Thorium compounds with non-metals: Electronic structure, chemical bond, and physicochemical properties

The current state of research on the nature of the chemical bond and the physicochemical properties of binary Th-X (X = H, B, C, N, O, P, S, As, Se, Sb) and ternary (carbonitrides, thorates, and silicates) thorium compounds by modern ab initio methods of the band structure theory is reviewed. The possibilities of the ab initio band structure methods in describing the structural states, phase stability, elasticity characteristics, X-ray emission, absorption, and photoelectron spectra of thorium-containing systems are discussed.     

Multi‐Field Effect on the Electronic Properties of Silicon Nanowires

The quantum confinement and electronic properties of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) under an external strain field ε and an electric field E —as well as both (ε plus E )—are systematically investigated using density functional theory. These two fields exist in working environments of integrated circuits. It is found that both ε and E lead to a drop of the band gap E_g(ε, E ) of the SiNWs. If both fields coexist, the interaction between ε and E causes that E_g(ε, E ) becomes orientation‐dependent, which results from variations of both the conduction‐band minimum and the valence‐band maximum. The interaction is further illustrated by the density of states near the Fermi level and the eigenvalue of the highest occupied molecular orbital.     

Segregation of Sn in the binary CuSn and ternary CuSnSb alloy systems

Progression studies have been followed from Cu(111)‐ and Cu(100)Sn binaries to Cu(111)‐ and Cu(100)SnSb ternary‐alloy systems under the same experimental conditions. The segregation behaviour of Sn in the two orientations are explained. It is found that the kinetic segregation profiles of Sn in the ternary alloys shift to lower temperatures as compared to that in the binary. The Sn profile shift is mainly due to the decrease in the activation energy of Sn in the ternary systems. For a particular Cu orientation, the other segregation parameters that the Sn profiles depend on, like the pre‐exponential factor, segregation energy and the interaction coefficient, are found to be the same in the two systems. There is also a change in the equilibrium segregation profiles of Sn. In the ternary system, site competition between Sn and Sb causes the Sn to suffer exponential desegregation and eventual displacement from the surface. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Small binary iron-carbon clusters with persistent high magnetic moments. A theoretical characterization

Characterization of the structural and electronic properties of binary iron-carbon clusters composed by six iron atoms and with up to nine carbon atoms was carried out with density functional theory calculations. Neutral, cations (q = +1), and anions (q = −1), some of them experimentally detected, were studied. The formation of dimers and trimers of carbon atoms over the iron surface were preferred. Moreover, some large carbon chains, with up to five atoms, were determined. High spin states emerged for the ground states, with multiplicities above 16, for all clusters independently of the number of carbon atoms attached to the iron core. All neutral clusters were stable because fragmentation (into carbon chains), dissociation (of a single carbon atom), and detachment of all carbons need high amounts of energy. Reactive species were defined by small HOMO-LUMO gaps. Charge transfer, to the carbon atoms, increased as the carbon content increased, producing, for some cases, an even-odd behavior for the magnetic moment of the Fe₆C_n particles.     

A new monoclinic structure type for ternary gallide MgCoGa2

The crystal structure of MgCoGa₂ (magnesium cobalt digallide) was solved by direct methods and refined in two space groups as P2₁/c (standard choice) and P2₁/n (non‐standard choice). The refined lattice parameters for the standard choice are a = 5.1505 (2), b = 7.2571 (2), c = 8.0264 (3) Å and β = 125.571 (3)°, and for the non‐standard choice are a = 5.1505 (2), b = 7.2571 (2), c = 6.5464 (2) Å and β = 94.217 (3)°. All parameters for MgCoGa₂ refined to R₁ = 0.027 and wR₂ = 0.042 using 594 reflections. The crystal structure peculiarities of this compound are discussed. Particular attention has been given to relationships with other similar structures, such as YPd₂Si and Fe₃C. Crystallographic analysis, together with linear muffin‐tin orbital electronic structure calculations, reveals the presence of three‐dimensional polyatomic nets with partial covalent bonding between the Ga atoms.     

Chromatographic study of adsorption from binary and ternary solutions

Adsorption of benzene, anisole, and nitrobenzene on hydroxylated silica gel from binary and ternary solutions (adsorbate--n-hexane and adsorbate--n-hexane--terahydrofuran) was studied by HPLC. The equation that describes the adsorbate retention as a function of its concentration in binary and ternary solutions was proposed. The equation makes it possible to calculate the adsorption isotherms and adsorption equilibrium constants directly from chromatograms using the retention parameters and equilibrium concentrations of the adsorbate in the mobile phase.     

