Direct atomic-level insight into oxygen reduction reaction on size-dependent Pt-based electrocatalysts from density functional theory calculations

Developing novel oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)catalysts with high activity is urgent for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.Herein,we investigated a group of size-dependent Pt-based catalysts as promising ORR catalysts by density functional theory calculations,ranging from single-atom,nanocluster to bulk Pt catalysts.The results showed that the ORR overpotential of these Pt-based catalysts increased when its size enlarged to the nanoparticle scale or reduced to the single-atom scale,and the Pt_(38)cluster had the lowest ORR overpotential(0.46 V)compared with that of Pt_(111)(0.57 V)and single atom Pt(0.7 V).Moreover,we established a volcano curve relationship between the ORR overpotential and binding energy of O*(ΔE_(O*),confirming the intermediate species anchored on Pt38cluster with suitable binding energy located at top of volcano curve.The interaction between intermediate species and Pt-based catalysts were also investigated by the charge distribution and projected density of state and which further confirmed the results of volcano curve.

LiODFP在锂离子电池正极氧化分解的DFT研究

使用密度泛函理论(DFT),研究锂盐二氟二草酸磷酸锂(LiODFP)作为成膜添加剂在锂离子电池正极的作用机理。各研究体系的氧化电势理论计算值的排列顺序为:碳酸酯(包括EC、PC、EMC和DMC)>ODFP^(-)(单分子)≈碳酸酯-ODFP^(-)配合物。ODFP^(-)优先于碳酸酯发生氧化反应,ODFP^(-)结构分解的路径比EC分子分解的路径更容易进行。EC+ODFP^(-)-e体系可能发生的分解反应路径是ODFP^(-)结构开环,生成CO、CO_(2)和自由基R1。R1可能进一步发生自由基终止反应,生成含有氟代磷酸盐单体的低聚物,从而抑制碳酸酯溶剂分子的氧化分解。

Infrared Spectra and Pyrolysis of Selected Molecular Models of Coal: Insight from Density Functional Calculations

Equilibrium structures and infrared spectra of four typical molecular models of coal have been studied by density functional calculations. Combining theoretical calculations on the coal models with experimental FT-IR spectra of selected low rank perhydrous coals, a plausible molecular representation for this kind of coals was proposed, and its predicted IR spectra reasonably match the experimental observation. Calculations indicate that the cleavage of the C-C bridge bond for the coal structures considered here occurs at about 540 ℃ and the C-O ether bridge bond may break under temperature ranging from 500 to 600 ℃for the aryl-CH2-O-CH2-aryl ether bond or from 200 to 300 ℃ for the aryl-CH2-O-aryl ether bond, showing remarkable effect of the local structural environment. The coal model containing the carboxyl group may release CO2 at about 300 ℃ through the decarboxylation with a barrier of 69 kcal/mol.

SO_(2)对K2CO_(3)吸附CO_(2)性能影响的实验及DFT机理研究

电站锅炉的尾气在脱硫后含有微量的SO_(2),导致CO_(2)吸附剂性能变差。根据电厂烟气的组分,采用模拟烟气在实验室条件下对K2CO_(3)吸附剂的CO_(2)吸附性能及SO_(2)对CO_(2)吸附的影响进行实验研究。结合XRD分析,利用密度泛函理论(density functional theory,DFT)对SO_(2)在K2CO_(3)吸附剂上的影响及CO_(2)吸附机理进行理论研究。结果表明,受SO_(2)分子S原子活跃的s轨道影响,S的p轨道及O原子活性均增强,与K2CO_(3)表面O原子价带顶能带简并,SO_(2)被优先吸附在K2CO_(3)表面的O顶位,并将CO_(2)推离吸附剂表面,导致吸附剂活性位点虽有空余却无法吸附CO_(2)。在实验中表现为:模拟烟气中CO_(2)体积浓度为10%时,气氛中体积浓度为0.007%的SO_(2)会使吸附剂的吸附量由1.65 mmol/g降低至1.01 mmol/g。提出CO_(2)与H2O在K2CO_(3)(001)表面的吸附机理,理论计算的反应活化能为40.7 kJ/mol,反应热为-54.9 kJ/mol。

Density Functional Calculations of C–NO_2 Bond Dissociation Energies for Nitroalkanes Molecules

Bond dissociation energies for the removal of nitrogen dioxide group in some nitroalkane energetic materials have been calculated by using the three hybrid density functional theory （DFT） methods B3LYP, B3PW91 and B3P86 with 6-31g^＊＊ and 6-311g^＊＊ basis sets. The computed BDEs have been compared with the available experimental results. It is found that the B3P86 method with 6-31g^＊＊ and 6-311g^＊＊ basis sets can obtain satisfactory bond dissociation energies （BDEs）, which are in extraordinary agreement with the experimental data. Considering the smaller mean absolute deviation and maximum difference, the reliable B3P86/6-311g^＊＊ method was recommended to compute the BDEs for the removal of nitrogen dioxide group in the nitroalkane energetic materials. Using the method, the BDEs of 8 other nitroalkane energetic materials have been calculated and the maximum difference from experimental value is 1.76 kcal.mo1^-1 （for the BDE of tC4Hg-NOz）, which further proves the reliability of B3P86/6-311g^＊＊ method. In addition, it is noted that the BDEs of C-NO2 bond change slightly for main chain nitroalkane compounds with the maximum difference of only 3.43 kcal mo1^-1.

