Search

We have carried out DFT-based first-principles calculations of hydrogen isotope fractionation among serpentine, talc, brucite, and water as a function of temperature. The results for the fractionat...

Hibonite (CaAl12O19), spinel (MgAl2O4), and perovskite (CaTiO3) represent oxides that occur in primitive meteorites and are among some of the first phases to have condensed from the early solar neb...

A first-principles density functional theory calculation was carried out to study the adsorption of acetic acid, methyl amine, methanethiol, and hydrogen iodide on the (100) surface of PbS. All four ligands are common capping agents used in colloidal PbS quantum dot-based photovoltaics. Interestingly, among the considered adsorbates, dissociative adsorption was energetically preferred for hydrogen iodide, while associative adsorption was favorable for the rest. Associative adsorption was driven by strong interactions between the electronegative elements (Y) in the respective ligands and the Pb surface atoms via Pb 6

Experimental data for hydrogen isotope and, in general, stable isotope fractionation between mineral and water often tend to be widely divergent primarily because of solution and reprecipitation of...

A coordinated, electron-backscatter-diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) study was undertaken to obtain information on the origin of rims on refractory inclusions in the Allende and Axtell CV3 chondrites. These measurements were supported by theoretical modeling using density functional theory. Crystal-orientation analysis of Wark-Lovering rims via EBSD revealed pyroxene grains with similar crystallographic orientations to one another in both inclusions. An epitaxial relationship between grains within the diopside and anorthite rim layers was observed in Allende. TEM examination of the rims of both samples also revealed oriented crystals at depth. The microstructural data on the rims suggest that grain clusters grew in the form of three-dimensional islands. Density functional theory calculations confirm that formation of oriented grain islands is the result of energy minimization at high temperature. The results point toward condensation as the mode of origin for the rims studied here.

Mercury (Hg) is a global environmental contaminant. Major anthropogenic sources of Hg emission include gold mining and the burning of fossil fuels. Once deposited in aquatic environments, Hg can undergo redox reactions, form complexes with ligands, and adsorb onto particles. It can also be methylated by microorganisms. Mercury, especially its methylated form methylmercury, can be taken up by organisms, where it bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in the food chain, leading to detrimental effects on ecosystem and human health. In support of the recently enforced Minamata Convention on Mercury, a legally binding international convention aimed at reducing the anthropogenic emission of-and human exposure to-Hg, its global biogeochemical cycle must be understood. Thus, a detailed understanding of the molecular-level interactions of Hg is crucial. The ongoing rapid development of hardware and methods has brought computational chemistry to a point that it can usefully inform environmental science. This is particularly true for Hg, which is difficult to handle experimentally due to its ultratrace concentrations in the environment and its toxicity. The current account provides a synopsis of the application of computational chemistry to filling several major knowledge gaps in environmental Hg chemistry that have not been adequately addressed experimentally. Environmental Hg chemistry requires defining the factors that determine the relative affinities of different ligands for Hg species, as they are critical for understanding its speciation, transformation and bioaccumulation in the environment. Formation constants and the nature of bonding have been determined computationally for environmentally relevant Hg(II) complexes such as chlorides, hydroxides, sulfides and selenides, in various physical phases. Quantum chemistry has been used to determine the driving forces behind the speciation of Hg with hydrochalcogenide and halide ligands. Of particular importance is the detailed characterization of solvation effects. Indeed, the aqueous phase reverses trends in affinities found computationally in the gas phase. Computation has also been used to investigate complexes of methylmercury with (seleno)amino acids, providing a molecular-level understanding of the toxicological antagonism between Hg and selenium (Se). Furthermore, evidence is emerging that ice surfaces play an important role in Hg transport and transformation in polar and alpine regions. Therefore, the diffusion of Hg and its ions through an idealized ice surface has been characterized. Microorganisms are major players in environmental mercury cycling. Some methylate inorganic Hg species, whereas others demethylate methylmercury. Quantum chemistry has been used to investigate catalytic mechanisms of enzymatic Hg methylation and demethylation. The complex interplay between the myriad chemical reactions and transport properties both in and outside microbial cells determines net biogeochemical cycling. Prospects for scaling up molecular work to obtain a mechanistic understanding of Hg cycling with comprehensive multiscale biogeochemical modeling are also discussed.