Comparative studies of flexible aliphatic ternary/binary benzoxazines and their copolymers: Thermal and dynamic mechanical properties

Aliphatic ternary benzoxazine (Bz) based from triamine with long chain, as well as flexible binary Bz, was successfully synthesized, which was named as BzT and BzD respectively. The corresponding polybenzoxazines (PBz) rooting from BzT and BzD (PBzT and PBzD) respectively and their copolybenzoxazines (co-PBzs) were obtained to improve the mechanical and thermal properties via chemical cross-linking. The onset polymerization temperatures of the copolymers decreased from 189.1°C to 143.9°C, and the exothermic peak temperature reduced significantly from 232.5°C to 217°C as the content of BzT increased from 0 wt% to 100 wt% in the copolymers. The value of char yield at 800°C increased gradually from 21.5 wt% for PBzD to 28.7 wt% for PBzT. The increasing crosslink density resulted higher glass transition temperatures and improved storage moduli in glassy region because of the introduction of BzT.     

Insight into the Geometric and Electronic Structures of Gold/Silver Superatomic Clusters Based on Icosahedron M13 Units and Their Alloys

Metal superatomic nanoclusters, with electronic structures similar to those of one certain atom, are an important type of metal clusters. Interestingly, metal clusters with metal cores composed of either icosahedral M₁₃ or icosahedral assemblies always have a greater potential to become superatomic clusters. Furthermore, superatomic clusters with similar electronic compositions could possess various geometric structures, owing to differences in the shells; this provides a deeper understanding of the metal superatomic cluster and the assembly for nanomaterials. Therefore, this review focuses on the geometric and electronic structures of gold/silver superatomic clusters based on icosahedron M₁₃ units and their alloys, which will facilitate the development of various applications of superatomic clusters.     

Theoretical study of the stability and properties of magic numbers (m = 5, n = 2) and (m = 6, n = 3) of bimetallic bismuth‐copper nanoclusters; Bim Cun

Inspired by the experimental discovery of magic numbers we present a first study using density functional theory for the structure and properties of neutral and cationic Bi₆Cu₃ and Bi₅Cu₂ clusters. Our results confirm predictions based on Wade's rules. The closed electron shells, characteristic of cationic clusters help impose enhanced stability, while also complying with Wade's rules. Charge distribution analysis, as well as electrostatic potential maps show that in almost all cases, Bi atoms donate charges to Cu atoms. According to the analysis of condensed Fukui indices, Cu atoms inside both clusters are not reactive. Contrastingly, Bi atoms are reactive and may be targeted by different types of attack. This study of the electronic properties may thus help to determine experimental strategies with the capacity to enhance the synthesis of catalysts.     

Electronic structure of thiazides studied by 35Cl‐NQR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

NQR frequencies were determined for the ³⁵Cl isotope in a few benzodithiazine derivatives, chlorothiazide (CTZ), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), althiazide (ATZ), trichloromethiazide (TCTZ), benzthiazide (BTZ) and furosemide (FSE), at liquid nitrogen and room temperatures. It was found that changes of the substituent at C‐3 are transferred through a system of coupled rings on to the chlorine atom at C‐6. The substituents occurring in thiazides can be ordered according to increasing electron‐acceptor properties as —CH₂SCH₂Ph < —CH₂SCH₂CH?CH₂ <—CHCl₂. At the liquid nitrogen temperature —CH₂SCH₂Ph and —CH₂SCH₂CH?CH₂ are electron donors, and CHCl₂ is an electron acceptor, whereas at room temperature —CH₂SCH₂Ph is an electron donor and —CH₂SCH₂CH?CH₂ and —CHCl₂ are electron acceptors. The character of the substituent properties is preserved irrespective of whether the system is aromatic or aliphatic. The NQR frequencies and substituents properties are well reproduced by the DFT B3LYP/6–311+G(2d,p) method. The topological properties of the Laplacian of the electron density were analysed within the AIM (atoms in molecules) approach. The changes in the electron density at C‐3 are correlated with the biological activity of the compounds studied. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mean centering of ratio spectra as a new spectrophotometric method for the analysis of binary and ternary mixtures

In this paper a new and very simple method was developed for the simultaneous determination of binary and ternary mixtures, without prior separation steps. This method is based on the mean centering of ratio spectra. The mathematical explanation of the procedure is illustrated. After modeling procedure, the method has been successfully applied to the simultaneous analysis of binary mixtures of mefnamic acid and paracetamol and ternary mixtures of acetylsalysilic acid, ascorbic acid and paracetamol. The analytical characteristics of the method such as detection limit, accuracy, precision, relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) and relative standard error (R.S.E.) was calculated. The results showed that the proposed method is simple, rapid, accurate and precise method for analysis of binary and ternary mixtures.     

