Structural,Vibrational and Electronic Properties of Defective Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Functionalised with Carboxyl Groups: Theoretical Studies

Covalent sidewall functionalisation of defective zigzag single‐walled carbon nanotubes [SWCNTs(10,0)] with COOH groups is investigated by using DFT. Four types of point defects are considered: vacancy (V), divacancy [V₂(5‐8‐5), V₂(555‐777)], adatom (AA) and Stone–Wales (SW). The energetic, structural, electronic and vibrational properties of these systems are analysed. Decreasing reactivity is observed in the following order: AA>V>V₂(555‐777)>V₂(5‐8‐5)>SW. These studies also demonstrate that the position in which a carboxyl group is attached to a defective SWCNT is of primary importance. Saturation of two‐coordinate carbon atoms in systems with the vacancy V‐7 and with the adatom AA‐1(2) is 3.5–4 times more energetically favourable than saturation of three‐coordinate carbon atoms for all studied systems. Vibrational analysis for these two systems shows significant redshifts of the ν(C?O) stretching vibration of 96 and 123 cm^?1 compared to that for carboxylated pristine systems. Detailed electronic‐structure analysis of the most stable carboxylated systems is also presented.     

Deuterium Clusters D N and Mixed K–D and D–H Clusters of Rydberg Matter: High Temperatures and Strong Coupling to Ultra-Dense Deuterium

Ultra-dense deuterium D(−1) can be formed by a catalytic process from Rydberg Matter (RM) of deuterium as reported previously. Laser-induced inertial confinement fusion (ICF) has recently been observed in this material. The formation of D(−1) is now studied through experiments observing the deuterium RM clusters D _N in excitation levels n _B  = 1, 3 and 4. These levels are intermediate in the formation process of D(−1). Laser-induced fragmentation is used, with neutral time-of-flight (TOF) and TOF–MS measurements of the kinetic energy release (KER) from the quantized Coulomb explosions (CE). Several types of pure D _N clusters, mixed clusters containing both D and H atoms, and clusters containing both D and K atoms are identified. The large planar RM clusters which are common for H and K are less common for D. The neutral D _N clusters are small and have high kinetic temperature, typically at 100 K instead of 10 K for K _N and H _N . Large D _N ⁺ clusters are only observed when an electric field is applied, probably stabilized by increased cooling. A strong coupling of the D(1) laser fragmentation signal to the ultra-dense D(−1) signal is observed, and the materials D(1) and D(−1) are two rapidly interchangeable forms of quantum fluids.     

Mackay,Anti-Mackay,Double-Mackay,Pseudo-Mackay,and Related Icosahedral Shell Clusters

Mackay introduced two important crystallographic concepts in a short paper published 40 years ago. One is the icosahedral shell structure (iss) consisting of concentric icosahedra displaying fivefold rotational symmetry. The number of atoms contained within these icosahedral shells and subshells agrees well with the magic numbers in rare gas clusters, (C₆₀) _N molecules, and some metal clusters determined by mass spectroscopy or simulated on energy considerations. The cluster of 55 atoms within the second icosahedral shell occurs frequently and has been called Mackay icosahedron, or simply MI, which occurs not only in various clusters, but also in intermetallic compounds and quasicrystals. The second concept is the hierarchic icosahedral structures caused by the presence of a stacking fault in the fcc packing of the successive triangular faces in the iss. For instance, a fault occurs after the ABC layers resulting an ABCB packing. This is, in fact, a hierarchic icosahedral structure of a core icosahedron connected to 12 outer icosahedra by vertex sharing, or an icosahedron of icosahedra (double MI. Contrary to Mackay's iss, a faulted hierarchic icosahedral shell is, in fact, a twinlike face capping of the underlying triangles; it is, therefore, called an anti-Mackay cluster. The hierarchic icosahedral structure in an Al-Mn-Pd icosahedral quasicrystal has a core of body-centered cube rather than an icosahedron and, therefore, is called a pseudo-Mackay cluster. The hierarchic icosahedral structures have been studied separately in the past in the fields of clusters, nanoparticles, intermetallic compounds, and quasicrystals, but the underlying geometry should be the same. In the following a unified geometrical analysis is presented.     