The amorphous geopolymer binder-phase is the primary adhesive constituent within a geopolymer and consists of completely polymerized glassy networks of (SiO 4 ) and (AlO 4 ) − tetrahedra as well as interstitial charge-balancing alkali cations. In this context, the mechanical properties of the geopolymer binder-phase were examined as a function of the underlying silicon to aluminum ratio using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Detailed structural analysis reveals that the presence of edge-sharing (AlO 4 ) − tetrahedra, nanoscale voids as well as non-bridging oxygen and penta coordinated aluminum atoms significantly impact the ensuing elastic moduli, ultimate tensile strength and the nature of failure of the geopolymer binder-phase. In particular, the simulations indicate that there is an optimal silicon to aluminum ratio (~ 2–3) that results in enhanced mechanical properties. This study provides, for the first time, valuable insight into the structural mechanisms that are responsible for the strength and mechanical properties of the geopolymer binder-phase.

A first principles density functional theory calculation has been carried out to study the energetics and structural properties of substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) as a function of the POSS cage size. The substitution of Si atom in the POSS molecules has been performed in three different ways, namely (i) both Si and an adjacent H atom are replaced by an Al atom, (ii) only a Si atom is replaced by an Al atom, and (iii) a Si atom is replaced by an Al and a Na/K atom. For the first and third kind of substitution, the net spin state is the same (i.e. closed shell), while the structures corresponding to the second kind of substitution are characterized by an excess spin (i.e. open shell). The structures of substituted POSS for the first and second kind of substitution are greatly distorted and always energetically less stable than the parent structure, while for the third kind of substitution, the stability depends on the cage size of POSS molecule, as also shown in a previous work (Asaduzzaman et al. [1]).

First principles density functional theory calculations were conducted to investigate the structures and energetics of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecules with varying aluminum and alkali (sodium or potassium) concentrations. Notable trends emerge from this study namely, (1) the thermodynamic stability of the substituted POSS molecules is critically dependent on the interplay between size and composition of the POSS structures, and (2) larger POSS structures provide lower central electron density and hence better accommodate the central alkali atom. These observations, when viewed in the context of aluminosilicate based geopolymers, provide fundamental insights into the relations that describe the structure composition interplay of their underlying monomers.

Using density functional theory, we have examined the hydration mechanism of olivine with the objective of understanding the reaction pathways toward the formation of crystalline serpentine and brucite. It is found that further supply of water beyond saturation of the adsorption sites on olivine surfaces leads to the formation of amorphous brucite and serpentine molecules, with the latter forming in the subsurface domain. The calculated activation energy for this process is ~25 kJ mol−1, which permits formation of the amorphous materials well within the life span of the solar nebula. In addition, molecular dynamic simulations show that the adsorbed water in olivine is stable at least up to 900 K—a finding that is in accord with independent experimental studies. Thus, adsorption plus subsurface reaction of H2O in olivine could have taken place at temperatures considerably higher than the stability limit of hydrous minerals in the nebular condition. Using the DFT derived enthalpy of adsorption data, and reasonable approximation for the entropy of adsorption, we have calculated the fractional coverage of the reactive surface sites of olivine grains of spherical geometry by adsorbed water, and the corresponding ocean equivalent water (OEW) that could have been accreted into the Earth. These results suggest that adsorption and the associated subsurface hydroxylation of olivine grains might have been responsible for a significant fraction of the Earth's water budget. The adsorption of water into olivine crystals in the solar nebula might also have led to the delivery of water to other planetary bodies.

