Stabilizing Polar Domains in MAPbBr3 via the Hydrostatic Pressure-Induced Liquid Crystal-like Transition.

Pressure-induced phases of MAPbBr3 were investigated at room temperature in the range of 0-2.8 GPa by ab initio molecular dynamics. Two structural transitions at 0.7 GPa (cubic → cubic) and 1.1 GPa (cubic → tetragonal) involved both the inorganic host (lead bromide) and the organic guest (MA). MA dipoles behave like a liquid crystal undergoing isotropic → isotropic and isotropic → oblate nematic transitions as pressure confines their orientational fluctuations to a crystal plane. Beyond 1.1 GPa, the MA ions lie alternately along two orthogonal directions in the plane forming stacks perpendicular to it. However, the molecular dipoles are statically disordered, leading to stable polar and antipolar MA domains in each stack. H-Bond interactions, which primarily mediate host-guest coupling, facilitate the static disordering of MA dipoles. Interestingly, high pressures suppress CH3 torsional motion, emphasizing the role of C-H···Br bonds in the transitions.

Heteroleptic Cu(I) bis-diimine complexes as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs): on some factors affecting intramolecular charge transfer.

A set of eight heteroleptic bis-diimine copper dye complexes with two different ancillary ligands (functionalised 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp) and functionalised 6,6'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dpbpy)) are investigated for their potential use as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), using first principles density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent DFT (TDDFT). A detailed analysis of the structural properties, projected density of electronic states and Kohn-Sham energy levels, and optical absorption spectra in the UV-visible region reveals that substituting the thiophene group in the ancillary ligand, and enhancing conjugation in the anchoring ligand, lead to increase in the light harvesting efficiency (LHE). However, a natural transition orbital (NTO) analysis, shows that the nature of charge transfer depends mainly on the nature of the parent ancillary group and is not significantly affected by the structural modifications. Importantly, the lower energy excitations lead to favourable mixed metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and ligand to ligand charge transfer (LLCT), as well as good electron injection. The best charge transfer directionality is found in the dmp-based dyes, particularly thiophene substituted dyes, thus making these the more effective sensitizers in DSSCs.

Pressure induced topochemical polymerization of solid acrylamide facilitated by anisotropic response of the hydrogen bond network.

The pressure induced polymerization of molecular solids is an appealing route to obtain pure, crystalline polymers without the need for radical initiators. Here, we report a detailed density functional theory (DFT) study of the structural and chemical changes that occur in defect free solid acrylamide, a hydrogen bonded crystal, when it is subjected to hydrostatic pressures. While our calculations are able to reproduce experimentally measured pressure dependent spectroscopic features in the 0-20 GPa range, our atomistic analysis predicts polymerization in acrylamide at a pressure of ∼23 GPa at 0 K albeit through large enthalpy barriers. Interestingly, we find that the two-dimensional hydrogen bond network in acrylamide templates topochemical polymerization by aligning the atoms through an anisotropic response at low pressures. This results not only in conventional C-C, but also unusual C-O polymeric linkages, as well as a new hydrogen bonded framework, with both N-HO and C-HO bonds. Using a simple model for thermal effects, we also show that at 300 K, higher pressures significantly accelerate the transformation into polymers by lowering the barrier. Thus, application of pressure offers an alternative route for topochemical polymerization when higher temperatures are undesirable.

Quantum dots as an electron or hole acceptor: on some factors affecting charge transfer in dye-quantum dot composites.

We report a density functional theory (DFT)/time dependent DFT (TDDFT) computational investigation on some factors affecting the nature of charge transfer in CdS quantum dots (QDs) of two different sizes attached to one or two units of dyes among three species viz., coumarine (C343), fluorescein (FLU) and NKX-2388 (NKX). The direction and nature of charge transfers have been ascertained from natural transition orbital analysis. Factors affecting the charge transfer mechanism include the interaction of dyes with QDs, the interaction of a dye with another dye and the effect of solvation. The strength of interaction of the dye and QD depends on the orientation of the dye unit(s) and the type of anchoring group of the dyes and even the direction of charge transfer reverses for different orientation of the dye with respect to the QD in some systems. In addition, hybridized energy levels of the dye-QD composites are formed which leads to direct charge transfer. We observe both direct and indirect charge transfers for different excited states, which is indeed an interesting feature. Interestingly, when two dye molecules are attached to a QD, the direct charge transfer exists between dyes of the same species only. The energy levels, as well as corresponding absorption peaks, exhibit pronounced energy shifts in implicit solvation models.