A detailed investigation on the global minimum structures of mixed rare‐gas clusters: Geometry,energetics, and site occupancy

We performed a global minimum search of mixed rare‐gas clusters by applying an evolutionary algorithm (EA), which was recently proposed for binary atomic systems (Marques and Pereira, Chem. Phys. Lett. 2010, 485, 211). Before being applied to the potentials used in this work, the EA was further tested against results previously reported for the Ar_NXe_38?N clusters and several new putative global minima were discovered. We employed either simple Lennard‐Jones (LJ) potentials or more realistic functions to describe pair interactions in Ar_NKr_38?N, Ar_NXe_38?N, and Kr_NXe_38?N clusters. The long‐range tail of the pair‐potentials shows some influence on the energetic features and shape of the structure of clusters. In turn, core–shell type structures are mostly observed for global minima of the binary rare‐gas clusters, for both accurate and LJ potentials. However, the long‐range tail of the potential may have influence on the type of atoms that segregate on the surface or form the core of the cluster. While relevant differences for the preferential site occupancy occur between the two potentials for Ar_NKr_38?N (for N > 21), the type of atoms that segregate on the surface for Ar_NXe_38?N and Kr_NXe_38?N clusters is unaffected by the accuracy of the long‐range part of the interaction in almost all cases. Moreover, the global minimum search for model‐potentials in binary systems reveals that the surface‐site occupancy is mainly determined by the combination of two parameters: the size ratio of the two types of particles forming the cluster and the minimum‐energy ratio corresponding to the pair‐interactions between unlike atoms. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Adsorption and migration growth of the Ce,O, and F adatoms on the CeO2 (111) surface: A density functional theory study

In order to investigate the microscopic behavior of the crystal surface growth of the fluorinated cerium dioxide polishing powder, the adsorption and migration of the Ce, O, and F atoms on the CeO₂ (111) surface were studied by using density functional theory with Hubbard correction +U. The adsorption energies of three single atoms at five high-symmetry sites and the migration activation energies along the migration pathway on the CeO₂ (111) surface were calculated. Results show that the most stable adsorption sites of the Ce, O, and F atoms were the O_h, Ce_bri, and Ce_t sites, respectively. The Ce atom migrated from the O_h to the O_t site. The O atom migrated from the Ce_bri to the O_bri site. The F atom migrated from the Ce_t to the O_h site. The migration activation energies of the Ce, O, and F atoms along the migration pathways were 1.526, 0.597, and 0.263 eV, respectively. The F adatom does not change the spatial configuration of the Ce and the O atoms. When the O vacancy occurs on the CeO₂ (111) surface, the F adatom can make up for the O vacancy defect.     

Controlled Synthesis of a Vacancy‐Defect Single‐Atom Catalyst for Boosting CO2 Electroreduction

The reaction of precursors containing both nitrogen and oxygen atoms with Ni^II under 500 °C can generate a N/O mixing coordinated Ni‐N₃O single‐atom catalyst (SAC) in which the oxygen atom can be gradually removed under high temperature due to the weaker Ni?O interaction, resulting in a vacancy‐defect Ni‐N₃‐V SAC at Ni site under 800 °C. For the reaction of Ni^II with the precursor simply containing nitrogen atoms, only a no‐vacancy‐defect Ni‐N₄ SAC was obtained. Experimental and DFT calculations reveal that the presence of a vacancy‐defect in Ni‐N₃‐V SAC can dramatically boost the electrocatalytic activity for CO₂ reduction, with extremely high CO₂ reduction current density of 65 mA cm^?2 and high Faradaic efficiency over 90 % at ?0.9 V vs. RHE, as well as a record high turnover frequency of 1.35×10⁵ h^?1, much higher than those of Ni‐N₄ SAC, and being one of the best reported electrocatalysts for CO₂‐to‐CO conversion to date.     

Diffusion processes and growth on aluminum cluster surfaces

Diffusion processes of adatoms on icosahedral and Wulff polyhedral aluminum cluster surfaces have been studied by molecular dynamics simulations using the effective medium theory. Activation energies of diffusion mechanisms along {111} and {100} facets and from one facet to another, including different hopping and exchange processes as well as more exotic events, have been calculated. Exchange diffusion of an adatom by a chain mechanism through a {100} facet between two {111} facets and hopping diffusion across the edge between two {111} facets via a pull of another adatom on the neighbour facet are shown to play an important role. Adatoms on {111} facets are mobile already at very low temperatures, but on {100} facets diffusion starts above the room temperature as well as diffusion from {111} facets to {100} facets. Diffusion from {100} facet to other facets was not observed until at temperatures close to the melting temperatures of clusters. Dynamical simulations at different temperatures confirmed the appearance of diffusion mechanisms predicted by the activation energies.     