Quantum chemistry has been used to investigate the oxidation of water by a family of seven catalysts based on [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(OH2)]2+ (tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). The electron-donating −OMe and −NH2 groups (EDG) and electron-withdrawing −COOH and −NO2 groups (EWG) are installed in the catalyst by replacing hydrogen atoms on the bpy and tpy ligands. The EDG induces an increase in the electron density at the Ru center, whereas the EWG does the opposite. Reduced electron density at the metal center facilitates Ru(N+1)/Ru(N) reduction and thus a higher reduction potential. Catalytic evolution of one oxygen molecule from two water molecules using all catalysts is an exothermic process if driven by CeIV. The exothermicity increases from EDG to EWG via parents. Regarding intermediates, the singlet states of 7-coordinated catalysts are slightly more stable than the triplet states of 6-coordinated catalysts for most catalysts. Only for a strong EWG (−NO2) containing catalyst, the triplet 6...

The adsorption of simple organic compounds onto minerals that are known to occur in the early solar nebula such as olivine, spinel and water-ice, is examined using first-principles density functional theory. The calculations show that electron-rich organics and organics containing cyanide, amine and carboxylic functional groups can strongly bind to low-index surfaces of olivine and spinel. Based on the surface coverage as obtained from these calculations, it can be inferred that an estimated amount of 10 13 kg of organics could have been delivered to early Earth via direct adsorption mechanisms, thereby providing an endogenous source of planetary organics. In addition, adsorption of organic compounds on magnesite, a carbonate phase believed to have formed via aqueous processes on asteroidal bodies, is also studied. The adsorption behavior of the organics is observed to be similar in both cases, i.e., for minerals that formed during the earliest stages of nebular evolution through condensation (spinel and olivine) or other processes and for those that formed via hydration processes on asteroidal bodies (magnesite). These results suggest that direct incorporation via adsorption is an important delivery mechanism of organics to both asteroidal bodies and terrestrial planets.

Using density functional theory (DFT) based approaches that utilize appropriate semi-empirical and nonlocal van der Waals corrections, we rigorously examine the interactions between fullerene (C 60 ) molecules and pristine single layer graphene (SLG) sheets as well as SLG containing isolated mono-vacancy, divacancy and Stone–Wales defect-sites respectively. Our results show that chemical bonding between the C 60 molecule and SLG at mono-vacancy defect-sites demonstrate predominantly sp 3 -like hybridization, in contrast to weaker π – π interactions that characterize C 60 –SLG systems containing divacancies and Stone–Wales defects.

In this paper, molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the effect of molecular water and composition (Si/Al ratio) on the structure and mechanical properties of fully polymerized amorphous sodium aluminosilicate geopolymer binders. The X-ray pair distribution function for the simulated geopolymer binder phase showed good agreement with the experimentally determined structure in terms of bond lengths of the various atomic pairs. The elastic constants and ultimate tensile strength of the geopolymer binders were calculated as a function of water content and Si/Al ratio; while increasing the Si/Al ratio from one to three led to an increase in the respective values of the elastic stiffness and tensile strength, for a given Si/Al ratio, increasing the water content decreased the stiffness and strength of the binder phase. An atomic-scale analysis showed a direct correlation between water content and diffusion of alkali ions, resulting in the weakening of the AlO4 tetrahedral structure due to the migration of charge balancing alkali ions away from the tetrahedra, ultimately leading to failure. In the presence of water molecules, the diffusion behavior of alkali cations was found to be particularly anomalous, showing dynamic heterogeneity. This paper, for the first time, proves the efficacy of atomistic simulations for understanding the effect of water in geopolymer binders and can thus serve as a useful design tool for optimizing composition of geopolymers with improved mechanical properties.

A quantum-chemical study has been carried out to investigate the diffusion properties of mercury into the ice. The interstitial site for mercury is less stable than the surface site. The diffusion of mercury depends on its charge state. With strong charge, mercury has a smaller ionic radius and thus a lower diffusion barrier. Elemental mercury with its larger atomic radius has a higher diffusion barrier. The diffusion barrier correlates well with the nominal charge state on mercury. The rates of diffusion for the mercury ions (Hg+, Hg2+) are much higher than that of elemental mercury (Hg0).