Electronic, magnetic and spectroscopic properties of doped Mn(1-x) A x WO4 (A = Co, Cu, Ni and Fe) multiferroic: an experimental and DFT study.

The influence of dopants (Co, Cu, Fe and Ni) on the optical, electronic and magnetic properties of multiferroic MnWO4 was studied using Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), magnetization measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The evolution of Raman spectra with different elemental substitutions at the Mn site was also studied, where the peak width increased with doping of higher mass elements (Co, Cu, Fe and Ni). UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy on polycrystalline Mn(1-x) A x WO4 (A = Co, Cu, Fe and Ni) (0 ⩽ [Formula: see text] ⩽ 0. was performed. The evaluated electronic band gap decreasing with successive Co, Cu and Fe doping reflected the lower ionic radius of the substituted element, and for Ni-doped MnWO4 the band gap increased slightly compared to the parent MnWO4. Bader charge transfer and a partial density of states (PDOS) analysis from DFT simulations predict the appearance of impurity states in the band gap region (of pure MnWO4) from the d orbital of the dopant (Co, Cu and Fe) hybridized with the p orbital of the bonded O atoms due to charge transfer from O to the dopant, and reduced the band gap of Co, Cu and Fe-doped MnWO4. On the other hand, for Ni-doped MnWO4 strong W-O hybridization occurring due to large charge transfer from oxygen to tungsten leads to an increase in the band gap. The band gap, computed using the GGA + U method, is close to the experimental value. The signature of the d-d transition observed in the UV spectra is explained in terms of the crystal field stabilization energy caused by the octahedral distortion present in the lattice. Three different antiferromagnetic phases (AF1, AF2 and AF3) are identified in MnWO4 and also for the Co (18.75%)-doped sample. For Cu-doped samples, suppression of the AF1 phase and stabilization of the AF2 phase is observed up to 2 K. Successive doping of Cu leads to the diminution of magnetic frustration. A new magnetic order is identified for Ni-doped MnWO4 in the temperature range 13.7-20 K.

Trapping of Li(+) Ions by [ThFn](4-n) Clusters Leading to Oscillating Maxwell-Stefan Diffusivity in the Molten Salt LiF-ThF4.

A molten salt mixture of lithium fluoride and thorium fluoride (LiF-ThF4) serves as a fuel as well as a coolant in the most sophisticated molten salt reactor (MSR). Here, we report for the first time dynamic correlations, Onsager coefficients, Maxwell-Stefan (MS) diffusivities, and the concentration dependence of density and enthalpy of the molten salt mixture LiF-ThF4 at 1200 K in the composition range of 2-45% ThF4 and also at eutectic composition in the temperature range of 1123-1600 K using Green-Kubo formalism and equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. We have observed an interesting oscillating pattern for the MS diffusivity for the cation-cation pair, in which DLi-Th oscillates between positive and negative values with the amplitude of the oscillation reducing as the system becomes rich in ThF4. Through the velocity autocorrelation function, vibrational density of states, radial distribution function analysis, and structural snapshots, we establish an interplay between the local structure and multicomponent dynamics and predict that formation of negatively charged [ThFn](4-n) clusters at a higher ThF4 mole % makes positively charged Li(+) ions oscillate between different clusters, with their range of motion reducing as the number of [ThFn](4-n) clusters increases, and finally Li(+) ions almost get trapped at a higher ThF4% when the electrostatic force on Li(+) exerted by various surrounding clusters gets balanced. Although reports on variations of density and enthalpy with temperature exist in the literature, for the first time we report variations of the density and enthalpy of LiF-ThF4 with the concentration of ThF4 (mole %) and fit them with the square root function of ThF4 concentration, which will be very useful for experimentalists to obtain data over a range of concentrations from fitting the formula for design purposes. The formation of [ThFn](4-n) clusters and the reduction in the diffusivity of the ions at a higher ThF4% may limit the percentage of ThF4 that can be used in the MSR to optimize the neutron economy.

