Metal oxide nanoclusters as drug delivery systems for an anticancer drug: a theoretical study

In this study, the reactivity and electronic sensitivity of the Be₁₂O₁₂, Mg₁₂O₁₂, and Zn₁₂O₁₂ nanoclusters were investigated for 6-thioguanine (TG) anticancer drug using density functional theory calculations at the gas phase and aqueous solution. Our results show that the electronic properties of Mg₁₂O₁₂ and Zn₁₂O₁₂ nanoclusters are significantly sensitive to the presence of TG and the nanoclusters may be a promising candidate for adsorption of this drug. The results show that all complexes are energetically favourable, especially in the aqueous phase. Also, our ultraviolet–visible results show that the electronic spectra of TG/(MO)₁₂ complexes exhibit a blue shift toward lower wavelengths (higher energies). In order to go further and gain insight into the binding features of considered (MO)₁₂ nanoclusters with TG drug, the Atoms in Molecules analysis was performed. Consequently, the results demonstrated that the Mg₁₂O₁₂ and Zn₁₂O₁₂ nanoclusters could be used as potential carriers for the delivery of TG drug.

The results represented that the Mg₁₂O₁₂ and Zn₁₂O₁₂ nanoclusters could be used as potential carriers for delivery of 6-thioguanine drug in the nanomedicine domain.     

Effect of pressure on electronic and thermoelectric properties of magnesium silicide: A density functional theory study

We study the effect of pressure on electronic and thermoelectric properties of Mg_2Si using the density functional theory and Boltzmann transport equations. The variation of lattice constant, band gap, bulk modulus with pressure is also analyzed. Further, the thermoelectric properties(Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, electronic thermal conductivity) have been studied as a function of temperature and pressure up to 1200 K. The results show that Mg_2Si is an n-type semiconductor with a band gap of 0.21 eV. The negative value of the Seebeck coefficient at all pressures indicates that the conduction is due to electrons. With the increase in pressure, the Seebeck coefficient decreases and electrical conductivity increases. It is also seen that, there is practically no effect of pressure on the electronic contribution of thermal conductivity.The paper describes the calculation of the lattice thermal conductivity and figure of merit of Mg_2Si at zero pressure. The maximum value of figure of merit is attained 1.83 × 10~(-3) at 1000 K. The obtained results are in good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical results.     

The polarisability of atoms and molecules: a comparison between a conceptual density functional theory approach and time-dependent density functional theory

We investigate the local polarisability or polarisability density using both a conceptual density functional theory approach based on the linear response function and time-dependent density functional theory. Using a zero frequency in the latter, we can immediately compare both approaches. Using an analytical expression for the linear response kernel, we are able to systematically analyse α(r) throughout the periodic table. An extension to molecules is also made with a study of the CO molecule retrieving the connection between local softness and local polarisability.     

Ca掺杂Si团簇的几何结构和电子性质的密度泛函理论研究

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)B3LYP方法在6-311+G(d,p)基组水平,对CaSi_n(n=1~10)的结构进行优化,得出各个尺寸下团簇处于最低能量的结构模型,并对其稳定性等物理化学性质进行理论研究,表明CaSi_2、CaSi_5和CaSi_9为幻数团簇.     

Imogolite类纳米管直径单分散性密度泛函理论研究

采用密度泛函理论方法研究了三种imogolite类(未取代、NH₂取代和F取代)纳米管的直径单分散性及表面电荷的分布情况, 并从键长方面定性地解释了直径单分散性的原因. 我们给出了IMO, IMO_NH₂和IMO_F的应变能曲线, 结果表明三种纳米管结构的最稳定管径值按照IMO < IMO_NH₂ < IMO_F的顺序递增, 而imogolite类纳米管直径单分散性是由于管径的增大导致内部Si–O, Al–O键与外部Al-OH键键长变化趋势相反造成的, 总之是内部Si–O, Al–O 键和外部Al–OH键相互作用的结果. 此外, 对三种稳定的纳米管结构做了Mulliken布局分析, 并总结了纳米管直径变化对表面电荷的影响. 结果表明正电荷主要积聚在外表面, 而内表面则感应出负电荷, 同时随着纳米管直径的增大表面电荷逐渐增加, 揭示了表面电荷与管径大小的关系. 研究表明, 可以通过改变imogolite内表面不同的官能化取代来控制纳米管直径, 进而调节表面电荷的分布情况, 这在imogolite类材料的分子设计及应用方面有着重要意义.     