Density functional finite cluster method for polarizability of large BeN three‐dimensional systems

The structures and the properties of small clusters are known to be quite different from those of the bulk material. Consequently, the focus of most studies is towards understanding the changes in electronic properties with increasing cluster size. Linear static electronic dipole polarizabilities of the Be_N (N→∞) solid are obtained at the DFT(PWB91) level by extrapolation of ab initio calculations on Be_N (N=1,…,132) clusters. For the mean polarizability, a [5s3p] basis set is shown to give accurate values if the tri‐periodic clusters are big enough. No calculation has yet been carried out on Be_N (N→∞), but it is clear that these linear properties converge relatively slowly with cluster size. For Be_N, cluster size up to N=90 atoms are sufficient to give limiting infinite solid polarizabilities with relatively small uncertainties. For N=132, the mean polarizability result is probably very accurate. These results suggest that DFT is a good method for the determination of these properties. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 230–240, 2001     

From an Icosahedron to a Plane: Flattening Dodecaiodo‐dodecaborate by Successive Stripping of Iodine

It has been shown by electrospray ionization–ion‐trap mass spectrometry that B₁₂I₁₂^2? converts to an intact B₁₂ cluster as a result of successive stripping of single iodine radicals or ions. Herein, the structure and stability of all intermediate B₁₂I_n^? species (n=11 to 1) determined by means of first‐principles calculations are reported. The initial predominant loss of an iodine radical occurs most probably via the triplet state of B₁₂I₁₂^2?, and the reaction path for loss of an iodide ion from the singlet state crosses that from the triplet state. Experimentally, the boron clusters resulting from B₁₂I₁₂^2? through loss of either iodide or iodine occur at the same excitation energy in the ion trap. It is shown that the icosahedral B₁₂ unit commonly observed in dodecaborate compounds is destabilized while losing iodine. The boron framework opens to nonicosahedral structures with five to seven iodine atoms left. The temperature of the ions has a considerable influence on the relative stability near the opening of the clusters. The most stable structures with five to seven iodine atoms are neither planar nor icosahedral.     

Single Si atom supported on defective boron nitride nanosheet as a promising metal‐free catalyst for N2O reduction by CO or SO2 molecule: A computational study

The low‐temperature reduction of N₂O plays a significant role for solving the growing environmental and health issues caused by emission of this greenhouse gas. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible reaction pathways for the reduction of N₂O by CO or SO₂ molecule over Si‐doped boron nitride nanosheet (Si‐BNNS). According to our results, a B or N‐vacancy defect in BN sheet could be able to greatly stabilize the single Si adatom. The relatively large diffusion barrier for the Si atom over the defective BN sheet also indicates Si‐BNNS is stable enough to be utilized in catalytic reduction of N₂O. The large charge‐transfer from the surface to N₂O leads to the spontaneous dissociation of this molecule into N₂ molecule and an activated oxygen atom (O_ads). The O_ads moiety is then eliminated by CO or SO₂ molecule. The calculated activation energies and reaction energies reveal that the Si atom located on top of the B‐vacancy site has a large catalytic activity toward the reduction of N₂O by CO or SO₂.     

A structurally driven spectral transform Lanczos method for mixed quantum—classical canonical simulations (MQCC): the thermodynamics of Kr10–H and the energies of Krn–H, (n:1→9)

We develop and test an approximate approach for canonical simulations of weakly bound atomic or molecular systems for which some degrees of freedom can be treated separately by quantum mechanics. The system chosen for testing is Kr₁₀–H, for which the adiabatic approximation applied to separate the hydrogen degrees of freedom works reasonably well. The hydrogen atom is bound to the Kr clusters at cold temperatures and we calculate several bound states for clusters in the n=1–9 range, in the global minimum configuration. The structural character of the mixed quantum classical simulation is substantially different than the classical simulation for Kr₁₀–H as a result of zero point energy effects. When quantum effects are included, the low temperature dynamics of Kr₁₀–H are dominated by a significant well to well hopping about an incomplete icosahedral krypton core.     

