Intramolecular Path Determination of Active Electrons on Push-Pull Oligocarbazole Dyes-Sensitized Solar Cells

Several push-pull oligocarbazole dye-sensitizers have been studied using theoretical methods in order to better understand the relationship between structural electronic or optical properties and intramolecular path of active electrons during the ionization and injection processes. DFT/TD-DFT calculations were performed on a series of five dye sensitizers. They differ by the presence of electron donating group (EDG) by inductive effect (noted+I) or electron releasing group (ERG) by mesomeric effect (noted+M) or electron withdrawing group by inductive effect (noted-I) on the pushed part of the dyes studied. Our work focused on the internal distribution of electrons in the different parts of dye that are the push/pull moieties and the π -bridge. The study concerned the ground state, the electronic transition process and the excited state. In each situation, the fragment acting in the ionization or transition phenomena were identified. In the ground state, the electrons of the push part appear to be the least bound because they have the highest probabilities of ionization. In the excited state, the ionized atoms are essentially positioned in the pushing part and some neighboring atoms of the bridge. In the electronic transition, the active atoms are located in the π -conjugated part but only on the side adjacent to the acceptor group. To arrive to this conclusion, we optimized the structures of the five dyes in their ground and excited states. We calculated the atomic charges, the wavelengths and intensities of electronic transitions in the visible domain, the reorganization energies as well as the oxidation potential. It appears that +M donor ligands improve the performance of a dye because the great distribution of atoms to be ionized in the push parts.     

Revisiting the nature of the ZnO ground state: Influence of spin–orbit coupling

Relativistic calculations of the low-lying electronic states of the ZnO molecule are performed for the Λ–Σ states, ¹Σ⁺, ¹Π, ¹Δ, ³Π and ³Σ⁻, at the CCSD(T) or MRCI level, using scalar relativistic energy-consistent pseudopotentials, and the EPCISO method for spin–orbit CI coupling. The ZnO ground state is assigned to 0⁺ symmetry and has ¹Σ⁺ character around the equilibrium region. The spectroscopic constants (r_e, ω_e) of the 0⁺ ground state are in good agreement with experimental results. Interpenetration of the vibrational levels of the two lowest 0⁺ states is also shown.     

A theoretical study of the dihydrogen molecule confined inside carbon nanotubes

The aim of this work is to better understand the interaction between the confined dihydrogen molecule and armchair (2,2), (3,3) (4,4), (5,5), and (6,6) single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) using Restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods using B3LYP and CAM‐B3LYP functionals. Depending on the calculation method and its orientation inside the nanotube, H₂ binds differently. We found that H? H bond length increases when H₂ is trapped in CNT (2,2) and decreases for CNT (3,3) and (4,4). The characteristics of confined H₂ in (5,5) and (6,6) nanotubes are similar to H₂ in a free state. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Gyroscopic tensor ab initio calculation of the molecular crystals: (Mo6X14)2−Y−(TTF+)3 (X=Br,Cl and Y=Br,Cl, I)

The aim of this study is the determination of the g tensor of the tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) molecule involved in chlorine and bromine radical–ion salts. This work is based on ab initio calculations using several basis sets which enabled us to compare theoretical and experimental measurement data. The results show clearly the impact of the structural distortions on the g gyroscopic matrix elements and proves the important fact that even a small variation of the crystallographic parameters has major consequences on the physical–chemical properties. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

Internal path investigation of the acting electrons during the photocatalysis of panchromatic ruthenium dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells

