Charge Population Research Articles

Study of halogen interactions in dichlorovinyldiazenes: Structural analysis, DFT simulation and molecular modeling

In recent years, our research group has synthesized about two hundred different dihalogenated vinyldiazenes. The analysis revealed that the type (conformation) of the compounds is the same-"bike stop", but the properties and nature of intermolecular interactions are different. The concepts of the nature of halogen-halogen relationships recommended by IUPAC (2013) do not explain the nature of the observed intermolecular interactions in the synthesized systems. In this paper, for the first time, using the examples of the compounds presented below, an algorithm is built for the relationship between the structure of synthesized compounds and their properties, and the nature of non-covalent interactions involving the chlorine atom.The molecules presented in this paper were studied by the DFT method using the hybrid potential of B3LYP with the Gaussian 09 software package. The extended basis 6-311++G(d,p) with polarization and diffusion functions was used for calculations. Conducted NBO analysis of atomic charge populations. Calculations of the structural parameters of the synthesized systems were carried out in order to study the reactivity, molecular properties and identify the nature of non-covalent interactions involving the halogen atom. It has been established that the Cl–C–Cl triad has a flat geometry and is capable of forming atypical non-covalent interactions both with each other and with various coplanar systems.

Electrical Control of Valley Polarized Charged Exciton Species in Monolayer WS2.

Excitons are key to the optoelectronic applications of van der Waals semiconductors, with the potential for versatile on-demand tuning of properties. Yet, their electrical manipulation remains challenging due to inherent charge neutrality and the additional loss channels induced by electrical doping. We demonstrate the dynamic electrical control of valley polarization in charged excitonic states of monolayer tungsten disulfide, achieving up to a 6-fold increase in the degree of circular polarization under off-resonant excitation. In contrast to the weak direct tuning of excitons typically observed using electrical gating, the charged exciton photoluminescence remains stable, even with increased scattering from electron doping. By exciting at the exciton resonances, we observed the reproducible nonmonotonic switching of the charged state population as the electron doping is varied under gate bias, indicating a resonant interplay between neutral and charged exciton states.

Combinatory Effect of Gemcitabine and 5‐Fluorouracil Investigated Through Chemoinformatics and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Against Breast Cancer

ABSTRACTCo‐delivering FDA‐approved drugs can be less harmful and boost biological activity by targeting different protein mechanism at same time. Gemcitabine and 5‐Fluorouracil (GE5F) adduct work together to destroy cancer cells and increase the efficacy in the fight against breast cancer. The basis set B3LYP/6‐311 G was utilized in this investigation to improve the structure of GE5F adduct. The natural bond analysis exhibited the intermolecular interactions of the GE5F adduct. Electronic transitions were seen to be π → π*, and theoretical calculations were performed for the ultraviolet to visible spectrum. The energy gap between HOMO and LUMO was used to study the GE5F adduct's structural stability and reactivity; the computed energy gap (ΔE) was 3.912 eV. The Mulliken charge population was assessed and the complex structure's electrostatic potential was established. Weak interactions of the GE5F were assessed using RDG analysis, and topological aspects were investigated using LOL and ELF analysis. Investigating the GE5F adduct's adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity properties, the results confirmed that GE5F adduct comes under the safety parameters being a drug‐likeness molecule. Molecular docking experiments were conducted using target proteins for breast cancer. The complex molecule had a higher binding affinity as indicated by the docking scores, which validated the better combinatorial interaction between gemcitabine and 5‐Fluorouracil. With − 9.4 kcal/mol, the complex molecule's strongest binding capacity was against PARP protein, and stable confirmation was observed through molecular dynamic simulation for 100 ns with four hydrogen bond interactions. These in silico finding will pave a way for in vitro and in vivo experiments with better enhancement of FDA approved drugs.

Quantum Spin Probe of Single Charge Dynamics.

