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At least 865 records · Page 48

A Finite-Field Approach for GW Calculations beyond the Random Phase Approximation

In this work, we describe a finite-field approach to compute density response functions, which allows for efficient G0W0 and G0W0Γ0 calculations beyond the random phase approximation. The method is easily applicable to density functional calculations performed with hybrid functionals. Lastly, we present results for the electronic properties of molecules and solids and we discuss a general scheme to overcome slow convergence of quasiparticle energies obtained from G0W0Γ0 calculations, as a function of the basis set used to represent the dielectric matrix.

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Clean and Convenient Tessellations for Number Counting Jastrow Factors

We introduce a basis of counting functions that, by cleanly tessellating three-dimensional space, allows real space number counting Jastrow factors to be straightforwardly applied to general molecular situations. Here, by exerting direct control over electron populations in local regions of space and encoding pairwise correlations between these populations, these Jastrow factors allow even very simple reference wave functions to adopt nodal surfaces well suited to many strongly correlated settings. Being trivially compatible with traditional Jastrow factors and diffusion Monte Carlo and having the same cubic per-sample cost scaling as a single determinant trial function, these Jastrow factors thus offer a powerful new route to the simultaneous capture of weak and strong electron correlation effects in a wide variety of molecular and materials settings. In multiple strongly correlated molecular examples, we show that even when paired with the simplest possible single determinant reference, these Jastrow factors allow quantum Monte Carlo to out-perform coupled cluster theory and approach the accuracy of traditional multireference methods.

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Facile Electron Transfer to CO 2 during Adsorption at the Metal|Solution Interface

We estimate the rate of electron transfer to CO 2 at the Au (211)|water interface during adsorption in an electrochemical environment under reducing potentials. On the basis of density functional theory calculations at the generalized gradient approximation and hybrid levels of theory, we find electron transfer to the adsorbed *CO 2 to be very facile. This high rate of transfer is estimated by the energy distribution of the adsorbate-induced density of states as well as from the interaction between diabatic states representing neutral and negatively charged CO 2 . Up to 0.62 electrons is transferred to CO 2 , and this charge adiabatically increases with the bending angle to a lower limit of 137°. Finally, we conclude that this rate of electron transfer is extremely fast compared to the time scale of the nuclear degrees of freedom, that is, the adsorption process.

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Low-Energy Electronic Transition in SiB Rings

Five- and six-membered rings containing Si–B bonds were synthesized by salt metathesis of magnesium disilanides with tetramethylpiperidinyldichloroborane (TMPBCl 2 ). Materials were characterized by 1 H, 11 B, 13 C, and 29 Si NMR spectroscopy, as well as X-ray crystallography. Insights from crystallography facilitate conformational analysis of the cyclosilanes and elucidation of conformation-dependent optical properties. Furthermore, crystallography supports assignment of π character to the BN bond of the tetramethylpiperidinylborane fragment. The SiB rings possess unique optical properties compared to all silicon rings. A 350 nm electronic transition only observed in SiB rings is assigned to a σ–π* transition on the basis of density functional theory calculations.

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Investigating the Role of Copper Oxide in Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction in Real Time

Copper oxides have been of considerable interest as electrocatalysts for CO 2 reduction (CO2R) in aqueous electrolytes. Yet, their role as an active catalyst in reducing the required overpotential and improving the selectivity of reaction compared with that of polycrystalline copper remains controversial. In this work, we present the use of selected-ion flow tube mass spectrometry, in concert with chronopotentiometry, in situ Raman spectroscopy, and computational modeling, to investigate CO2R on C u 2O nanoneedles, Cu 2 O nanocrystals, and Cu 2 O nanoparticles. We show experimentally that the selective formation of gaseous C2 products (i.e., ethylene) in CO 2 R is preceded by the reduction of the copper oxide (Cu 2 OR) surface to metallic copper. On the basis of density functional theory modeling, CO2R products are not formed as long as Cu 2 O is present at the surface because Cu 2 OR is kinetically and energetically more favorable than CO2R.

