The effect of varying substituents on structure and energies of bisketenes was studied using ab initio methods. Effect of substituents on ring closing reaction of bisketenes to the corresponding cyclobutenediones was also studied using ab initio methods. One or two of the following substituents were used to study the effect of varying substituents: BH2, CH3, NH2, OH, F, AlH2, SiH3, PH2, SH, Cl. Studies were done at the Hartree-Fock (HF), Møller-Plesset (MP2), and Density Functional Theory (B3LYP) levels of theory using the 6-31G* basis set.

Gas electron diffraction (GED) is a technique that has been developed to study the molecular structure of species in the gas phase. This thesis focuses on the reconstruction of the Canterbury GED apparatus (moved from Edinburgh, UK) and the requirements for modifying the apparatus to incorporate a mass spectrometer (MS) so diffraction and MS data can be obtained within a single experiment. The combined GED-MS system has been identified in previous work in the Masters group as a necessary development for studying the structure of short-lived species generated in situ. This is particularly true for the study of ketene, which as shown in this thesis, can be generated from several precursors as part of a multiple product pyrolysis system. While GED data for ketene generated from acetic anhydride has been refined, the species formed from the pyrolysis of Meldrum’s acid were determined to be too difficult to deconvolute without additional experimental data from MS. A computational study of possible ketene derivatives that could be studied with a GED-MS apparatus is also presented. Lastly, this thesis details a structural study of the gas-phase structures of tris(chloromethyl)amine and a family of substituted disilane systems which have been determined in the gas phase for the first time. A comprehensive GED, Raman spectroscopy and ab initio study have been undertaken for tris(chloromethyl)amine [N(CH2Cl)3] which is shown to have a different structure in the solid and gas phase. Further work in the form of a molecular dynamics investigation has been identified as necessary to describe the low amplitude motion of one of the CH2Cl groups in the gas phase to allow for the GED refinement to be completed. The work on the substituted disilane systems X3SiSiXMe2 (X = F, Cl, Br, I) and X3SiSiMe3 (X = H, F, Cl, Br) demonstrates the effect of increased halogen substitution on the electronic effects of the disilanes, and the effect that the methyl groups have as larger halogens increase the steric bulk of the system.

To obtain accurate adsorption energies of molecules on surfaces is a challenging task as the methods with sufficient accuracy are too computationally demanding to be applied to the systems of interest. Embedding theories provide a natural remedy: focus the computation on a small region and incorporate the effects of the environment. In this thesis, embedding schemes and the response of many-electron systems to an adsorbed impurity are investigated. To this end, two approaches are used: tight-binding and ab initio. In the tight-binding method, the Green's function formalism is studied and explicit expressions for Green's functions of various one- and two-dimensional models are obtained. Using this formalism, we study qualitatively the local density of states and adsorption energies. In the second part of this thesis, state-of-the-art ab initio methods are employed to study convergence of the subtractive embedding scheme for adsorption energies of small closed-shell systems on two-dimensional graphene and hexagonal boron nitride. The efficiency and applicability of the scheme are assessed for neon and hydrogen fluoride as adsorbates. We found that the studied embedding method works better for neon compared to hydrogen fluoride, which may be explained by the use of a two-body dispersion correction.

Simulações computacionais são ferramentas essenciais para o estudo de sistemas físicos à temperatura finita. Geralmente, as técnicas utilizadas são: método de Monte Carlo (MC) e de Dinâmica Molecular (DM); tradicionalmente potenciais empíricos são empregados. Entretanto, esses potenciais são ajustados para uma dada configuração e não há nenhuma garantia de que eles também serão acurados para outras situações. Assim, existe um grande interesse em combinar as técnicas de simulação com métodos que descrevam a estrutura eletrônica com grande precisão, os chamados métodos de primeiros princípios. Nesse trabalho, implementamos um programa de MC no qual a energia total das configurações é obtida via Teoria do Funcional da Densidade (DFT). Como aplicação de nossa metodologia estudamos inicialmente um aglomerado de Silício (Si_5). Nessas simulações, investigamos as propriedades estruturais dos aglomerados em função da temperatura e estimamos a faixa de temperatura de transição de fase. Além disso, propomos uma nova abordagem para simulações de água, em que combinamos o MC ab initio com otimizações intramoleculares de geometria. Para exemplificar a metodologia, mostraremos os resultados das simulações para o dímero de água, um sistema protótipo em que aparecem os dois tipos de ligações: intra e intermoleculares. / Computer simulations are essential tools to the research of physical systems at finite temperatures. Monte Carlo (MC) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) methods are the major techniques used for this purpose, and empirical potentials are traditionally employed in these simulations. These potentials, however, are built to describe with precision the system near some region of its configuration space, thus there is no guarantee that they will provide reliable results in other instances. Therefore, there is a great interest in the combination of MC and MD simulations with methods that describe the electronic structure with high precision (ab initio methods). In this work we have developed a MC program where the total configurational energies are obtained via Density Functional Theory (DFT). As an initial application of our methodology we have studied a silicon cluster (Si5). In these simulations we have investigated the structural properties of these cluster at diferent temperatures and estimated the melting temperature. Furthermore, we also propose a new formulation for water simulations,where we combine the ab initio MC with intramolecular geometry optimizations. As an illustration of our methodology, we show the results for the water dimer simulations. This system is a prototype of the hydrogen bond where we already have both intra and intermolecular bonds.