Electronic Properties of Triangle Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) Clusters with Different Sizes and Edges

The electronic structures and transition properties of three types of triangle MoS₂ clusters, A (Mo edge passivated with two S atoms), B (Mo edge passivated with one S atom), and C (S edge) have been explored using quantum chemistry methods. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gap of B and C is larger than that of A, due to the absence of the dangling of edge S atoms. The frontier orbitals (FMOs) of A can be divided into two categories, edge states from S_3p at the edge and hybrid states of Mo_4d and S_3p covering the whole cluster. Due to edge/corner states appearing in the FMOs of triangle MoS₂ clusters, their absorption spectra show unique characteristics along with the edge structure and size.     

Electronic structure and stability of C86 fullerene Isolated‐Pentagon‐Rule isomers

All 19 Isolated‐Pentagon‐Rule isomers of fullerene C₈₆ were investigated by Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods with B3LYP functional at 6‐31G, 6‐31G*, and 6‐31+G* levels. Preliminary distribution of single, double, and delocalized pi‐bonds in molecules of these isomers of fullerene C₈₆ is fulfilled. Obtained results are perfectly supported by DFT quantum–chemical calculations of electronic and geometrical structures of these isomers. The main reason of instability of isomers 1, 3–15, 18, and 19 are phenalenyl‐radical substructures. Thus, there is a possibility to obtain them only as endohedral metallofullerenes or exohedral derivatives. Isomer 2 (C₂) is unstable due to higher local molecular strain. It is shown that empty C₈₆ may be produced and extracted only as isomers 16 (C_s) and 17 (C₂). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells based on binary and ternary blend systems

Polymer solar cells (PSCs) were fabricated using a ternary blend film consisting two conjugated polymers and a soluble fullerene derivative as the donor and acceptor materials, respectively. And, to compare ternary blend system, the single‐component copolymers consisting of the repeating units of each of the copolymers, used in ternary blend solar cells, were designed and synthesized for use as the electron donor materials in binary blend solar cells. We systematically investigated the field‐effect carrier mobilities and the optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of the copolymers. Under optimized conditions, the binary blend polymer systems showed power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) for the PSCs in the range 3.87–4.16% under AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm^?2). All polymers exhibited similar PCEs that did not depend on the ratio of repeating units. The binary blend solar cell containing a single‐component copolymer as the electron donor material performed better than the ternary blend solar cell in this work. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

From the Superatom Model to a Diverse Array of Super‐Elements: A Systematic Study of Dopant Influence on the Electronic Structure of Thiolate‐Protected Gold Clusters

The electronic properties of doped thiolate‐protected gold clusters are often referred to as tunable, but their study to date, conducted at different levels of theory, does not allow a systematic evaluation of this claim. Here, using density functional theory, the applicability of the superatomic model to these clusters is critically evaluated, and related to the degree of structural distortion and electronic inhomogeneity in the differently doped clusters, with dopant atoms Pd, Pt, Cu, and Ag. The effect of electron number is systematically evaluated by varying the charge on the overall cluster, and the nominal number of delocalized electrons, employed in the superatomic model, is compared to the numbers obtained from Bader analysis of individual atomic charges. We find that the superatomic model is highly applicable to all of these clusters, and is able to predict and explain the changing electronic structure as a function of charge. However, significant perturbations of the model arise due to doping, due to distortions of the core structure of the Au₁₃[RS(AuSR)₂]₆^? cluster. In addition, analysis of the electronic structure indicates that the superatomic character is distributed further across the ligand shell in the case of the doped clusters, which may have implications for the self‐assembly of these clusters into materials. The prediction of appropriate clusters for such superatomic solids relies critically on such quantitative analysis of the tunability of the electronic structure.     

