On the isomorphism of poly(β‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐β‐hydroxyvalerate) random copolymers

The defect Gibbs energy of hydroxyvalerate comonomer inclusions into the crystals made up by random copolymers of poly(β‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐β‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/HV) is calculated by means of the thermodynamic integration approach. The result obtained for a single inclusion is in excellent agreement with those obtained by fitting experimental melting temperature and cocrystal composition data. Lattice model calculations that cover the whole range of copolymer composition were carried out based on calculations of double inclusion, which revealed a decrease of the average defect Gibbs energy in adjacent defects. On decomposing the Gibbs energy, it is found that the configurational entropy contributes the dominant part of the defect Gibbs energy.     

Ab initio cluster calculations on the electronic structure of oxygen vacancies at the polar ZnO(0001) surface and on the adsorption of H2, CO, and CO2 at these sites

Oxygen vacancies at the polar O terminated (0001) surface of ZnO are of particular interest, because they are discussed as active sites in the methanol synthesis. In general, the polar ZnO surfaces are stabilized by OH groups, therefore O vacancies can be generated by removing either O atoms or OH or H2O groups from the surface. These defects differ in the number of electrons in the vacancy and the number of OH groups in the neighborhood. In the present study, the electronic structure and the adsorption properties of four different types of oxygen vacancies have been investigated by means of embedded cluster calculations. We performed ab initio calculations on F+ like surface excitations for the different defect types and found that the transition energies are above the optical band-gap, while F+ centers in bulk ZnO show a characteristic optical excitation at 3.19 eV. Furthermore, we studied the adsorption of CO2 and CO at the different defect sites by DFT calculations. We found that CO2 dissociates at electron rich vacancies into CO and an O atom which remains in the vacancy. At the OH vacancy which contains an unpaired electron CO2 adsorbed in the form of CO2-, while it adsorbed as a linear neutral molecule at the H2O defect. CO adsorbed preferentially at the H2O defect and the OH defect, both with a binding energy of 0.3 eV.     

Ground and excited states of NH4: Electron propagator and quantum defect analysis

Vertical excitation energies of the Rydberg radical NH4 are inferred from ab initio electron propagator calculations on the electron affinities of NH4+. The adiabatic ionization energy of NH4 is evaluated with coupled-cluster calculations. These predictions provide optimal parameters for the molecular-adapted quantum defect orbital method, which is used to determine Einstein emission coefficients and radiative lifetimes. Comparisons with spectroscopic data and previous calculations are discussed.     

Defect Energetics and Nonstoichiometry in Lanthanum Magnesium Hexaaluminate

Computer-based atomistic simulation methods are applied to address quantitatively the defect energetics and crystal chemistry of lanthanum magnesium hexaaluminate (LMA). The tetrahedral site preference of Mg in the magnetoplumbite structure is determined by calculating lattice energies for different Mg ion distributions. It is revealed that the intrinsic and extrinsic disorders are much influenced by the distribution of Mg in the structure. Our calculations show that oxygen Frenkel disorder is the dominant defect mode to be expected, even though Schottky disorder may also exist. Several feasible defect processes in nonstoichiometric LMA are determined from the enthalpies of the quasi-chemical reactions for the processes with simple point defect energies. We have also modeled some defect complexes in the mirror plane regions. It is found that the Mg ions positioned in the tetrahedral sites suppress the formation of cation vacancies in the mirror plane, through hindering the relaxation of the 12kAl ions by which the vacancies are stabilized. In Mg-deficient nonstoichiometric LMA, however, it is expected that the defect complex [V_La+V_Al+2(V_Al+Al_i)] will be formed in the interspinel layer. Our calculations also indicate that the O_Ladefect is improbable in LMA not only as a simple point defect but also as a member of a defect complex.     

Studies of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters and defect structures for the tetragonal and cubic Yb3+ centers in AgCl crystal

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters, g factors and hyperfine structure constants, for the tetragonal and cubic Yb(3+) centers in AgCl crystal are calculated from the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. The calculations are based on the defect models that the tetragonal Yb(3+) center is formed by the substitutional Yb(3+) associated with two nearest Ag(+) vacancy (V(Ag)) along <001> and <001ˉ> axes (i.e., C(4) axis) owing to charge compensation and in cubic Yb(3+) center the two compensators V(Ag) are remote. From the calculations, the spin-Hamiltonian parameters of both Yb(3+) centers in AgCl are explained reasonably, the signs of hyperfine structure constants A(i)((171)Yb(3+)) and A(i)((173)Yb(3+)) are suggested, the above defect models of both Yb(3+) centers are confirmed and their defect structures are determined.     