Neste trabalho, métodos ab initio multiconfiguracionais de alto nível foram empregados para estudar as estruturas eletrônicas e as ligações químicas de vários estados eletrônicos de dois monocarbetos de metais de transição do período 3d: MnC e CoC. Os estados eletrônicos quartetos, sextetos e octupletos energeticamente mais baixos do MnC, que estão correlacionados com os três mais baixos canais de dissociação, foram investigados teoricamente, pela primeira vez, com a abordagem Interação de Configurações Multiconfiguracional (MRCI), baseada em funções de onda do tipo Complete-Active-Space Self-Consistent-Field (CASSCF) e extensos conjuntos de bases atômicas. Energias de excitação, distâncias internucleares de equilíbrio, energias de dissociação e constantes espectroscópicas para todos os 36 estados serão apresentados. Fatores de Franck-Condon, coeficientes de Einstein e tempo de vida radioativa para a transição eletrônica X-A também serão mostrados. Sobre o monocarbeto de cobalto (CoC), os métodos CASSCF e Teoria da Perturbação de Segunda Ordem Multiconfiguracional (CASPT2) foram empregados para estudar seus estados eletrônicos dubletos mais baixos. Três novos estados foram identificados. O estado atribuído para a banda entre 13.000 – 14.500 cm-1 foi cofirmado, mas ao contrário do que foi sugerido, outra configuração eletrônica foi encontrada como a mais relevante para a descrição desse estado. / In this work, high level ab initio multiconfigurational methods were employed to study the electronic structures and chemical bondings of several electronic states of two 3d transition metal monocarbides: MnC and CoC. The lowest-lying quartet, sextet, and octuplet electronic states of MnC, correlating with the three lowest-lying atomic dissociation channels, were investigated theoretically for the first time, with state-of-the-art Multireference Configuration Interaction (MRCI) approach, based on Complete-Active-Space Self-Consistent-Field (CASSCF) wave functions and extensive basis sets. Excitation energies, equilibrium internuclear distances, dissociation energies, and spectroscopic constants for all 36 electronic states will be reported. Franck-Condon factos, Einstein coefficients, and radiative lifetimes for the X-A electronic transition will also be presented. As to the colbalt monocarbide (CoC), the CASSCF and Second Order Perturbation Theory (CASPT2) methods were employed to study its low-lying electronic dublet states. Three new states were identified. The results support the previous assignment fo the 13000 – 14500 cm-1, but unlike previous suggestions, another electronic configuration were found as the most important for the description of this state.