First principle density-functional theory calculations have been carried out on the interaction of I− and I3 − with TiO2 anatase surfaces, modeled by finite clusters that range in size from 48 to 180 atoms. The total energy per TiO2 unit and the HOMO-LUMO gaps decrease with increasing the size of the clusters. Both redox species (I− and I3 −) are strongly adsorbed on the TiO2 surface with the adsorbtion of I− being stronger. Adsorption of triiodide leads to its dissociation. The positions of the HOMO and LUMO of the adsorbed systems shift negatively from their respective cluster values. Solvation effects have been modeled using the CPCM model. Introducing solvent reduces the shifting of HOMO and LUMO. Implications for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are discussed. Both the HOMO-LUMO shifting and the strong adsorption might affect the performance of the cell. I3 − dissociates upon adsorption but I− adsorbs strongly

Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to investigate the chalcogenophilicity of mercury (Hg) reported recently [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 647-655]. Molecules of different sizes have been studied including ME, [M(EH)(4)](n), M(SH)(3)EH (M = Cd, Hg; E = S, Se, Te; n = 0, 2+) and [Tm(Y)]MEZ complexes (Tm = tris(2-mercapto-1-R-imidzolyl)hydroborato; Y = H, Me, Bu(t); M = Zn, Cd, Hg; E = S, Se, Te; Z = H, Ph). The bonding of Cd and Hg in their complexes depends on the oxidation state of the metal and nature of the ligands. More electronegative ligands form bonds of ionic type with Cd and Hg while less electronegative ligands form bonds that are more covalent. The Cd-ligand bond distances are shorter for the ionic type of bonding and longer for the covalent type of bonding than those of the corresponding Hg-ligand bonds. The variation of this Cd/Hg bonding is in accordance with the ionic and covalent radii of Cd and Hg. The experimentally observed (shorter) Hg-Se and Hg-Te bond distances in [Tm(Bu(t))]HgEPh (E = S, Se, Te) are due to the lower electronegativity of Se and Te, crystal packing, and the presence of a very bulky group. The bond dissociation energy (BDE) for Hg is the highest for Hg-S followed by Hg-Se and Hg-Te regardless of complex type.

A first principles theoretical study on the diffusion mechanism of Ti interstitials and O vacancies in rutile TiO2 is reported. We find that the diffusion depends strongly on the defect charge. Wea...

Quantum chemistry in the form of relativistic density functional theory (DFT) combined with a continuum solvation model has been applied to study the interaction of two prototypical ruthenium dyes (N3 and its chlorinated form) and redox mediators X− and X2−, X = Br, I, At, with a view at the elementary reactions within a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Along the series Br, I, and At, increasing bond lengths of X2, X2−, and X3− are found, as well as an increasing reducing power of the X−/X3− redox couple. Inner-sphere seven-coordinate complexes between the dye and the redox species do not exist; however, the dyes form outer-sphere complexes with the X− and X2− species. The thermodynamics of a recently proposed mechanism [J. Phys. Chem. C 2007, 111, 6561] involving a [dye+X−] intermediate are probed, and the existence of the intermediate and the elementary steps of the process are confirmed. The dye regeneration is thermodynamically more favorable for the N3 dye than its chlorinated counterpart. The regen...

The adsorption of Na and Hg atoms on the ice(Ih) surface has been studied using first principles density-functional calculations. Apart from the stoichiometric surface, a defective surface, created by removing a hydrogen atom from the surface, is also investigated. The adsorption energy for both Na and Hg is low on the stoichiometric surface. The calculated adsorption energies of Hg are qualitatively similar with different theoretical approaches, e.g., a generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) functional, a hybrid functional, and MP2. However, for Na, the GGA calculations reveal a favorable adsorption process, whereas the more accurate B3LYP and MP2 calculations favor the desorption of Na on the stoichiometric ice surface. The adsorption of Hg on the defective surface is stronger (double) than that of the stoichiometric surface. Na adsorbs very strongly on the defect site by forming Na−O bonds. The structures and energetics of all possible adsorption sites of Na and Hg on both the stoichiometric and defe...