Electronic defects in semiconductors form the basis for emerging quantum technologies, but many defect centers are difficult to access at the single-particle level. A method for probing optically inactive spin defects would reveal semiconductor physics at the atomic scale and advance the study of new quantum systems. We exploit the intrinsic correlation between the charge and spin states of defect centers to measure the charge populations and dynamics of single substitutional nitrogen spin defects in diamond. By probing their steady-state spin population, read out at the single-defect level with a nearby nitrogen vacancy center, we directly measure the defect ionization-corroborated by first-principles calculations-an effect we do not have access to with traditional coherence-based quantum sensing.

Stochastic Schrödinger equation for hot-carrier dynamics in plasmonic systems

We present a multiscale method coupling the theory of open quantum systems with real-time ab initio treatment of electronic structure to study hot-carrier dynamics in photoexcited plasmonic systems. We combine the Markovian Stochastic Schrödinger equation with an ab initio GW coupled to the Bethe–Salpeter (BSE) equation description of the electronic degrees of freedom, interacting with a metallic nanoparticle modeled classically according to the polarizable continuum model. We apply this methodology to study the effect of relaxation (T1) and pure dephasing (T2) times on the hot-carrier dynamics in a system composed of a quantum portion described at GW/BSE level, i.e., a CHO fragment adsorbed on a vertex of a rhodium nanocube, and of the rest of the nanocube, treated classically, when irradiated with a 2.7 eV light pulse, inspired by the experimental results on plasmon-driven CO2 photoreduction. A net hole injection from rhodium to CHO is observed, with and without the classical portion of the nanocube. The nanocube effect is to enhance the generated charge population by two orders of magnitude. The nonradiative decay, via a relaxation time T1 based on the energy-gap law, produces a rapid decrease of the charge population. Results with T2 only show that a charge injection retarded with respect to the pulse, which is present in the coherent dynamics, disappears when coherence is erased.

Density functional theory-based study on the structural, electronic and spectral properties of gas-phase PbMg n - (n = 2-12) clusters.

Gas-phase PbMg n- (n = 2-12) cluster structures were globally searched on their potential energy surfaces by means of the CALYPSO prediction software. Structural optimization and calculations of properties such as relative energy and electronic structure were then carried out by density functional theory for each size of low energy isomer. The structural, relative stability, natural charge population, natural electronic configuration and distribution of the strongest peaks of the infrared and Raman spectra of the low energy isomers of PbMg n- (n = 2-12) clusters were systematically investigated in the present work. It was shown that the PbMg7- cluster ground state isomer exhibits the highest stability, for which special electronic excitation and chemical bonding analyses were performed. It is reasonable to believe that this work enriches the structural, spectroscopic and other data of magnesium-based clusters and provides some theoretical basis for possible future experimental syntheses.

Spectroscopic investigation of drug potential towards neuronal firing and analysis of molecular docking on (N-(diaminomethylidene)-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl) acetamide) using DFT theoretical data evidence

Guanfacine is an alpha-A2 adrenergic receptor agonist used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Guanfacine also known as (N-(diaminomethylidene)-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl) acetamide) and in this work it was investigated by interpreting physico-chemical, structural and biological properties using FT-Raman, FT-IR, NMR and UV–Visible spectral datum along with computational results. The optimized geometry of the molecular structure was sketched and deviation of parametric values has been interpreted. The vibrational analysis along with vibrational assignments was carried out to understand the impact of nitro, methylidine, chloro effects on acetamide base molecule to change in drug mechanism. The molecular charge population delocalization on par with substituent was analyzed and purpose of electron cloud accumulation on different entities was justified. The drug likeness score was calculated and bioavailability was tested. The enzymatic target investigation was made on theoretical results of HyperChem. The vibrational characteristics of the compound were evaluated and the chemical-patrician energy of bonds and their influences on drug property change were tested. Chemical reaction path mechanism was mapped to find the root cause of chemical kinetics to enable antimicrobial activity on the heart of Guanfacine molecule. The doubly degenerate interaction orbitals were viewed and the transitions assigned to facilitate the drug activity were studied. The toxicity profile was evaluated by opting enantiomer and validated by simulating VCD spectrograph. The Guanfacine docked into the active site of 5R7Y and 6MOJ indicates conceal antiviral activity, consistent with results from the PASS database. Using the autodock program, docking molecules (ligand-proteins) were simulated.

