The Phthalocyanines (Pc’s) are a group of macro-cyclic molecules, widely investigated due to the possibility to use them in a variety of applications. Electronic and geometrical structure investigations of molecular model systems of Pc’s adsorbed on surfaces are important for a deeper understanding of the functionality of different Pc-based devices. Here, Pc’s monolayers and films, deposited on different surfaces, were investigated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). In addition Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations were performed. For molecular films of Metal-free (H2Pc) and Iron (FePc) Pc’s, on surfaces, it is found that the intermolecular interaction is weak and the molecules arrange with their molecular plane mainly perpendicular to the surface. Several monolayer systems were characterized, namely H2Pc and FePc adsorbed on Graphite, ZnPc on InSb(001)-c(8x2), H2Pc on Al(110) and on Au(111). For all the studied monolayers it was found that the molecules are oriented with their molecular plane parallel to the surface. The electronic structure of the molecules is differently influenced by interaction with the surfaces. For H2Pc adsorbed on Graphite the nearly negligible effect of the surface on the molecular electronic structure allowed STM characterization of different molecular orbitals. A strong interaction is instead found in the case of H2Pc on Al(110) resulting in molecules strongly adsorbed, and partly dissociated. Modifications of the electronic and geometrical structure induced by alkali doping of H2Pc films and monolayers were characterized. It is found both for the H2Pc film on Al(110) and monolayer adsorbed on Au(111), that the molecular arrangement is changed upon doping by Potassium and Rubidium, respectively. Potassium doping of the H2Pc films results in a filling of previously empty molecular orbitals by a charge transfer from the alkali to the molecule, with significant modification of the molecular electronic structure.

Les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse se décomposent en deux thèmes principaux, eux-même subdivisés enplusieurs projets. D'une part, des travaux ont été menés concernant l'analyse et le développement de fonctionnelles « doubles hybrides ». Une analyse des fonctionnelles « doubles hybrides » à séparation linéaire le long de la connexionadiabatique a été proposée. Une nouvelle fonctionnelle « double hybride » à séparation de portée basée sur uneséparation alternative de l'énergie d'échange et de corrélation, RSDHf, a été développée. D'autre part, des travaux quant au développement de surfaces d'énergie potentielle (SEP) analytiques ont été menés. Un nouveau potentiel analytique a été proposé pour la description de la SEP des systèmes triatomiques. La combinaison de ce potentiel avec un potentiel électrostatique a été utilisé pour le développement de SEP analytiques pour de petits systèmes en interaction faible : H2O···HF, HF2-, Ne···ClF. / Works done during this thesis split into two main themes, themselves subdivided in several projects. On the one hand, works have been led concerning the analysis and the development of double-hybrid functionals. An analysis of linearly-separated double-hybrid functionals along the adiabatic connection has been proposed. A new range-separated double-hybrid functional based on an alternative separation of the exchange-correlation energy, RSDHf, has been developed. On the other hand, works related to the development of analytic potential energy surfaces (PES) has been led. A new analytic potential has been proposed for the description of the PES of triatomic systems. The combinaition of this potential with an electrostatic potential has been used for the development of analytic PES for small systems in weak interaction : H2O···HF, HF2-, Ne···ClF.

This work investigates the correlation of structural and photovoltaic properties of dyes used in dye-sensitized solar cells. Experimental methods, including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are employed to study optical and electrochemical properties of dye molecules. Computational methods, including density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory, are used to validate and predict the optical and electronic properties of dye molecules, in their isolated state and once embedded into a working electrode device environment that comprises a dye...TiO2 interface. The results chapters begin with the presentation of a series of quinodimethene dyes that are experimentally validated for their photovoltaic application, and associated computational studies reveal that an inner structural factor - a phenyl ring rotation occurring during the optical excitation process - leads to the competitive photovoltaic device performance of these dyes. Carbazole-based dyes are then systematically studied by computation, especially considering charge transfer paths and binding modes of these dyes on a titania surface. The theoretical models for the basic building block of this chemical family of dyes, known as MK-44, successfully support and explain structural discoveries from X-ray diffraction and reflectometry that impact of their function. A benzothiadiazole-based dye, RK-1, is then systematically studied by both experimental and computational methods, and the results show that the π-bridge composed of thiophene, benzothiadiazole and benzene rings leads to excellent charge separation; and the rotation of these rings during the optical excitation process may well be consistent with the fluorescence spectrum. Finally, the well-known ruthenium-based dyes are theoretically studied to determine the properties of different ligands connected to the metal core of the complex. Conformations with different NCS ligands are calculated in terms of energy and explain well the corresponding results from X-ray diffraction. Acid-base properties of carboxyl groups connected to pyridine ligands in N3 and N749 are theoretically calculated based on thermodynamics and density functional theory. Implicit and explicit models are both adopted to predict these acid dissociative constant values, which are generally in a good agreement with the reported experimental data. The thesis concludes with conclusions and a future outlook.