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Highly Efficient and Selective Methanol Production from Paraformaldehyde and Water at Room Temperature

In this paper, an efficient catalytic system using a water-soluble iridium complex, Cp*IrL(OH 2 ) 2+ (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, L = 2,2',6,6'-tetrahydroxy-4,4'-bipyrimidine), was developed for highly selective methanol production at room temperature (initial turnover frequency of 4120 h –1 ) with a very high yield (93%). This catalytic system features paraformaldehyde as the sole carbon and hydride source, leading to a record turnover number of 18200 at 25 °C. A step-by-step mechanism has been proposed for the catalytic conversion of paraformaldehyde to methanol on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Finally, the proposed pathway holds the potential capacity to extend the scope of indirect routes for methanol production from CO 2 .

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Magnetic Properties and Electronic Structures of Ar 3 U IV –L Complexes with Ar = C 5 (CH 3 ) 4 H – or C 5 H 5 – and L = CH 3 , NO, and Cl

Electronic structures and magnetic properties of the U 4+ complexes (C 5 Me 4 H) 3 UNO, (C 5 Me 4 H) 3 UCl, (C 5 H 5 ) 3 UCH 3 , and (C 5 H 5 ) 3 UCl are investigated by quantum chemical calculations. On the basis of wave function calculations including spin–orbit (SO) interactions, all complexes have nondegenerate nonmagnetic ground states. However, for L = CH 3 and Cl magnetic doublet excited states are very low in energy, rendering the magnetic susceptibility strongly temperature dependent above ca. 50–100 K. In contrast, (C 5 Me 4 H) 3 UNO exhibits temperature-independent paramagnetism even at room temperature. The calculated susceptibilities agree well with available experimental data. An analysis of the ground states and the magnetic behavior is performed using crystal-field (CF) models with parameters extracted from the ab initio calculations, and with the help of natural orbitals contributing to the electron density, generated from scalar relativistic and SO wave functions for the ground states and selected excited states. Electronic g-factors calculated from the CF models agree well with ab initio data. The U–NO bond order in (C 5 Me 4 H) 3 UNO decreases somewhat due to SO coupling, because U–NO bonding π orbitals with strong U 5f π character mix with nonbonding 5f δ orbitals under the SO interaction. This complex also exhibits pronounced multireference character. All complexes afford U-ligand 5f covalent character.

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Analysis of substrate specificity of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Mag1 alkylpurine DNA glycosylase

DNA glycosylases specialized for the repair of alkylation damage must identify, with fine specificity, a diverse array of subtle modifications within DNA. The current mechanism involves damage sensing through interrogation of the DNA duplex, followed by more specific recognition of the target base inside the active site pocket. To better understand the physical basis for alkylpurine detection, we determined the crystal structure of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Mag1 (spMag1) in complex with DNA and performed a mutational analysis of spMag1 and the close homologue from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (scMag). Despite strong homology, spMag1 and scMag differ in substrate specificity and cellular alkylation sensitivity, although the enzymological basis for their functional differences is unknown. We show that Mag preference for 1,N{sup 6}-ethenoadenine ({var_epsilon}A) is influenced by a minor groove-interrogating residue more than the composition of the nucleobase-binding pocket. Exchanging this residue between Mag proteins swapped their {var_epsilon}A activities, providing evidence that residues outside the extrahelical base-binding pocket have a role in identification of a particular modification in addition to sensing damage.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Subnanometer cobalt oxide clusters as selective low temperature oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts

The discovery of more efficient, economical, and selective catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation is of immense economic importance. However, the temperatures required for this reaction are typically high, often exceeding 400 degrees C. Herein, we report the discovery of subnanometer sized cobalt oxide clusters for oxidative dehydrogenation of cyclohexane that are active at lower temperatures than reported catalysts, while they can also eliminate the combustion channel. These results found for the two cluster sizes suggest other subnanometer size (CoO) x clusters will also be active at low temperatures. The high activity of the cobalt clusters can be understood on the basis of density functional studies that reveal highly active under-coordinated cobalt atoms in the clusters and show that the oxidized nature of the clusters substantially decreases the binding energy of the cyclohexene species which desorb from the cluster at low temperature.