Electrochemistry and DFT study of galvanic interaction on the surface of monoclinic pyrrhotite (0 0 1) and galena (1 0 0)

The electrochemical interaction between galena and monoclinic pyrrhotite was investigated to examine its impact on the physical and chemical properties of the mineral micro-surface. This investigation employed techniques such as electrochemistry, metal ion stripping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry. The electrochemical test results demonstrate that the galena surface in the electro-couple system exhibits a lower electrostatic potential and higher electrochemical activity compared to the monoclinic pyrrhotite surface, rendering it more susceptible to oxidation dissolution. Monoclinic pyrrhotite significantly amplifies the corrosion rate of the galena surface. Mulliken charge population calculations indicate that electrons are consistently transferred from galena to monoclinic pyrrhotite, with the number of electron transfers on the mineral surface increasing as the interaction distance decreases. The analysis of state density revealed a shift in the surface state density of galena towards lower energy levels, resulting in decreased reactivity and increased difficulty for the reagent to adsorb onto the mineral surface. Conversely, monoclinic pyrrhotite exhibited an opposite trend. The XPS test results indicate that galvanic interaction leads to the formation of hydrophilic substances, PbSxOy and Pb(OH)2, on the surface of galena. Additionally, the surface of monoclinic pyrrhotite not only adsorbs Pb2+ but also undergoes S0 formation, thereby augmenting its hydrophobic nature.

Molecular Insights into Adhesion at Interface of Geopolymer Binder and Cement Mortar.

The degradation of concrete and reinforced concrete structures is a significant technical and economic challenge, requiring continuous repair and rehabilitation throughout their service life. Geopolymers (GPs), known for their high mechanical strength, low shrinkage, and durability, are being increasingly considered as alternatives to traditional repair materials. However, there is currently a lack of understanding regarding the interface bond properties between new geopolymer layers and old concrete substrates. In this paper, using advanced computational techniques, including quantum mechanical calculations and stochastic modeling, we explored the adsorption behavior and interaction mechanism of aluminosilicate oligomers with different Si/Al ratios forming the geopolymer gel structure and calcium silicate hydrate as the substrate at the interface bond region. We analyzed the electron density distributions of the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, examined the reactivity indices based on electron density functional theory, performed Mulliken charge population analysis, and evaluated global reactivity descriptors for the considered oligomers. The results elucidate the mechanisms of local and global reactivity of the oligomers, the equilibrium low-energy configurations of the oligomer structures adsorbed on the surface of C-(A)-S-H(I) (100), and their adsorption energies. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the adhesion properties of geopolymers and their potential as effective repair materials.

Machine Learning-Aided Design of Highly Conductive Anion Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells and Water Electrolyzers.

Alkaline anion exchange membrane (AEM)-based fuel cells (AEMFCs) and water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) are vital for enabling the efficient and large-scale utilization of hydrogen energy. However, the performance of such energy devices is impeded by the relatively low conductivity of AEMs. The conventional trial-and-error approach to designing membrane structures has proven to be both inefficient and costly. To address this challenge, a fully connected neural network (FCNN) model is developed based on acid-catalyzed AEMs to analyze the relationship between structure and conductivity among 180,000 AEM variations. Under machine learning guidance, anilinium cation-type membranes are designed and synthesized. Molecular dynamics simulations and Mulliken charge population analysis validated that the presence of a large anilinium cation domain is a result of the inductive effect of N+ and benzene rings. The interconnected anilinium cation domains facilitated the formation of a continuous ion transport channel within the AEMs. Additionally, the incorporation of the benzyl electron-withdrawing group heightened the inductive effect, leading to high conductivity AEM variant as screened by the machine learning model. Furthermore, based on the highly active and low-cost monomers given by machine learning, the large-scale synthesis of anilinium-based AEMs confirms the potential for commercial applications.

