On reasons of Si NMR chemical shift/structure relations for silicon oxides, nitrides, and carbides: An individual-gauge-for-localized-orbitals study

For -quartz, monoclinic ZSM-5, -and β-Si₃N₄ and SiC---6H polytype, the silicon chemical shifts have been calculated using the IGLO (individual gauge for localized orbitals) method and models of different size in real crystal geometry. The result is a theoretical chemical shift scale, which is very similar to the corresponding experimental scale from ²⁹Si MAS NMR experiments. It is shown that the assignment of isotropic silicon chemical shifts of crystallized solids based on theory is a method of practical applicability, also in cases where experimental methods or empirical relations fail. The two NMR spectral lines of -Si₃N₄ are for the first time assigned to the crystallographic positions. The partition of the silicon chemical shifts into localized contributions from different parts of the model allows insight into the interactions around the resonance nucleus due to substituent and geometry variations leading to silicon chemical shifts.     

Ab initio NMR parameters of BrCH3 and ICH3 with relativistic and vibrational corrections

This study is focused on two effects identified when NMR parameters are calculated based on first principles. These effects are 1. vibrational correction of properties when using ab initio optimized equilibrium geometry; 2. relativistic effects and limits of using the Flygare equation. These effects have been investigated and determined for nuclear spin-rotation constants and nuclear magnetic shieldings for the CH₃Br and CH₃I molecules. The most significant result is the difference between chemical shieldings determined based on the ab initio relativistic four-component Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian and chemical shieldings calculated using experimental values and the Flygare equation. This difference is approximately 320 ppm and 1290 ppm for ⁷⁹Br and ¹²⁷I in the CH₃X molecule, respectively.     

An ab initio calculation of O and Si NMR parameters for SiO2 polymorphs

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations (Hartree–Fock, HF and density functional theories, DFTs) have been carried out for SiO₂ polymorphs coesite, low cristobalite, and α-quartz, in order to investigate the reliability of this method for predicting ²⁹Si and ¹⁷O nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) properties of silicates. Oxygen- and silicon-centered clusters consisting of one (1T) to three tetrahedral (3T) shells (one to four atomic shells), taken from real crystal structure, have been investigated. It is found that for reasonable predication of both the ²⁹Si and ¹⁷O chemical shifts (δ_i^Si and δ_i^O), the minimum cluster is one that gives the correct second neighbors to the nucleus of interest. Both the δ_i^Si and δ_i^O have reached convergence with respect to cluster size at the OH-terminated two tetrahedral (2T) shell (three atomic shells around Si and four atomic shells around O) model. At convergence, the calculated δ_i^Si values agree well (within ±1 ppm) with experimental data. The calculated ¹⁷O electric field gradient (EFG)-related parameters also agree with experimental data within experimental uncertainties. The calculation also reproduces small differences in δ_i^O for O sites with similar tetrahedral connectivities, but shows deviations up to about 10 ppm in relative difference for O sites with different tetrahedral connectivities. The poor performance for the latter is mainly due to the approximations of the HF method. Our study thus suggests that the ab initio calculation method is a reliable mean for predicting ²⁹Si and ¹⁷O NMR parameters for silicates. Such an approach should find application not only to well-ordered crystalline phases, but also to disordered materials, by combining with other techniques, such as the molecular dynamics simulation method.     

29Si NMR in solid state with CPMG acquisition under MAS

A remarkable enhancement of sensitivity can be often achieved in ²⁹Si solid-state NMR by applying the well-known Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) train of rotor-synchronized π pulses during the detection of silicon magnetization. Here, several one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) techniques are used to demonstrate the capabilities of this approach. Examples include 1D ²⁹Si{X} CPMAS spectra and 2D ²⁹Si{X} HETCOR spectra of mesoporous silicas, zeolites and minerals, where X = ¹H or ²⁷Al. Data processing methods, experimental strategies and sensitivity limits are discussed and illustrated by experiments. The mechanisms of transverse dephasing of ²⁹Si nuclei in solids are analyzed. Fast magic angle spinning, at rates between 25 and 40 kHz, is instrumental in achieving the highest sensitivity gain in some of these experiments. In the case of ²⁹Si–²⁹Si double-quantum techniques, CPMG detection can be exploited to measure homonuclear J-couplings.     