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Yttria-stabilized zirconia buffered silicon to optimize in-plane electrical conductivity of [Ca{sub 2}CoO{sub 3}]{sub 0.62}[CoO{sub 2}] thin films

The monolithic integration of thermoelectric generators and magnetoresistive functionality on the basis of misfit cobaltate [Ca{sub 2}CoO{sub 3}]{sub 0.62}[CoO{sub 2}] thin films into silicon technology is a prerequisite for their application in miniaturized electric circuits. Here, we report on [Ca{sub 2}CoO{sub 3}]{sub 0.62}[CoO{sub 2}] thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition on (001)-silicon with a thin epitaxial yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) buffer layer. X-ray diffraction and cross-sectional high resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis reveal that high quality c-axis oriented heteroepitaxial [Ca{sub 2}CoO{sub 3}]{sub 0.62}[CoO{sub 2}] films with a 12-fold in-plane rotational symmetry can be grown, which exhibit remarkable lower electrical resistivity compared to those with random in-plane orientation. This result is explained by energetically preferred epitaxial growth directions of the pseudo hexagonal [CoO{sub 2}] sublayer in monoclinic [Ca{sub 2}CoO{sub 3}]{sub 0.62}[CoO{sub 2}] onto the cubic (001)-YSZ surface leading to a highly symmetric in-plane mutual orientation of the charge transporting CoO{sub 2} sublayer domains.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Half-metallicity modulation of hybrid BN-C nanotubes by external electric fields: A first-principles study

On the basis of density functional theory, we systematically investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of hybrid BN-C nanotubes, C{sub x}(BN){sub y} where x + y = 12, with and without an external electric field. The BN-C nanotubes are totally distinct from pristine boron-nitride and carbon nanotubes. The electronic properties of C{sub x}(BN){sub y} change significantly with composition: from the nonmagnetic semiconductors to the half-metals. The half-metallicity is attributed to the competition among the band gap, which is related to the width of C domain, the width of BN domain, and the intrinsic polarization field. Application of the external fields can enhance or counterbalance the polarization fields and change the band gaps. The half-metallicity can be modulated. In BN-rich tubes, such as C{sub 2}(BN){sub 10}, the energy gap can be engineered from 0.50 eV to 0.95 eV and in C{sub 3}(BN){sub 9}, the ground state is converted from the nonmagnetic state into the anti-ferro-magnetic one. In other tubes, the half-metallicity can be enhanced or destroyed by different external fields. The modulation indicates that hybrid BN-C nanotubes can work as the components of the spin-filter devices.

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Electron correlation in solids via density embedding theory

Density matrix embedding theory [G. Knizia and G. K.-L. Chan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 186404 (2012)] and density embedding theory [I. W. Bulik, G. E. Scuseria, and J. Dukelsky, Phys. Rev. B 89, 035140 (2014)] have recently been introduced for model lattice Hamiltonians and molecular systems. In the present work, the formalism is extended to the ab initio description of infinite systems. An appropriate definition of the impurity Hamiltonian for such systems is presented and demonstrated in cases of 1, 2, and 3 dimensions, using coupled cluster theory as the impurity solver. Additionally, we discuss the challenges related to disentanglement of fragment and bath states. The current approach yields results comparable to coupled cluster calculations of infinite systems even when using a single unit cell as the fragment. The theory is formulated in the basis of Wannier functions but it does not require separate localization of unoccupied bands. The embedding scheme presented here is a promising way of employing highly accurate electronic structure methods for extended systems at a fraction of their original computational cost.