Energy Level Gradients from Surface to Bulk in Hybrid Metal-Halide Perovskite Thin Films

Variations in local strain, defect densities, and composition of hybrid metal-halide perovskites have been reported to create heterogeneous energy landscapes in thin films, which impact charge-carrier diffusion and recombination dynamics. Here, we employ one- and two-photon transient absorption spectroscopy to selectively probe the dynamics of charge carriers from surface and bulk regions of methylammonium lead bromide thin films. Differences in the transient absorption spectra indicate that an energy gradient of approximately 100 meV is formed between the higher band-gap surface and lower band-gap bulk regions. Thus, during their lifetime, photoexcited carriers move away from the surface to recombine in the bulk, where our experiments detect long-lived charge populations despite the significant band splitting that has conventionally been assumed to inhibit efficient radiative recombination. Supported by first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that bright emission can still arise from the bulk with states that occupy a wide range of momenta in the vicinity of the band extrema, which show strong dipole transitions. Our results report that photoexcitations in the hybrid perovskites avoid defect-rich surface regions, and that particularly strong emission is generated from accumulated excitation populations in the bulk. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Study on adsorption of kaolinite and gold thiosulfate

The adsorption behavior of gold thiosulfate ions on the surface of kaolinite was studied using a combination of experimental research and quantum chemical calculations. Under the condition of a stirring time of 30 min, a stirring speed of 500 r·min−1, and a mass ratio of 30% kaolinite in the slurry, when the initial gold concentration of 56.50 mg·L−1,the adsorption rate of gold-thiosulfate ions from a kaolinite-containing solution was 7.44%. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the physical and chemical adsorption of kaolinite and gold thiosulfate occurred in solution. Quantum chemical calculations were performed using the CASTEP module in Materials Studio. The adsorption energy of gold thiosulfate on the surface of kaolinite (001) was calculated as − 438.01 kJ·mol−1.The calculated H76–O289 distance was 1.615 Å. Mulliken Charge population analysis and bond population analysis showed that gold thiosulfate ions form relatively stable bonds on the kaolinite surface (001). In the process of thiosulfate immersion, part of gold is adsorbed by kaolinite, which affects the extraction of gold. These results indicate that during the leaching process of gold thiosulfate, kaolinite has the ability to "catch" gold, which affects the leaching efficiency.

NEW NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIAL OBTAINED BY THE METHOD OF TEMPLATE SYNTHESIS

The article presents the results of an experimental study of zinc diselenide nanocrystals obtained by chemical deposition, which is the simplest method in the a-SiO2/Si-n track matrix. A sample of the SiO2/Si track was obtained by irradiation with Xe ions with an energy of 200 MeV (F = 108 ions/cm2) on a DC-60 cyclotron (Astana, Kazakhstan) followed by chemical treatment with fluoric acid (HF) in an aqueous solution. Before chemical treatment, ultrasonic cleaning of the sample surface with isopropanol was performed for 15 minutes (6.SB25-12DTS). After treatment, the samples were washed with deionized water (18.2 MOm). The chemical deposition of the track template was carried out at room temperature for 60 minutes. A solution consisting of zinc chloride and Selenium dioxide (ZnCl2 – 3.4 g/l, SeO2 – 0.2 g/l) was used as the electrolyte. The surface of the samples after deposition was examined using a Hitachi S-4800 scanning electron microscope (SEM). Morphological analysis showed that the degree of filling of nanopores varies depending on temperature. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) was performed using the D8 ADVANCE ECO X-ray diffractometer. According to X-ray diffraction analysis, the chemical deposition of zinc in the a-SiO2/Si-n trace matrix led to the formation of ZnSe2O5 nanocrystals with an orthorhombic crystal structure. The experimental parameters of the crystal lattice, crystal density, effective charge and chemical bond population are in good agreement with the results of quantum chemical calculations and other literature data performed in the approximation of linear combinations of atomic orbitals. Nonempirical calculations have shown that ZnSe2O5 has a direct range at the G point, and the calculated effective charges of atoms demonstrate a significant covalent contribution to chemical bonds forming mixed ionic covalent bonds. Photoluminescence (PL) was measured by excitation with light with a wavelength of 300 nm in the room temperature. The PL spectra were considered as a symbiosis of luminescence of zinc oxide and zinc selenide. The PL spectrum of chemically deposited samples consists of a wide band in the wavelength range from 2.6 to 3.2 eV at room temperature.

