Photo‐physical Properties of N‐methyl‐3,4‐fulleropyrrolidine and Its Derivatives: A DFT and TD‐DFT Investigation

A series of N‐methyl‐3,4‐fulleropyrrolidine (NMFP) derivatives were designed by selecting different π‐conjugated linkers and electron‐donating groups as D‐π‐A and D‐A systems. The optimised structures and photo‐physical properties of NMFP and its derivatives have been determined using density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) methods with the B3LYP functional and the 6‐31G basis set. According to the computation analysis, both the π‐conjugated linkers and the electron‐donating groups can influence the electronic and photo‐physical properties of the NMFP derivatives. Our calculated results demonstrated that the electron‐donating groups, with significant electron‐donating ability, had the tendency to increase the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy. The π‐conjugated linkers with lower resonance energy decreased the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy and caused a significant decrease in the energy gap (E_g) between the E_HOMO and E_LUMO. A Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis examines the effect of the electron‐donating group, π conjugated linker, and electron‐withdrawing group for these NMFP derivatives. For the NMFP derivatives, a projected density of state (PDOS) analysis demonstrated that the electron density of HOMO and LUMO are concentrated on the electron‐donating group and the π‐conjugated linker, respectively. A TD‐DFT/B3LYP calculation was performed to calculate the electronic absorption spectra of these NMFP derivatives. Both the electron‐donating group and the π‐conjugated linker contribute to the major absorption peaks, which are assigned as HOMO to LUMO transitions and are red‐shifted relative to those of non‐substituted NMFP.     

Theoretical study of one-photon and two-photon absorption properties of perylene tetracarboxylic derivatives

The geometrical structure, electronic structure, one-photon absorption (OPA) and two-photon absorption (TPA) properties of the perylene tetracarboxylic derivatives (PTCDs) were studied theoretically by using density functional theory (DFT) and Zerner's intermediate neglect of differential overlap (ZINDO) methods. The results revealed that increasing the number of naphthalene nucleus, extending the conjugated length on long axis, increasing the strength of donor group on lateral side, decreasing the DeltaE(H-L) (energy gap between the highest occupied orbital and the lowest unoccupied orbital) and keeping the conjugation effect and inductive effect along the same molecular axis are the efficient ways to enlarge TPA cross section of PTCDs compounds. The results that PTCDs compounds exhibited extremely large TPA cross section of around 800-1100 nm (near infrared region) shed light into the significance of the PTCDs compounds for applications in TPA labeling materials in vivo.     

Electron smearing in DFT calculations: A case study of doxorubicin interaction with single‐walled carbon nanotubes

To address the choice of an appropriate value of electron smearing to facilitate self‐consistent field (SCF) convergence, we studied the interaction of doxorubicin with short armchair and zigzag single‐walled carbon nanotube models with closed caps, at the PWC/DNP level of density functional theory. By gradually reducing the electron smearing value from a large and most commonly used one of 0.005 Ha to zero (Fermi occupation), we monitored the changes in close contacts between the interacting species, total energy of the molecular system, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy and isosurfaces, HOMO‐LUMO gap energy, and plots of electrostatic potential. It became evident that the commonly used smearing values of ≥0.001 Ha can alter the results significantly (for example, by one order of magnitude for HOMO–LUMO gap energy). We suggest the setting of electron smearing value at 0.0001 Ha, which does not imply too high computation cost and can guarantee the results close to the ones obtained with Fermi occupation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Comparison of DFT methods for molecular orbital eigenvalue calculations