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Most spin-1/2 transition-metal ions do have single ion anisotropy

The cause for the preferred spin orientation in magnetic systems containing spin-1/2 transition-metal ions was explored by studying the origin of the easy-plane anisotropy of the spin-1/2 Cu{sup 2+} ions in CuCl{sub 2}·2H{sub 2}O, LiCuVO{sub 4}, CuCl{sub 2}, and CuBr{sub 2} on the basis of density functional theory and magnetic dipole-dipole energy calculations as well as a perturbation theory treatment of the spin-orbit coupling. We find that the spin orientation observed for these spin-1/2 ions is not caused by their anisotropic spin exchange interactions, nor by their magnetic dipole-dipole interactions, but by the spin-orbit coupling associated with their crystal-field split d-states. Our study also predicts in-plane anisotropy for the Cu{sup 2+} ions of Bi{sub 2}CuO{sub 4} and Li{sub 2}CuO{sub 2}. The results of our investigations dispel the mistaken belief that magnetic systems with spin-1/2 ions have no magnetic anisotropy induced by spin-orbit coupling.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Magnetism and transport properties of layered rare-earth cobaltates Ln{sub 0.3}CoO{sub 2}

The ab-initio (GGA+U) electronic structure calculations of layered cobaltates Ln{sub 0.3}CoO{sub 2} (Ln = La, Pr, Nd) prepared by ionic exchange from Na{sub 0.90}CoO{sub 2} precursors have been performed. The data are used for numerical modeling of Seebeck coefficient within Boltzmann transport theory using BoltzTraP program [G. K. H. Madsen and D. J. Singh, Comput. Phys. Commun. 175, 67 (2006)], as well as for determination of the crystal field split levels of rare-earth ions using a method based on a transformation of Bloch states into the basis of Wannier functions [P. Novák et al., Phys. Rev. B 87, 205139 (2013)]. An overall agreement with observed magnetism and transport properties is obtained. In particular, the high p-type thermopower is well reproduced in a broad temperature range, but instead of theoretical linear decrease down to the lowest temperatures, the real systems exhibit an anomalous change of Seebeck sign, which might be related to the change of bare metallic carriers into the polaronic ones.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Solid-state EPR strategies for the structural characterization of paramagnetic NO adducts of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs)

Anisotropic interactions present in three new nitroxide radicals prepared by N,N addition of NO to various borane-phosphane frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have been characterized by continuous-wave (cw) and pulsed X-band EPR spectroscopies in solid FLP-hydroxylamine matrices at 100 K. Anisotropic g-tensor values and {sup 11}B, {sup 14}N, and {sup 31}P hyperfine coupling tensor components have been extracted from continuous-wave lineshape analyses, electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM), and hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy (HYSCORE) experiments with the help of computer simulation techniques. Suitable fitting constraints are developed on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. These calculations reveal that different from the situation in standard nitroxide radicals (TEMPO), the g-tensors are non-coincident with any of the nuclear hyperfine interaction tensors. The determination of these interaction parameters turns out to be successful, as the cw- and pulse EPR experiments are highly complementary in informational content. While the continuous-wave lineshape is largely influenced by the anisotropic hyperfine coupling to {sup 14}N and {sup 31}P, the ESEEM and HYSCORE spectra contain important information about the {sup 11}B hyperfine coupling and nuclear electric quadrupolar interaction. The set of cw- and pulsed EPR experiments, with fitting constraints developed by DFT calculations, defines an efficient strategy for the structural analysis of paramagnetic FLP adducts.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Unified field theory from the classical wave equation: Preliminary application to atomic and nuclear structure

