Hamaker 2: A Toolkit for the Calculation of Particle Interactions and Suspension Stability and its Application to Mullite Synthesis by Colloidal Methods

For modern processing of ceramics at the nanoscale, the influence of interparticle interactions in the suspended state becomes increasingly important. The Hamaker 2 program has been developed for the rapid prediction of these interactions, allowing us to gain important understanding of the often delicate balance of forces in ceramic powder suspensions. This article discusses the theoretical foundation of the implemented models and shows the benefit of this predictive approach applied to mullite production by colloidal methods.     

Theoretical Study on the Structural and Optoelectronic Properties of the Linear Perfluorooctane Sulfonate （PFOS）

The perfluoroalkyl substances(PFS) have attracted considerable attention in recent years as a persistent global pollutant to be able to bioaccumulate in higher organisms.In this paper,theoretical analysis on electronic structures,optoelectronic properties and absorption spectra properties of the perflurooctane sulfonate(PFOS) in gas phase have been investigated by using the DFT/TD-DFT method.The geometric structures,electrostatic potentials,energy gaps,ionization potentials,electron affinities,frontier molecular orbital,excitation energies and absorption spectra for the ground state of PFOS were calculated.The result indicates that the ability of accepting electron of neutral PFOS is larger than that of anionic PFOS,while the electron excited by UV irradiation from HOMO to LUMO in the anionic PFOS is easier than that in the neutral PFOS.     

Bonding of Hydroxyl and Epoxy Groups on Graphene： Insights from Density Functional Calculations

Density functional theory and GGA-PW91 exchange correlation function were performed to simulate the bonding behavior of hydroxyl and epoxy groups on the graphene surface. We compared the different binding energies for two epoxy groups, as well as one hydroxyl group and one epoxy group on all possible positions within a 6-fold ring, respectively. The calculated results suggest that two oxygen-containing groups always tend to bind with the neighboring carbon atoms at the opposite sides. Moreover, two hydroxyl groups on the meta position are unstable, and one of the hydroxyl groups easily migrates to the para position. In contrast to the disperse arrangement, the aggregation of multiply hydroxyl groups largely enhances the binding energy of every hydroxyl group. It is worth noting that the binding sites and hydrogen bonds play an important role in stability. Our work further points out the number of oxygen-containing groups and the location of oxide region largely influence the electronic properties of graphene oxide.     

Synthesis,characterisation and mesomorphic properties of ester containing aroylhydrazones and their nickel(II) complexes

A new series of mesogenic aroylhydrazone-based ligands, N-[4-(4′-alkoxy)benzoyloxybenzylidene]-N′-[4″-alkoxybenzoyl]hydrazine with either the same or different peripheral alkyl chains, and nickel(II) complexes of some of them have been synthesised. They were characterised by elemental analyses, Fourier transform infrared, proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The mesomorphic properties of these compounds were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and polarising optical microscopy. All the aroylhydrazones, except those with no lateral chains on either end of the molecule and where m?=?n?=?14, 16, exhibit a monotropic or enantiotropic smectic C mesophase, which are almost insensitive to the peripheral alkoxy chain length. The square planar nickel(II) complexes of the ligands show only an isotropic phase at higher temperature (>175°C) and no mesogenic nature is observed. Density functional theory calculations have been performed using the GAUSSIAN-03 program at the Becke, three-parameter, Lee–Yang–Parr level to obtain the stable electronic structure of the ligand.     

Liquid crystal orientation in elliptic droplets in nematic emulsions

Elliptic droplets of nematic liquid crystal dispersed in a fluid organic monomer were obtained by phase separation from an isotropic mixture consisting of an organic monomer and a nematic liquid crystal contained in a poly(ethylene terephthalate) cell with inner surfaces treated with rubbed polyimide. The elliptic shape is a consequence of the constraint upon droplet growth along the direction perpendicular to the cell surfaces owing to the small thickness. Then, the resulting droplets will have a contact area with the inner surfaces of the cell treated with polyimide, which will impart a planar orientation on the liquid crystal in the droplet. By means of an optical microscope, using a simple pin hole of 5 μ m, we have selected single droplets for a series of samples having different contact areas. By polarized infrared spectroscopy we have also studied the liquid crystal orientation in selected areas of the droplets. We then report the dependence of the order parameter of the liquid crystal on different contact areas with the alignment surface of the cell. The good degree of planar alignment of the liquid crystal in the elliptic droplets allows the use of such a technique for realizing electro-optical films operating in the reverse mode. We report the electro-optical transmission of reverse mode films with different sizes of elliptic droplet.     

Regioselective Sequential Additions of Nucleophiles and Electrophiles to Perfluoroalkylfullerenes: Which Cage C Atoms Are the Most Reactive and Why?