We report how closely the Kohn-Sham highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) eigenvalues of 11 density functional theory (DFT) functionals, respectively, correspond to the negative ionization potentials (-IPs) and electron affinities (EAs) of a test set of molecules. We also report how accurately the HOMO-LUMO gaps of these methods predict the lowest excitation energies using both time-independent and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). The 11 DFT functionals include the local spin density approximation (LSDA), five generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functionals, three hybrid GGA functionals, one hybrid functional, and one hybrid meta GGA functional. We find that the HOMO eigenvalues predicted by KMLYP, BH&HLYP, B3LYP, PW91, PBE, and BLYP predict the -IPs with average absolute errors of 0.73, 1.48, 3.10, 4.27, 4.33, and 4.41 eV, respectively. The LUMOs of all functionals fail to accurately predict the EAs. Although the GGA functionals inaccurately predict both the HOMO and LUMO eigenvalues, they predict the HOMO-LUMO gap relatively accurately (approximately 0.73 eV). On the other hand, the LUMO eigenvalues of the hybrid functionals fail to predict the EA to the extent that they include HF exchange, although increasing HF exchange improves the correspondence between the HOMO eigenvalue and -IP so that the HOMO-LUMO gaps are inaccurately predicted by hybrid DFT functionals. We find that TD-DFT with all functionals accurately predicts the HOMO-LUMO gaps. A linear correlation between the calculated HOMO eigenvalue and the experimental -IP and calculated HOMO-LUMO gap and experimental lowest excitation energy enables us to derive a simple correction formula.     

Ab initio Hartree-Fock and density functional theory study on characterization of 3-(5-methylthiazol-2-yldiazenyl)-2-phenyl-1H-indole

The optimized molecular structures, vibrational frequencies, corresponding vibrational assignments, thermodynamic properties, UV–vis spectra and atomic charges of 3-(5-methylthiazol-2-yldiazenyl)-2-phenyl-1H-indole molecule have been investigated using ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (B3LYP) methods at 6–31G (d,p) basis set. The obtained bond lengths and bond angles have been seen to be good agreement with the experimental data. After calculated vibrational frequencies have been compared with each other, the correlation coefficient has been determined. Moreover, we have not only simulated highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) but also determined the transition state and energy band gap. Infrared intensities and Raman activities have been also reported.     

Molecular structure, vibrational spectroscopic, first hyperpolarizability, NBO and HOMO, LUMO studies of P-Iodobenzene sulfonyl chloride

In this work, the experimental and theoretical vibrational spectra of P-Iodobenzene sulfonyl chloride (P-IBSC) were studied. P-IBSC and its derivatives present in many biologically active compounds. Because of their spectroscopic properties and chemical significance in particular, sulfonyl chloride and its derivatives have been studied extensively by spectroscopic (FTIR and FT-Raman spectra) and theoretical methods. The infrared spectra of these compounds were recorded in condensed states, while the Raman spectra were measured without polarization using both parallel and perpendicular polarizations of scattered light. The molecular geometry, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), first order hyperpolarizability and thermodynamic properties of P-IBSC have been computed with the help of density functional theory (B3LYP) and ab initio (HF) methods with the LanL2DZ basis set. The HOMO and LUMO energy gap explains the charge transfer interactions taking place within the molecule. NBO study explains charge delocalization of the molecule. The contributions of the different modes to each wave number were determined using potential energy distributions (PEDs). The experimental and calculated results were consistent with each other.     

氟硼二吡咯类pH荧光探针PET光谱特性的理论计算

氟硼二吡咯(BODIPY)类pH荧光探针分子是基于光诱导电子转移(PET)的荧光探针分子, 识别基团氮原子上引入不同取代基可呈现不同的光学灵敏度. 本文应用密度泛函理论(DFT)及含时密度泛函理论(TD-DFT)方法对六种含不同取代基的探针分子进行了几何构型优化及激发态计算, 探讨了不同取代基对PET效应影响. 计算结果表明: 基态时这些探针分子的最高占有分子轨道(HOMO)和最低未占有分子轨道(LUMO)都在荧光母体BODIPY的π, π^*轨道, 而识别基团上氮原子孤对电子所在的轨道为HOMO-1轨道. 但是在激发态, 当氮原子上有两个取代基时, HOMO-1→LUMO跃迁的激发能都小于荧光团的HOMO→LUMO跃迁, 这将有可能产生PET效应并导致荧光熄灭, 而当氮原子上有一个取代基时不会出现这种现象. 通过激发态结构优化可以发现, 无论识别基团氮原子上有一个还是两个取代基, N原子的轨道对称性都发生变化, 由sp³→sp², 孤对电子占据在p轨道上, 其轨道能级升高至荧光团的HOMO和LUMO轨道之间, 将导致不同程度的PET效应, 与实验结果一致.     

