Os compostos de fósforo apresentam várias implicações em processos atmosféricos e interestelares. Nesta tese, será realizado um estudo ab initio em três diferentes sistemas. (i) Um destes sistemas é o radical PCO. No capítulo três, foi analisado os aspectos conformacionais do radical PCO, sendo avaliado as propriedades moleculares e termodinâmicas da espécie cíclica e das espécies lineares. Entre os isômeros do radical PCO, a espécie i3 (C∞V, 2π) é a mais estável delas, com uma entalpia de formação a 0K de 22.33±2.10 kcal mol-1. Considerando as barreiras de energia, que convergem em direção a espécie i3, elas apresentam valores próximos de 10 kcal mol-1, ao passo que a energia necessária para a isomerização da molécula i3 para outros isômeros é acima de 60 kcal mol-1. Estes valores de energia explicam o fato que, em condições experimentais, foi detectado apenas a espécie i3 (C∞V, 2π). (ii) No capítulo quatro, foi elucidado o mecanismo da reação PH3 +F, assim como foi também caracterizado as propriedades eletrônicas dos intermediários observados nesta reação. Na reação PH3 +F, pode ser observado que, diferente da literatura, dois caminhos são possíveis para esta reação: (a) a reação de abstração de hidrogênio, com a formação dos produtos PH2 e HF, e a reação de adição-eliminação, com a formação das espécies PH2F e H. Analisando a energia eletrônica, é possível observar que a reação de adição-eliminação apresenta uma barreira de energia de 23 kcal mol-1 abaixo da mesma observada para a reação de abstração de hidrogênio. Considerando os intermediários formados na reação PH3 + F, são observados dois tipos de simetria: uma C1 e duas Cs. Além disso, a entalpia de formação em 298K dos intermediários variou de -22.99 to -29.74 kcal mol-1. (iii) No capítulo cinco, foi avaliada a interação da fosfina com diferentes aglomerados de água. Neste capítulo, foi realizada uma análise nos aglomerados PH3-(H2O)n (n=1-8,12,20) e avaliado a estabilidade dos potenciais isômeros, assim como as propriedades moleculares e espectroscópicas dos diferentes isômeros. Nas estruturas PH3-(H2O)n (n=1-8) foi possível observar que os modos vibracionais δ(PH3) e δsym(PH3) apresentaram um deslocamento para o vermelho, ao passo que as freqüências de estiramento simétrico e assimétrico da fosfina apresentaram um deslocamento para o azul. No caso da estrutura PH3(H2O)20, as variações nos modos vibracionais foram similares embora que mais intensas, sendo o mesmo também observado para as respectivas intensidades. Além disso, a energia necessária para o confinamento da fosfina no interior de um aglomerado de água dodecaedro hexagonal variou de -1.81 to -6.38 kcal mol-1. / The phosphorus compounds show several implications to atmospheric and interstellar processes. In this thesis, was performed an ab initio study on three different systems. (i) One of these systems is the PCO radical. In chapter three, was studied the conformation aspects of PCO radicals, which was assessed the molecular and thermodynamic properties of the cyclic and linear species. In PCO species, it was observed that the linear specie i3 (C∞V, 2π) is the most stable one, with the enthalpy formation at 0K of 22.33±2.10 kcal mol-1. Considering the barrier heights, which converge into the direction of i3, they are close to 10 kcal mol-1, while the energy necessary to the isomerization of i3 to other conformations are high than 60 kcal mol-1. These energy values explain the fact that, in experimental conditions, was detected only the i3 (C∞V, 2π) specie. (ii) In chapter four, it was elucidated the mechanism of the PH3 + F reaction, and it was also described the electronic properties of the intermediates observed in this reaction. In the PH3 + F reaction can be seen that, different from the literature, two possible pathways can be observed: (a) the hydrogen abstraction, with the formation of PH2 and HF products, (b) and the addition-elimination route, with the formation of PH2F and H species. Analyzing the electronic energy, can be observed that the barrier energy of the addition-elimination process is 23 kcal mol-1 bellow the hydrogen abstraction route. Considering the intermediates, two different point groups were detected: a C1 and two Cs. In addition, the enthalpy formation at 298K of the intermediates, in the PH3 + F reaction, range from -22.99 to -29.74 kcal mol-1. (iii) In chapter five, it was studied the interaction of phosphine with different water clusters. In this chapter was performed an analysis of the PH3-(H2O)n (n=1-8,12,20) clusters, and evaluated the stability of the potential isomers as also the molecular and spectroscopy aspects of the different species. In the PH3(H2O)n (n=1-8) structures are seen a redshift in the δ(PH3) and δsym(PH3) vibrational modes, while is observed a blueshift from the asymmetric and symmetric stretching frequencies of phosphine. In the case of PH3(H2O)20 structure, the variations in the vibrational modes were similar however more intense, as also in their respective intensities. In addition, the necessary energy to trap phosphine in the interior of an hexagonal dodecahedron water clusters range from -1.81 to -6.38 kcal mol-1.