Computer simulation of defects in ammonium perchlorate

The electrical conductance of ammonium perchlorate has been theoretically investigated by a computer simulation technique using a polarizable point-ion model. The cohesive energy of the crystal was obtained from a Born-Harber cycle calculation. The Born-Mayer repulsive parameter was obtained from the crystal binding energy. The relaxation of approximately 50 ions was accounted for by exact calculation of the repulsive, electrostatic, and polarization energies. Twenty-one defect calculations were performed in all.Based on these calculations, a novel turnstile mechanism involving slow synchronous rotations of the perchlorate ions to allow passage of ammonium ions is proposed for vacancy migration, which accounts for the high-temperature electrical conductance.The energy of formation of a Schottky defect pair was calculated to be 1.66 eV, and the activation energy for migration of a vacancy was found to be 4.53 eV.     

硅掺杂的氮化硼纳米管对氯化氰吸附性能的理论研究

为了探索氮化硼纳米管(BNNT)在化学传感器件领域的潜在应用,我们利用密度泛函理论研究了(8,0)单壁BNNT和硅掺杂的(8,0)BNNT对毒性气体氯化氰分子(ClCN)的吸附性能.结果表明,硼位或氮位硅掺杂的BNNT,均对ClCN分子存在较强的化学吸附,而纯氮化硼纳米管对ClCN仅有较弱的物理吸附.态密度的计算进一步表明硅掺杂使纳米管费米能级附近的电子结构发生显著变化,由于杂化态的引入,使带隙明显减小,增强了对毒性ClCN分子的吸附敏感性.硅掺杂的BNNT有望成为检测毒性ClCN分子的潜在资源.     

Theoretical Study on the Structural and Electronic Properties of the Reduced SnO2 （110） Surface

The reduced SnO2(110) surface has been investigated by using first-principles method with a slab model. By examining the vacancy formation energy of three kinds of reduced SnO2(110) surfaces, the most energetically favorable defect surface is confirmed to be the surface with the coexistence of bridging and in-plane oxygen vacancies, which is different with the traditional model by only removing bridging oxygen. The results of band structure calculations indicate that the electronic structure of this defect surface is similar to the SnO surface.     

The energetics of kinks in polyethylene

The energetics of kinks in polyethylene have been investigated by means of conformational energy calculations on crystalline arrays of C₁₄H₃₀, C₁₈H₃₈, and C₂₂H₄₆. All of the parameters required for assessment of relaxation effects by site theory were calculated including the static defect energies, barriers to defect reorientation, and site strains. Up to two deformable coordination shells in the surrounding lattice were included. In the energy minimization calculations, all molecular internal degrees of freedom were allowed to participate. The effects of chain mismatch along the C axis at large distances from the defect were calculated from a continuum theory. The static defect energy is calculated to be 6.6 kcal/mole for C₁₄H₃₀, and the barrier for reorientation of right-handed to left-handed kinks is 10 kcal/mole. The barrier to “unkinking” to the nondefect state is 2 kcal/mole. The strain induced by the defect is largely a shear in the {0 0 1} plane in the 〈1 1 0〉 direction. It is concluded that although the barrier to reorientation is consistent with kink reorientation contributing to the γ process the predicted intensity rules out any but a very weak contribution to the total process.     

Nonstoichiometric compounds: A critique of current structural views

The current status of experimental knowledge and theoretical views about nonstoichiometric compounds and heteroionic solid solutions is briefly surveyed, particularly in relation to structural aspects. It is emphasised that there is a little understood transition from the state adequately described by point defect theory, valid for very small deviations from ideal stoichiometry, to the highly organised local structure of crystals with a high formal concentration of defects. The role of short range ordering effects, of microdomains of modified, ordered structure and of defect clusters in different systems is considered. Orderdisorder transformations undergone by nonstoichiometric phases at high temperatures present a special problem. The high temperature phases have very high formal defect concentrations, and the site correlation coefficients found experimentally differ but little from those predicted for completely random structures, although the high defect concentrations imply that all the factors promoting short range ordering must be strong. Theoretical developments are considered. Treatments of pair interaction effects, and calculations of the energetics of defect interaction and the reconstructive formation of defect clusters hold some promise for theoretical development.     