3d过渡金属掺杂对Cd12O12纳米线电子和磁性能的影响

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算方法,系统研究了3d过渡金属元素(Sc、Ti、Cr、Mn、Co、Cu和Zn)掺杂Cd12O12纳米线的几何结构,电子结构和磁性。结果表明：所有掺杂体系均是热力学稳定的;掺杂Ti或Zn时体系保留了原有的非磁半导体特性,掺杂Mn、Co或Cu时能够实现磁性半导体态,而在掺杂Sc（Cr）时体系转变为非磁性金属态（磁性金属态）。研究结果表明,掺杂3d过渡金属元素的Cd12O12纳米线在电子、光电和自旋电子学领域具有潜在的应用价值。     

硅团簇自旋电子器件的理论研究

利用过渡金属掺杂的硅基团簇, 构建了一种自旋分子结; 并利用第一性原理方法, 对其电子自旋极化输运性质进行了研究. 计算表明, 通过过渡金属掺杂可以有效地产生自旋极化电流, 磁性金属Fe和非磁性金属Cr和Mn掺杂的体系呈现出较明显的自旋极化透射现象, 但分子结的自旋极化输运能力与团簇孤立状态下的磁矩无一致性.从Sc到Ni的掺杂, 体系的自旋极化透射能力先增大后迅速减小, 在Fe掺杂的Si₁₂团簇中出现最大值. 关键词： 硅团簇 自旋极化输运 密度泛函理论 非平衡格林函数     

Ab-initio density functional theory study of a WO3 NHa-sensing mechanism

WO3 bulk and various surfaces are studied by an ab-initio density functional theory technique. The band structures and electronic density states of WO3 bulk are investigated. The surface energies of different WO3 surfaces are compared and then the （002） surface with minimum energy is computed for its NH3 sensing mechanism which explains the results in the experiments. Three adsorption sites are considered. According to the comparisons of the energy and the charge change between before and after adsorption in the optimal adsorption site Olc, the NH3 sensing mechanism is obtained.     

Effect of ionic size on the structure of spherical double layers: a Monte Carlo simulation and density functional theory study

The effect of ionic size on the diffuse layer characteristics of a spherical double layer is studied using Monte Carlo simulation and density functional theory within the restricted primitive model. The macroion is modelled as an impenetrable charged hard sphere carrying a uniform surface charge density, surrounded by the small ions represented as charged hard spheres and the solvent is taken as a dielectric continuum. The density functional theory uses a partially perturbative scheme, where the hard sphere contribution to the one particle correlation function is evaluated using weighted density approximation and the ionic interactions are calculated using a second-order functional Taylor expansion with respect to a bulk electrolyte. The Monte Carlo simulations have been performed in the canonical ensemble. The detailed comparison is made in terms of zeta potentials for a wide range of physical conditions including different ionic diameters. The zeta potentials show a maximum or a minimum with respect to the polyion surface charge density for a divalent counterion. The ionic distribution profiles show considerable variations with the concentration of the electrolyte, the valency of the ions constituting the electrolyte, and the ionic size. This model study shows clear manipulations of ionic size and charge correlations in dictating the overall structure of the diffuse layer.     

Geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of Be-doped gold clusters: a density functional theory study

We have systematically investigated the geometrical structures, relative stabilities and electronic properties of small bimetallic AunBe (n = 1, 2, . . . , 8) clusters using a density functional method at BP86 level. The optimized geometries reveal that the impurity beryllium atom dramatically affects the structures of the Aun clusters. The averaged binding energies, fragmentation energies, second-order difference of energies, the highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gaps and chemical hardness are investigated. All of them exhibit a pronounced odd-even alternation, manifesting that the clusters with even number of gold atoms possess relatively higher stabilities. Especially, the linear Au2Be cluster is magic cluster with the most stable chemical stability. According to the natural population analysis, it is found that charge-transferring direction between Au atom and Be atom changes at the size of n = 4.     