Ab initio investigation of 2,2′‐bis(4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐5,5′‐bithiazole for the design of efficient organic field‐effect transistors

The initial molecular structure of 2,2′‐bis(4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐ 5,5′‐bithiazole has been optimized in the ground state using density functional theory (DFT). The distribution patterns of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) have also been evaluated. To shed light on the charge transfer properties, we have calculated the reorganization energy of electron λ_e, the reorganization energy of hole λ_h, adiabatic electron affinity (EA_a), vertical electron affinity (EA_v), adiabatic ionization potential (IP_a), and vertical ionization potential (IP_v) using DFT. Based on the evaluation of hole reorganization energy, λ_h, and electron reorganization energy, λ_e, it has been predicted that 2,2′‐bis(4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐5,5′‐bithiazole would be a better electron transport material. Finally, the effect of electric field on the HOMO, LUMO, and HOMO–LUMO gap were observed to check its suitability for the use as a conducting channel in organic field‐effect transistors. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

外电场下氮化铝分子结构和光谱研究

以6-311＋G(2DF)为基函数, 采用密度泛函B3P86的方法研究了外电场作用下氮化铝(AlN)基态分子的几何结构、HOMO能级、LUMO能级、能隙及谐振频率. 结果表明, 外电场的大小和方向对AlN分子基态的这些性质有明显影响. 在所加的电场范围内, 随着外电场的增大分子键长减小, 谐振频率增大, 总能量升高, 在F＝0.02 a.u.时能量达到最大, 为－297.4217 a.u., 此后继续增大电场强度, 系统总能量则开始降低; EH 和EL 随着电场的增加均逐渐增大, 在 F＝0.01 a.u.时, EH 和EL均取得最大值, 分别为－0.2776和－0.0828 a.u., 随着电场的继续增大, 能级EH和EL均逐渐减小, 而能隙在外电场增大的过程中始终处于减小趋势.     

Correlation between the molecular structure and the corrosion inhibition efficiency of chestnut tannin in acidic solutions

The frontier orbital theory and the inhibitor adsorption theory were applied to the results of the quantum calculations and corrosion rate measurements, respectively, in order to elucidate the chestnut tannin inhibitory action on low-carbon steel corrosion in 2 M HCl. Nine major constituents of chestnut tannin—vescalagin, castalagin, vescalin, castalin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, mono-, di- and trigalloylglucose—were modeled by molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics and semiempirical quantum NDDO method with PM3 parametrization. The geometrical structure, the energy of the highest occupied (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), the HOMO–LUMO energy gap, the distribution of the HOMO electron density and the magnitude and direction of the dipole moment were calculated for each molecule. Molecular reactivity that is related to its adsorbability by the HSAB principle, was studied by calculating the absolute electronegativity, absolute hardness and the electron donating ability. The quantum calculations results, coupled with those derived from the adsorption theory, gave a consistent picture of the investigated corrosion system.     

具有大的双光子吸收截面的四羧酸二萘嵌苯衍生物的理论研究

用密度泛涵方法和ZINDO方法,从理论上研究了一系列四羧酸二萘嵌苯的衍生物(PTCDS)。对其平衡几何、电子结构和单双光子吸收性质进行了详细的计算研究。结果表明,此系列衍生物的双光子吸收截面主要由其主体结构(二萘嵌苯)决定。△EH-Lgap (HOMO与LUMO间的能隙)的减小,HOMO轨道能量的增大,分子主轴两端取代基给电子强度的增强,共轭长度的增大,分子刚性的增强都有利于此系列化合物双光子吸收截面的增大。并设计了比文献[22]报道的分子C有更大的双光子吸收截面的两个分子D1,D2。     