Submitted by WELDER FRANZINI AMARAL CALLERA null (weldercallera@hotmail.com) on 2017-08-28T21:25:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE - Welder F A Callera OK.pdf: 2324966 bytes, checksum: 979c488a0e341117b537d2d5a1ec77b2 (MD5) / Rejected by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com), reason: Solicitamos que realize uma nova submissão seguindo a orientação abaixo: O arquivo submetido está sem a ficha catalográfica. A versão submetida por você é considerada a versão final da dissertação/tese, portanto não poderá ocorrer qualquer alteração em seu conteúdo após a aprovação. Corrija esta informação e realize uma nova submissão contendo o arquivo correto. Agradecemos a compreensão. on 2017-08-29T18:03:23Z (GMT) / Submitted by WELDER FRANZINI AMARAL CALLERA null (weldercallera@hotmail.com) on 2017-08-29T18:41:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE - Welder F A Callera OK.pdf: 2349810 bytes, checksum: 0b00e94e2ccb5b74f2521ba559748736 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-08-29T18:53:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 callera_wfa_dr_araiq.pdf: 2349810 bytes, checksum: 0b00e94e2ccb5b74f2521ba559748736 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-29T18:53:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 callera_wfa_dr_araiq.pdf: 2349810 bytes, checksum: 0b00e94e2ccb5b74f2521ba559748736 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-04 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Esta tese de doutoramento apresentou o entendimento de processos redox enzimáticos, detalhando o mecanismo envolvido na troca eletrônica, a qual resulta na formação de um produto, por catálise enzimática. Observou-se a influência de um eletrodo sob a ação de um potencial estacionário aplicado (E) na reação enzima/substrato. Realizou-se eletroanálises, como: Voltametria Cíclica (VC) e Espectroscopia de Impedância Eletroquímica (EIE), para a penicilinase. Os resultados obtidos dão indícios de que a reação enzimática se beneficia de determinados potenciais, pois o parâmetro utilizado, Rct, resistência à transferência de cargas, sugere que ocorre maior troca eletrônica em alguns potenciais ótimos (faixa de -0,3 a -0,5 V). A Simulação Molecular serviu para estudar o comportamento atomístico por métodos clássicos (Dinâmica Molecular – DM) para as condições impostas experimentalmente, esclarecendo o mecanismo de reação enzimática por métodos quânticos (DFT – Teoria do Funcional de Densidade) e híbridos (QM/MM), cabendo salientar que a penicilinase não pertence à classe das enzimas oxirredutivas. / This doctoral thesis presented the understanding of enzymatic redox processes, detailing the mechanism involved in the electronic exchange, which results in the formation of a product by enzymatic catalysis. The influence of an electrode under the action of an applied stationary potential (E) on the enzyme/substrate reaction was observed. Electroanalysis was performed, such as: Cyclic Voltammetry (VC) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), for the penicilinase. The results obtained indicate that the enzymatic reaction benefits from certain potentials, since the parameter used, Rct, resistance to the transfer of charges, suggests that there is greater electronic exchange in some optimal potentials (range the -0.3 to -0.5 V). The Molecular Simulation was used to study the atomistic behavior by classical methods (Molecular Dynamics - DM) for experimentally imposed conditions, clarifying the mechanism of enzymatic reaction by quantum methods (DFT) and hybrids (QM/MM). That penicillinase does not belong to the class of oxidoreductive enzymes.