Simulações computacionais são ferramentas essenciais para o estudo de sistemas físicos à temperatura finita. Geralmente, as técnicas utilizadas são: método de Monte Carlo (MC) e de Dinâmica Molecular (DM); tradicionalmente potenciais empíricos são empregados. Entretanto, esses potenciais são ajustados para uma dada configuração e não há nenhuma garantia de que eles também serão acurados para outras situações. Assim, existe um grande interesse em combinar as técnicas de simulação com métodos que descrevam a estrutura eletrônica com grande precisão, os chamados métodos de primeiros princípios. Nesse trabalho, implementamos um programa de MC no qual a energia total das configurações é obtida via Teoria do Funcional da Densidade (DFT). Como aplicação de nossa metodologia estudamos inicialmente um aglomerado de Silício (Si_5). Nessas simulações, investigamos as propriedades estruturais dos aglomerados em função da temperatura e estimamos a faixa de temperatura de transição de fase. Além disso, propomos uma nova abordagem para simulações de água, em que combinamos o MC ab initio com otimizações intramoleculares de geometria. Para exemplificar a metodologia, mostraremos os resultados das simulações para o dímero de água, um sistema protótipo em que aparecem os dois tipos de ligações: intra e intermoleculares. / Computer simulations are essential tools to the research of physical systems at finite temperatures. Monte Carlo (MC) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) methods are the major techniques used for this purpose, and empirical potentials are traditionally employed in these simulations. These potentials, however, are built to describe with precision the system near some region of its configuration space, thus there is no guarantee that they will provide reliable results in other instances. Therefore, there is a great interest in the combination of MC and MD simulations with methods that describe the electronic structure with high precision (ab initio methods). In this work we have developed a MC program where the total configurational energies are obtained via Density Functional Theory (DFT). As an initial application of our methodology we have studied a silicon cluster (Si5). In these simulations we have investigated the structural properties of these cluster at diferent temperatures and estimated the melting temperature. Furthermore, we also propose a new formulation for water simulations,where we combine the ab initio MC with intramolecular geometry optimizations. As an illustration of our methodology, we show the results for the water dimer simulations. This system is a prototype of the hydrogen bond where we already have both intra and intermolecular bonds.

Neste trabalho, métodos ab initio multiconfiguracionais de alto nível foram empregados para estudar as estruturas eletrônicas e as ligações químicas de vários estados eletrônicos de dois monocarbetos de metais de transição do período 3d: MnC e CoC. Os estados eletrônicos quartetos, sextetos e octupletos energeticamente mais baixos do MnC, que estão correlacionados com os três mais baixos canais de dissociação, foram investigados teoricamente, pela primeira vez, com a abordagem Interação de Configurações Multiconfiguracional (MRCI), baseada em funções de onda do tipo Complete-Active-Space Self-Consistent-Field (CASSCF) e extensos conjuntos de bases atômicas. Energias de excitação, distâncias internucleares de equilíbrio, energias de dissociação e constantes espectroscópicas para todos os 36 estados serão apresentados. Fatores de Franck-Condon, coeficientes de Einstein e tempo de vida radioativa para a transição eletrônica X-A também serão mostrados. Sobre o monocarbeto de cobalto (CoC), os métodos CASSCF e Teoria da Perturbação de Segunda Ordem Multiconfiguracional (CASPT2) foram empregados para estudar seus estados eletrônicos dubletos mais baixos. Três novos estados foram identificados. O estado atribuído para a banda entre 13.000 – 14.500 cm-1 foi cofirmado, mas ao contrário do que foi sugerido, outra configuração eletrônica foi encontrada como a mais relevante para a descrição desse estado. / In this work, high level ab initio multiconfigurational methods were employed to study the electronic structures and chemical bondings of several electronic states of two 3d transition metal monocarbides: MnC and CoC. The lowest-lying quartet, sextet, and octuplet electronic states of MnC, correlating with the three lowest-lying atomic dissociation channels, were investigated theoretically for the first time, with state-of-the-art Multireference Configuration Interaction (MRCI) approach, based on Complete-Active-Space Self-Consistent-Field (CASSCF) wave functions and extensive basis sets. Excitation energies, equilibrium internuclear distances, dissociation energies, and spectroscopic constants for all 36 electronic states will be reported. Franck-Condon factos, Einstein coefficients, and radiative lifetimes for the X-A electronic transition will also be presented. As to the colbalt monocarbide (CoC), the CASSCF and Second Order Perturbation Theory (CASPT2) methods were employed to study its low-lying electronic dublet states. Three new states were identified. The results support the previous assignment fo the 13000 – 14500 cm-1, but unlike previous suggestions, another electronic configuration were found as the most important for the description of this state.

