DFT study of molecular structure and vibrations of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane.

Molecular structure and vibrational frequencies of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations using Becke's three-parameter exchange functional combined with Lee-Young-Parr correlation functional (B3-LYP) and standard basis set 6-311++G(d,p). In order to reveal some possible conformations of GPTMS, potential energy scan has been performed in three dihedral angles SiCCC, CCCO and OCCO. The calculations predict the existence of seven different conformations. Raman and IR spectra of liquid samples were recorded and complete assignment of the observed vibrational bands of GPTMS molecule has been proposed. Temperature dependence of Raman spectra between 203K and 293K was examined and vibrational modes characteristic for different conformers were detached.

Conformational stability and vibrations of aminopropylsilanol molecule.

Density functional theory (DFT), using the B3-LYP/6-31G(d,p) method have been used to investigate the conformation and vibrational spectra of aminopropylsilanetriol (APST) NH2CH2CH2CH2Si(OH)3. The potential function for CCCSi torsion gives rise to two distinct conformers trans and gauche. The predicted energy of the more stable trans conformer is 337 cm-1 less than the energy of gauche conformer. The calculated barriers to the conformation interchange are: 1095, 2845 and 438 cm-1 for the trans to gauche, gauche to gauche and gauche to trans conformers, respectively. For the trans conformer the potential energy curve for the Si(OH)3 groups torsion in APST has been calculated changing the HOSiC dihedral angle. The barrier for the internal rotation of 3065 cm-1 has been obtained. The optimized molecular structure of APST dimer calculated for trans conformer has a SiOSi angle of 143.2 degrees, and a SiOSi bond length of 0.164 nm. A complete vibrational assignment for both conformers as well as for trans-dimer is supported by the normal coordinate analysis, calculated IR intensities as well as Raman activities. On the basis of the results, the vibrational spectra of APST aqueous solution and APST polymer have been analyzed. The average error between the observed and calculated frequencies is 14 cm-1.

Raman study of structural relaxation and boson peak in amorphous films of adamantane.

Low-frequency Raman scattering was used to study amorphous solid films of adamantane, a globular non-polar hydrocarbon molecule. As evidenced by its spectral characteristics this type of disorder is different from the orientational disorder found in the room temperature plastic phase by the absence of the translational order as well. This gives rise to the boson peak related to acoustic phonons which gradually disappears upon heating with simultaneous emerging of the phonon line at 50 cm-1 which characterizes the low-temperature ordered phase of adamantane. Adamantane dynamics resembles that of C60 fullerene although not in the same temperature range. All this makes adamantane an attractive system that could serve as a practical reference in molecular simulation studies of the glassy phase of model fluids.