The first steps of the Li‐B‐H cluster formation

We have theoretically investigated the formation of Li:B:H clusters from standard reactants in gas phase. Molecular electronic structure computations as well as Born‐Oppenheimer molecular dynamics have been carried out to investigate the early stages of the formation of Li:B:H clusters. We describe the thermochemical properties of the different possible reactions and the first stable structures that could initiate the growing process. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Effect of the ionic strength on the redox reaction of dicyanobis(bipyridine)iron(III)‐iodide in binary and ternary solvent systems

The redox reaction between dicyanobis(bipyridine)iron(III) and iodide ion follows first‐order kinetics in 10% (v/v) tertiary butyl alcohol‐water. The reaction was found first and zero order in iodide and dicyanobis(bipyridine)iron(III), respectively, at 0.06 M ionic strength and 293 ± 1 K. The thermodynamic parameters of activation such as E_A (16.07 kJ mol^?1), A (1 × 10^?4 M s^?1), ΔH^# (13.6 kJ mol^?1), ΔS^# (?329.81 J K^?1 mol^?1), and ΔG^# (90.1 kJ mol^?1) were determined. The effect of the ionic strength on the rate constant leads to recognizing the stabilization or destabilization of the transition state complex that forms during the rate‐determining step of the reaction. The value of the zero‐order rate constant was decreased with increasing ionic strength that yielded a negative value of the slope in each binary and ternary solvent systems. This negative sign refers to the electron transfer between opposite charge carriers such as [Fe^III(bpy)₂(CN)₂]⁺ and I^? during the rate‐determining step. The destabilization of the transition state complex is surfaced by the increasing slope, that is, 5 < 10 < 15% (v/v) tertiary butyl alcohol‐water with a gradual decrease in the rate constant. However, its stability emerges by relatively small values of the slope in 17.5 < 25 ≤ 30% (v/v) tertiary butyl alcohol‐water and 8:2:90 < 6:4:90% (v/v) dioxane: tertiary butyl alcohol: water with reasonably fast rate of reaction.     

Structural analysis of Gd6FeBi2 from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction methods and electronic structure calculations

The crystal structure of the gadolinium iron bismuthide Gd₆FeBi₂ has been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data and analyzed in detail using first‐principles calculations. The structure is isotypic with the Zr₆CoAl₂ structure, which is a variant of the ZrNiAl structure and its binary prototype Fe₂P (Pearson code hP9, Wyckoff sequence g f d a). As such, the structure is best viewed as an array of tricapped trigonal prisms of Gd atoms centered alternately by Fe and Bi. The magnetic‐ordering temperature of this compound (ca 350 K) is much higher than that of other rare‐earth metal‐rich phases with the same or related structures. It is also higher than the ordering temperature of many other Gd‐rich ternary phases, where the magnetic exchange is typically governed by Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interactions. First‐principles calculations reveal a larger than expected Gd magnetic moment, with the additional contribution arising from the Gd 5d electrons. The electronic structure analysis suggests strong Gd 5d–Fe 3d hybridization to be the cause of this effect, rather than weak interactions between Gd and Bi. These details are of importance for understanding the magnetic response and explaining the high ordering temperature in this material.     

Conductivity and structure of melt‐processed polyaniline binary and ternary blends

In the present study, conductive binary and ternary blends containing polyaniline (PANI) were developed through melt blending. The binary blends' investigation focused on the morphology, in light of the components' interaction, and the resulting electrical conductivity. Similar solubility parameters of a given doped PANI and a matrix polymer lead to dispersion of fine PANI particles within the matrix, and to formation of conducting paths at low PANI contents. A plasticizer acting also as a compatibilizer improves the matrix polymer/PANI interactions. In ternary blends consisting of PANI and two immiscible polymers, the PANI preferrentially locates in one of the components, affecting the blend's morphology. This “concentrating” effect leads to relatively high electrical conductivity at a low PANI content. The electrical conductivity of the studied ternary blends is almost independent of the components' sequence of addition into the hot melt mixing device, exhibiting the selectivity of PANI towards one of the components. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Size‐dependent electrophoretic migration and separation of water‐soluble gold nanoclusters by capillary electrophoresis

Recently, water‐soluble gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have attracted more and more attention due to their unique properties. In this study, penicillamine‐protected gold nanoclusters (Pen‐AuNCs) were synthesized and initially fractionated by sequential size‐selective precipitation (SSSP). The crude Pen‐AuNCs and SSSP fractions were separated by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with a diode array detector. The effects of key parameters, including the concentration of phosphate buffer, pH value and the ethanol content were systematically investigated. The separation of water‐soluble poly‐disperse AuNCs were well achieved at 30 mM phosphate buffer with 7.5% EtOH, pH 12.0, and applied voltage of 15 kV. The linear correlation between AuNCs diameter and mobility was observed. This finding provides an important reference for CE separation and product purification of water‐soluble AuNCs or other nanomaterials.