In this work we study the interesting physics of the rare earths, and the microscopic state after ultrafast magnetization dynamics in iron. Moreover, this work covers the development, examination and application of several methods used in solid state physics. The first and the last part are related to strongly correlated electrons. The second part is related to the field of ultrafast magnetization dynamics. In the first part we apply density functional theory plus dynamical mean field theory within the Hubbard I approximation to describe the interesting physics of the rare-earth metals. These elements are characterized by the localized nature of the 4f electrons and the itinerant character of the other valence electrons. We calculate a wide range of properties of the rare-earth metals and find a good correspondence with experimental data. We argue that this theory can be the basis of future investigations addressing rare-earth based materials in general. In the second part of this thesis we develop a model, based on statistical arguments, to predict the microscopic state after ultrafast magnetization dynamics in iron. We predict that the microscopic state after ultrafast demagnetization is qualitatively different from the state after ultrafast increase of magnetization. This prediction is supported by previously published spectra obtained in magneto-optical experiments. Our model makes it possible to compare the measured data to results that are calculated from microscopic properties. We also investigate the relation between the magnetic asymmetry and the magnetization. In the last part of this work we examine several methods of analytic continuation that are used in many-body physics to obtain physical quantities on real energies from either imaginary time or Matsubara frequency data. In particular, we improve the Padé approximant method of analytic continuation. We compare the reliability and performance of this and other methods for both one and two-particle Green's functions. We also investigate the advantages of implementing a method of analytic continuation based on stochastic sampling on a graphics processing unit (GPU).

Das grundlegende Verständnis der Adsorption, der Eigenschaften, und der Wechselwirkungen von komplexen organischen Molekülen auf Festkörperoberflächen ist für die Entwicklung neuer Anwendungen in der Nanotechnologie von entscheidender Bedeutung. Die in dieser Arbeit untersuchten funktionellen Bausteine gehören zu den Porphyrinen und Phthalocyaninen. Deren Adsorption, elektronische Struktur, und Reaktionen der Moleküle auf Edelmetalloberflächen wurden mit mehreren Methoden charakterisiert, insbesondere der Rastertunnelmikroskopie, Rastertunnelspektroskopie, Röntgen-Nahkanten-Absorptions-Spektroskopie und Photoelektronenspektroskopie, welche zudem durch theoretische Simulationen unter Verwendung der Dichtefunktionaltheorie ergänzt wurden. Tetra(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin Moleküle ordnen sich durch Selbstorganisation zu verschiedenen, durch Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen stabilisierten Nanostrukturen an, welche in Abhängigkeit von dem Substratoberflächengitter untersucht wurden um das komplizierte Zusammenspiel von Molekül−Molekül und Molekül−Substrat-Wechselwirkungen bei der Selbstorganisation zu verstehen. Erhitzen der Adsorbatschichten dieses Moleküls führt zu einer schrittweisen Deprotonierung, und außerdem konnte auch ein Schalten der Leitfähigkeit einzelner Porphyrin-Moleküle durch lokale Deprotonierung mittels Spannungspulsen demonstriert werden. Eine Polymerisationsreaktion, welche auf der Ullmann-Reaktion basiert, aber direkt auf einer Oberfläche stattfindet, wurde für Kupfer-octabromotetraphenylporphyrin Moleküle, die auf Au(111) adsorbiert sind, gefunden. Nach einer thermischen Abspaltung der Bromatome von den Molekülen reagieren dabei die Radikalmoleküle bei hohen Temperaturen miteinander und bilden geordnete, kovalent gebundene Netzwerke aus. Die Bromabspaltung und die nachfolgenden Reaktionen und Veränderungen der elektronischen Struktur der Moleküle wurden ausführlich für die Substratoberflächen Au(111) sowie Ag(110) untersucht. Weiterhin, wird die Adsorption und Selbstorganisation von metall-freien Phthalocyanin-Molekülen auf einer Ag(110)-Oberfläche, und deren Selbstmetallierungsreaktion mit Silberatomen des Substrats umfassend und verständlich beschrieben. Zuletzt wurden organische Hybrid-Grenzflächen zwischen verschiedenen Metall-Phthalocyaninen untersucht, wobei ein Ladungstransfer zwischen Kobalt- und Platin-Phthalocyanin-Molekülen gefunden wurde. Dotierung gemischter Metall-Phthalocyanin-Filme durch Einlagerung von Kaliumatomen und deren selektive Adsorption im Molekülgitter führt zu einer deutlichen Veränderung der elektronischen Eigenschaften, aufgrund einer Ladungsübertragung an die Kobalt-Phthalocyanin Moleküle.

