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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 1,279 records · Page 71
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Structural, Elastic, and Electronic Properties of CeN and LuN Using: Ab Initio Study

We report on the electronic, structural, and elastic property calculations conducted for the rare-earth (RE) nitride compounds in the rocksalt structure (CeN and LuN compounds) using the full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital method (FP-LMTO) based on the spin density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the LSDA + U approach (local spin density approximation with Hubbard-U corrections). The LSDA + U approximation is applied to the 4f as well as 5d states. Various space groups were considered including the NaCl (Fm-3m (225)), the cesium chloride [CsCl(Pm-3m (221))], and the zinc blende [ZnS(F-43m 216))]. Our obtained results indicate that the NaCl-type structure is stable than all the other phases, while the predicted elastic constants were found to satisfy the mechanical stability. The related mechanical properties such as the anisotropy factor (A), Poisson’s ratio (υ), Young’s modulus (E), and the shear modulus (G) for the same NaCl structure were also calculated. Finally, the band structure calculations of the CeN and LuN have revealed half-metallic and semiconductor behaviour, respectively. The obtained results are presented and in-depth discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Multireference Ab Initio Studies of Magnetic Properties of Terbium-Based Single-Molecule Magnets

Here, we explore how different chemical environments influence magnetic properties of terbium(III) (Tb)-based single-molecule magnets (SMMs), using first-principles relativistic multireference methods. Recent experiments showed that Tb-based SMMs can have exceptionally large magnetic anisotropy and that they can be used for experimental realization of quantum information applications, with a judicious choice of chemical environment. Here, we perform complete active space self-consistent field calculations including relativistic spin–orbit interaction for representative Tb-based SMMs such as TbPc 2 and TbPcNc in three charge states. We calculate the low-energy electronic structure from which we compute the Tb crystal-field (CF) parameters and construct an effective pseudospin Hamiltonian. Our calculations show that the ligand type and fine points of molecular geometry do not affect the gap between the ground-state and first-excited doublets, whereas the latter varies weakly with oxidation number. On the other hand, higher-energy levels have a strong dependence on all these characteristics. For neutral TbPc 2 and TbPcNc molecules, the Tb magnetic moment and ligand spin are parallel to each other and the coupling strength between them does not depend much on the ligand type and details of the atomic structure. However, ligand distortion and molecular symmetry play a crucial role in transverse CF parameters which lead to tunnel splitting. The tunnel splitting induces quantum tunneling of magnetization by itself or by combining with other processes. Our results provide insights into the mechanisms of magnetization relaxation in the representative Tb-based SMMs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1995

A correlated ab initio study of linear carbon-chain radicals CnH (n = 2-7)

Linear carbon-chain radicals CnH for n = 2-7 have been studied with correlation consistent valence and core-valence basis sets and the coupled cluster method RCCSD(T). Equilibrium structures, rotational constants, and dipole moments are reported and compared with available experimental data. The ground state of the even-n series changes from 2 sigma+ to 2 pi as the chain is extended. For C4H, the 2 sigma+ state was found to lie only 72 cm-1 below the 2 pi state in the estimated complete basis set limit for valence correlation. The C2H- and C3H- anions have also been characterized.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗
DOE OSTI2023

Phase-field modeling of dislocation–interstitial interactions

The mechanical behavior of body-centered cubic (BCC) materials can be dramatically affected by the presence of interstitial solute atoms. Here we present a new phase-field dislocation dynamics formulation to include the diffusion of interstitials. Short-range interactions are accounted for by a concentration-dependent lattice energy, and long-range interactions are accounted for by modifications to the elastic energy. The interstitial diffusion law introduces gradients that require methods for minimizing Gibbs oscillations, which is done via a modified Green’s function. The formulation is general to any solute-solvent system and is applied here to Nb-O as a model system, whose interstitial parameters are obtained from ab initio calculations. The effect of O on the core structures of Nb edge and screw dislocations is calculated. The diffusion of O to form interstitial atmospheres around dislocation cores is simulated, as well as the critical stresses required for dislocations to break away or cross slip from these atmospheres. Future applications of the method to simulate complex interstitial embrittlement mechanisms are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Vibrational Entropy of Crystalline Solids from Covariance of Atomic Displacements