It is postulated that there exists a fundamental energy-like fluid, which occupies the flat three-dimensional Euclidean space that contains our universe, and obeys the two basic laws of classical physics: conservation of linear momentum, and conservation of total energy; the fluid is described by the classical wave equation (CWE), which was Schrödinger’s first candidate to develop his quantum theory. Novel solutions for the CWE discovered twenty years ago are nonharmonic, inherently quantized, and universal in the sense of scale invariance, thus leading to quantization at all scales of the universe, from galactic clusters to the sub-quark world, and yielding a unified Lorentz-invariant quantum theory ab initio. Quingal solutions are isomorphic under both neo-Galilean and Lorentz transformations, and exhibit nother remarkable property: intrinsic unstability for large values of ℓ (a quantum number), thus limiting the size of each system at a given scale. Unstability and scale-invariance together lead to nested structures observed in our solar system; unstability may explain the small number of rows in the chemical periodic table, and nuclear unstability of nuclides beyond lead and bismuth. Quingal functions lend mathematical basis for Boscovich’s unified force (which is compatible with many pieces of evidence collected over the past century), and also yield a simple geometrical solution for the classical three-body problem, which is a useful model for electronic orbits in simple diatomic molecules. A testable prediction for the helicoidal-type force is suggested.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Comparison of the electronic and thermoelectric properties of three layered phases Bi 2 Te 3 , PbBi 2 Te 4 and PbBi 4 Te 7 : LEGO thermoelectrics

The electronic and thermoelectric properties of Bi 2 Te 3 , PbBi 2 Te 4 and PbBi 4 Te 7 were examined on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and thermoelectric transport property measurements. The layered phase PbBi 4 Te 7 is composed of the slabs forming the layered phases Bi 2 Te 3 and PbBi 2 Te 4 . The electronic structure of PbBi 4 Te 7 around the valence band maximum and conduction band minimum exhibits those of Bi 2 Te 3 and PbBi 2 Te 4 . The band gap of PbBi 4 Te 7 lies in between those of Bi 2 Te 3 and PbBi 2 Te 4 , and the density of states of PbBi 4 Te 7 is well approximated by the sum of those of Bi2Te3 and PbBi 2 Te 4 . In terms of the carrier concentration, the carrier mobility, the carrier lifetime, the electrical conductivity normalized to the carrier lifetime, and the effective mass, the layered phases Bi 2 Te 3 , PbBi 2 Te 4 and PbBi 4 Te 7 form a group of thermoelectrics, which have the structures composed of several different slabs and whose thermoelectric properties are approximated by the average of those of the constituent slabs. We propose to use the term “LEGO thermoelectrics” to describe such a family of thermoelectric materials that operate in a desired temperature range and possess predictable thermoelectric properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Transferable density functional tight binding for carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen: Application to shock compression

A new parameterization for density functional tight binding (DFTB) theory, lanl31, has been developed for molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Optimal values for the Hubbard Us, on-site energies, and the radial dependences of the bond integrals and repulsive potentials were determined by numerical optimization using simulated annealing to a modest database of ab initio-calculated atomization energies and interatomic forces. The transferability of the optimized DFTB parameterization has been assessed using the CHNO subset of the QM-9 database [R. Ramakrishnan et al., Sci. Data, 1, 140022 (2014)]. These analyses showed that the errors in the atomization energies and interatomic forces predicted by our model are small and in the vicinity of the di erences between density functional theory calculations with di erent basis sets and exchange-correlation functionals. Good correlations between the molecular dipole moments and HOMO-LUMO gaps predicted by lanl31 and the QM-9 data set are also found. Furthermore, the errors in the atomization energies and forces derived from lanl31 are signi cantly smaller than those obtained from the ReaxFF-lg reactive force eld for organic materials [L. Liu et al., J. Phys. Chem. A, 115, 11016 (2011)]. The lanl31 DFTB parameterization for C, H, N, and O has been applied the to the molecular dynamics simulation of the principal Hugoniot of liquid nitromethane, liquid benzene, liquid nitrogen, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, trinitrotoluene, and cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine. The computed and measured Hugoniot loci are in excellent agreement with experiment and we discuss the sensitivity of the loci to the underestimated shock heating that is a characteristic of classical molecular dynamics simulations.

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