<p>A wide range of optoelectronic applications demand semiconductors optimized for purpose.</p> <p>My research focused on data-driven identification of ABX3 Halide perovskite compositions for optimum photovoltaic absorption in solar cells.</p> <p>I trained machine learning models on previously reported datasets of halide perovskite band gaps based on first principles computations performed at different fidelities.</p> <p>Using these, I identified mixtures of candidate constituents at the A, B or X sites of the perovskite supercell which leveraged how mixed perovskite band gaps deviate from the linear interpolations predicted by Vegard's law of mixing to obtain a selection of stable perovskites with band gaps in the ideal range of 1 to 2 eV for visible light spectrum absorption.</p> <p>These models predict the perovskite band gap using the composition and inherent elemental properties as descriptors.</p> <p>This enables accurate, high fidelity prediction and screening of the much larger chemical space from which the data samples were drawn.</p> <p><br></p> <p>I utilized a recently published density functional theory (DFT) dataset of more than 1300 perovskite band gaps from four different levels of theory, added to an experimental perovskite band gap dataset of \textasciitilde{}100 points, to train random forest regression (RFR), Gaussian process regression (GPR), and Sure Independence Screening and Sparsifying Operator (SISSO) regression models, with data fidelity added as one-hot encoded features.</p> <p>I found that RFR yields the best model with a band gap root mean square error of 0.12 eV on the total dataset and 0.15 eV on the experimental points.</p> <p>SISSO provided compound features and functions for direct prediction of band gap, but errors were larger than from RFR and GPR.</p> <p>Additional insights gained from Pearson correlation and Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) analysis of learned descriptors suggest the RFR models performed best because of (a) their focus on identifying and capturing relevant feature interactions and (b) their flexibility to represent nonlinear relationships between such interactions and the band gap.</p> <p>The best model was deployed for predicting experimental band gap of 37785 hypothetical compounds.</p> <p>Based on this, we identified 1251 stable compounds with band gap predicted to be between 1 and 2 eV at experimental accuracy, successfully narrowing the candidates to about 3% of the screened compositions.</p>

[ES] Toda esta disertación ha utilizado la química computacional como herramienta fundamental para el análisis científico. Por ello, en el Capítulo 2 se explican los modelos y métodos teóricos sobre este tema. La primera parte del capítulo se centra en los fundamentos de la química cuántica y, en concreto, se explica con detalle la Teoría del Funcional de la Densidad la cual constituye la base de los métodos computacionales aplicados. En esta sección, las nociones básicas del método Hartree-Fock sirven de prólogo a la DFT. El Capítulo 3 presenta los primeros resultados de este trabajo correspondientes a la reacción de metanol a olefinas catalizada por diferentes zeolitas con cavidades de poro pequeño. Esta reacción es un proceso industrial relevante que produce olefinas de cadena corta como eteno (C2=), propeno (C3=) y buteno (C4=) a escala industrial a partir de la biomasa. El sistema catalítico comprende tanto la estructura inorgánica de la zeolita que contiene los sitios ácidos Brønsted como las especies orgánicas confinadas, que forman la "hydrocarbon pool" y producen olefinas ligeras mediante pasos sucesivos de metilación y craqueo. Hemos centrado nuestros esfuerzos en comprender la naturaleza de la "hydrocarbon pool", una molécula de benceno polimetilada, y sus mecanismos de reacción para poder discernir entre ellos e identificar los catalizadores adecuados para mejorar la producción de propeno o eteno en función de la topología de cada cavidad zeolitica. Hemos podido identificar el grado de metilación de la "hydrocarbon pool" como el factor clave para potenciar el mecanismo de la ruta "paring", donde el propeno es el producto mayoritario, o el mecanismo de la ruta "side-chain", siendo el eteno el producto predominante. Este hallazgo nos permite establecer una relación entre la estabilización de los dos intermedios clave y la selectividad experimental observada con un alto grado de correlación. En el Capitulo 4 