Density functional study of α-graphyne derivatives: Energetic stability,atomic and electronic structure

The energetic stability, atomic and electronic structures of α-graphyne and its derivatives (α-GYs) with extended carbon chains were investigated by density functional (DF) calculations in this work. The studied α-GYs consist of hexagon carbon rings sharing their edges with carbon atoms N=1–10. The structure and energy analyses show that α-GYs with even-numbered carbon chains have alternating single and triple C–C bonds (polyyne), energetically more stable than those with odd-numbered carbon chains possessing continuous double C–C bonds (polycumulene). The calculated electronic structures indicate that α-GYs can be either metallic (odd N) or semiconductive (even N) depending on the parity of number of atoms on hexagon edges despite the edge length. The semiconducting α-graphyne derivatives are found to possess Dirac cones (DC) with small direct band gaps 2–40 meV and large electron velocities 0.554×10⁶–0.671×10⁶ m/s, 70–80% of that of graphene. Our DF studies suggest that introducing sp carbon atoms into the hexagon edges of graphene opens up an avenue to switch between metallic and DC electronic structures via tuning the parity of the number of hexagon edge atoms.     

Donor impurity-related photoionization cross-section in parabolic quantum wires: Effects of intense laser field and applied electric field

Within the effective mass approximation, the effects of the electric and intense laser fields on the binding energy and the photoionization cross-section of shallow-donor impurities in GaAs/GaAlAs parabolic quantum wires are investigated theoretically by using a variational method. The numerical results show that the electric and intense laser fields lead to significant changes in the binding energy and photoionization cross-section.     

丁胺包裹的CdSe量子点敏化的TiO2纳米晶薄膜电子转移机制

利用超快光谱技术系统研究了在丁胺包裹的CdSe量子点敏化的TiO₂纳米晶薄膜起始时刻界面间电子转移动力学。与之前的报道不同,该实验结果表明:CdSe量子点经过表面修饰后,两相电子注入机制--热电子和冷电子注入得以被证实,即:电子能分别从CdSe量子点导带中高的振动能级和导带底转移到TiO₂的导带。该机制详细描绘了电子在纳米界面间转移的图景。进一步研究发现:热电子注入的电子耦合强度(3.6±0.1 meV)比弛豫后的基态电子注入高两个数量级,基于Marcus理论,伴随着0.083 eV的重组能,冷电子注入的耦合强度值为~50 μeV。     

Can 2‐acylpyrroles form an intramolecular hydrogen bond?

The formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonding by certain N‐substituted 2‐acylpyrroles has been demonstrated by B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVDZ calculations, the quantum theory of atoms in molecules, and the natural bond orbital method. Total electron energy densities H_BCP at the bond critical point of the H?O bond were applied to analyze the strength of these interactions. The relations between quantum theory of atoms in molecules, carbonyl stretching vibrational modes ν_{C = O}, and natural bond orbital parameters associated with the formation of the C–H?O interaction have been established. The short contacts were found experimentally in the crystal structure of a new 2‐acylpyrrole derivative 5‐chloro‐2‐oxopentyl‐1‐(5‐chloro‐2‐oxopentyl)pyrrolo‐2‐carboxylate. The influence of 2‐ and N‐substitution of 2‐acylpyrroles on C‐H?O interaction energy is discussed. It was found that the methylene group may act as a proton donor leading to a red‐shift or blue‐shift phenomenon of the ν_C–H stretching mode. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The U4Re7Si6 type – Trends in electronic structure and chemical bonding

The electronic structures and chemical bonding of selected ternary compounds of the A₄T₇X₆ family (of U₄Re₇Si₆-type) intermetallics have been studied by ab initio methods. The calculations for two series: Mg₄Rh₇P₆, Sc₄Co₇Ge₆, Ti₄Co₇Ge₆ and uranium containing U₄Re₇Si₆, U₄Ru₇Ge₆, and U₄Ru₇As₆ show common bonding characteristics pertaining to main T1–X and T2–X interactions (T = transition metal and X = p-element) due to the peculiar crystal chemistry with T1@X₆ and T2@X₄ coordination polyhedra. The uranium compounds are found to be stabilized in a spin polarized ferromagnetic configuration, especially for U₄Ru₇Ge₆ (in agreement with experiment) and U₄Ru₇As₆.     