The sequential addition of CN^? or CH₃^? and electrophiles to three perfluoroalkylfullerenes (PFAFs), C_s‐C₇₀(CF₃)₈, C₁‐C₇₀(CF₃)₁₀, and C_s‐p‐C₆₀(CF₃)₂, was carried out to determine the most reactive individual fullerene C atoms (as opposed to the most reactive C?C bonds, which has previously been studied). Each PFAF reacted with CH₃^? or CN^? to generate metastable PFAF(CN)^? or PFAF(CH₃)₂^2? species with high regioselectivity (i.e., one or two predominant isomers). They were treated with electrophiles E⁺ to generate PFAF(CN)(E) or PFAF(CH₃)₂(E)₂ derivatives, also with high regioselectivity (E⁺=CN⁺, CH₃⁺, or H⁺). All of the predominant products, characterized by mass spectrometry and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, are new compounds. Some could be purified by HPLC to give single isomers. Two of them, C₇₀(CF₃)₈(CN)₂ and C₇₀(CF₃)₁₀(CH₃)₂(CN)₂, were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. DFT calculations were used to propose whether a particular reaction is under kinetic or thermodynamic control.     

Ni‐Catalyzed [4+3+2] Cycloaddition of Ethyl Cyclopropylideneacetate and Dienynes: Scope and Mechanistic Insights

A detailed study of the Ni‐catalyzed [4+3+2] cycloaddition reaction between ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate and dienynes has been conducted, resulting in the development of a new method for the synthesis of compounds containing nine‐membered rings. We studied the reactivity of various dienynes, together with their substituent and conformational effects. The mechanism of the reaction was probed by examining the stoichiometric reactions of the Ni complexes and dienynes.     

The Family of Ferrocene‐Stabilized Silylium Ions: Synthesis, 29Si NMR Characterization,Lewis Acidity,Substituent Scrambling,and Quantum‐Chemical Analyses

The purpose of this systematic experimental and theoretical study is to deeply understand the unique bonding situation in ferrocene‐stabilized silylium ions as a function of the substituents at the silicon atom and to learn about the structure parameters that determine the ²⁹Si NMR chemical shift and electrophilicity of these strong Lewis acids. For this, ten new members of the family of ferrocene‐stabilized silicon cations were prepared by a hydride abstraction reaction from silanes with the trityl cation and characterized by multinuclear ¹H and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy. A closer look at the NMR spectra revealed that additional minor sets of signals were not impurities but silylium ions with substitution patterns different from that of the initially formed cation. Careful assignment of these signals furnished experimental proof that sterically less hindered silylium ions are capable of exchanging substituents with unreacted silane precursors. Density functional theory calculations provided mechanistic insight into that substituent transfer in which the migrating group is exchanged between two silicon fragments in a concerted process involving a ferrocene‐bridged intermediate. Moreover, the quantum‐chemical analysis of the ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts revealed a linear relationship between δ(²⁹Si) values and the Fe???Si distance for subsets of silicon cations. An electron localization function and electron localizability indicator analysis shows a three‐center two‐electron bonding attractor between the iron, silicon, and C′_ipso atoms, clearly distinguishing the silicon cations from the corresponding carbenium ions and boranes. Correlations between ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts and Lewis acidity, evaluated in terms of fluoride ion affinities, are seen only for subsets of silylium ions, sometimes with non‐intuitive trends, indicating a complicated interplay of steric and electronic effects on the degree of the Fe???Si interaction.     

含绿色荧光蛋白发色团双自由基分子的非线性光学性质

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)方法研究了系列含绿色荧光蛋白发色团双自由基分子光学异构体的几何结构、极化率(αs)和第一超极化率(βtot).结果表明,引入电子给受体取代基使分子的极化率增大,而对第一超极化率有不同影响.对于光照前的反式结构,引入电子受体βtot值增加,且βtot值随取代基吸电子能力的增强而增大;引入电子给体βtot值降低,且βtot值随取代基给电子能力的增强而减小.当分子变成相应的顺式结构时,其βtot值变化趋势与反式结构的结果正好相反.光异构化前后分子的βtot值变化不同,引入电子受体使顺式结构的βtot值比反式结构的小,其中―NO2使顺式结构的βtot值减小为反式结构的1/6;引入电子给体使反式结构的βtot值比顺式结构的小,其中―NH2使反式结构的βtot值减小为顺式结构的1/6.从而,光异构化起到调节非线性光学(NLO)响应的作用.     

TinO2和TinO2-(n=1-10)团簇的几何结构、电子和磁性质

基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的B3LYP方法,研究了TinO2和TinO2-(n=1-10)团簇的几何结构、电子结构以及磁性.结果表明,两个氧以分离的原子状态吸附在金属团簇的表面,呈现出以一个钛原子为中心的O-Ti-O的相邻吸附形式.中性团簇和阴离子团簇的能量最低结构相似.稳定性分析表明TinO2具有很高的稳定性,特别是TiO2和Ti7O2.此外,详细讨论了团簇的电离势、电子亲和能、电子解离能和能隙.基于最低能量结构,讨论了团簇的磁性,发现电荷从Ti原子向O原子转移,并且电荷转移主要发生在TinO2的Ti-3d、Ti-4s和O-2p轨道.磁性团簇中反铁磁序占据主导,磁矩主要来源Ti-3d电子的贡献,而两个氧原子的贡献非常小.