Quantum chemical calculations have been carried out to study the structural, electronic, spectroscopic, and thermodynamic properties of five methylmercury-amino acid complexes and their selenium analogues. The structural properties of methylmercury-amino acids are very similar to their Se analogues except for those properties that are directly related to the Se atom which has a larger covalent radius. Characteristic stretching frequencies are observed for Hg-S/Se and Hg-C bonds. Electronic properties of both methylmercury-amino acids and their Se analogues are different from each other, with the S complexes showing stronger electrostatic attractions which leads to stronger bonds to mercury. The methylmercury complexes with selenoamino complexes, however, are thermodynamically more favorable (DeltaG of formation from suitable model reactants) than those of the corresponding amino acid complexes. This can be traced to the lower stability of the reactant selenoamino acids. Such different stability and favorability of formation might be responsible for the different physiological activity in biological systems such as the Hg-Se antagonism.

A computational study on iodine, iodide and polyiodide is carried out using different density functional methods and basis sets. All electron basis sets with hybrid and generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) functionals overestimate the bond distance and underestimate the vibrational frequency and formation energy of the iodine molecule. The local density approximation functionals with an effective core potential (ECP) basis set results in a very good bond distance but overestimates the vibrational frequency and formation energy. Hybrid functionals with ECPs give relatively good values for bond distance and vibrational frequency but hugely underestimate the formation energy. Only GGA functionals with ECP estimate all three parameters very well. The structural and vibrational properties and energetics (electron affinity and formation energy) of I, I−, I2, I2− and I3− are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental values for PW91 and ECP calculations. However, the basis set with diffuse function (along with polarized function) can describe the iodide and polyiodide better. The spin–orbit contribution needs to be included for a correct description of the energetics.

Size in combination with low symmetry makes theoretical studies of the properties of clusters a challenge. This is in particular the case when the studies also shall identify the structures of the lowest total energy. We discuss here various methods for calculating the structural, energetic, and electronic properties of nanoparticles, emphasizing that the computational method always should be chosen carefully according to the scientific questions that shall be addressed. Therefore, different approximate methods for calculating the total energy of a given structure are discussed, including the embedded-atom method and a parameterized density-functional method. Moreover, different approaches for choosing/determining the structures are presented, including an Aufbau/Abbau method and genetic algorithms. In order to illustrate the approaches we present results from calculations on metallic and semiconducting nanoparticles as well as on nanostructured HAlO.

Using a parameterized density-functional tight-binding method we have calculated the electronic and structural properties of Ge–Si nanoparticles. Starting with a spherical part of a zinc-blende/diamond crystal (with the center of the sphere at the mid-point of a nearest-neighbour bond) we have constructed initial structures that subsequently were allowed to relax. Structures consisting solely of Ge atoms or solely of Si atoms were studied, together with core-shell structures for which one semiconductor forms a shell on the core of the other semiconductor. Moreover, homogeneous, ordered SiGe structures as well as structures with a semisphere of one semiconductor and a semisphere of the other were also considered. In analysing the results special emphasis is put on identifying particularly stable structures, on explaining the occurrence of those, on the spatial distribution of the frontier orbitals, and on the variation of the total energy with structure and composition.

Earth's water is conventionally believed to be delivered by comets or wet asteroids after the Earth formed. However, their elemental and isotopic properties are inconsistent with those of the Earth. It was thus proposed that water was introduced by adsorption onto grains in the accretion disc prior to planetary growth, with bonding energies so high as to be stable under high-temperature conditions. Here, we show both by laboratory experiments and numerical simulations that water adsorbs dissociatively on the olivine {100} surface at the temperature (approx. 500–1500 K) and water pressure (approx. 10 −8 bar) expected for the accretion disc, leaving an OH adlayer that is stable at least up to 900 K. This may result in the formation of many Earth oceans, provided that a viable mechanism to produce water from hydroxyl exists. This adsorption process must occur in all disc environments around young stars. The inevitable conclusion is that water should be prevalent on terrestrial planets in the habitable zone around other stars.