Os compostos de fósforo apresentam várias implicações em processos atmosféricos e interestelares. Nesta tese, será realizado um estudo ab initio em três diferentes sistemas. (i) Um destes sistemas é o radical PCO. No capítulo três, foi analisado os aspectos conformacionais do radical PCO, sendo avaliado as propriedades moleculares e termodinâmicas da espécie cíclica e das espécies lineares. Entre os isômeros do radical PCO, a espécie i3 (C∞V, 2π) é a mais estável delas, com uma entalpia de formação a 0K de 22.33±2.10 kcal mol-1. Considerando as barreiras de energia, que convergem em direção a espécie i3, elas apresentam valores próximos de 10 kcal mol-1, ao passo que a energia necessária para a isomerização da molécula i3 para outros isômeros é acima de 60 kcal mol-1. Estes valores de energia explicam o fato que, em condições experimentais, foi detectado apenas a espécie i3 (C∞V, 2π). (ii) No capítulo quatro, foi elucidado o mecanismo da reação PH3 +F, assim como foi também caracterizado as propriedades eletrônicas dos intermediários observados nesta reação. Na reação PH3 +F, pode ser observado que, diferente da literatura, dois caminhos são possíveis para esta reação: (a) a reação de abstração de hidrogênio, com a formação dos produtos PH2 e HF, e a reação de adição-eliminação, com a formação das espécies PH2F e H. Analisando a energia eletrônica, é possível observar que a reação de adição-eliminação apresenta uma barreira de energia de 23 kcal mol-1 abaixo da mesma observada para a reação de abstração de hidrogênio. Considerando os intermediários formados na reação PH3 + F, são observados dois tipos de simetria: uma C1 e duas Cs. Além disso, a entalpia de formação em 298K dos intermediários variou de -22.99 to -29.74 kcal mol-1. (iii) No capítulo cinco, foi avaliada a interação da fosfina com diferentes aglomerados de água. Neste capítulo, foi realizada uma análise nos aglomerados PH3-(H2O)n (n=1-8,12,20) e avaliado a estabilidade dos potenciais isômeros, assim como as propriedades moleculares e espectroscópicas dos diferentes isômeros. Nas estruturas PH3-(H2O)n (n=1-8) foi possível observar que os modos vibracionais δ(PH3) e δsym(PH3) apresentaram um deslocamento para o vermelho, ao passo que as freqüências de estiramento simétrico e assimétrico da fosfina apresentaram um deslocamento para o azul. No caso da estrutura PH3(H2O)20, as variações nos modos vibracionais foram similares embora que mais intensas, sendo o mesmo também observado para as respectivas intensidades. Além disso, a energia necessária para o confinamento da fosfina no interior de um aglomerado de água dodecaedro hexagonal variou de -1.81 to -6.38 kcal mol-1. / The phosphorus compounds show several implications to atmospheric and interstellar processes. In this thesis, was performed an ab initio study on three different systems. (i) One of these systems is the PCO radical. In chapter three, was studied the conformation aspects of PCO radicals, which was assessed the molecular and thermodynamic properties of the cyclic and linear species. In PCO species, it was observed that the linear specie i3 (C∞V, 2π) is the most stable one, with the enthalpy formation at 0K of 22.33±2.10 kcal mol-1. Considering the barrier heights, which converge into the direction of i3, they are close to 10 kcal mol-1, while the energy necessary to the isomerization of i3 to other conformations are high than 60 kcal mol-1. These energy values explain the fact that, in experimental conditions, was detected only the i3 (C∞V, 2π) specie. (ii) In chapter four, it was elucidated the mechanism of the PH3 + F reaction, and it was also described the electronic properties of the intermediates observed in this reaction. In the PH3 + F reaction can be seen that, different from the literature, two possible pathways can be observed: (a) the hydrogen abstraction, with the formation of PH2 and HF products, (b) and the addition-elimination route, with the formation of PH2F and H species. Analyzing the electronic energy, can be observed that the barrier energy of the addition-elimination process is 23 kcal mol-1 bellow the hydrogen abstraction route. Considering the intermediates, two different point groups were detected: a C1 and two Cs. In addition, the enthalpy formation at 298K of the intermediates, in the PH3 + F reaction, range from -22.99 to -29.74 kcal mol-1. (iii) In chapter five, it was studied the interaction of phosphine with