Relating conformation and photophysics in single MEH-PPV chains

We use a novel fluorescence polarization microscope in combination with molecular dynamics calculations to determine the conformation of individual isolated chains of the conjugated polymer MEH-PPV. We found a narrow distribution of defect cylinder conformations in a poor-solvent matrix and two types of defect coil conformations in a good-solvent matrix. The conformations were related to photophysical properties of MEH-PPV by measuring fluorescence intermittency on the same chains. We obtained direct evidence that the photophysics is determined by the chain conformations and that small changes in the polymer microscopic structure can qualitatively affect the photophysical properties.     

A density-functional and molecular-dynamics study on the physical properties of yttrium-doped tantalum oxynitride

Fluorite-type phases in the system Y-Ta-O-N have been studied using both first-principle electronic-structure calculations and molecular-dynamic simulations to validate the structural data and to explain unusual asymmetric reflection profiles observed in the experimental X-ray diffraction patterns. We provide evidence that the compounds may be macroscopically described as to represent cubic fluorite-type defect structures despite the fact that DFT calculations clearly show that all crystallographic unit cells appear as triclinically distorted. Additionally, we find that there is a minute (but hardly significant) tendency for anionic ordering at absolute zero temperature but none under reaction conditions.     

The geometry and electronic structure of the ionic defect in a chain of water molecules between a donor and an acceptor

Quantum chemical calculations of the molecular complexes (NH₃)₃Zn²⁺...(H₂O)_n3...NH₃ (C_n, n=11, 16, 21, and 30) that model the proton donor-aqueous chain-acceptor channel in biological molecules were performed. Periodicity of O-H bond lengths in water chains and charges of the H atoms of H-bonds observed earlier were discussed. In C_n complexes, the geometry and electronic structure of the ionic defect in the aqueous chain with an excess proton were studied. The distributions of O-H bond lengths and charges on H-bond H atoms in the region of the ionic defect obtained in ab initio (B3LYP/6-31+G^**) and semiempirical (PM3) calculations are compared. The influence of aqueous chain extension, the position of the protonated water molecule, and the mobility of water molecules in the chain on the structure of the ionic defect was analyzed.     

Tunable Electric and Magnetic Properties of Transition Metal@NxCy-Graphene Materials by Different Metal and Defect Types

Transition metal@N_xC_y-graphene (TM@N_xC_y-GR) materials have been widely used as redox reaction catalysts in the field of fuel cells due to their low cost and high performance. In the present work, we systematically investigate the effect of different metal and defect types on the electro-magnetic properties of TM@N_xC_y-GR materials using first principles calculations. Our simulations show that TM@N₃-GR (the minimum defect size) and TM@N₇-GR (the maximum defect size) materials always possess metallic property regardless the metal type. However, doping different TM can regulate the medium defects (TM@N₂C₂-GR-I and TM@N₂C₂-GR-II) among metallicity, half-metallicity and semi-conductivity. In addition, we found that different TM and defect type largely affects the magnetic moment. The spin density and projected density of state calculations show that the net charges of the defect structure are mainly located near the hole, and the magnetic regulation comes from the coupling of TM-d orbital with carbon (nitrogen)-s(p) orbitals. The present study provides abundant valuable information for the TM@N_xC_y-GR materials designs and applicants in the future.     

Identification of color centers on MgO(001) thin films with scanning tunneling microscopy

Localized electronic defects on the surface of a 4 monolayer (ML) thin MgO(001) film deposited on Ag(001) have been investigated by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Depending on the location of the defect, we observe for the first time different defect energy levels in the band gap of MgO. The charge state of defects can be manipulated by interactions with the scanning tunneling microscope tip. Comparison with ground state energy levels of color centers on the MgO surface obtained from embedded cluster calculations corroborates the assignment of the defects to singly and doubly charged color centers.     

