB-metal interaction, the energetics of H uptake, and the effects of impurities such as CO and CO2 on H chemistry. We find that (i) strong aromatic-metal interaction leads to significant binding strength of the DPB molecule to both Pd surfaces, especially the (110); (ii) H2 molecules readily dissociate on the Pd surface into H-radicals, which get taken up by alkyne triple bonds; (iii) CO has strong binding to the metal surface, but interacts weakly with H radicals; and (iv) CO2 binds weakly to the metal surface, but could potentially lead to interesting chemical reactions with H.     

Catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on platinum

Using the thermochemical approach to interpret the kinetics of heterogeneous reactions and the mechanism of congruent dissociative decomposition of solids developed in the 1980s and (re)analyzing the experimental data available in the literature over the last 90 years, a novel mechanism for the catalytic oxidation of H₂ by PtO₂ is proposed. In place of the conventional Langmuir–Hinshelwood and Eley–Rideal adsorption reaction mechanisms, our model is based on the reactions: PtO₂(s) + 2H₂ ? Pt(g) + 2H₂O and Pt(g) + O₂ ? PtO₂(g) → PtO₂(s). The first reaction determines the kinetics of H₂ oxidation and the second determines the kinetics of restoration of the PtO₂ layer. Thermochemical consideration of kinetic features of this model enables (for first time in the history of this reaction) the enthalpy and equilibrium constants for H₂ oxidation on platinum to be calculated. The results are in good agreement with experimental data. In addition, the proposed mechanism explains the origin of the surface-retexturing effect, the impact of autocatalysis, the influence of H₂O vapor on oxidation rate, and the three-fold variation of the Arrhenius E parameter with temperature. This all convincingly demonstrates the value of the thermochemical approach in interpreting heterogeneous reactions.     

Catalytic oxidation of CO on platinum

Using concepts recently developed in thermal decompositions of solids and reduction of bulk oxides by gases and (re)analysis of experimental literature data, a novel mechanism for the catalytic oxidation of CO by PtO₂ is proposed. Instead of the conventional Mars–van Krevelen scheme, the reactions proposed are: PtO₂(s) + 2CO ? Pt(g) + 2CO₂ and Pt(g) + O₂ ? PtO₂(g) → PtO₂(s). The first reaction determines the kinetics of CO oxidation and the second determines the kinetics of restoration of the PtO₂ layer. Thermochemical consideration of the kinetic features of this model, based on Langmuir’s quasi-equilibrium equations for evaporation of simple substances, allowed calculation of the reaction enthalpy and the absolute rate of CO oxidation. These results are in good agreement with experimental data. The proposed mechanism explains the origin of the surface-retexturing effect, the limited loss of Pt metal from the catalyst, the mechanism of PtO₂ regeneration by oxygen, the strong effect of CO₂ in reducing the CO oxidation rate and the three-fold variation of the Arrhenius E parameter with temperature.     

Correction to: Catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on platinum

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Due to a fault (oversight) of the authors, L’vov BV, Galwey AK, in Fig 1 of the article: ‘Catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on...     

Intermolecular electronic excitation transfer in a confined space: a first-principles study.

The process of intermolecular electronic excitation transfer (EET) in a monodimensional supramolecular arrangement of molecules in confined space has been modelled and investigated by means of first-principles molecular dynamics simulations. The chosen model system consists of a wire of chlorine molecules hosted in the noncrossing channels of the zeolite bikitaite. The time evolution of the system in its first excited singlet state has been described by the restricted open shell Kohn-Sham formalism. Simulation results have highlighted that excitation, initially localized on a guest molecule, is transferred to an adjacent moiety in the molecular wire on the picosecond scale via a collision-induced Dexter-type short range EET. Analysis of the modifications of the electronic structure of the system brought about by EET has given insight into the microscopic details of the process.     