A semiclassical model for charge transfer along ion chains in silicates

It has been observed in fossil tracks and experiments in the layered silicate mica muscovite the transport of charge through the cation layers sandwiched between the layers of tetrahedra-octahedra-tetrahedra. A classical model for the propagation of anharmonic vibrations along the cation chains has been proposed based on first principles and empirical functions. In that model, several propagating entities have been found as kinks or crowdions and breathers, both with or without wings, the latter for specific velocities and energies. Crowdions are equivalent to moving interstitials and transport electric charge if the moving particle is an ion, but they also imply the movement of mass, which was not observed in the experiments. Breathers, being just vibrational entities, do not transport charge. In this work, we present a semiclassical model obtained by adding a quantum particle, electron or hole to the previous model. We present the construction of the model based on the physics of the system. In particular, the strongly nonlinear vibronic interaction between the nuclei and the extra electron or hole is essential to explain the localized charge transport, which is not compatible with the adiabatic approximation. The formation of vibrational localized charge carriers breaks the lattice symmetry group in a similar fashion to the Jahn-Teller Effect, providing a new stable dynamical state. We study the properties and the coherence of the model through numerical simulations from initial conditions obtained by tail analysis and other means. We observe that although the charge spreads from an initial localization in a lattice at equilibrium, it can be confined basically to a single particle when coupled to a chaotic quasiperiodic breather. This is coherent with the observation that experiments imply that a population of charge is formed due to the decay of potassium unstable isotopes.

Insights on selective Pb adsorption via O 2p orbit in UiO-66 containing rich-zirconium vacancies

Herein, we constructed defective UiO-66 with rich Zr vacancy structure model, in which the defective structure was verified by various characterizations. Also, the Pb adsorption experiments affirmed that defective UiO-66 could display better adsorption and selective adsorption ability than that of perfect UiO-66. The results of partial density of states (PDOS) and Mulliken charge population indicated that the blue shift of O 2p and Zr 4d orbit induced the electron rearrangement of atoms closed to the bonding sites, while the positive charge number of Zr atoms decreased than before. Combining with the expansion of pore size, Pb atom was more inclined to transfer and bond with unsaturated coordination oxygens. More significantly, quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) demonstrated that selective capture of Pb instead of Zn, Cu, Cd and Hg displayed by defective UiO-66 was determined jointly by bond strength, adsorption energy and electron transfer. This work provided some theoretical direction for the purpose of the fabrication of adsorbent and the investigation of mechanism.

Unveiling the organic acids with auxiliary functional groups effect on α‐hemihydrate gypsum: Ab initio calculations

AbstractRegulating the crystal morphology of low aspect ratio, short columnar α‐hemihydrate gypsum (α‐HH) is crucial due to its distinctive physical and chemical properties, which make it widely applicable. In this work, succinic acid, malic acid, and maleic acid were selected as the research objects, among which the number and spacing of carboxyl groups were the same, while the auxiliary functional groups were different. The adsorption energy, Mulliken charge population, electronic state density, and charge density difference of the three organic acids on the surfaces of α‐HH were calculated by well‐defined ab initio calculations. The results showed that the synergistic effect of ‐COOH groups is necessary for the effective crystallization of α‐HH. Organic acids interact with the Ca atoms on the crystal surface, as evidenced by their preferential adsorption on the top surface of α‐HH crystals (002). This interaction occurs through a double‐dentate chelation between the carboxyl oxygen atoms at both ends of the organic acid and the Ca atoms on the crystal surface, resulting in the formation of a six‐membered cyclic organic acid calcium complex. This complex hinders ion diffusion and the stacking of crystal surfaces, leading to a decrease in the growth rate along the c‐axis and promoting more extensive crystal development and larger crystal sizes. The work provides insight into the preparation of short prismatic α‐HH using organic acid crystallizing agents.