Electronic structure methods aim to accurately describe the behaviour of the electrons in molecules and materials. To be applicable to arbitrary systems, these methods cannot depend on observations of specific chemical phenomena and must be derived solely from the fundamental physical constants and laws that govern all electrons. Such methods are called ab initio methods. Ab initio methods directly solve the electronic Schrödinger equation to obtain the electronic energy and wavefunction. For more than one electron, solving the electronic Schrödinger equation is impossible, so it is imperative to develop approximate methods that cater to the needs of their users, which can vary depending on the chemical systems under study, the available computational resources and time, and the desired level of accuracy. The most accessible ab initio approaches, including Hartree-Fock methods and Kohn-Sham density functional theory methods, assume that only one electronic configuration is needed to describe the system. While these single-reference methods are successful when describing systems where a single electron configuration dominates, like most closed-shell ground-state organic molecules in their equilibrium geometries, single-reference methods are unreliable for molecules in nonequilibrium geometries (e.g., transition states) and molecules containing unpaired electrons (e.g., transition metal complexes and radicals). For these types of multireference systems, accurate results can only be obtained if multiple electronic configurations are accounted for. Wavefunctions that incorporate many electronic configurations are called multideterminant wavefunctions. This thesis presents a systematic approach to developing multideterminant wavefunctions. First, we establish a framework that outlines the structural components of a multideterminant wavefunction and propose several novel wavefunction ansätze. Then, we present a software package that is designed to aid the development of new wavefunctions and algorithms. Using this approach, we develop an algorithm for evaluating the geminal wavefunctions, a class of multideterminant wavefunctions that are expressed with respect to electron pairs. Finally, we explore using machine learning to solve the Schrödinger equation by presenting a neural network wavefunction ansatz and optimizing its parameters using stochastic gradient descent. / Thesis / Doctor of Science (PhD)

The theoretical part of the Master´s thesis describes ab initio methods in quantum chemistry and semiempirical methods, which represents a way in overcoming of main disadvantages in ab initio methods (costs, speed). The experimental part was focused on comparison highly accurate CCSD(T) method with used semiempirical methods (AM1, PM3, PM6, and PM7). The data were mostly compared on small model systems with ions, which are an essential part of many biological systems. Furthermore, the applicability of semiempirical methods was examined for the description of intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions.

L'intérêt de la recherche fondamentale pour les morceaux nanométriques de métaux nobles est principalement dû à la résonance localisée des plasmons de surface (LSPR) dans l'absorption optique. Différents aspects, liés à la compréhension théorique de la LSPR dans le cas de clusters de métaux nobles de taille dite intermédiaire, sont étudiés dans ce manuscrit. Afin d'avoir une vision plus large nous utilisons deux approches : l'approche électromagnétique classique et le formalisme ab initio en temps réel de la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité dépendant du temps (RT-TDDFT). Une comparaison systématique et détaillée de ces deux approches souligne et quantifie les limitations de l'approche électromagnétique lorsqu'elle est appliquée à des systèmes de taille quantique. Les différences entre les excitations plasmoniques collectives et celles impliquant les électrons d, ainsi que leurs interactions, sont étudiées grâce au comportement spatial des densités correspondantes. Ces densités sont obtenues en appliquant une transformée de Fourier dans l'espace à la densité obtenue par les simulations DFT utilisant une perturbation delta-kick. Dans ce manuscrit, des clusters de métaux nobles nus et protégés par des ligands sont étudiés. En particulier, motivé par de récents travaux sur les phénomènes d'émergence de plasmon, l'étude par TD-DFT de nano-alliages Au-Cu de taille tout juste inférieure à 2nm à fourni de subtiles connaissances sur les effets d'alliages sur la réponse optique de tels systèmes. / The fundamental research interest in nanometric pieces of noble metals is mainly due to the localized surface-plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the optical absorption. Different aspects related to the theoretical understanding of LSPRs in `intermediate-size' noble-metal clusters are studied in this thesis. To gain a broader perspective both the real-time \ai formalism of \td density-functional theory (RT-TDDFT) and the classical electromagnetics approach are employed. A systematic and detailed comparison of these two approaches highlights and quantifies the limitations of the electromagnetics approach when applied to quantum-sized systems. The differences between collective plasmonic excitations and the excitations involving $d$-electrons, as well as the interplay between them are explored in the spatial behaviour of the corresponding induced densities by performing the spatially resolved Fourier transform of the time-dependent induced density obtained from a RT-TDDFT simulation using a $\delta$-kick perturbation. In this thesis, both bare and ligand-protected noble-metal clusters were studied. In particular, motivated by recent experiments on plasmon emergence phenomena, the TDDFT study of Au-Cu nanoalloys in the size range just below 2~nm produced subtle insights into the general effects of alloying on the optical response of these systems.