Tetraethylenepentamine-functionalized magnetic mesoporous composites as a novel adsorbent for the removal Cr(Ⅲ)-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in complex solution

A novel tetraethylenepentamine(TEPA) functionalized magnetic mesoporous silica adsorbent(FNMs/TEPA) was prepared for the adsorption of Cr(Ⅲ)-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA)from wastewater. The characterization of the prepared adsorbent certified that TEPA was modified onto the magnetic mesoporous silicon(FNMs), while FNMs/TEPA maintained the ordered mesoporous and pristine magnetic properties. The batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that TEPA significantly enhanced the removal capacity of the adsorbent for Cr(Ⅲ)-EDTA. FNMs/TEPA exhibited an excellent adsorption property(13.84 mg·g-1) at p H 4.0. Even in the presence of high concentrations of coexisting ions and organic acids, the adsorption performance of FNMs/TEPA was stable. Experimental characterization and DFT demonstrated that the adsorption of Cr(Ⅲ)-EDTA was ascribed to the electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and complexation between Cr(Ⅲ)-EDTA and amino groups on the adsorbent surface. The analysis of the independent gradient model(IGM) shows that electrostatic interaction is the main mode of action in the adsorption process. Moreover, FNMs/TEPA demonstrated remarkable reusability in three regeneration cycles. These findings indicated that FNMs/TEPA possessed excellent application prospects in the disposal of wastewater containing Cr(Ⅲ)-EDTA.

Understanding the Relativistic Generalization of Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Completing It in Practice

In 2014, 50 years following the introduction of density functional theory (DFT), a rigorous understanding of it was published [AIP Advances, 4, 127,104 (2014)]. This understanding includes two features that complete the theory in practice, inasmuch as they are necessary for its correct application in electronic structure calculations;this understanding elucidates what appears to have been the crucial misunderstanding for 50 years, namely, the confusion between a stationary solution, attainable with most basis sets, following self-consistent iterations, with the ground state solution. The latter is obtained by a calculation that employs the well-defined optimal basis set for the system. The aim of this work is to review the above understanding and to extend it to the relativistic generalization of density functional theory by Rajagopal and Callaway [Phys. Rev. B7, 1912 (1973)]. This extension straightforwardly follows similar steps taken in the non-relativistic case, with the four-component current density, in the former, replacing the electronic charge density, in the latter. This new understanding, which completes relativistic DFT in practice, is expected to be needed for the study of heavy atoms and of materials (from molecules to solids) containing them—as is the case for some high temperature superconductors.

New ternary superconducting compound LaRu2As2： Physical properties from density functional theory calculations

In this paper, we perform the density functional theory （DFT） -based calculations by the first-principles pseudopo- tential method to investigate the physical properties of the newly discovered superconductor LaRu2As2 for the first time. The optimized structural parameters are in good agreement with the experimental results. The calculated independent elas- tic constants ensure the mechanical stability of the compound. The calculated Cauchy pressure, Pugh＇s ratio as well as Poisson＇s ratio indicate that LaRu2As2 should behave as a ductile material. Due to low Debye temperature, LaRu2As2 may be used as a thermal barrier coating （TBC） material. The new compound should exhibit metallic nature as its valence bands overlap considerably with the conduction bands. LaRu2As2 is expected to be a soft material and easily machinable because of its low hardness value of 6.8 GPa. The multi-band nature is observed in the calculated Fermi surface. A highly anisotropic combination of ionic, covalent and metallic interactions is expected to be in accordance with charge density calculation.

Ultraviolet laser ionization studies of 1-fluoronaphthalene clusters and density functional theory calculations

This paper studies supersonic jet-cooled 1-fluoronaphthalene （1FN） clusters by ultraviolet （UV） laser ionization at 281 nm in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The （1FN）＋ （n=1-3） series cluster ions are observed where the signal intensity decreases with increasing cluster size. The effects of sample inlet pressures and ionization laser fluxes to mass spectral distribution are measured. Using density functional theory calculations, it obtains a planar geometric structure of 1FN dimer which is combined through two hydrogen bonds. The mass spectra indicate that the intensity of 1FN trimer is much weaker than that of 1FN dimer and this feature is attributed to the fact that the dimer may form the first ＂shell＂ in geometric structure while the larger clusters are generated based on this fundamental unit.