3d过渡金属元素掺杂Al12N12纳米线几何结构和电子性能的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算方法,系统地研究了不同3d过渡金属元素(Sc、Ti、V、Cr、Mn、Fe、Co和Ni)掺杂Al₁₂N₁₂纳米线的几何结构、稳定性和电子结构.结果表明：所有掺杂体系均是热力学稳定的;掺杂Ni时体系保留了原有的非磁性间接带隙半导体特性;当掺杂其它原子(Sc、Ti、V、Cr、Mn、Fe、Co)时体系仍然保持为半导体,但带隙明显减小.掺杂过渡金属原子对于Al₁₂N₁₂纳米线的电子结构具有明显的调控作用,在能带调控和光电方面有潜在的应用前景.     

Tuning electronic properties of the S_2/graphene heterojunction by strains from density functional theory

Based on the density functional calculations, the structural and electronic properties of the WS_2/graphene heterojunction under different strains are investigated. The calculated results show that unlike the free mono-layer WS_2, the monolayer WS_2 in the equilibrium WS_2/graphene heterojunctionis characterized by indirect band gap due to the weak van der Waals interaction. The height of the schottky barrier for the WS_2/graphene heterojunction is 0.13 eV, which is lower than the conventional metal/MoS_2 contact. Moreover, the band properties and height of schottky barrier for WS_2/graphene heterojunction can be tuned by strain. It is found that the height of the schottky barrier can be tuned to be near zero under an in-plane compressive strain, and the band gap of the WS_2 in the heterojunction is turned into a direct band gap from the indirect band gap with the increasing schottky barrier height under an in-plane tensile strain. Our calculation results may provide a potential guidance for designing and fabricating the WS_(2~-)based field effect transistors.     

Investigation of vapour--liquid nucleation properties for spherical and chain-like fluids by density functional theory

The excess Helmholtz free energy functional for nonpolar chain-like molecules is formulated in terms of a weighted density approximation （WDA） for short-range interactions and a Weaks Chandler Andersen （WCA） approximation and a Barker Henderson （BH） theory for long-range attraction. Within the framework of density functional theory （DFT）, vapour liquid interracial properties including density profile and surface tension, and vapour-liquid nucleation properties including density profile, work of formation and number of particles are investigated for spherical and chain- like molecules. The obtained vapour liquid surface tension and the number of particles in critical nucleus for Lennard- Jones （L J） fluids are consistent with the simulation results. The influences of supersaturation, temperature and chain length on vapour liquid nucleation properties are discussed.[第一段]     

Hydroxide degradation pathways for guanidimidazolium cation: A density functional theory study

The chemical stability of anion exchange membrane especially in strong alkaline medium under high temperature is one of the crucial challenges for the commercialization of alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, the degradation mechanism of guanidimidazolium ionic group used in anion exchange membrane was calculated by density functional theory method. The whole transition states of every elemental reaction were systematically searched, and the changes of crucial bonds length were further analyzed for understanding of the reaction mechanism. It was found that the reaction pathway of OH^? attacking guanidinium group of guanidimidazolium was the dominant way for the degradation of guanidimidazolium. Through comparing the energy barriers of guanidimidazolium, imidazolium, and guanidinium, it can be concluded that the electron‐inducing effect had an intimate connection with the alkali stability of ionic groups. The chemical stability of the conjugated structure groups decreased when linking with electron‐drawing groups, while it increased when linking with electron‐donating groups. This work provides theoretical basis for the design of decent alkali‐resistance and high‐performance anion exchange membrane.     