Room temperature d (0) ferromagnetism in hole doped Y2O3: widening the choice of host to tailor DMS.

Transition metal-free-ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) is of much current interest in view of the search for more efficient DMS materials for spintronics applications. Our DFT results predict for the first time, that impurities from group1A (Li(+), Na(+), K(+)) doped on Y2O3 can induce a magnetic signature with a magnetic moment around 2.0 µ B per defect at hole concentrations around 1.63 × 10(21) cm(-3), which is one order less than the critical hole density of ZnO with ferromagnetic coupling large enough to promote room temperature ferromagnetism. The induction of room temperature ferromagnetism by hole doping with an impurity atom from group 1A, which injects two holes per defect in the system, implies that the recommendation of three holes per defect given in the literature, which puts a restriction on the choice of host material and the impurity, is not a necessary criterion for hole induced room temperature ferromagnetism. DFT simulations with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), confirmed by the more sophisticated hybrid functional, Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE06), predict that the magnetic moment is mostly contributed by O atoms surrounding the impurity atom and the magnetic moment scale up with impurity concentration which is a positive indicator for practical applications. We quantitatively and extensively demonstrate through the analysis of the density of states and ferromagnetic coupling that the Stoner criterion is satisfied by pushing the Fermi level inside the valence band to activate room temperature ferromagnetism. The stability of the structure and the persistence of ferromagnetism at room temperature were demonstrated by ab initio MD simulations and computation of Curie temperature through the mean field approximation. This study widens the choice of host oxides to tailor DMS for spintronics applications.

Density functional investigation and some optical experiments on dye-sensitized quantum dots.

Dye-sensitized quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Here, we report steady state (absorption and photoluminescence) optical measurements on several sizes of CdS QDs ligated with Coumarin 343 dye (C-343) and two different solvents, viz., chloroform and toluene. We further report detailed first principles density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory studies of the geometric, electronic and optical (absorption and emission) properties of three different sized capped QDs, ligated with C-343 dye. The absorption spectrum shows a QD-size-independent peak, and another peak which shifts to blue with decrease in QD size. The first peak is found to arise from the dye molecule and the second one from the QD. Charge transfer using natural transition orbitals (NTOs) is found to occur from dye-to-QDs and is solvent-dependent. In the emission spectra, the luminescence intensity of the dye is quenched by the addition of the QD indicating a strong interaction between the QD and the dye.

Electron states in semiconductor quantum dots.

In this work, the electronic structures of quantum dots (QDs) of nine direct band gap semiconductor materials belonging to the group II-VI and III-V families are investigated, within the empirical tight-binding framework, in the effective bond orbital model. This methodology is shown to accurately describe these systems, yielding, at the same time, qualitative insights into their electronic properties. Various features of the bulk band structure such as band-gaps, band curvature, and band widths around symmetry points affect the quantum confinement of electrons and holes. These effects are identified and quantified. A comparison with experimental data yields good agreement with the calculations. These theoretical results would help quantify the optical response of QDs of these materials and provide useful input for applications.

Understanding the antioxidant behavior of some vitamin molecules: a first-principles density functional approach.

The structures, energetics, vertical and adiabatic ionization potentials, electron affinities, and global reactivity descriptors of antioxidant vitamins (both water- and fat-soluble) in neutral, positively charged, and negatively charged states were investigated theoretically. We worked within the framework of first-principles density functional theory (DFT), using the B3LYP functional and both localized (6-311G+(d,p) and plane-wave basis sets. Solvent effects were modeled via the polarizable continuum model (PCM), using the integral equation formalism variant (IEFPCM). From the computed structural parameters, ionization potentials, electron affinities, and spin densities, we deduced that these vitamins prefer to lose electrons to neutral reactive oxygen species (·OH and ·OOH), making them good antioxidants. Conceptual DFT was used to determine global chemical reactivity parameters. The computed chemical hardnesses showed that these antioxidant vitamins are more reactive than neutral reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus supporting their antioxidant character towards these species. However, in the neutral state, these vitamins do not act as antioxidants for [Formula: see text]. The reactivity of vitamins towards ROS depends on the nature of the solvent. Amongst the ROS, ·OH has the greatest propensity to attract electrons from a generic donor. The reactivities of fat-soluble vitamins towards neutral reactive oxygen species were found to be larger than those of water-soluble vitamins towards these species, showing that the former are better antioxidants.