presentamos una nueva herramienta para el estudio de reacciones competitivas catalizadas por zeolitas. Utilizando un cribado computacional rápido con "force fields" para los intermedios clave de la reacción y un detallado estudio mecanístico usando la teoría del funcional de la densidad somos capaces de reconocer y cuantificar sutiles diferencias en la estabilización de intermedios y estados de transición dentro de huecos microporosos similares, aproximándonos así al nivel de reconocimiento molecular de las enzimas. Con estas herramientas somos capaces de seleccionar como catalizador una zeolita que obstaculice el mecanismo "alkyl-transfer" reduciendo la producción de eteno no deseado y potenciando al mismo tiempo el mecanismo "diaryl-mediated pathway". También somos capaces de obstaculizar la desproporción de dietilbenceno, una ruta no deseada del mecanismo "diaryl-mediated pathway" que conduce a la producción de trietilbenceno, mientras que se favorece la transalquilación de dietilbenceno aumentando el rendimiento obtenido de etilbenceno. en la primera sección del Capítulo 5, estudiamos la afinidad energética de cationes alquilamonio comercialmente disponibles con ligeras diferencias en sus grupos alquilo, TEA, MTEA y DMDEA, para la síntesis de CHA y sus efectos sobre la calidad del material obtenido. Evaluamos las energías de interacción entre la zeolita y el catión de diferentes combinaciones de agentes directores y cationes Na+ con métodos DFT periódicos pudiendo distinguir pequeños efectos de estabilización causados por ligeras diferencias estructurales entre moléculas que repercuten en la estructura final sintetizada. Durante la segunda sección del Capítulo 5, identificamos las características estructurales de diferentes agentes directores de estructura para la síntesis de AEI que mejoran las probabilidades de dispersión del Al en posiciones tetraédricas distintas de T1 obteniendo un catalizador AEI diferente de los sintetizados clásicamente. / [CA] Tota aquesta dissertació utilitza la química computacional com eina fonamental per a l'anàlisi científica. Per això, en el Capítol 2 s'expliquen els models i mètodes teòrics sobre aquest tema. La primera part del capítol es centra en els fonaments de la química quàntica i, en concret, s'explica amb detall la Teoria del Funcional de la Densitat la qual constitueix la base dels mètodes computacionals aplicats. En aquesta secció, les nocions bàsiques del mètode Hartree-Fock serveixen de pròleg a la DFT. El Capítol 3 presenta els primers resultats d'aquest treball corresponents a la reacció de metanol a olefines catalitzada per diferents zeolites amb cavitats de porus petit. Aquesta reacció és un procés industrial rellevant que produeix olefines de cadena curta com etè (C2=), propè (C3=) i butè (C4=) a escala industrial a partir de la biomassa. El sistema catalític comprèn tant l'estructura inorgànica de la zeolita que conté els llocs àcids Brønsted com les espècies orgàniques confinades, que formen la "hydrocarbon pool" i produeixen olefines lleugeres mitjançant passos successius de metilació i craqueig. Hem centrat els nostres esforços en comprendre la naturalesa de la "hydrocarbon pool", una molècula de benzè polimetilada, i els seus mecanismes de reacció per a poder discernir entre ells i identificar els catalitzadors adequats per millorar la producció de propè o etè en funció de la topologia de cada cavitat zeolitica. Hem pogut identificar el grau de metilació de la "hydrocarbon pool" com el factor clau per a potenciar el mecanisme de la ruta "paring", on el propè és el producte majoritari, o el mecanisme de la ruta "side-chain", sent l'etè el producte predominant. Al Capítol 4 presentem una nova eina per a l'estudi de reaccions competitives catalitzades per zeolites. Utilitzant un cribratge computacional ràpid amb "force fields" per als intermedis clau de la reacció i un detallat estudi mecanístic amb la teoria del funcional de la densitat som capaços de reconèixer i quantificar subtils diferències en l'estabilització d'intermedis i estats de transició dins de buits microporosos similars, aproximant-nos així al nivell de reconeixement molecular dels enzims. en la primera secció del Capítol 5, estudiem l'afinitat energètica de cations alquilamoni comercialment disponibles amb lleugeres diferències als seus grups alquil, TEA, MTEA i DMDEA, per a la síntesi de CHA i els seus efectes sobre la qualitat del material obtingut. Avaluem les energies