Catalytic activity of Pd ensembles over Au(111) surface for CO oxidation: a first-principles study

Employing the first-principles pseudopotential plane-wave methods and nudged-elastic-band simulations, we studied the reaction of CO oxidation on Pd-decorated Au(111) surface. We found that the contiguous Pd ensembles are required for the CO + O(2) reaction. Interestingly, Pd dimer is an active site for the two-step reaction of CO+O(2)→OOCO→CO(2)+O, and a low energy barrier (0.29 eV) is found for the formation of the intermediate metastable state (OOCO) compared to the barrier of 0.69 eV on Pd trimer. Furthermore, the residual atomic O in the CO + O(2) reaction can be removed by another CO on Pd dimer with the barrier of 0.56 eV close to the value of 0.52 eV on Pd monomer via Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. The higher energy barriers (0.96 and 0.64 eV) are also found for the CO + O reaction on Pd trimers. The calculated results indicate Pd dimer is highly reactive for CO oxidation by O(2) via association mechanism on Pd-decorated Au(111) surface.     

Four superhard carbon allotropes: a first-principles study

Using a generalized genetic algorithm, we propose four new sp(3) carbon allotropes with 5-6-7 (5-6-7-type Z-ACA and Z-CACB) or 4-6-8 (4-6-8-type Z4-A(3)B(1) and A4-A(2)B(2)) carbon rings. Their stability, mechanical and electronic properties are systematically studied using a first-principles method. We find that the four new carbon allotropes show amazing stability in comparison with the carbon phases proposed recently. Both 5-6-7-type Z-ACA and Z-CACB are direct band-gap semiconductors with band gaps of 2.261 eV and 4.196 eV, respectively. However, the 4-6-8-type Z4-A(3)B(1) and A4-A(2)B(2) are indirect band-gap semiconductors with band gaps of 3.105 eV and 3.271 eV, respectively. Their mechanical properties reveal that all the four carbon allotropes proposed in present work are superhard materials, which are comparable to diamond.     

Nature of adhesion of condensed organic films on platinum by first-principles simulations

Understanding the nature of the adhesion of an organic liquid on a metal surface is of paramount importance for elucidating the stability and chemical reactivity at these complex interfaces. However, to date, the morphology, layering and chemical properties at organic liquid metal interfaces have been rarely known. Using semi-empirical dispersion corrected density functional theory calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we show that carbon tetrachloride and ethanol films confined to a platinum surface alter their intrinsic properties and exhibit interfacial reactivity. A few interface carbon tetrachloride (ethanol) molecules adsorb dissociatively (molecularly) on platinum thanks to the surrounding medium. The adsorption strength of the interfacial molecules is consequently increased in the condensed phase as compared to the gas phase. This remarkable effect is rationalized by an interaction energy decomposition model and an electrostatic potential analysis.     

Catalytic olefination reaction of carbonyl compounds. A study on stereoselectivity of alkene formation

The mechanism of formation of alkene stereoisomers in the catalytic olefination reaction of carbonyl compounds was studied. 4-Chlorobenzaldehyde hydrazone 1 stereoselectively reacts with a number of F-, Cl-, Br-, and I-containing polyhaloalkanes in the presence of catalytic amounts of CuCl to give -substituted styrenes 2 with the more thermodynamically stable alkene isomer being the major product. A model for the formation of the stereoisomers of alkenes 2 in the olefination reaction is proposed. Stereoselectivity of the reaction is determined by elimination of copper(ii) halides from the lowest-lying conformers of organocopper intermediates II. According to quantum-chemical calculations, the elimination should involve the staggered conformations with antiperiplanar arrangement of C—Hal and C—Cu bonds and proceed by the E2 anti-elimination mechanism. The results of quantum-chemical calculations are in good agreement with the experimental E/Z alkene isomer ratios.     

Methane adsorption properties of N-doped graphdiyne: a first-principles study

Structural Chemistry - N-doped graphdiyne (N-graphdiyne) is a new kind of alkynyl carbon material whose structure resembles graphdiyne. This study describes the Mn-modified N-graphdiyne...     

Hydrogen absorption in bulk BC3: a first-principles study

We have performed first-principles calculations for H absorption, H2 dissociation, and H diffusion in bulk BC3, a graphitelike layered structure. We show that in bulk BC3, H2 can dissociatively (and exothermically) absorb at low coverages. Several low-energy pathways have been computed for the dissociation process. The dissociation barriers are on the order of 0.2 eV or less. This presents a striking contrast to the situation in pure graphite and also on monolayer BC3(0001), where H2 dissociative absorption is considerably more difficult. Hydrogen absorption at high coverages has also been investigated; we find that the absorption enthalpy becomes moderately more exothermic at higher coverages. The calculated range of H binding energies is close to the desired value for reversible hydrogen storage.     