The vibrational entropy of a solid at finite temperature is investigated from the perspective of information theory. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations generate ensembles of atomic configurations at finite temperature from which we obtain the N-body distribution of atomic displacements, ρN. We calculate the information-theoretic entropy from the expectation value of lnρN. At a first level of approximation, treating individual atomic displacements independently, our method may be applied using Debye–Waller B-factors, allowing diffraction experiments to obtain an upper bound on the thermodynamic entropy. At the next level of approximation we correct the overestimation through inclusion of displacement covariances. We apply this approach to elemental body-centered cubic sodium and face-centered cubic aluminum, showing good agreement with experimental values above the Debye temperatures of the metals. Below the Debye temperatures, we extract an effective vibrational density of states from eigenvalues of the covariance matrix, and then evaluate the entropy quantum mechanically, again yielding good agreement with experiment down to low temperatures. Our method readily generalizes to complex solids, as we demonstrate for a high entropy alloy. Further, our method applies in cases where the quasiharmonic approximation fails, as we demonstrate by calculating the HCP/BCC transition in Ti.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Characterization of the 2-methylvinoxy radical + O 2 reaction: A focal point analysis and composite multireference study

Vinoxy radicals are involved in numerous atmospheric and combustion mechanisms. High-level theoretical methods have recently shed new light on the reaction of the unsubstituted vinoxy radical with O 2 . The reactions of 1-methylvinoxy radical and 2-methylvinoxy radical with molecular oxygen have experimental high pressure limiting rate constants, k ∞ , 5–7 times higher than that of the vinoxy plus O 2 reaction. In this work, high-level ab initio quantum chemical computations are applied to the 2-methylvinoxy radical plus O 2 system, namely, the formation and isomerization of the 1-oxo-2-propylperoxy radical, the immediate product of O 2 addition to the 2-methylvinoxy radical. Multireference methods were applied to the entrance channel. No barrier to O 2 addition could be located, and more sophisticated treatment of dynamic electron correlation shows that the principal difference between O 2 addition to the vinoxy and 2-methylvinoxy radicals is a larger steric factor for 2-methylvinoxy + O 2 . This is attributed to the favorable interaction between the incoming O 2 molecule and the methyl group of the 2-methylvinoxy radical. Via the focal point approach, energetics for this reaction were determined, in most cases, to chemical accuracy. The coupled-cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] correlation energy and Hartree–Fock energies were independently extrapolated to the complete basis set limit. A correction for the effect of higher excitations was computed at the CCSDT(Q)/6-31G level. Corrections for the frozen-core approximation, the Born–Oppenheimer approximation, the nonrelativistic approximation, and the zero-point vibrational energy were included. From the 1-oxo-2-propylperoxy radical, dissociation to reactants is competitive with the lowest energy isomerization pathway. The lowest energy isomerization pathway ultimately forms acetaldehyde, CO, and ·OH as the final products.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

A quantitative quantum-chemical analysis tool for the distribution of mechanical force in molecules

The promising field of mechanochemistry suffers from a general lack of understanding of the distribution and propagation of force in a stretched molecule, which limits its applicability up to the present day. In this article, we introduce the JEDI (Judgement of Energy DIstribution) analysis, which is the first quantum chemical method that provides a quantitative understanding of the distribution of mechanical stress energy among all degrees of freedom in a molecule. The method is carried out on the basis of static or dynamic calculations under the influence of an external force and makes use of a Hessian matrix in redundant internal coordinates (bond lengths, bond angles, and dihedral angles), so that all relevant degrees of freedom of a molecule are included and mechanochemical processes can be interpreted in a chemically intuitive way. The JEDI method is characterized by its modest computational effort, with the calculation of the Hessian being the rate-determining step, and delivers, except for the harmonic approximation, exact ab initio results. We apply the JEDI analysis to several example molecules in both static quantum chemical calculations and Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics simulations in which molecules are subject to an external force, thus studying not only the distribution and the propagation of strain in mechanically deformed systems, but also gaining valuable insights into the mechanochemically induced isomerization of trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene to trans,trans-2,4-hexadiene. The JEDI analysis can potentially be used in the discussion of sonochemical reactions, molecular motors, mechanophores, and photoswitches as well as in the development of molecular force probes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Probing pH-Dependent Dehydration Dynamics of Mg and Ca Cations in Aqueous Solutions with Multi-Level Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The dehydration of aqueous calcium and magnesium cations is the most fundamental process controlling their reactivity in chemical and biological phenomena, such as the formation of ionic solids or passing through ion channels. It holds particular relevance in light of recent advancements in the development of carbon capture techniques that rely on mineralization for long-term carbon storage. Specifically, dehydration of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ is a key step in proposed carbon capture processes aiming to exploit the relatively high concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide in seawater via the formation of carbonate minerals from solvated Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ cations for sequestration and storage. Nevertheless, atomic-scale understanding of the dehydration of aqueous Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ cations remains limited. Here, we utilize rare event sampling via density functional theory molecular dynamics and embedded wavefunction theory calculations to elucidate the dehydration dynamics of aqueous Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ . Emphasis is placed on the investigation of the effect pH has on the stability of the different coordination environments. Here, our results reveal significant differences in the dehydration dynamics of the two cations and provide insight into how they may be modulated by pH changes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Hydrogen adsorption in metal-organic frameworks: The role of nuclear quantum effects