different water clusters. In this chapter was performed an analysis of the PH3-(H2O)n (n=1-8,12,20) clusters, and evaluated the stability of the potential isomers as also the molecular and spectroscopy aspects of the different species. In the PH3(H2O)n (n=1-8) structures are seen a redshift in the δ(PH3) and δsym(PH3) vibrational modes, while is observed a blueshift from the asymmetric and symmetric stretching frequencies of phosphine. In the case of PH3(H2O)20 structure, the variations in the vibrational modes were similar however more intense, as also in their respective intensities. In addition, the necessary energy to trap phosphine in the interior of an hexagonal dodecahedron water clusters range from -1.81 to -6.38 kcal mol-1.

A busca de uma melhor compreensão dos ciclos químicos que ocorrem na atmosfera de Titan, um dos satélites naturais de Saturno, tem posto em relevância a importância de reações químicas envolvendo nitrogênio atômico e hidrocarbonetos, principalmente o radical metila. Além desta ênfase astroquìmica, essa reação tem também um papel importante no estudo da decomposição de metano em plasma pós-descarga de nitrogênio e no entendimento de processos de combustão. Neste trabalho, dando continuidade a estudos teóricos envolvendo reações de espécies atômicas com hidrocarbonetos realizados por este grupo e utilizando o estado da arte em termos de cálculos de estrutura eletrônica, realizou-se uma ampla investigação da superfície tripleto de energia potencial 3[H3, C, N] com ênfase nos aspectos estruturais, energéticos e espectroscópicos dos pontos estacionários e na cinética global da reação. Nesta superfície de energia potencial, foram caracterizados 7 pontos estacionários, sendo 3 estados de transição e 4 mínimos. No melhor nível de cálculo, CCSD(T)/CBS, o mínimo global corresponde à formação do radical metilnitreno, 71,01 kcal/mol mais estável do que o canal de entrada N(4S) + CH3 (2A2\"). Entretanto, via caminhos distintos, a reação prossegue formando H2CN + H como o principal produto, resultado esse que não confirma uma suposição anterior de que HCN seria o produto principal. No aspecto cinético, verificou-se que a etapa determinante da reação é regida pelo canal de entrada bimolecular, sem barreira, e que o valor para a constante de velocidade global, na melhor descrição deste trabalho, de 1,93 x 10-10 cm3 molécula?1 s-1, é bem superior à de estudo teórico anterior. Além da boa concordância com dados experimentais, nossos resultados também mostram um aumento da constante de velocidade com a temperatura, o que não foi previsto nesse estudo anterior. / The search for a better understanding of chemical cycles in Titan´s atmosphere, one of Saturn´s largest natural satellite, has emphasized the importance of chemical reactions between atomic nitrogen and hydrocarbons, especially methyl radical. Besides this astrochemical relevance, this reaction also plays a key role in the study of methane decomposition in after-glow nitrogen plasma, and in combustion processes. In this work, as another step towards theoretical studies of reactions involving atomic species with hydrocarbons carried out by this group, and using state-of-the-art electronic structure calculations, a wide investigation of the triplet potential energy surface 3[H3, C, N] was made with emphasis on structural, energetic, and spectroscopic aspects of the stationary points, and on the global kinetic description of the reaction. In this potential energy surface, 7 stationary points were characterized: 3 transition states and 4 minima. In our best description, CCSD(T)/CBS, the global minimum corresponds to the formation of the methylnitrene radical, 71.01 kcal/mol more stable than the entrance channel N(4S) + CH3 (2A2\"). However, by different paths, the reaction proceeds leading to the formation of H2CN + H as the major product, a result that does not confirm a previous supposition that HCN would be the major product. Kinetically, we have shown that the rate determining step is the barrierless bimolecular collision of CH3 and N(4S), and that the global rate constant, in the best estimate of this work, 1.93 x 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, is well superior to that of a previous theoretical study. Besides the good agreement with the experimental data, our results also show an increase of the rate constant with the temperature, a result not predicted by that previous study.