Mixed IR/Vis Two‐Dimensional Spectroscopy: Chemical Exchange beyond the Vibrational Lifetime and Sub‐ensemble Selective Photochemistry

Two‐dimensional exchange spectroscopy (2D EXSY) is a powerful method to study the interconversion (chemical exchange) of molecular species in equilibrium. This method has recently been realized in femtosecond 2D‐IR spectroscopy, dramatically increasing the time resolution. However, current implementations allow the EXSY signal (and therefore the chemical process of interest) only to be tracked during the lifetime (T₁) of the observed spectroscopic transition. This is a severe limitation, as typical vibrational T₁ are only a few ps. An IR/Vis pulse sequence is presented that overcomes this limit and makes the EXSY signal independent of T₁. The same pulse sequence allows to collect time‐resolved IR spectra after electronic excitation of a particular chemical species in a mixture of species with strongly overlapping UV/Vis spectra. Different photoreaction pathways and dynamics of coexisting isomers or of species involved in different intermolecular interactions can thus be revealed, even if the species cannot be isolated because they are in rapid equilibrium.     

Large Hexagonal Bi‐ and Trilayer Graphene Single Crystals with Varied Interlayer Rotations

Bi‐ and trilayer graphene have attracted intensive interest due to their rich electronic and optical properties, which are dependent on interlayer rotations. However, the synthesis of high‐quality large‐size bi‐ and trilayer graphene single crystals still remains a challenge. Here, the synthesis of 100 μm pyramid‐like hexagonal bi‐ and trilayer graphene single‐crystal domains on Cu foils using chemical vapor deposition is reported. The as‐produced graphene domains show almost exclusively either 0° or 30° interlayer rotations. Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy were used to demonstrate that bilayer graphene domains with 0° interlayer stacking angles were Bernal stacked. Based on first‐principle calculations, it is proposed that rotations originate from the graphene nucleation at the Cu step, which explains the origin of the interlayer rotations and agrees well with the experimental observations.     

The Origin of the Selectivity and Activity of Ruthenium‐Cluster Catalysts for Fuel‐Cell Feed‐Gas Purification: A Gas‐Phase Approach

Gas‐phase ruthenium clusters Ru_n⁺ (n=2–6) are employed as model systems to discover the origin of the outstanding performance of supported sub‐nanometer ruthenium particles in the catalytic CO methanation reaction with relevance to the hydrogen feed‐gas purification for advanced fuel‐cell applications. Using ion‐trap mass spectrometry in conjunction with first‐principles density functional theory calculations three fundamental properties of these clusters are identified which determine the selectivity and catalytic activity: high reactivity toward CO in contrast to inertness in the reaction with CO₂; promotion of cooperatively enhanced H₂ coadsorption and dissociation on pre‐formed ruthenium carbonyl clusters, that is, no CO poisoning occurs; and the presence of Ru‐atom sites with a low number of metal–metal bonds, which are particularly active for H₂ coadsorption and activation. Furthermore, comprehensive theoretical investigations provide mechanistic insight into the CO methanation reaction and discover a reaction route involving the formation of a formyl‐type intermediate.     

The Benzylperoxyl Radical as a Source of Hydroxyl and Phenyl Radicals

The benzyl radical ( 1 ) is a key intermediate in the combustion and tropospheric oxidation of toluene. Because of its relevance, the reaction of 1 with molecular oxygen was investigated by matrix‐isolation IR and EPR spectroscopy as well as computational methods. The primary reaction product of 1 and O₂ is the benzylperoxyl radical ( 2 ), which exists in several conformers that can easily interconvert even at cryogenic temperatures. Photolysis of radical 2 at 365 nm results in a formal [1,3]‐H migration and subsequent cleavage of the O?O bond to produce a hydrogen‐bonded complex between the hydroxyl radical and benzaldehyde ( 4 ). Prolonged photolysis produces the benzoyl radical ( 5 ) and water, which finally yield the phenyl radical ( 7 ), CO, and H₂O. Thus, via a sequence of exothermic reactions 1 is transformed into radicals of even higher reactivity, such as OH and 7 . Our results have implications for the development of models for the highly complicated process of combustion of aromatic compounds.