二茂铁及其衍生物的电化学特性与结构理论研究

研究了二茂铁及其衍生物(甲酰二茂铁,乙酰二茂铁,甲醇二茂铁和乙酸二茂铁)的电化学行为,运用结构理论给出了二茂铁D5点群群轨道能级图与二茂铁衍生物的前线轨道能级图,得出在二茂铁分子结构中1e2(dx2-y2,dxy)与3a1(dz2,4s)分别属于分子前线轨道中的HOMO和LUMO。同时用密度泛函理论(DFT)在LANL2DZ基组水平上对其结构进行了全优化,得到了二茂铁及其衍生物前线最高被占轨道(HOMO)能量值,Fe原子净电荷,对其电化学行为与前线轨道能级相对大小进行了验证。     

An oligomer study on small band gap polymers

Small band gap polymers may increase the energy conversion efficiency of polymer solar cells by increased absorption of sunlight. Here we present a combined experimental and theoretical study on the optical and electrochemical properties of a series of well-defined, lengthy, small band gap oligo(5,7-bis(thiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine)s ( E g = 1.50 eV) having alternating donor and acceptor units. The optical absorptions of the ground state, triplet excited state, radical cation, and dication are identified and found to shift to lower energy with increasing chain length. The reduction of the band gap in these alternating small band gap oligomers mainly results from an increase of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level. The S 1-T 1 singlet-triplet splitting is reduced from approximately 0.9 eV from the trimeric monomer to -0.5 eV for the pentamer. This significant exchange energy is consistent with the fact that both the HOMO and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) remain distributed over virtually all units, rather than being localized on the D and A units.     

New materials based on thiazolothiazole and thiophene candidates for optoelectronic device applications: theoretical investigations

We report theoretical analysis on the geometries and electronic properties of new conjugated compounds based on thiazolothiazole synthesized by Ando et al. (Synth. Met., 156:327 [13]). The theoretical ground-state geometry and electronic structure of the studied molecules were investigated by the density functional theory (DFT) method at Becke’s three-parameter functional and Lee–Yang–Parr functional (B3LYP) level with 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The effects of the ring structure and the substituents on the geometries and electronic properties of these materials are discussed to investigate the relationship between molecular structure and optoelectronic properties. This investigation was used to drive further syntheses towards compounds more useful as active optoelectronic materials. Theoretical knowledge of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels of the components is basic in studying organic solar cells, so the HOMO, LUMO, and gap energy V _oc (open-circuit voltage) of the studied compounds are calculated and discussed. These properties suggest these materials as good candidates for use in organic dye-sensitized solar cells.     

Zeolite-Y entrapped bivalent transition metal complexes as hybrid nanocatalysts: density functional theory investigation and catalytic aspects

The intriguing research toward the exploitation of zeolite-Y-based hybrid nanocatalysts for catalytic oxidation reactions has been growing significantly. In the present investigation, we describe the synthesis of zeolite-Y entrapped transition metal complexes of the general formulae [M(SFCH)·xH₂O]-Y (where, M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni (x = 3) and Cu (x = 1)); H₂SFCH = (E)-N′-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)furan-2-carbohydrazide]. These nanocatalysts have been characterized by various physicochemical techniques. Density functional theory calculations are performed to address the relaxed geometry, bond angle, bond length, dihedral angle, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy gap, and electronic density of states of H₂SFCH ligand and their neat transition metal complexes. The observed HOMO–LUMO gap and the Fermi energy is higher for Cu(II) complexes, which demonstrates the better catalytic activity of this nanocatalyst. The catalytic activity was performed in liquid-phase oxidation of cyclohexane using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant to give cyclohexanone (CyONE) and cyclohexanol (CyOL). Among them, [Cu(SFCH)·H₂O]-Y catalyst has the highest selectivity toward CyONE (84.5%).     