Chemical reactivity analysis of deoxyribonucleosides and deoxyribonucleoside analogues (NRTIs): a first-principles density functional approach.

The structures, energetics, as well as several important chemical parameters, of antiretroviral drugs - nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) - and natural deoxyribonucleosides in both neutral, and positively and negatively charged states, are investigated. These studies are carried out within the frame work of first-principles density-functional theory (DFT), using the Becke-Lee-Yang-Parr (BLYP) generalized gradient corrections to the local spin density approximation exchange and correlation energy, norm-conserving pseudopotentials and a plane-wave expansion of Kohn-Sham orbitals. Conceptual DFT is used to determine global and local chemical reactivity parameters. Our results are in good agreement with the best available experiments to date. The variation in the bond lengths and bond angles on cation formation indicates that the electron is lost from the base part of these molecules. Further, the presence of the deoxyribose sugar moiety lowers their ionization potential and increases their electron affinity, in comparison to the isolated DNA base. The effectiveness of the drug action in terminating the viral DNA chain, is explained using the global reactivity parameters, by comparing the reactivities of the drug molecules with those of the competing deoxyribonucleosides. The widely followed clinical practice, of avoiding the simultaneous administration of certain drugs, is also explained from the hardness and softness parameters. For most of the drug molecules, our study validates the generally accepted wisdom, that monophosphorylation is the crucial reaction step in the phosphorylation reaction in DNA nucleotide synthesis.

Mobility of a single alkali metal atom on fullerene C60: first principles molecular dynamical study.

The dynamical behavior of a single K or Na alkali metal atom on the surface of a C(60) molecule is investigated via Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations in a temperature range up to 300 K. These provide direct evidence for the heteroatom motion, postulated earlier in pioneering experiments, and show that an alkali metal atom can move both on the surface and radially outward from the surface, resulting in a dynamics ranging from diffusive to free orbital motion, on time-scales of up to a few picoseconds.

Structure of the B2 phase in the Ti-25Al-25Zr alloy: a density functional study.

We report a first-principles density functional theory study of the B2 phase structure in the Ti-25Al-25Zr alloy. Several structural models with different site occupancies have been investigated. In the ideal B2 phase, the Zr atom is found to preferentially occupy the Ti site. However, if the atoms are allowed to relax, Zr occupies both Ti and Al sites, leading to local positional disorder in the structure due to the large size differences of the constituent elements. Further, this alloy is predicted to have better room temperature ductility, enhancing its utility in several technological applications.

Capacity of nano-reactors of AOT micro-emulsions to form and sustain ultra small semiconductor quantum dots.

Microemulsions (MEs) are increasingly being used as nano-reactors for the formation and synthesis of nanoparticles or quantum dots (QDs). In this paper, we study the capacity of aqueous nanoreactors of AOT microemulsions for the formation of ultrasmall semiconductor QDs by fixing w = ([H2O]/[AOT]) and varying the concentration of CdS up to 100 mM. The CdS QDs in the MEs are evaluated using UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, and light scattering. Particles are found to be controlled in 8.7 A-11.8 A. The UV-vis spectra are analysed using an accurate tight-binding (TB) approach and effective mass approximation (EMA). The TB method, being much more accurate than the EMA, gives results in good agreement with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD reveals that the particles are mostly zinc-blend at low concentrations (> or =20 mM) but a mixture of zinc-blend and wurtzite at higher concentrations (100 mM). High concentrations of CdS are useful to improve the yield while best-utilizing nanoreactors and to give a tight control over size and polydispersity. MEs containing CdS are found to be stable over a month when kept in the dark.