X-ray spectroscopy of blocked alanine in water solution from supermolecular and supermolecular-continuum solvation models: a first-principles study

The N1s near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and X-ray emission spectra (XES) of blocked alanine in water solution have been investigated at the first-principles level based on cluster models constructed from classical molecular dynamics simulations. The bulk solvent has been described by both supermolecular and combined supermolecular-continuum models. With the former model we show that NEXAFS spectra convergent with respect to system size require at least the inclusion of the second solvation shell and that averaged spectra over several hundreds of snapshots can well represent the statistical effect of different instantaneous configurations of the solvation shells. With the combined model we demonstrate that calculations of a medium-sized peptide-water supermolecule qualitatively predict the NEXAFS spectrum of the solvated peptide even considering a single geometry. Furthermore, sampling over hundreds of snapshots by the combined model, the explicit inclusion of even a few waters yields an averaged spectrum in good quantitative agreement with the discrete model results. In comparison, the XES spectra show little dependence on the structures of either the solvent shell or the peptide itself. The ramifications of these findings are discussed.     

Temperature-dependent infrared spectroscopy of water from a first-principles approach

The structure and dynamics of the hydrogen-bond network in water is investigated as a function of the temperature through the application of a first-principles approach that combines an ab-initio-based water potential with an explicit quantum treatment of the molecular motion. A molecular-level picture of the rearrangement of the hydrogen-bond network is derived from the direct analysis of linear and nonlinear vibrational spectra. The results indicate that good agreement with the available experimental data is obtained when the temperature scale is defined relative to the corresponding melting points. In particular, the theoretically predicted energy barriers and time scales associated with the hydrogen-bond dynamics are closely comparable to the experimental values obtained from two-dimensional and pump-probe infrared spectra. The present analysis will also serve as a guide for future developments of an improved ab-initio-based model capable to reproduce the properties of water in different environments and under different conditions.     

Effects of Zr doping on stoichiometric and reduced ceria: a first-principles study

The Zr doping in CeO(2) may change the reduction properties and therefore the redox properties of CeO(2). Using first-principles density functional theory with the inclusion of on-site Coulomb interaction for a 96-atom supercell, these effects are studied by comparing the differences in atomic structures, electronic structures, and reduction energies of the doped CeO(2) and those of the nondoped CeO(2). It is found that (1) Zr doping of the ceria structure results in important modifications involving nonequivalent O atoms; (2) the oxygen anions (still four-coordinated) next to the doping center show considerably lower reduction energies (by 0.6 eV) and larger displacements ("higher mobilities"); (3) an O vacancy is most easily created close to the Zr centers, therefore the Zr-doping centers might serve as nucleation centers for vacancy clustering; and (4) the electrons left by the released oxygen localize on two Ce cations neighboring the vacancy, which results in the reduction of two Ce(4+) ions.     

Oxidation of a two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride monolayer: a first-principles study

Two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron-nitride oxide (h-BNO) is a structural analogue of graphene oxide. Motivated by recent experimental studies of graphene oxide, we have investigated the chemical oxidation of 2D h-BN sheet and the associated electronic properties of h-BNO. Particular emphasis has been placed on the most favorable site(s) for chemisorption of atomic oxygen, and on the migration barrier for an oxygen atom hopping to the top, bridge, or hollow site on the h-BN surface, as well as the most likely pathway for the dissociation of an oxygen molecule on the h-BN surface. We find that when an oxygen atom migrates on the h-BN surface, it is most likely to be over an N atom, but confined by three neighbor B atoms (forming a triangle ring). In general, chemisorption of an oxygen atom will stretch the B-N bond, and under certain conditions may even break the B-N bond. Depending on the initial location of the first chemisorbed O atom, subsequent oxidation tends to form an O domain or O chain on the h-BN sheet. The latter may lead to a synthetic strategy for the unzipping of the h-BN sheet along a zigzag direction. A better understanding of the oxidation of h-BN sheet has important implications for tailoring the properties of the h-BN sheet for applications.