8-羟基喹啉铁配合物对锐钛矿型TiO2(101)表面的敏化机理

用密度泛函理论和DMol3程序包对锐钛矿型TiO2(101)表面复合三(8-羟基喹啉-5-羧酸)铁的敏化机理进行了研究. 计算结果表明, 该染料敏化剂经式结构的HOMO(最高占据分子轨道)-LUMO(最低未占据分子轨道)能隙非常小, 很容易受到激发; TiO2纳米晶吸附染料后, HOMO、LUMO 和费米能级都升高, 导致吸附染料后开路电压VOC升高. 并进一步探讨了三(8-羟基喹啉-5-羧酸)铁在TiO2(101)表面复合过程及作用机理.     

Electronic and Chemical Characterization of Aluminum–Nitrogen (AlN) Substituted Fullerenes: C58AlN to C24Al12N12

Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/6-311G*) are applied to devise a series of AlN-substituted C₆₀ fullerenes, avoiding weak homonuclear Al–Al and N–N bonds. The substitutional structures, energy gaps between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, ionization potentials, binding energies, as well as dipole moments have been systematically investigated. The band gap (HOMO–LUMO gap) is larger for all the AlN-substituted fullerenes than C₆₀. The properties of heterofullerenes, especially, the HOMO–LUMO strongly depend on the number of AlN units. Natural charge analyses indicate that doping of fullerene with AlN units exerts electronic environment diversity to the cage. High charge transfer on the surfaces of our heterofullerenes provokes more studies on their possible application for hydrogen storage.     

二氢吲哚类染料用于染料敏化太阳能电池光敏剂的比较

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)和含时密度泛函理论(TD-DFT)对四种二氢吲哚染料进行研究, 从中筛选出相对优秀的染料敏化太阳能电池光敏剂. 对前线分子轨道的计算表明, 二氢吲哚染料的前线分子轨道结构非常有利于染料激发态向TiO2电极的电子注入. 对真空中的紫外和可见光吸收光谱的计算表明, 二氢吲哚染料的吸收光谱与太阳辐射光谱匹配较好. 对染料分子的能级计算表明, 二氢吲哚染料的能级结构比较适合于I-/I-3作电解液的TiO2纳米晶太阳能电池的光敏剂. 二氢吲哚染料最低未占据分子轨道(LUMO) 能级均比TiO2晶体导带边能级高, 能够保证激发态染料分子高效地向TiO2电极转移电子. 二氢吲哚染料最高占据分子轨道(HOMO)的能级比I-/I-3能级低, 保证了失去电子的染料分子能够顺利地从电解液中得到电子. 与实验数据比较, 得出在提高染料敏化太阳能电池转换效率方面, 对染料的关键要求是LUMO能级的位置. 染料分子的稳定性是染料敏化太阳能电池使用寿命的关键因素. 通过对化学键键长的比较表明, 二氢吲哚染料的分子稳定性基本相同. 对计算结果的分析表明, 二氢吲哚染料1(ID1)的LUMO能级最高, 分子稳定性最好, 在酒精溶液中的吸收光谱与太阳辐射光谱匹配很好, 在同类染料中是较好的染料敏化太阳能电池光敏剂.     

Au12M (M=Na,Mg, Al,Si, P,S, Cl)团簇的结构、稳定性和电子性质

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法系统地研究了Au12M(M=Na,Mg,Al,Si,P,S,Cl)团簇的结构、稳定性和电子性质.对团簇的平均结合能、镶嵌能、垂直离化势、最高占据分子轨道(HOMO)和最低未占据分子轨道(LUMO)的能级差、电荷布居分析、自然键轨道(NBO)进行了计算和讨论.对于Au12M(M=Na,Mg,Al)团簇,它们形成了内含M原子的最稳定的笼状结构.然而对于Au12M(M=Si,P,S,Cl)团簇,它们却形成了以M元素为顶点的稳定锥形结构.在这些团簇中发现Au12S团簇相对是最稳定的,这是由于Au12S团簇形成了稳定的满壳层的电子结构.自然电荷布居分析表明:对于所有的Au12M(M=Na,Mg,Al,Si,P,S,Cl)团簇电荷总是从Au原子转向M原子.自然键轨道和HOMO分析表明Au12M团簇中发生了Au原子的s-d轨道和M原子的p轨道间的杂化现象.