Ab initio calculations of electronic structures of SrMoO4 crystals containing F and F color centers

The electronic structures of SrMoO₄ crystals containing F and F⁺ color centers with the lattice structure optimized are studied within the framework of the fully relativistic self-consistent Dirac–Slater theory, using a numerically discrete variational (DV-Xα) method. From the calculation, it is concluded that F and F⁺ color centers have donor energy level in the forbidden band. The electronic transition energies from the donor level to the bottom of the conduction band are 1.855 eV and 2.161 eV, respectively, which correspond to the 670 nm and 575 nm absorption bands. It is predicted that the 670 nm and 575 nm absorption bands originate from the F and F⁺ centers in SrMoO₄ crystals.     

High field 17O solid-state NMR study of alanine tripeptides

(17)O chemical shifts of Ala-Ala-Ala, with parallel and anti-parallel beta-sheet structures, are observed using a 930-MHz high-resolution solid-state NMR spectrometer. Ala-Ala-Ala serves as a model sheet-forming peptide because it can be easily prepared as either a parallel or an anti-parallel beta-sheet structure. Spectral differences between the two samples are observed which arise from molecular packing differences between the two sheet structures. DFT chemical shift calculations are performed for the two samples, and the calculated spectra are in good agreement with the experimental spectra. The DFT calculations provide insight into the nature of the chemical shift differences observed between the two sheet structures.     

An ab initio calculation of 17O and 29Si NMR parameters for SiO2 polymorphs

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations (Hartree–Fock, HF and density functional theories, DFTs) have been carried out for SiO₂ polymorphs coesite, low cristobalite, and -quartz, in order to investigate the reliability of this method for predicting ²⁹Si and ¹⁷O nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) properties of silicates. Oxygen- and silicon-centered clusters consisting of one (1T) to three tetrahedral (3T) shells (one to four atomic shells), taken from real crystal structure, have been investigated. It is found that for reasonable predication of both the ²⁹Si and ¹⁷O chemical shifts (δ_i^Si and δ_i^O), the minimum cluster is one that gives the correct second neighbors to the nucleus of interest. Both the δ_i^Si and δ_i^O have reached convergence with respect to cluster size at the OH-terminated two tetrahedral (2T) shell (three atomic shells around Si and four atomic shells around O) model. At convergence, the calculated δ_i^Si values agree well (within ±1 ppm) with experimental data. The calculated ¹⁷O electric field gradient (EFG)-related parameters also agree with experimental data within experimental uncertainties. The calculation also reproduces small differences in δ_i^O for O sites with similar tetrahedral connectivities, but shows deviations up to about 10 ppm in relative difference for O sites with different tetrahedral connectivities. The poor performance for the latter is mainly due to the approximations of the HF method. Our study thus suggests that the ab initio calculation method is a reliable mean for predicting ²⁹Si and ¹⁷O NMR parameters for silicates. Such an approach should find application not only to well-ordered crystalline phases, but also to disordered materials, by combining with other techniques, such as the molecular dynamics simulation method.     

Al and Si MAS NMR investigations of cordierite glass, μ- and α-cordierite

²⁷Al and ²⁹Si Magic-Angle Spinning NMR results are reported for conventionally prepared glass of cordierite stoichiometry (2MgO · 2Al₂O₃ · 5SiO₂), the metastable high-quartz solid solution (μ-cordierite) and the high-temperature polymorph of cordierite (α-cordierite). Both, ²⁷Al two-dimensional (2D) quadrupole nutation experiments and ²⁷Al satellite transition spectroscopy (SATRAS) have been applied to identify two different tetrahedrally-coordinated aluminium sites (AlO₄). SATRAS has been used to extract the quadrupole interaction parameters and their distribution, the isotropic chemical shifts and the relative populations of the different Al sites. Both, the ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si NMR results, lead to the conclusion that a perfect Si/Al disorder does not exist in these investigated cordierite samples.     