Physical properties of materials are known to be different from the bulk at the nanometer scale. In this context, the dependence of optical properties of nanometric gold thin films with respect to film thickness is studied using density functional theory (DFT). We find that the in-plane plasma frequency of the gold thin film decreases with decreasing thickness and that the optical permittivity tensor is highly anisotropic as well as thickness dependent. Quantitative knowledge of planar metal film permittivity's thickness dependence can improve the accuracy and reliability of the designs of plasmonic devices and electromagnetic metamaterials. The strong anisotropy observed may become an alternative method of realizing indefinite media. © 2013 Optical Society of America.

The iodide/triiodide redox couple plays a unique role in the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). It is a necessary and unique part of every highly efficient DSSC published to date; alternative redox couples do not perform nearly as well. Hence, a detailed molecular-level understanding of its function is desirable. A density-functional theory (DFT) study has been carried out on the kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of the dye regeneration mechanism involving the iodide/triiodide redox couple and the prototypical N3 dye in the DSSC. The intermediate complexes between the oxidized dye and iodide have been identified. These are outer-sphere complexes of the general formula [dye(+)···I(-)]. Solvent effects are seen to play a critical role in the thermodynamics, whereas relativistic spin-orbit effects are less important. Both the kinetic and thermodynamic data reveal that the formation of complexes between [dye(+)···I(-)] and I(-) is the rate limiting step for the overall dye regeneration process. The regeneration of the neutral dye proceeds with the liberation of I; processes involving atomic iodine or I(-) are inferior, both from thermodynamic and kinetic considerations. The overall dye regeneration reaction is an exothermic process.

To model the structures of dissolved uranium contaminants adsorbed on mineral surfaces and further understand their interaction with geological surfaces in nature, we have performed periodic density funtional theory (DFT) calculations on the sorption of uranyl species onto the TiO(2) rutile (110) surface. Two kinds of surfaces, an ideal dry surface and a partially hydrated surface, were considered in this study. The uranyl dication was simulated as penta- or hexa-coordinated in the equatorial plane. Two bonds are contributed by surface bridging oxygen atoms and the remaining equatorial coordination is satisfied by H(2)O, OH(-), and CO(3)(2-) ligands; this is known to be the most stable sorption structure. Experimental structural parameters of the surface-[UO(2)(H(2)O)(3)](2+) system were well reproduced by our calculations. With respect to adsorbates, [UO(2)(L1)(x)(L2)(y)(L3)(z)](n) (L1=H(2)O, L2=OH(-), L3=CO(3)(2-), x≤3, y≤3, z≤2, x+y+2z≤4), on the ideal surface, the variation of ligands from H(2)O to OH(-) and CO(3)(2-) lengthens the U-O(surf) and U-Ti distances. As a result, the uranyl-surface interaction decreases, as is evident from the calculated sorption energies. Our calculations support the experimental observation that the sorptive capacity of TiO(2) decreases in the presence of carbonate ions. The stronger equatorial hydroxide and carbonate ligands around uranyl also result in U=O distances that are longer than those of aquouranyl species by 0.1-0.3 A. Compared with the ideal surface, the hydrated surface introduces greater hydrogen bonding. This results in longer U=O bond lengths, shorter uranyl-surface separations in most cases, and stronger sorption interactions.

The structural and magnetic properties of 1.8 nm Co particles dispersed in a Mn matrix by co-depositing pre-formed mass-selected Co clusters with an atomic vapour of Mn onto a common substrate have been studied by using EXAFS (extended x-ray absorption fine structure), XMCD (x-ray magnetic circular dichroism), magnetometry, and theoretical modelling. At low Co volume fraction (5%) Co@Mn shows a significant degree of alloying and the well-defined particles originally deposited become centres of high Co concentration CoMn alloy that evolves from pure Co at the nanoparticle centre to the pure Mn matrix within a few nm. Each inhomogeneity is a core-shell particle with a Co-rich ferromagnetic core in contact with a Co-depleted antiferromagnetic shell. The XMCD reveals that the Co moment localized on the Co atoms within the Co-rich cores is much smaller than the ferromagnetic moment of the Co nanoparticles deposited at the same volume fraction in Ag. Electronic structure calculations indicate that the small magnitude of the core Co moment can be understood only if significant alloying occurs. Monte Carlo modelling replicates the exchange bias (EB) behaviour observed at low temperature from magnetometry measurements. We ascribe EB to the interaction between the ferromagnetic Co-rich cores and the antiferromagnetic Mn-rich shells., This work was supported by the EU through the NANOSPIN project (Contract No. NMP4-CT-2004-013545) under the Sixth Framework Programme, Priority 3 (NMP). We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr Sakura Pascarelli during EXAFS beamtime at ESRF.