Lattice density functional theory for confined Ising fluids: comparison between different functional approximations in slit pore

ABSTRACT

In this paper, Lafuente and Cuesta's cluster density functional theory (CDFT) and lattice mean field approximation (LMFA) are formulated and compared within the framework of lattice density functional theory (LDFT). As a comparison, an LDFT based on our previous work on nonrandom correction to LMFA is also developed, where local density approximation is adopted on the correction. The numerical results of density distributions of an Ising fluid confined in a slit pore obtained from Monte Carlo simulation are used to check these functional approximations. Due to rational treatment on the coupling between site-excluding entropic effect and contact-attracting enthalpic effect by CDFT with Bethe-Peierls approximation (named as BPA-CDFT for short), the improvement of BPA-CDFT beyond LMFA is checked as expected. And it is interesting that our LDFT has a comparative accuracy with BPA-CDFT. Apparent differences between the profiles such as solvation force, excess adsorption quantity and interfacial tension from LMFA and non-LMFAs are found in our calculations. We also discuss some possible theoretical extensions of BPA-CDFT.     

C60富勒烯-巴比妥酸及其二聚体几何结构和电子结构的密度泛函计算研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的广义梯度近似,对C₆₀富勒烯-巴比妥酸及其二聚体的几何结构和电子结构进行了计算研究.发现：C₆₀富勒烯-巴比妥酸只有一种稳定结构,且掺杂巴比妥酸基团对C₆₀分子构型的影响是局域的.C₆₀富勒烯-巴比妥酸的二聚体有三种同素异构体,分别以［6,5］—［6,5］,［6,6］—［6,5］和［6,6］—［6,6］三种方式键合,从能隙大小顺序和总能相对大小来看,［6,6］—［6,6］结构最为稳定.电子结构方面,在C₆₀富勒烯-巴比妥酸单体中,Donor-Acceptor电荷转移体系为C₆₀富勒烯-巴比妥酸,即电荷是从C₆₀向巴比妥酸转移.由前线轨道和自旋布居数得知,C₆₀富勒烯-巴比妥酸单体很好地保留了C₆₀的电磁性质,但稳定性下降,易发生二次加成反应形成二聚体.对于C₆₀富勒烯-巴比妥酸二聚体,Mulliken电荷分析显示,在加成四元环处的碳原子分别得到0104e和0106e电荷,而与它们邻近的碳原子则失去电子,带有正电荷,且距加成位置越近的碳原子失去的电荷越多.在远离加成位置处,碳原子的净电荷变化相对较小.与单体152eV能隙相比,二聚体中的能隙为1.45eV.其前线轨道分布与单体相比,最高占据轨道几乎未变,但最低未占据轨道发生了很大变化. 关键词： 几何结构 电子结构 密度泛函     

Unraveling the effect of uniaxial strain on thermoelectric properties of Mg_2Si: A density functional theory study

In this work, the effect of uniaxial strain on electronic and thermoelectric properties of magnesium silicide using density functional theory(DFT) and Boltzmann transport equations has been studied. We have found that the value of band gap increases with tensile strain and decreases with compressive strain. The variations of electrical conductivity,Seebeck coefficient, electronic thermal conductivity, and power factor with temperatures have been calculated. The Seebeck coefficient and power factor are observed to be modified strongly with strain. The value of power factor is found to be higher in comparison with the unstrained structure at 2% tensile strain. We have also calculated phonon dispersion, phonon density of states, specific heat at constant volume, and lattice thermal conductivity of material under uniaxial strain. The phonon properties and lattice thermal conductivity of Mg_2Si under uniaxial strain have been explored first time in this report.     

Structures and electronic properties of SimN8-m（0 〈 m 〈 8） clusters： a density functional theory study

The geometries, electronic structures and related properties of SimN8-m（0 〈 m 〈 8） clusters are studied using density functional theory （DFT） with hybrid functional B3LYP. The calculated results reveal several trends. For any stoichiometric clusters, the lowest energy isomers with an alteration of N and Si atoms are favourable in energy if the numbers of Si and N atoms are large enough to form ... Si N-Si-N... alternative chains. The bond lengths of single Si-N bonds are very close to the corresponding values of the bulk and other SiN clusters. The geometries for N-rich and Si4N4 clusters are planar structures, but three-dimensional structures are favourable in energy for Si-rich clusters. With the increase of m, the isotropic polarizability and average polarizability increase, the total binding energies generally decrease, the HOMO-LUMO gap and vertical ionization potential oscillate with increasing number of valence electrons, and their values with even valence electrons are larger than those with odd valence electrons. The atomic charges, IR and Raman properties are also reported.