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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 415 records · Page 23

Developing a Descriptor-Based Approach for CO and NO Adsorption Strength to Transition Metal Sites in Zeolites

The discovery of new materials tailored for a given application typically requires the screening of a large number of compounds, and this process can be significantly accelerated by computational analysis. In such an approach the performance of a compound is correlated to a materials property, a so-called descriptor. Here we develop a descriptor-based approach for the adsorption of CO and NO to Cu, Ni, Co, and Fe sites in zeolites. Here we start out by discussing a possible design strategy for zeolite catalysts, define the studied test set of sites in the zeolites SSZ-13 and mordenite, and define a set of appropriate descriptors. In a subsequent step we use these descriptors in single-parameter, two-parameter, and multiparameter regression analysis and finally use a machine-learning genetic algorithm to reduce the number of variables. We find that one or two descriptors are not sufficient to accurately capture the interactions between molecules and metal centers in zeolites, and indeed a multiparameter approach is necessary. Even though many of the descriptors are directly correlated, we identify the position of the s orbital and the number of valence electrons of the active site as well as the HOMO–LUMO gap of the adsorbate as most important descriptors. Furthermore, the reconstruction of the active sites upon adsorption plays a crucial role, and when it is explicitly included in the analysis, correlations improve significantly. In the future we expect that the fundamental methodology developed here will be adapted and transferred to selected problems in adsorption and catalysis and will assist the rational design of materials for the given application.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A Spectroscopic and Computational Evaluation of Uranyl Oxo Engagement with Transition Metal Cations

Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of five novel Cd 2+ /UO 2 2+ heterometallic complexes that feature Cd-oxo distances ranging from 78 to 171% of the sum of the van der Waals radii for these atoms. This work marks an extension of our previously reported Pb 2+ /UO 2 2+ and Ag + /UO 2 2+ complexes, yet with much more pronounced structural and spectroscopic effects resulting from Cd-oxo interactions. We observe a major shift in the U═O symmetric stretch and significant uranyl bond length asymmetry. The ρbcp values calculated using Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) support the asymmetry displayed in the structural data and indicate a decrease in covalent character in U═O bonds with close Cd-oxo contacts, more so than in related compounds containing Pb 2+ and Ag + . Second-order perturbation theory (SOPT) analysis reveals that O sp x → Cd s is the most significant orbital overlap and U═O bonding and antibonding orbitals also contribute to the interaction (U═O σ/π → Cd d and Cd s → U═O σ/π*). The overall stabilization energies for these interactions were lower than those in previously reported Pb 2+ cations, yet larger than related Ag + compounds. Analysis of the equatorial coordination sphere of the Cd 2+ /UO 2 2+ compounds (along with Pb 2+ /UO 2 2+ complexes) reveals that 7-coordinate uranium favors closer, stronger M n+ -oxo contacts. These results indicate that U═O bond strength tuning is possible with judicious choice of metal cations for oxo interactions and equatorial ligand coordination.

cations↗

Trends in homolytic bond dissociation energies of five- and six-coordinate hydrides of Group 9 transition metals: Co, Rh, Ir

The homolytic bond dissociation energies of a series of five- and six-coordinate monoand di-hydride complexes of the type HM(diphosphine)2 and [H2M(diphosphine)2]+ (where M = Co, Rh and Ir) are calculated and compared with experimental values. This work probes the relationship between the homolytic bond dissociation energies (HMBDEs) of these complexes in these two different coordination environments and formal oxidation states. The results of these calculations and previous experimental observations suggest that for M = Rh the HMBDE of the five-coordinate HM(diphosphine)2 species are 0-2 kcal/mol larger than the HMBDE of the corresponding six-coordinate [H2M(diphosphine)2]+ species. For M = Ir the bond energies of the fiveand six-coordinate complexes are nearly the same and for M = Co the six-coordinate species are 1-5 kcal/mol less than the corresponding five-coordinate species. Simplified models of large and complicated ligands seem to capture the essential trends and give very good estimates of these thermodynamic properties in such systems.

homolytic bond dissociation, metal hydrides, dipho↗

Probing Cytochrome c Folding Transitions upon Phototriggered Environmental Perturbations Using Time-Resolved X-ray Scattering

Direct tracking of protein structural dynamics during folding–unfolding processes is important for understanding the roles of hierarchic structural factors in the formation of functional proteins. As such, using cytochrome c (cyt c) as a platform, we investigated its structural dynamics during folding processes triggered by local environmental changes (i.e., pH or heme iron center oxidation/spin/ligation states) with time-resolved X-ray solution scattering measurements. Starting from partially unfolded cyt c, a sudden pH drop initiated by light excitation of a photoacid caused a structural contraction in microseconds, followed by active site restructuring and unfolding in milliseconds. In contrast, the reduction of iron in the heme via photoinduced electron transfer did not affect conformational stability at short timescales (<1 ms), despite active site coordination geometry changes. These results demonstrate how different environmental perturbations can change the nature of interaction between the active site and protein conformation, even within the same metalloprotein, which will subsequently affect the folding structural dynamics.

Rimmerman, Dolev↗