A busca de uma melhor compreensão dos ciclos químicos que ocorrem na atmosfera de Titan, um dos satélites naturais de Saturno, tem posto em relevância a importância de reações químicas envolvendo nitrogênio atômico e hidrocarbonetos, principalmente o radical metila. Além desta ênfase astroquìmica, essa reação tem também um papel importante no estudo da decomposição de metano em plasma pós-descarga de nitrogênio e no entendimento de processos de combustão. Neste trabalho, dando continuidade a estudos teóricos envolvendo reações de espécies atômicas com hidrocarbonetos realizados por este grupo e utilizando o estado da arte em termos de cálculos de estrutura eletrônica, realizou-se uma ampla investigação da superfície tripleto de energia potencial 3[H3, C, N] com ênfase nos aspectos estruturais, energéticos e espectroscópicos dos pontos estacionários e na cinética global da reação. Nesta superfície de energia potencial, foram caracterizados 7 pontos estacionários, sendo 3 estados de transição e 4 mínimos. No melhor nível de cálculo, CCSD(T)/CBS, o mínimo global corresponde à formação do radical metilnitreno, 71,01 kcal/mol mais estável do que o canal de entrada N(4S) + CH3 (2A2\"). Entretanto, via caminhos distintos, a reação prossegue formando H2CN + H como o principal produto, resultado esse que não confirma uma suposição anterior de que HCN seria o produto principal. No aspecto cinético, verificou-se que a etapa determinante da reação é regida pelo canal de entrada bimolecular, sem barreira, e que o valor para a constante de velocidade global, na melhor descrição deste trabalho, de 1,93 x 10-10 cm3 molécula?1 s-1, é bem superior à de estudo teórico anterior. Além da boa concordância com dados experimentais, nossos resultados também mostram um aumento da constante de velocidade com a temperatura, o que não foi previsto nesse estudo anterior. / The search for a better understanding of chemical cycles in Titan´s atmosphere, one of Saturn´s largest natural satellite, has emphasized the importance of chemical reactions between atomic nitrogen and hydrocarbons, especially methyl radical. Besides this astrochemical relevance, this reaction also plays a key role in the study of methane decomposition in after-glow nitrogen plasma, and in combustion processes. In this work, as another step towards theoretical studies of reactions involving atomic species with hydrocarbons carried out by this group, and using state-of-the-art electronic structure calculations, a wide investigation of the triplet potential energy surface 3[H3, C, N] was made with emphasis on structural, energetic, and spectroscopic aspects of the stationary points, and on the global kinetic description of the reaction. In this potential energy surface, 7 stationary points were characterized: 3 transition states and 4 minima. In our best description, CCSD(T)/CBS, the global minimum corresponds to the formation of the methylnitrene radical, 71.01 kcal/mol more stable than the entrance channel N(4S) + CH3 (2A2\"). However, by different paths, the reaction proceeds leading to the formation of H2CN + H as the major product, a result that does not confirm a previous supposition that HCN would be the major product. Kinetically, we have shown that the rate determining step is the barrierless bimolecular collision of CH3 and N(4S), and that the global rate constant, in the best estimate of this work, 1.93 x 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, is well superior to that of a previous theoretical study. Besides the good agreement with the experimental data, our results also show an increase of the rate constant with the temperature, a result not predicted by that previous study.