d'interacció entre la zeolita i el catió entre diferents combinacions d'agents directors i cations Na+ amb mètodes DFT periòdics podent distingir petits efectes d'estabilització causats per lleugeres diferències estructurals entre molècules que repercuteixen en l'estructura final sintetitzada. Durant la segona secció del Capítol 5, identifiquem les característiques estructurals de diferents agents directors d'estructura per a la síntesi d'AEI que milloren les probabilitats de propagació de l'Al a través de posicions tetrahedriques diferents de T1 obtenint un catalitzador AEI diferent dels sintetitzats clàssicament. / [EN] Computational chemistry has been used as the fundamental tool during the whole work. Therefore, the theoretical models and methods on this subject are explained in Chapter 2. The first part sketches the fundamentals of quantum chemistry and specifically explains the Density Functional Theory that constitutes the basis of the computational methods applied. In this section, basic notions of the Hartree-Fock method serve as prologue for DFT after which more practical aspects are elucidated. Chapter 3 presents the first results of this work corresponding to the methanol to olefins reaction catalysed by different small-pore cage-like zeolites. This reaction is a relevant process that produces short chain olefins such as ethene, propene and butene at industrial scale from biomass. The catalytic system comprises both the zeolite inorganic framework containing the Brønsted acid sites and the confined organic species, that form the hydrocarbon pool and produce light olefins by successive methylation and cracking steps. Our efforts are focused on understanding the nature of the hydrocarbon pool, a polymethylated benzene molecule, and its reaction mechanisms in order to be able to discern between them and identify the proper catalysts to enhance propene or ethene production based on each zeolite cavity topology. We have been able to identify the hydrocarbon pool methylation degree as the key factor to enhance paring route mechanism where propene is the predominant product, or side-chain mechanism, with ethene being the predominant product. This finding enables us to establish a relation between the stabilization of the two key intermediates and the experimental selectivity observed with a high degree of correlation. In Chapter 4 we present a new tool for the study of competing reactions catalyzed by zeolites. Using a fast computational screening with force fields for the key intermediates of the reaction and a detailed density functional theory mechanistic study we are able to recognize and quantify subtle differences in the stabilization of intermediates and transition states within similar microporous voids, thus approaching the level of molecular recognition of enzymes. With these tools we are able to select a zeolite catalyst that hinders alkyl-transfer mechanism reducing the production of non-desired ethene while enhancing the diaryl-mediated pathyways mechanism. Once we discard the non-desired mechanism, we are also able to hinder the diethylbenzene disproportionation, a non-desired route of the diaryl-mediated pathways that leads to triethylbenzene production, while favouring diethylbenzene transalkylation increasing the obtained yield of ethylbenzene. To close this chapter, the theoretical results are compared with experimental selectivities obtained for eight candidate zeolites obtaining a good correlation between theory and experiment. in the first section of Chapter 5, we study the energetic affinity of commercially available alkylammonium cations with slight differences on their alkyl chain groups, as TEA, MTEA and DMDEA, for CHA synthesis and its effects on the quality of the material obtained. We evaluate the host-guest interaction energies of different combinations of OSDAs and Na+ cations with periodic DFT methods being able to distinguish small stabilization effects caused by slight structural differences between molecules that have an impact on the final structure synthesized. On the other hand, we present a new theoretical methodology to address Al positioning prediction in SSZ-39 zeolite with the AEI framework. During the second section of Chapter 5, we identify the structural features of different OSDAs for AEI synthesis that improve the probabilities of spreading Al through different T-site positions other than T1 obtaining an AEI catalyst different from the