碱土金属氧化物掺杂氧化铈基电解质材料中的晶格缺陷

基于能量最小化算法，对碱土金属氧化物(MgO、CaO、SrO、BaO)掺杂的氧化铈基电解质缺陷进行模拟计算. 研究了掺杂离子与空位缺陷形成能和氧空位跃迁能之间的关系. 结果说明，在碱土金属氧化物掺杂氧化铈的固溶反应中，氧空位缺陷是电荷补偿缺陷的首选形式，CaO和SrO较MgO和BaO 易溶于CeO₂; Ca²⁺掺杂离子与氧空位缺陷对[CaCe″•VO^••]×的结合能最高；复合缺陷[VO•••MCe″•VO••]••在CeO₂中的状态不稳定；氧空位在次近邻间的跃迁能最低，因此最容易实现跃迁.     

Atomistic calculations on the high-temperature condis phase of poly(trans-1,4-butadiene) (PTBD)

The structure of the low-temperature phase of poly(trans-1,4-butadiene) was calculated by means of semiempirical atomistic potentials. Without using any symmetry assumptions there is good agreement with experimental data. In order to understand the high-temperature phase, packing energy calculations were performed with different chain conformations. There are a great number of possible packing modes. They show an approximately linear relation between defect volume and defect energy. The results of these calculations are taken as a basis for a thermodynamic treatment (cooperative pair theory) of the phase transition. The experimental transition enthalpy can only partially be explained by intermolecular interactions, and the defect energy of the various intramolecular equilibrium conformations is not sufficient to explain the difference. A refined treatment with a simultaneous inter-and intramolecular minimization of the energy reveals that the chains are not in their intramolecular equilibrium state. This results in an additional intramolecular defect energy which seems to lead to an understanding of the experimental transition data.     

Theoretical study of boron nitride nanotubes with defects in nitrogen-rich synthesis

On the basis of calculations using the density functional theory, it is shown that BNNT synthesis could produce tubes deprived of one (B1 hole) or two (B2 hole) boron atoms under the condition where nitrogen atoms exist in excess throughout this study. The relative populations of various isomers of defective tubes will depend on the chirality of the tube. Interestingly, calculations show that B2 holes are much more favored than B1 holes, particularly in armchair tubes. Electronic properties are modified in such a way that the band gap is decreased through the introduction of defect states inside the gap. Magnetic properties will also be dependent on the chirality. The majority of armchair tubes with B2 holes will be nonmagnetic, while the majority of zigzag tubes with defects will exhibit magnetism. Contrary to the case of defect-free BNNT, the defective tubes are expected to be easily subject to reduction by accommodating excess electrons in the presence of Li atoms. In addition, the defect sites will show a higher affinity toward hydrogenation than the defect-free sites.     

Defect‐Assisted Covalent Binding of Graphene to an Amorphous Silica Surface: A Theoretical Prediction

We propose a mechanism for defect‐assisted covalent binding of graphene to the surface of amorphous silica (a‐SiO₂) based on first‐principles density functional calculations. Our calculations show that a dioxasilirane group (DOSG) on a‐SiO₂ may react with graphene to form two Si? O? C linkages with a moderate activation barrier (≈0.3 eV) and considerable exothermicity (≈1.0 eV). We also examine DOSG formation via the adduction of molecular O₂ to a silylene center, which is an important surface defect in a‐SiO₂, and briefly discuss modifications in the electronic structure of graphene upon the DOSG‐assisted chemical binding onto the a‐SiO₂ surface.     

Structure and electronic characteristics of coronoid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as potential models of graphite layers with hole defects

While the literature on coronoid hydrocarbons is comprehensively surveyed, new enumeration results on select coronoid classes are presented. The first examples of Kekulean polycyclic (even-carbon) alternant hydrocarbons with doubly degenerate zero eigenvalues at the HMO level are identified. The parallelism between a molecule removed and the antimolecule hole left in formation of a graphite vacancy defect is elaborated. It is argued that the formation of a single carbon atom vacancy hole defect in graphite should be facile because it would entail a minimum electronic reorganization. These results are supported by a substantial amount of eigenvalue calculations. This work provides a unique overview for the class of coronoid hydrocarbons.