Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Marks, Tobin J.

Publications and source records attributed to Marks, Tobin J..

71 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Electronic Structure of Metallophthalocyanines, MPc (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mg) and Fluorinated MPc

In this work, we compute the electronic structure and optical excitation energies of metal-free and transition-metal phthalocyanines (H2Pc and MPc for M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mg) using density functional theory with optimally tuned range-separated hybrid functionals (OT-RSH). We show that the OT-RSH approach provides photoemission spectra in quantitative agreement with experiments as well as optical band gaps within 10% of their experimental values, capturing the interplay of localized d-states and delocalized pi-pi* states for these organometallic compounds. We examine the tunability of MPcs and H 2 Pc through fluorination, resulting in quasi-rigid shifts of the molecular orbital energies by up to 0.7 eV. Our comprehensive data set provides a new computational benchmark for gas-phase phthalocyanines, significantly improving upon other density-functional-theory-based approaches.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Processable High Electron Mobility {pi}-Copolymers via Mesoscale Backbone Conformational Ordering

The synthesis and experimental/theoretical characterization of a new series of electron-transporting copolymers based on the naphthalene bis(4,8-diamino-1,5-dicarboxyl)amide (NBA) building block are reported. Comonomers are designed to test the emergent effects of manipulating backbone torsional characteristics, and density functional theory (DFT) analysis reveals the key role of backbone conformation in optimizing electronic delocalization and transport. The NBA copolymer conformational and electronic properties are characterized using a broad array of molecular/macromolecular, thermal, optical, electrochemical, and charge transport techniques. All NBA copolymers exhibit strongly aggregated morphologies with significant nanoscale order. Copolymer charge transport properties are investigated in thin-film transistors and exhibit excellent electron mobilities ranging from 0.4 to 4.5 cm(2) V-1 s(-1). Importantly, the electron transport efficiency correlates with the film mesoscale order, which emerges from comonomer-dependent backbone planarity and extension. These results illuminate the key NBA building block structure-morphology-bulk property design relationships essential for processable, electronics-applicable high-performance polymeric semiconductors.

n‐↗
DOE OSTI2021

Surface vs Homogeneous Organo-Hafnium Catalyst Ion-Pairing and Ligand Effects on Ethylene Homo- and Copolymerizations

Heterogeneous catalysts have long dominated polyethylene and polypropylene production, but understanding their catalysis is challenged by uncertainties in active site structures and percentages. Surface-bound organometallic catalysts are an emerging strategy to combine successful homogeneous catalysts having well-understood structures, relatively high percentages of active sites, and exceptional control of selectivity, with the attractions of surface catalysts, to transition promising homogeneous systems to large-scale heterogeneous ones. Nevertheless, surface-bound olefin polymerization catalysts typically produce ultrahigh M w ’s but with low activity and comonomer selectivity. Here, we report the systematic synthesis and characterization of a series of pyridylamido–Hf complexes and their corresponding surface catalysts chemisorbed on sulfated alumina (AlS) and zirconia (ZrS). Comparative ethylene homo- and 1-octene copolymerizations reveal similar activity and 1-octene selectivity trends in the homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. For the surface pyridylamido–Hf catalyst series, large variations in activity (up to 10×) and 1-octene incorporation (up to 28×) are achieved by ligand and support manipulation. Interestingly, while the homogeneous catalysts exhibit positive comonomer effects in ethylene/1-octene copolymerization, the surface catalysts behave oppositely. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) reveals significantly elongated Hf···O bond distances vs typical Hf–O covalent bonds (2.06 vs 1.97 Å). Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) analysis of the heterolytic ion pair separation enthalpies, olefin insertion energetics, and NBO/Bader charges also suggest electrostatic Hf cation–anionic support binding and catalytic patterns, which are modulated by the ion-pairing energetics and ligand architecture.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