This thesis focuses on the construction and role of benchmark quality computations in the area of non-covalent interactions. We have provided a detailed error analysis of focal-point schemes commonly used in benchmark quality computations, as well as provide error and speedup analysis of commonly used approximations to these methods. An analysis of basis set effects on higher-order corrections to MP2/CBS has been carried out, providing the community error bounds on future benchmarks. We demonstrate how these high-level computations can elucidate a better understanding of non-bonded interactions in chemistry as well as provide high-quality reference data to refit existing methods against to increase the overall accuracy of the method.

Le réacteur ITER exploitera trois types de chauffage : injection de neutres (NBI), chauffages ohmique et haute fréquence. Les sources NBI utilisent un jet d'atomes d'hydrogène et de deutérium. La région du conducteur à l'intérieur de la bobine radiofréquence produits des ions hydrogènes par des collisions avec des électrons chauds. Les ions sont extraits par le champ électrique dans la région d'expansion où le césium évaporé entre dans le plasma. Celui-ci entre alors dans la région d'extraction où les atomes, les ions et les molécules d'hydrogène sont convertis en ions négatifs sur une grille recouverte de césium. La chimie de ces processus est plutôt compliquée et n'est pas très bien comprise. Le but de ce travail est d'examiner la majorité des processus qui pourraient avoir un impact sur les espèces anioniques hydrogénées soit par des réactions de formation ou destruction liées au césium. La réactivité du césium, la dynamique de CsH ainsi que celles d'espèces chimiques associées à CsH peuvent être bien décrites aujourd'hui en utilisant des méthodes ab initio. Les méthodes CASSCF et CASPT2 ont été employées pour calculer les courbes d'énergie potentielle de CsH et CsH+ dans leurs états fondamentaux et excités afin d'estimer leurs constantes spectroscopiques et obtenir les représentations des orbitales moléculaires de CsH et de ses ions. Les énergies de réactions ont été également déterminées pour plusieurs espèces chimiques de type CsxHy associées à CsH en utilisant la méthode CCSD(T). L'ensemble des résultats obtenus dans cette thèse permet de mieux comprendre les faits expérimentaux et ainsi de mieux caractériser la chimie de ces processus. / The ITER reactor will exploit three types of heating: neutral beam injection (NBI), ohmic heating, and high frequency heating. NBI sources utilize the jet of accelerated H/D atoms. The driver region inside radio-frequency coil produces hydrogen ions by collisions with hot electrons. Ions are extracted by electric field to expansion region where the evaporated caesium enters the plasma. Plasma then enters extraction region where the atoms, ions and molecules of hydrogen are converted to negative ions on a grid that is being covered with caesium to lower its work function. Chemistry of these processes is rather complicated and not well understood. The goal of this work is to investigate the majority of processes which might have impact on hydrogen anions in either formative or destructive way associated with caesium. Reactivity of caesium, caesium hydride dynamics and geometries of chemical species associated with caesium hydride can be well described using ab initio methods. We have used CASSCF and CASPT2 methods to calculate the potential energy curves of CsH and CsH+ in their ground and excited states, to model their spectroscopy and to analyse the orbital picture of caesium hydride and its ions. We have also calculated the reaction energies of several chemical species CsxHy associated with caesium hydride and applied the CCSD(T) method to calculate the potential curves and precise reaction energies. Altogether our results bring deeper insight into the experimental data and change the understanding of these processes.