Addressing the effects of gas adsorption on monolayers beyond charge population analysis: the case of WS2

The optoelectronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials can be significantly influenced by charge transfer resulting from surface molecular adsorption. One noteworthy example is observed in WS2 monolayers, where the behavior undergoes an anomalous change when exposed to air, primarily due to the adsorption of oxygen molecules. While the acceptor nature of O2 is widely acknowledged as the underlying cause, the precise electron transfer mechanism remains in need of a comprehensive explanation at the atomistic level. Going beyond conventional charge population analysis, we develop an approach describing the process of molecular adsorption and surface charge transfer that relies on the formalism commonly adopted for charged defects in semiconductors. This method clearly identifies two key factors contributing to electron transfer upon O2 physisorption: the presence of sulphur vacancies and the intrinsic n-type nature of WS2. This approach provides an effective and general scheme to characterize the surface charge transfer in 2D materials exposed to a gas atmosphere.

Exploring the influence of bis-phosphine ligands on lanthanide complexes: A DFT study

This study employs density functional theory (DFT) calculation to investigate the bis-phosphine ligands interaction with lanthanide ions (La3+, Nd3+, Eu3+, Er3+ and Lu3+). Two distinct bridging modes are explored between two phosphine ligands: pyridine and methylene functional groups. The aim is to understand the structural, thermochemical, spectroscopic, and orbital properties of the bis-phosphine-Ln3+ complexes and compare the effects of different bridging modes. It is observed that bis-phosphine ligands form the most stable complexes with Er3+ and the least stable complexes with La3+, as evidenced by interaction energies, Gibb’s free energies and electrophilicity index values. Pyridine-bridged ligands form more stable complexes than methylene-bridged ligands, which is consistent with charge population analysis. Reduced density gradient analysis indicates the presence of strong hydrogen bond-like interactions between lanthanide ions and oxygen/nitrogen atoms of bis-phosphine complexes. Infrared spectra simulations reveal that Er3+ forms stronger bonds with oxygen atoms of bis-phosphine ligands than other lanthanide ions.

Exploring the co‐activity of FDA approved drug gemcitabine and docetaxel for enhanced anti‐breast cancer activity: DFT, docking, molecular dynamics simulation and pharmacophore studies

AbstractCombining FDA‐approved medications may increase biological activity by simultaneously targeting many protein mechanisms while being less toxic. Gemcitabine and docetaxel together might have a synergistic impact that kills cancer cells and makes them more effective against breast cancer. This study used the foundation set B3LYP/6–311 G to optimize the gemcitabine with the docetaxel structure that was created. Theoretical calculations were made for the ultraviolet to visible spectrum were studied in gas and liquid phase. The structural stability and reactivity of the combined structure were studied using the energy gap between HOMO and LUMO, and the computed energy gap (ΔE) was 4.219 eV. The electrostatic potential of complex structure was determined and the Mulliken charge population was evaluated. Through RDG analysis weak interactions of GEDT was evaluated and topology properties were studied through ELF and LOL analysis. Breast cancer target proteins were utilized in the molecular docking studies. The docking scores revealed a greater binding affinity for the complex molecule, confirming a superior combinatorial interaction between gemcitabine and docetaxel. Highest binding ability of the GEDT was against Caspase‐6 and the network analysis of Caspase‐6 was assessed through graph theory model. The stability of GEDT with Caspase‐6 was studied through molecular dynamic simulation for 100 ns. The adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity characteristics of the complex structure were investigated, and the findings revealed the complex lead compound's safety profile and its potential for use as a potent anticancer medication.

Spontaneous exciton dissociation in transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers.

Since the seminal work on MoS2, photoexcitation in atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) has been assumed to result in excitons, with binding energies order of magnitude larger than thermal energy at room temperature. Here, we reexamine this foundational assumption and show that photoexcitation of TMDC monolayers can result in a substantial population of free charges. Performing ultrafast terahertz spectroscopy on large-area, single-crystal TMDC monolayers, we find that up to ~10% of excitons spontaneously dissociate into charge carriers with lifetimes exceeding 0.2 ns. Scanning tunneling microscopy reveals that photocarrier generation is intimately related to mid-gap defects, likely via trap-mediated Auger scattering. Only in state-of-the-art quality monolayers, with mid-gap trap densities as low as 109 cm-2, does intrinsic exciton physics start to dominate the terahertz response. Our findings reveal the necessity of knowing the defect density in understanding photophysics of TMDCs.