The role of nuclear quantum effects on the adsorption of molecular hydrogen in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been investigated on grounds of Grand-Canonical Quantized Liquid Density-Functional Theory (GC-QLDFT) calculations. For this purpose, we have carefully validated classical H{sub 2}-host interaction potentials that are obtained by fitting Born-Oppenheimer ab initio reference data. The hydrogen adsorption has first been assessed classically using Liquid Density-Functional Theory and the Grand-Canonical Monte Carlo methods. The results have been compared against the semi-classical treatment of quantum effects by applying the Feynman-Hibbs correction to the Born-Oppenheimer-derived potentials, and by explicit treatment within the GC-QLDFT. The results are compared with experimental data and indicate pronounced quantum and possibly many-particle effects. After validation calculations have been carried out for IRMOF-1 (MOF-5), GC-QLDFT is applied to study the adsorption of H{sub 2} in a series of MOFs, including IRMOF-4, -6, -8, -9, -10, -12, -14, -16, -18, and MOF-177. Finally, we discuss the evolution of the H{sub 2} quantum fluid with increasing pressure and lowering temperature.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Ab initio potential energy curves of the valence, Rydberg, and ion-pair states of iodine monochloride, ICl

We present for the first time a coherent ab initio study of 39 states of valence, Rydberg, and ion-pair character of the diatomic interhalogen ICl species through large scale multireference variational methods including spin-orbit effects coupled with quantitative basis sets. Various avoided crossings are responsible for a non-adiabatic behaviour creating a wonderful vista for its theoretical description. Our molecular constants are compared with all available experimental data with the aim to assist experimentalists especially in the high energy regime of up to ∼95 000 cm{sup −1}.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Accurate rotational constant and bond lengths of hexafluorobenzene by femtosecond rotational Raman coherence spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

The gas-phase rotational motion of hexafluorobenzene has been measured in real time using femtosecond (fs) time-resolved rotational Raman coherence spectroscopy (RR-RCS) at T = 100 and 295 K. This four-wave mixing method allows to probe the rotation of non-polar gas-phase molecules with fs time resolution over times up to ∼5 ns. The ground state rotational constant of hexafluorobenzene is determined as B{sub 0} = 1029.740(28) MHz (2σ uncertainty) from RR-RCS transients measured in a pulsed seeded supersonic jet, where essentially only the v = 0 state is populated. Using this B{sub 0} value, RR-RCS measurements in a room temperature gas cell give the rotational constants B{sub v} of the five lowest-lying thermally populated vibrationally excited states ν{sub 7/8}, ν{sub 9}, ν{sub 11/12}, ν{sub 13}, and ν{sub 14/15}. Their B{sub v} constants differ from B{sub 0} by between −1.02 MHz and +2.23 MHz. Combining the B{sub 0} with the results of all-electron coupled-cluster CCSD(T) calculations of Demaison et al. [Mol. Phys. 111, 1539 (2013)] and of our own allow to determine the C-C and C-F semi-experimental equilibrium bond lengths r{sub e}(C-C) = 1.3866(3) Å and r{sub e}(C-F) = 1.3244(4) Å. These agree with the CCSD(T)/wCVQZ r{sub e} bond lengths calculated by Demaison et al. within ±0.0005 Å. We also calculate the semi-experimental thermally averaged bond lengths r{sub g}(C-C)=1.3907(3) Å and r{sub g}(C-F)=1.3250(4) Å. These are at least ten times more accurate than two sets of experimental gas-phase electron diffraction r{sub g} bond lengths measured in the 1960s.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

A path integral molecular dynamics study of the hyperfine coupling constants of the muoniated and hydrogenated acetone radicals