Two types of Co-Mn clusters are investigated in calculations within the framework of density-functional theory. First, we consider Co clusters with 19 and 38 atoms and study the effect on the magnetization of single and double substitution by Mn atoms. In all cases the preferred configurations have the Mn aligning parallel with the Co moments resulting in an enhancement of the cluster magnetization that is consistent with experimental observation. Second, we consider Co clusters encapsulated in a shell of Mn and again examine the effect of the Mn on the Co magnetization. The Co moment at the center of the core is somewhat smaller than that of bulk Co while the net moment on the Co atoms at the interface with the Mn is significantly reduced. A reduction in the Co moment is also observed in experimental measurements. In order to match the level of reduction seen experimentally, it is necessary to postulate some degree of alloying.

The atomic structure and net magnetic moments in nanosized Fe clusters embedded in Cu were determined as a function of cluster filling fraction by extended x-ray-absorption fine structure EXAFS and magnetometry measurements, respectively. Below the percolation threshold 25%, the Fe clusters have an fcc structure with a lattice parameter of 3.580.02 A and are ferromagnetic with a net atomic magnetic moment of 0.4‐0.9 B. Spin polarized electronic structure calculations were also performed on Fe core/Cu shell systems to investigate the magnetic behavior as a function of lattice spacing; the calculated moments correlate well with experiment.

International audience; A first-principles study on adsorption, diffusion, and cluster growth of vanadium on TiO2(110) is presented. We find that the most stable adsorption site of a single V atom is the “upper hollow site” in agreement with recent experiments. However several subsurface sites involving Ti-substitution are more stable than any on-surface adsorption site. Major diffusion channels have been determined. The lowest energy diffusion barrier (0.7 eV) is that between the most stable adsorption site and the most stable Ti-substitutional site. The interaction between two neighboring V adatoms is repulsive. Surface clusters are stable from three V atoms on. The most stable five and eight atom clusters are pyramidal chains along [001] with a body centered cubic coordination. For a coverage below about 0.3 monolayer, V preferentially occupies subsurface sites. For higher coverage, it forms clusters on the surface.

International audience; A first-principles study on the adsorption of 3d transition metal atoms on a stoichiometric TiO2(110) surface is reported. For all 3d elements except Cu, the most stable on-surface adsorption site is a site where the adatom binds to two twofold and one threefold surface oxygen atoms. For Ti, V, and Cr, however, a subsurface site, where the adatom substitutes a sixfold Ti atom, is more stable. The adatoms are oxidized in all cases. The charge transfer to the substrate is larger for the substitutional site than for the on-surface adsorption sites and decreases with atomic number along the 3d series. The relative stabilities of the adsorption sites are discussed in terms of the charge state of the adatoms, the electronegativity of their neighbors, and the metal−oxygen bond enthalpies of the 3d elements. The results indicate that, at submonolayer coverage, the early 3d elements wet the surface and may diffuse into the substrate, whereas the late 3d elements tend to form large three-dimensional clusters.

Xylanases are hydrolytic enzymes that cleave the β-1,4-linkage ofwheat bran xylan. For screening of xylanase producing bacteria soil samples were diluted by serial dilution and cultured on selective wheat bran xylan agar media. Two bacterial strains showing clear transparent zone around the colony on xylan agar plate were selected as xylanase producing bacteria. The strain Paenibacillus sp. showed highest xylanolytic activity. The strain was thermophile and produced highly active cellulase free xylanase. The enzyme secretion was enhanced when the medium was supplemented with 0.5% wheat bran xylan, peptone and Ca2+ salt. The peak in xylanase production was achieved within 48-60 hours at temperature 50°-55°C and at pH 7.0.The cellulase free xylanase was partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and heat treatment at 50°C. The xylanase was optimally active at pH 7.0 and 55°C; and showed high substrate activity to wheat bran xylan but no activity towards carboxymethylcellulose, cellulose and starch.In future we want to know the structure function relationship of the purified enzyme and also want to known the molecular biological study using highly purified xylanase. For this purpose we have to determine the N-terminal & C-terminal amino acid sequence.