A one‐dimensional CdII coordination polymer constructed from 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridinium‐1‐acetate ligands and thiocyanate coordination bridges

A new cadmium–thiocyanate complex, namely catena‐poly[1‐carboxymethyl‐4‐(dimethylamino)pyridinium [cadmium(II)‐tri‐μ‐thiocyanato‐κ⁴N:S;κ²S:N] [[[4‐(dimethylamino)pyridinium‐1‐acetate‐κ²O,O′]cadmium(II)]‐di‐μ‐thiocyanato‐κ²N:S;κ²S:N]], {(C₉H₁₃N₂O₂)[Cd(NCS)₃][Cd(NCS)₂(C₉H₁₂N₂O₂)]}_n, was synthesized by the reaction of 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridinium‐1‐acetate, cadmium nitrate tetrahydrate and potassium thiocyanide in aqueous solution. In the crystal structure, two types of Cd^II atoms are observed in distorted octahedral coordination environments. One type of Cd^II atom is coordinated by two O atoms from the carboxylate group of the 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridinium‐1‐acetate ligand and by two N atoms and two S atoms from four different thiocyanate ligands, while the second type of Cd^II atom is coordinated by three N atoms and three S atoms from six different thiocyanate ligands. Neighbouring Cd^II atoms are linked by thiocyanate bridges to form a one‐dimensional zigzag chain and a one‐dimensional coordination polymer. Hydrogen‐bond interactions are involved in the formation of the supramolecular network.     

Bonding and doping of simple icosahedral-boride semiconductors

A simple model of the bonding and doping of a series of icosahedral-boride insulators is presented. Icosahedral borides contain clusters of boron atoms that occupy the 12 vertices of icosahedra. This particular series of icosahedral borides share both the stoichiometry B₁₂X₂, where X denotes a group V element (P or As), and a common lattice structure. The inter-icosahedral bonding of these icosahedral borides is contrasted with that of B₁₂O₂ and with that of α-rhombohedral boron. Knowledge of the various types of inter-icosahedral bonding is used as a basis to address effects of inter-icosahedral atomic substitutions. The inter-icosahedral bonding is maintained when an atom of a group V element is replaced with an atom of a group IV element, thereby producing a p-type dopant. However, changes of inter-icosahedral bonding occur upon replacing an atom of a group V element with an atom of a group VI element or with a vacancy. As a result, these substitutions do not produce effective n-type dopants. Moreover, partial substitution of boron atoms for atoms of group V elements generally renders these materials p-type semiconductors.     

Die metallreiche Schichtstruktur von Ta6STe3

The Metal‐rich Layer Structure of Ta₆STe₃ Ta₆S_1+xTe_3–x was prepared from an appropriate mixture of 2 H–Ta_1.3S₂, TaTe₂, and Ta in a fused tantalum tube at 1273 K within 3 d. The results of a X‐ray single crystal structure analysis for a phase near the Te‐rich limit of the homogeneity range are reported. Ta₆S_1.00Te_3.00(1) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1, a = 993.14(8) pm, b = 1032.18(8) pm, c = 1378.78(11) pm, α = 79.32(1)°, β = 81.36(1)°, γ = 85.74(1)°, Z = 6, Pearson symbol aP60, 6048 I_o > 2σ (I_o), 286 variables, wR₂ = 0.067. The metal‐rich layer structure of Ta₆STe₃ comprises distorted icosahedral Ta₁₃ clusters and related deltahedral cluster fragments complemented by chalcogen atoms. The centred clusters consist of 11, 12, 13, 14, or 16 atoms. They interpenetrate into lamellae in which the tantalum and chalcogen atoms are spatially segregated according to [Q–Ta₃–Q]. The signature of the structure is a lenticular heptagonal antiprismatic Ta₃₀ cluster which seems to be excised from the pentagonal antiprismatic columnar structure of Ta₆S. The Ta₃₀ clusters and distorted icosahedral Ta₁₃ clusters are connected and fused into puckered layers. The rest of the tantalum valences are used for heteronuclear bonding. The chalcogen atoms having three to six next tantalum atoms coat the corrugated, tetrahedrally close‐packed layers. Ta₆STe₃ is a moderate metallic conductor (ρ_{293 K} = 3 × 10^–4 Ωcm) exhibiting typical temperature independent paramagnetic properties.     