Surface SelectiveH/Si CP NMR by NOE Enhancement from Laser Polarized Xenon

The surface proton spin polarization created by the spin-polarization-induced nuclear Overhauser effect from optically polarized xenon can be transferred in a subsequent step by solid-state cross polarization to another nuclear spin species such as²⁹Si. The technique exploits the dipolar interactions of xenon nuclear spins with high γ nuclei such as¹H, and is experimentally simpler than direct polarization transfer from¹²⁹Xe to heteronuclei such as¹³C and²⁹Si.     

Complete Analysis of the 1H and 13C NMR Spectra of 5-Isopropylsulfonyl-2-Norbornenes Through the Application of Two-Dimensional NMR Techniques

Total assignment of ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra of the 5-isopropylsulfonyl-2-norbornenes 2 was achieved using the concerted application of two-dimensional homonuclear and heteronuclear chemical shift correlations. The stereochemistry of both the diastereoisomers endo 2a and exo 2b have been established using the magnitude of the proton coupling constants.     

The Influence on NMR Parameters of Silicon Penta Coordination in Silatranes

¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F and ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants for Si-substituted silatranes, XSi(OCH₂CH₂)₃N, and triethoxysilanes, XSi(OCH₂CH₃)₃, where X = H, CH₃, and F have been studied. Expansion of the coordination numbers of silicon and tin leads to similar changes in the NMR parameters.     

Ab initio calculation of electronic transition moments for singlet excited states of the H2 molecule

Ab initio CI electronic dipole transition moments have been calculated for the transitions between singlet states of the hydrogen molecule correlating asymptotically with H(nl)+H(1s) (n=1,2,3). The investigated singlet-singlet transitions include the 30 (n=3) inter-Rydberg transitions and the 32 transitions which may contribute to absorption in the far wings of the Balmer α line of atomic hydrogen perturbed by another hydrogen atom in its ground state. Results are presented for internuclear distances 1.0a₀?R?12a₀. The present results compare well with the previous theoretical calculations available for about half of the transitions treated in the present work. Thirty eight new transitions are presented. Adiabatic potential energies for the and and improved energies for the and states are reported as well.     

Ab initio comparative study of C54 and C49 TiSi2 surfaces

A theoretical comparison of C54 and C49 TiSi₂ surfaces is presented, using ab initio plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential method based on generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The different surface energies of TiSi₂ have not only been calculated out, but the preferential formation of C49 phase in solid-state reaction could be explained by smaller surface energies and Poisson's ratio of C49 TiSi₂ as well. As for polar C54 TiSi₂(1 0 0) and C49 TiSi₂(0 1 0) surfaces, the Si termination surfaces are more stable.     

Solid-state NMR investigations of Si-29 and N-15 enriched silicon nitride

We compare ²⁹Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra from the two modifications of silicon nitride, α-Si₃N₄ and β-Si₃N₄, with that of a fully (²⁹Si, ¹⁵N)-enriched sample ²⁹Si₃¹⁵N₄, as well as ¹⁵N NMR spectra of Si₃¹⁵N₄ (having ²⁹Si at natural abundance) and ²⁹Si₃¹⁵N₄. We show that the ¹⁵N NMR peak-widths from the latter are dominated by J(²⁹Si–¹⁵N) through-bond interactions, leading to significantly broader NMR signals compared to those of Si₃¹⁵N₄. By fitting calculated ²⁹Si NMR spectra to experimental ones, we obtained an estimated coupling constant J(²⁹Si–¹⁵N) of 20 Hz. We provide ²⁹Si spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation data for the ²⁹Si₃¹⁵N₄ sample and chemical shift anisotropy results for the ²⁹Si site of β-Si₃N₄. Various factors potentially contributing to the ²⁹Si and ¹⁵N NMR peak-widths of the various silicon nitride specimens are discussed. We also provide powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and mass spectrometry data of the samples.     