A study on the structure and energetics of a single molybdenum atom adsorbed on the $\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}(110)$ surface is reported. All possible adsorption sites have been determined. Moreover, it is found that incorporation of the Mo atom into the first surface layer leads to considerably more stable structures than on any adsorption site. Different channels for migration of the molybdenum atom have been identified. The diffusion barriers of these channels have been determined. The results on structure and energetics are discussed by analyzing the electronic properties of the $\mathrm{Mo}∕\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}(110)$ systems.

Results of a theoretical study of the electronic properties of (Si)Ge and (Ge)Si core/shell nanoparticles, homogeneous SiGe clusters, and Ge$|$Si clusters with an interphase separating the Si and Ge atoms are presented. In general, (Si)Ge particles are more stable than (Ge)Si ones, and SiGe systems are more stable than Ge$|$Si ones. It is found that the frontier orbitals, that dictate the optical properties, are localized to the surface, meaning that saturating dangling bonds on the surface with ligands may influence the optical properties significantly. In the central parts we identify a weak tendency for the Si atoms to accept electrons, whereas Ge atoms donate electrons., To appear in Phys. Rev. B

Using a parameter-free, density-functional method that has been developed explicitly for the theoretical treatment of infinite, periodic, isolated, helical polymers we study various polymers related to polythiophene. In particular we discuss how the electronic properties of polythiophene are changed when replacing some of the H atoms by CH3 group, by incorporating vinylene bridges into the backbone, or when replacing some or all the CH units of the backbone by N atoms. We observe the weakest effects for the methyl-substitution and the strongest for the N-incorporation. The latter leads to an overall downward shift of all bands, but in contrast to the case for polyacetylene, the unrelaxed compound with N atoms does not have N lone-pair orbitals as the highest occupied ones. Instead these occur at somewhat deeper energies. When comparing the aromatic and quinoid forms we found for the pure compound as well as for the methyl-containing one that the gap closes when passing from the one to the other form which was not found for any of the other materials of the present study. Moreover, the energy of the HOMO was found to depend stronger on the bond-length alternation than the energy of the LUMO, ultimately giving that polarons will induce two asymmetrically placed gap states with the energetically lower one appearing deeper in the gap than the other one.

Numerical simulations examining chemical interactions of water molecules with forsterite grains have demonstrated the efficacy of nebular gas adsorption as a viable mechanism for water delivery to the terrestrial planets. Nevertheless, a comprehensive picture detailing the water-adsorption mechanisms on forsterite is not yet available. Towards this end, using accurate first-principles density functional theory, we examine the adsorption mechanisms of water on the (001), (100), (010) and (110) surfaces of forsterite. While dissociative adsorption is found to be the most energetically favourable process, two stable associative adsorption configurations are also identified. In dual-site adsorption, the water molecule interacts strongly with surface magnesium and oxygen atoms, whereas single-site adsorption occurs only through the interaction with a surface Mg atom. This results in dual-site adsorption being more stable than single-site adsorption.

One of the major and unique components of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) is the iodide/triiodide redox couple. Periodic density-functional calculations have been carried out to study the interactions among three different components of the DSSC, i.e. the redox shuttle, the TiO(2) semiconductor surface, and nitrogen containing additives, with a focus on the implications for the performance of the DSSC. Iodide and bromide with alkali metal cations as counter ions are strongly adsorbed on the TiO(2) surface. Small additive molecules also strongly interact with TiO(2). Both interactions induce a negative shift of the Fermi energy of TiO(2). The negative shift of the Fermi energy is related to the performance of the cell by increasing the open voltage of the cell and retarding the injection dynamics (decreasing the short circuit current). Additive molecules, however, have relatively weaker interaction with iodide and triiodide.