Impact of Arsenic Related Defects on Electronic Performance of ZrO2/GaAs:Density Functional Theory Calculations

Arsenic can diffuse into high-κ dielectrics during OaAs-based metal oxide semiconductor transistor process, which causes the degradation of gate dielectrics. To explore the origins of the degradation, we employ nonlocal B3LYP hybrid functional to study arsenic related defects in ZrO2. Via band alignments between the OaAs and ZrO2, we are able to determine the defect formation energy in the GaAs relative to the ZrO2 band gap and assess how they will affect the device performance. Arsenic at the interstitial site serves as a source of positive fixed charge while at the oxygen or zirconium substitutional site changes its charge state within the band gap of GaAs. Moreover, it is found that arsenic related defects produce conduction band offset reduction and gap states, which will increase the gate leakage current.

水溶液环境下手性配合物Phe·Ca^(2+)对映异构机理的DFT研究

采用DFT(density functional theory)的M06-2X、MN15方法和处理溶剂效应的SMD模型方法,研究了水溶液中S-苯丙氨酸(S-Phe)与二价钙(Ca^(2+))配合物(Phe·Ca^(2+))的对映异构。反应通道研究发现,S-Phe·Ca^(2+)的对映异构可在质子以N和O分别为桥以及O和N联合为桥迁移的3个通道上实现。计算表明:最优势通道是质子以N为桥迁移,隐性水溶剂效应下决速步自由能垒是227.5 kJ/mol,显性水溶剂效应下该能垒降至108.0~117.6 kJ/mol。结果表明:水溶液中手性Phe·Ca^(2+)的消旋过程十分缓慢,将其用于生命体同补苯丙氨酸和钙元素可能比较安全。

水液相下苯丙氨酸钾配合物对映异构的DFT研究

采用DFT(密度泛函理论)的M06-2X、MN15方法和处理溶剂效应的SMD模型方法,研究了水液相环境下手性苯丙氨酸钾配合物(Phe·K^(+))的对映异构。研究发现:手性Phe·K^(+)的对映异构可在质子只以氧为桥、以氧和氮联合为桥和只以氮为桥迁移的3个通道上实现。计算表明:质子只以氮为桥迁移是最优势反应通道,隐性水溶剂效应下决速步的自由能垒是220.0 kJ/mol,显性水溶剂效应下该能垒降到114.0至122.8kJ/mol之间。结果表明:水液相下手性Phe·K^(+)的消旋反应过程十分缓慢,苯丙氨酸钾短期用于生命体同补苯丙氨酸和钾元素比较安全。

水液相下Phe分子与Na^(+)配合物对映异构的DFT研究

该文采用DFT(密度泛函理论)的M06-2X、MN15方法和处理溶剂效应的SMD模型方法,研究了在水液相下苯丙氨酸与钠离子配合物(Phe•Na^(+))的对映异构.研究结果发现:手性Phe•Na^(+)的对映异构可在质子只以氧为桥、以氧和氮联合为桥和只以氮为桥迁移的3个通道上实现.反应势能面计算结果表明:质子只以氮为桥迁移的反应通道最优势,其余2个反应通道处于劣势.在隐性水溶剂效应下优、劣通道的速度决定步骤的自由能垒分别为228.0和255.8 kJ•mol^(-1),在显性水溶剂效应下优、劣通道的速度决定步骤的自由能垒分别降至111.7~122.0 kJ•mol^(-1)和142.2~145.8 kJ•mol^(-1).研究结果表明:在水液相下手性Phe•Na^(+)的消旋速度极慢,苯丙氨酸钠短期用于生命体同补苯丙氨酸和钠元素比较安全.

Elastic properties of Nb-based alloys by using the density functional theory

A first-principles density functional approach is used to study the electronic and the elastic properties of Nb15X （X = Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W） alloys. The elastic constants cn and c12, the shear modulus CI, and the elastic modulus E（lOO） are found to exhibit similar tendencies, each as a function of valence electron number per atom （EPA）, while c44 seems unclear. Both cu and c12 of Nb15X alloys increase monotonically with the increase of EPA. The C/ and E000） also show similar tendencies. The elastic constants （except c44） increase slightly when alloying with neighbours of a higher d-transition series. Our results are supported by the bonding density distribution. When solute atoms change from Ti（Zr, Hf） to V（Ta） then to Cr（Mo, W）, the bonding electron density between the central solute atom and its first neighbouring Nb atoms is increased and becomes more anisotropic, which indicates the strong interaction and thus enhances the elastic properties of Nb-Cr（Mo, W） alloys. Under uniaxial {100） tensile loading, alloyed elements with less （more） valence electrons decrease （increase） the ideal tensile strength.