An NMR study of the origin of dioxygen-induced spin-lattice relaxation enhancement and chemical shift perturbation

Due to its depth-dependent solubility, oxygen exerts paramagnetic effects which become progressively greater toward the hydrophobic interior of micelles, and lipid bilayer membranes. This paramagnetic gradient, which is manifested as contact shift perturbations (19F and 13C NMR) and spin-lattice relaxation enhancement (19F and 1H NMR), has been shown to be useful for precisely determining immersion depth, membrane protein secondary structure, and overall topology of membrane proteins. We have investigated the influence of oxygen on 19F and 13C NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation rates of a semiperfluorinated detergent, (8,8,8)-trifluoro (3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7)-difluoro octylmaltoside (TFOM) in a model membrane system, to determine the dominant paramagnetic spin-lattice relaxation and shift-perturbation mechanism. Based on the ratio of paramagnetic spin-lattice relaxation rates of 19F and directly bonded 13C nuclei, we conclude that the dominant relaxation mechanism must be dipolar. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of oxygen-induced chemical shift perturbations in 9F NMR spectra suggests a contact interaction is the dominant shift mechanism. The respective hyperfine coupling constants for 19F and 13C nuclei can then be estimated from the contact shifts <(deltav/v0)19F> and <(deltav/v0)13C>, allowing us to estimate the relative contribution of scalar and dipolar relaxation to 19F and 13C nuclei. We conclude that the contribution to spin-lattice relaxation from the oxygen induced paramagnetic scalar mechanism is negligible.     

Determination of the molecular dipole moment of bromofluoromethane: Microwave Stark spectra and ab initio calculations

The electric dipole moment of bromofluoromethane, CH₂⁷⁹BrF, has been determined with a good accuracy by observing the second order ΔM_J = 0 Stark spectrum of the J = 3_2,1 ← 3_1,2, J = 5_2,3 ← 5_1,4 and J = 5_2,4 ← 5_1,5 rotational transitions. In addition, the equilibrium geometry and dipole moment have been evaluated using highly accurate ab initio calculations. By comparing the experimental [μ_a = 0.3466(11) D and μ_b = 1.704(26) D] and theoretical [μ_a = −0.339 D and μ_b = −1.701 D] dipole moment components, a very good agreement has been found.     

Silicon-29 NMR Study of Alkaline Aqueous and Alcoholic Tri-butylmethyl Ammonium (TBMA) Silicate Solutions

Silicon-29 NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize aqueous and alcoholic alkaline solutions of tri-butylmethyl ammonium (TBMA) silicates. The effect of TBMA cation on the equilibrium of silicate oligomers in aqueous alkaline silicate solutions was investigated using ²⁹Si NMR spectra. It was found that TBMA cation has a structure directing role and directs the silicate species to form minor amounts of silicate anion in the presence of high concentration of silicon. Silicon-29 NMR spectra of TBMA silicate solutions indicate that considerable changes occurred by changing the Si/TBMA ratio. The distribution of silicate species was affected by the presence of the alcohols, specifically methanol.     

Ab initio study of the fcc-WC(1 0 0) surface and its interaction with cobalt monolayers

The WC(1 0 0) surface has been studied by using ab initio methods of the density functional theory and pseudopotentials. Calculations have shown that surface and undersurface atoms move from their bulk positions. Namely, carbon atoms moved outward, while tungsten atoms moved inward. Five geometric cases for Co/WC(1 0 0) system were compared: (A) Co atoms are above C atoms; (B) Co atoms are above W atoms; (C) Co atoms are in the four-fold sites above WC pairs; (D and E) Co atoms are above the W-W-C and C-C-W three-fold sites, respectively - and the (A) case has been found to be energetically preferable. In all cases, Co layers have been found to be ferromagnetic. The densities of states for the bulk fcc-WC, the WC(1 0 0) surface, and the WC/Co system were compared.