The on-the-fly ab initio density functional path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) simulations, which can account for both the nuclear quantum effect and thermal effect, were carried out to evaluate the structures and “reduced” isotropic hyperfine coupling constants (HFCCs) for muoniated and hydrogenated acetone radicals (2-muoxy-2-propyl and 2-hydoxy-2-propyl) in vacuo. The reduced HFCC value from a simple geometry optimization calculation without both the nuclear quantum effect and thermal effect is −8.18 MHz, and that by standard ab initio molecular dynamics simulation with only the thermal effect and without the nuclear quantum effect is 0.33 MHz at 300 K, where these two methods cannot distinguish the difference between muoniated and hydrogenated acetone radicals. In contrast, the reduced HFCC value of the muoniated acetone radical by our PIMD simulation is 32.1 MHz, which is about 8 times larger than that for the hydrogenated radical of 3.97 MHz with the same level of calculation. We have found that the HFCC values are highly correlated with the local molecular structures; especially, the Mu—O bond length in the muoniated acetone radical is elongated due to the large nuclear quantum effect of the muon, which makes the expectation value of the HFCC larger. Although our PIMD result calculated in vacuo is about 4 times larger than the measured experimental value in aqueous solvent, the ratio of these HFCC values between muoniated and hydrogenated acetone radicals in vacuo is in reasonable agreement with the ratio of the experimental values in aqueous solvent (8.56 MHz and 0.9 MHz); the explicit presence of solvent molecules has a major effect on decreasing the reduced muon HFCC of in vacuo calculations for the quantitative reproduction.

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

Direct coherent switching with decay of mixing for intersystem crossing dynamics of thioformaldehyde: The effect of decoherence

We evaluate the effect of electronic decoherence on intersystem crossing in the photodynamics of thioformaldehyde. First, we show that the state-averaged complete-active-space self-consistent field electronic structure calculations with a properly chosen active space of 12 active electrons in 10 active orbitals can predict the potential energy surfaces and the singlet–triplet spin–orbit couplings quite well for CH 2 S, and we use this method for direct dynamics by coherent switching with decay of mixing (CSDM). We obtain similar dynamical results with CSDM or by adding energy-based decoherence to trajectory surface hopping, with the population of triplet states tending to a small steady-state value over 500 fs. Without decoherence, the state populations calculated by the conventional trajectory surface hopping method or the semiclassical Ehrenfest method gradually increase. This difference shows that decoherence changes the nature of the results not just quantitatively but qualitatively.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

High-throughput search for caloric materials: the CaloriCool approach

The high-throughput search paradigm adopted by the newly established caloric materials consortium—CaloriCool ® —with the goal to substantially accelerate discovery and design of novel caloric materials is briefly discussed. Here, we begin with describing material selection criteria based on known properties, which are then followed by heuristic fast estimates, ab initio calculations, all of which has been implemented in a set of automated computational tools and measurements. We also demonstrate how theoretical and computational methods serve as a guide for experimental efforts by considering a representative example from the field of magnetocaloric materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Tensor Force Manifestations in Ab Initio Study of the {sup 2}H(d,{gamma}){sup 4}He, {sup 2}H(d,p){sup 3}H, and {sup 2}H(d,n){sup 3}He Reactions

The {sup 2}H(d,p){sup 3}H, {sup 2}H(d,n){sup 3}He, and {sup 2}H(d,{gamma}){sup 4}He reactions are studied at low energies in a multichannel ab initio model that takes into account the distortions of the nuclei. The internal wave functions of these nuclei are given by the stochastic variational method with the AV8{sup '} realistic interaction and a phenomenological three-body force included to reproduce the two-body thresholds. The obtained astrophysical S factors are all in very good agreement with the experiment. The most important channels for both transfer and radiative capture are identified by comparing to calculations with an effective central force. They are all found to dominate thanks to the tensor force.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Ti interstitial flows giving rutile TiO 2 reoxidation process enhancement in (001) surface

In this work we revisited ab initio evaluations of the barrier energies along the possible diffusion paths of the defects in rutile TiO 2 by using a diffusion Monte Carlo method. We found that Ti interstitials hopping along the c axis are identified as the major diffusion directing to the (001) surface, contradicting any of the previous density functional theory studies. Our finding reasonably explains recent experiments reporting that the photocatalytic activity in the (001) surface is superior to that in the (110) surface: Here, the faster Ti diffusion directing to the (001) surface leads to the better self-compensation ability and maintains its photocatalytic activity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nuclear Responses with Neural-Network Quantum States

We introduce a variational Monte Carlo framework that combines neural-network quantum states with the Lorentz integral transform technique to compute the dynamical properties of self-bound quantum many-body systems in continuous Hilbert spaces. While broadly applicable to various quantum systems, including atoms and molecules, in this initial application we focus on the photoabsorption cross section of light nuclei, where benchmarks against numerically exact techniques are available. Our accurate theoretical predictions are complemented by robust uncertainty quantification, enabling meaningful comparisons with experiments. Here, we demonstrate that a relatively simple nuclear Hamiltonian—based on a leading-order pionless EFT expansion and known to accurately reproduce ground-state energies of nuclei with 𝐴 ≤ 40—also provides a reliable description of the photoabsorption cross section.

Ab initio calculations↗