Atomic simulation of the point defects in three low‐index surfaces of BCC transition metals with the MAEAM

The favorable position of an adatom and the formation energies of a single vacancy and an adatom‐vacancy pair in three low‐index surfaces of body‐centered cubic (BCC) transition metals have been calculated by using the modified analytical embedded atom method (MAEAM). The favorable position of an adatom is at the fourfold and twofold positions above the (100) and (110) surfaces respectively, but it is deviated from the threefold position of the (111) surface. Either the heights of the adatom from the top atomic layer, or the formation energies of a single vacancy, or an adatom‐vacancy pair decrease in sequence of the (110), (100) and (111) surfaces for each metal. Furthermore, the formation energy of an adatom‐vacancy pair is always lower than that of a single vacancy for each low‐index surface of each metal, which shown the formation of adatom‐vacancy pair is more energetically favorable than the vacancy for the BCC transition metals. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

13-atom Ni-Al alloy clusters: Structures and dynamics

Structural and dynamical properties of model 13-atom Ni_nAl_m alloy clusters derived from a many-body potential are presented and discussed. Characterization of the structures corresponding to a given stoichiometric composition (i.e., chosen number of Ni and Al atoms) is carried out in terms of isomeric (geometric) forms and different distributions of the two types of atoms between the sites of a chosen isomer. We use the term homotops (“the same topography or geometry”) to label the structural forms that differ only by these distributions. The number and the energy spectra of the homotops are sensitive functions of the stoichiometric composition and isomeric form. Similarly to homogeneous clusters, alloy clusters undergo a solid-to-liquidlike transition as their energy is increased. Individual stages in the transition, such as isomerizations involving only surface atoms, isomerizations involving all atoms, surface melting (in a system as small as 13 atoms), and complete melting are identified and characterized. The actual occurrence of some or all of these stages in the meltinglike transition of a given cluster depends on the character of the energy spectra of its homotops, i.e., ultimately, on its stoichiometric composition. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 62: 185–197, 1997     

A novel cadmium(II) coordination polymer with a four‐connected (4,4)‐net based on a trinuclear cadmium(II) node

In the title cadmium(II) coordination polymer, poly[tri‐μ₄‐adipato‐bis(2‐phenyl‐1H‐1,3,7,8‐tetraazacyclopenta[l]phenanthrene‐κ²N⁷,N⁸)tricadmium(II)], [Cd₃(C₆H₈O₄)₃(C₁₉H₁₂N₄)₂]_n, one of the Cd atoms is in a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal coordination environment, surrounded by five O atoms from three adipate (adip) ligands and two N atoms from one 2‐phenyl‐1H‐1,3,7,8‐tetraazacyclopenta[l]phenanthrene (L) ligand. A second Cd atom occupies an inversion center and is coordinated by six O atoms from six adip ligands in a distorted octahedral geometry. The carboxylate ends of the adip ligands link Cd^II atoms to form unique trinuclear Cd^II clusters, which are further bridged by the adip linkers to produce a two‐dimensional layer structure. Topologically, each trinuclear Cd^II cluster is connected to four others through six adip ligands, thus resulting in a unique two‐dimensional four‐connected framework of (4,4)‐topology. This work may help the development of the coordination chemistry of 1,10‐phenanthroline derivatives.     

Preparation of block copolymers of polystyrene and poly (t‐butyl acrylate) of various molecular weights and architectures by atom transfer radical polymerization

Block copolymers of polystyrene and poly(t‐butyl acrylate) were prepared using atom transfer radical polymerization techniques. These polymers were synthesized with a CuBr/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine catalyst system and had predictable molecular weights based on the degree of polymerization, as calculated from the initial ratio of monomer to initiator. The final polydispersities were low (1.10 < M_w /M_n < 1.3) for all the homopolymers and block copolymers. Polymers of various chain architectures were prepared, ranging from linear AB diblocks to three‐armed stars composed of AB diblocks on each arm. The key to controlled synthesis with this catalyst system was the choice of the solvent, temperature, and concentrations of catalyst and deactivator. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2274–2283, 2000     

Comparisons of the theoretical calculation of nitrogen clusters by semiempirical MO method

Various nitrogen clusters, N_x, are selected for the present theoretical study. The number of nitrogen atoms chosen in this work varies from x = 8 to x = 32. PM3, which is known as one of the best semiempirical methods, is selected for the self-consistent molecular orbital calculations. The geometrical optimization, vibrational frequencies, and thermochemical computations are all involved for various types of molecular nitrogen clusters. The results show that all N_x's belong to the category of stable high-energy compounds. Comparison of average bond energy and delocalization energy of all cases reveals that N₂₀(I_h symmetry) is the most stable molecule among all the nitrogen clusters studied. In addition, our results show five-membered rings are the most favored in the structures of nitrogen clusters (N_x). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.