The multi-reference correlation consistent composite approach (MR-ccCA) was designed to reproduce the accuracy of more computationally intensive ab initio quantum mechanical methods like MR-ACPF-DK/aug-cc-pCV?Z-DK, albeit at a significantly reduced cost. In this dissertation, the development and applications of the MR-ccCA method and a variant of its single reference equivalent (the relativistic pseudopotential ccCA method) are reported. MR-ccCA is shown to predict the energetic properties of reactive intermediates, excited states species and transition states to within chemical accuracy (i.e. ±1.0 kcal mol 1) of reliable experimental values. The accuracy and versatility of MR-ccCA are also demonstrated in the prediction of the thermochemical and spectroscopic properties (such as atomization energies, enthalpies of formation and adiabatic transition energies of spin-forbidden excited states) of a series of silicon-containing compounds. The thermodynamic and kinetic feasibilities of the oxidative addition of an archetypal arylglycerol ?-aryl ether (?-O-4 linkage) substructure of lignin to Ni, Cu, Pd and Pt transition metal atoms using the efficient relativistic pseudopotential correlation consistent composite approach within an ONIOM framework (rp-ccCA-ONIOM), a multi-level multi-layer QM/QM method formulated to enhance the quantitative predictions of the chemical properties of heavy element-containing systems larger than hitherto attainable, are also reported.

No description available.

Physisorption of CO and N2O on surfaces of ceria (CeO2) was investigated by means of high-level quantum-mechanical embedded cluster calculations. Both systems have high relevance in the field of environmental chemistry and heterogeneous catalysis. The CO/CeO2 system, has been investigated in a couple of both experimental and theoretical studies, but for the N2O/CeO2 system, this is the first study in the literature, experimental or theoretical. In physisorption, the interaction relies entirely on classical electrostatic interactions and electron dispersion forces. No covalent bond is formed between the molecule and the surface. A proper description of the dispersion requires some of the most accurate quantum-mechanical methods available, such as MP2 or CCSD(T). Moreover, even the most sophisticated methods cannot heal errors anywhere else in the theoretical treatment. Standard periodic models cannot be used with methods such as CCSD(T), but embedded cluster models can, and have been thoroughly explored in this thesis. In this thesis, embedded cluster models were constructed for the CeO2(110) and (111) surfaces. Using a range of assessment tests, it was verified that the electronic structure of the central region of a large and fully embedded surface cluster agrees well with the corresponding region in a periodic system. CO physisorption was investigated at the CCSD(T) level. Due to the prohibitively large expenses (in computer time) for standard CCSD(T) calculations, the method of increments, previously used in the literature for bulk systems, was extended to adsorption problems. It was found that, electron correlation contributes by 30 - 80% to the molecule-surface interaction and that the contribution depends on the topology of the surface. The calculated CO-ceria interaction energy is 20 kJ/mol for the (111) surface and 27 kJ/mol for the (110) surface. In low temperature TPD experiments for the N2O/CeO2(111) system, one surface species was found with an adsorption energy of about 29 kJ/mol. IR measurements showed stretching frequencies that are typically assigned to N2O adsorption with the O-end directed towards surface cations. However, theoretical calculations up to the MP2 level predicted two equally favorable adsorption species. Improvements in the structural model (larger clusters, consideration of molecule-induced relaxation) or the computational method (larger basis sets) did not affect this result. Only at the CCSD(T) level was one dominating surface species found, namely N2O adsorbed over a Ce ion, with the O-end of the molecule directed towards the surface. The calculated stretching vibrational frequency shifts (with respect to the gas phase) for this adsorbed species agree well with the measured IR spectra.

Abstract The thesis consists of seven studies dealing with high resolution vibration-rotation spectra of planar asymmetric tops. Six studies deal with D212CO and D213CO species of the formaldehyde molecule and one study is from DCOOH specie of the formic acid molecule. The measurements were carried out at high accuracy and the rotational analyses of the recorded spectra were performed. The observed anharmonic and Coriolis resonances were taking into account in the analyses. The rotational constants of the present and literature studies were used in evaluation of the planarity defects of formaldehyde and formic acid molecules in the summary part of the thesis. Finally, a semi-experimental structure for formaldehyde was obtained by employing experimental and theoretical data.