A series of heteroleptic Ru(II) complexes were theoretically investigated using time-dependent density functional theory. These dyes, including K8 and N3, are based on a common motif formed by Ru center, NCS, and polypyridyl ligands, but differ only by the nature of the added group in para position of each pyridyl. The presence of these ligands will enable the evaluation of the electronic effects ±I and ±M. This work focuses on the localization of the part, among the metal, the NCS, the polypyridyl ligands, and the added group R, which is most actively involved in the photocatalysis process. We dealt with both ground and excited states as well as the electronic transitions between them. To illustrate the effect of each functional group R on its photophysical properties, the geometries of five dyes were optimized in the molecular and univalent cationic states. All molecules are asymmetrical in shape with a distorted octahedral coordination of the RuN6 core. Atomic charge and spin density distributions show that a charge transfer process occurs from the NCS/Ru to polypyridyl ligand. Analysis of the electronic absorption spectra reveals that the band with the highest wavelength value is assigned to metal-to-ligand charge transfer transition. On the contrary, two other bands are assigned to multitransitions Ru/NCS to polypyridyl–π*. These attributions have been confirmed by the localization of all atoms intervening in them. We also introduced an adapted way to estimate the ionization probability values in each atomic center in the ground and first excited states. Phenomenal properties such as mobility, redox potential, electronic spectrum, ionization potential, and optical gap of the most efficient dye, which is the N3, fit well with experimental values.     

Theoretical ab initio study of NO and CO depollution reaction catalyzed by copper

The reaction between NO and CO leading to N₂ and CO₂ is the most studied depollution process of the former molecules. An ab initio study of a multistage mechanism of this reaction catalyzed by copper was performed at SCF level. Many intermediates intervene in the proposed mechanism, such as CuCO, CuNO, CuO, and NCO. Geometrical parameters, atomic charge, dipole moment, vibrational normal mode wave number, and dissociation energy of intervening molecules were calculated. Thermochemistry parameters (ΔH, ΔG, ΔS) were also obtained. Transition state has also been determined and has allowed us to discuss the reaction mechanism. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Aromaticity or non aromaticity in germanazenes? Theoretical studies on germanazenes, the N-cyano analogs and their carbodiimide isomers

Theoretical studies of germanazene rings [(Ge_II-NR)_2,3; R = H, Me, CN, Ph] have been performed at the DFT/B3LYP level. The fully optimized geometrical structures display four or six-membered planar rings of alternating germanium and nitrogen, in good agreement with the available X-ray experimental data. The hypothetical molecule (GeN-H)₂ presents only a small distortion from planarity. Although the planar conformation could indicate some degree of delocalization, the stabilization energy - estimated using the concept of homodesmotic reactions - indicates very little or no aromatic character in these molecules. The easy experimental formation of these germanazenes can be explained by di- (or tri-)merisation of the transient monomeric germylene-imine GeNR in its triplet state. When R = CN, in conformity with the experimental results, the most stable species is the isomeric carbodiimide form (GeNCN)_n, a result which is easily explained by the maximum spin density on the terminal nitrogen in the calculated monomer.     

Theoretical Study of the Metal–Metal Interaction in Dipalladium(I) Complexes

Correlated ab initio calculations have been performed on three dipalladium(I) complexes. These compounds differ both by the metal–metal interaction and by the metal–ligand interaction. The [Pd₂Cl₂(μ −H₂PCH₂PH₂)₂] complex exhibits a σ overlap between the two binding metallic orbitals and has no bridging ligand. In [Pd₂Cl₄(μ −CO)₂]²⁻, the leading interaction between the two palladium involves a π overlap between the metallic orbitals and goes through the two bridging CO ligands. In [Pd₂Cl₂(μ −CO)(μ −H₂PCH₂ PH₂)₂], a single CO ligand bridges the two palladium atoms which interact through a hybrid σ–δ overlap. The three compounds also differ by the metal–metal distances. Surprisingly enough, while the palladium atoms are formally d ⁹ in all these complexes, none of them is paramagnetic. We propose here a detailed analysis of the electronic structures of these compounds and rationalize their chemical structures as well as the role of back-donation in the CO bridged compounds. Finally, since highly correlated treatments are used to describe these complexes, a detailed study of the role of both non-dynamical and dynamical correlations is performed. Concerning the [Pd₂Cl₄(μ −CO)₂]²⁻ complex, this analysis has revealed that the complex is not bound at the lowest correlated levels of calculation and therefore dynamical correlation is alone responsible for its binding energy.