A Periodic Density Functional Study on Adsorption Properties of Methoxy on Au(111) Surface

Adsorption of CH3O at four sites （top, bridge, hcp, fcc） on Au（111） surface has been investigated by density functional theory method at the generalized gradient approximation level. We have performed calculations on adsorption energies, structures, Mulliken charges and vibrational frequencies of CH3O on Au（111） surface with full-geometry optimization. The predicted results are compared with the available experimental observation. The calculated CH3O adsorption structure and stretching vibrational frequencies agree well with experimental ones, and precise determinations of adsorption sites are carded out. The most favorite adsorption on Au（111） occurs at the bridge site, and O-C axis is tilted to the surface. However, on hollow sites （hcp, fcc） the species is adsorbed in an upright geometry （pseudo-C3v local symmetry）.

Interaction of Photoactive[Fe(CN)_6]^(4-) with TiO_2 Anatase(101) Surface:A Periodic Density Functional Theory Study

The plane-wave pseudopotential function method, based on density-functional theory, has been used to calculate the adsorption, electronic band structures, orbitals and optical absorption spectrum of [Fe（CN）6]^4- on TiOz anatase（101） surface. Our calculations reveal that the surface-modified anatase system has large adsorption energy and a much narrower band gap. [Fe（CN）6]^4- adsorption on the （101） surface could lead to a large red shift of the anatase optical absorption threshold, which extends into a visible region significantly. The calculated results are in agreement with the experiment and other theoretical studies reasonably. It is very important for the understanding and further development ofphotovoltaic materials that are active under visible light.

Studies of n-Octanol/water Partition Coefficients (lgK_(ow)) for Organophosphate Compounds by Density Functional Theory

Optimized calculation of 35 dialkyl phenyl phosphate compounds （OPs） was carded out at the B3LYP/6-31G^＊ level in Gaussian 98 program. Based on the theoretical linear solvation energy relationship （TLSER） model, the obtained parameters were taken as theoretical descriptors to establish the novel QSPR model for predicting n-octanol/water partition coefficients （lgKow） of OPs. The new model achieved in this work contains three variables, i.e., molecular volume （Vm）, dipole moment of the molecules （μ） and enthalpy （H^0）. For this model, R^2 = 0.9167 and SD = 0.31 at large t values. In addition, the variation inflation factors （VIF） of variables are all close to 1.0, suggesting high accuracy of the predicting model. And the results of cross-validation test （q^2 = 0.8993） and method validation also showed the model of this study exhibited optimum stability and better predictive power than that from semi-empirical method. The model achieved can be used to predict IgKow of congeneric compounds.

Hydrogen storage in BC_3 composite single-walled nanotube:a combined density functional theory and Monte Carlo investigation

This paper applies a density functional theory （DFT） and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations （GCMC） to investigate the physisorptions of molecular hydrogen in single-walled BC3 nanotubes and carbon nanotubes. The DFT calculations may provide useful information about the nature of hydrogen adsorption and physisorption energies in selected adsorption sites of these two nanotubes. Furthermore, the GCMC simulations can reproduce their storage capacity by calculating the weight percentage of the adsorbed molecular hydrogen under different conditions. The present results have shown that with both computational methods, the hydrogen storage capacity of BC3 nanotubes is superior to that of carbon nanotubes. The reasons causing different behaviour of hydrogen storage in these two nanotubes are explained by using their contour plots of electron density and charge-density difference.

Studies of Structural and Thermodynamic Properties for Polychlorinated Thianthrenes by Density Functional Theory

The structural and thermodynamic （PCTAs） in the ideal gas state at 298.15 K and 1.013 properties of 75 polychlorinated thianthrenes ×10^5 Pa have been calculated at the B3LYP/6- 31G＊ level using Gaussian 98 program. Based on the output data of Gaussian, the isodesmic reactions were designed to calculate standard enthalpy of formation （△fH^θ） and standard free energy of formation （△fH^θ） of PCTAs congeners. The relations of these thermodynamic parameters with the number and position of C1 atom substitution （Npcs） were discussed, and it was found that there exists high correlation between thermodynamic parameters （total energy （TE）, zero-point vibrational energy （ZPE）, thermal correction to energy （Eth）, heat capacity at constant volume （Cv^θ）, entropy （S^θ）, enthalpy （H^θ）, free energy （G^θ）, standard enthalpies of formation （△fH^θ） and standard Gibbs energies of formation （△fG^θ）） and Npcs. On the basis of the relative magnitude of their △fG^θ, the order of relative stability of PCTA congeners was theoretically proposed. In addition, the correlations between structural parameters and Npcs were also discussed. The good correlations were found between molecular average polarizability （α）, energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital （EHOMO）, molecular volume （Vm） and Npcs, and all R^2 values are larger than 0.95. Moreover, it was supposed that the isomer groups with higher toxicity should be Tri-CTA and TCTA.