classically synthesized. / Vull agrair al Instituto de Tecnología Química per la concessió d’un contracte predoctoral, a la Red Española de Supercomputación (RES), al Centre de Càlcul de la Universitat de València, al Flemish Supercomputer Center (VSC) de la Ghent University pels recursos computacionals i el suport tècnic, a la Unió Europea i al Gobierno de España pel finançament d’aquest projecte a traves dels programes ERC-AdG-2014- 671093 (SynCatMatch) “Severo Ochoa” (SEV-2016-0683, MINECO) i dels projectes MAT2017-82288-C2-1-P i PID2020-112590GB-C21 (AEI/FEDER, UE), i al CSIC pel finançament de la estada al CMM a través del projecte i- Link (LINKA20381). / Ferri Vicedo, P. (2023). Ab initio design of efficient zeolite catalysts for methanol and hydrocarbons conversion [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/193493

La Spectroscopie par Effet Tunnel Inélastique (IETS) avec un Microscope à Effet Tunnel (STM) est une nouvelle technique de spectroscopie vibrationnelle, qui permet de caractériser des propriétés très fines de molécules adsorbées sur des surfaces métalliques. Des règles de selection d’excitation vibrationnelle basées sur la symétrie ont été proposées, cependant, elles ne semblent pas exhaustives pour expliquer la totalité du mécanisme et des facteurs en jeu; elles ne sont pas directement transposables pour les propriétés d'un adsorbat et sont lourdes d'utilisation. Le but de cette thèse est donc d'améliorer ces règles de selection par une étude théorique. Un protocole de simulation de l'IETS a été développé, paramétré, et évalué, puis appliqué pour calculer des spectres IETS pour différentes petites molécules, qui sont systématiquement liées, sur une surface de cuivre. Des principes additifs de l'IETS ont été developpés, notamment concernant l’extension dans le vide de l’état de tunnel, l'activation/ quench sélectif de certains modes du aux propriétés électroniques de certains fragments moléculaires, et l'application de certaines règles d'addition de signaux IETS. De plus, des empreintes vibrationnelles par des signaux IETS ont été determinées pour permettre de différentier entre les orientations des adsorbats, la nature chimique des atomes et les isomères de structures. Une stratégie simple utilisant les propriétés de distribution de la densité électronique de la molécule isolée pour prédire les activités IETS sans des couts importants de calculs a aussi été développée. Cette expertise a été utilisée pour rationaliser et interpréter les mesures expérimentales des spectres IETS pour des métalloporphyrines et métallophtalocyanines adsorbées. Ces études sont les premières études IETS pour des molécules aussi larges et complexes. L'approche expérimentale a permis de déterminer les limitations actuelles des simulations IETS. Les défauts associés à l'identification ont été résolus en faisant des simulations d'images STM complémentaires. / Inelastic Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy (IETS) with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) is a novel vibrational spectroscopy technique that permits to characterize very subtle properties of molecules adsorbed on metallic surfaces. Its proposed symmetry-based propensity selection rules, however, fail to fully capture its exact mechanism and influencing factors; are not directly retraceable to an adsorbate property and are cumbersome. In this thesis, a theoretical approach was taken to improve them. An IETS simulation protocol has been developed, parameterized and benchmarked, and consequently used to calculate IETS spectra for a set of systematically related small molecules on copper surfaces. Extending IETS principles were deduced that refer to the tunneling state’s vacuum extension, the selective activating/quenching of certain types of modes due to the moieties’ electronic properties, and the applicability of a sum rule of IETS signals. Also, fingerprinting IETS-signals that enable discrimination between adsorbate orientations, the chemical nature of atoms and structural isomers were determined and a strategy using straightforward electronic density distribution properties of the isolated molecule to predict IETS activity without (large) computational cost was developed. This expertise was used to rationalize and interpret experimentally measured IETS spectra for adsorbed metalloporphyrins and metallophthalocyanines, being the first IETS studies of this large size. This experimental approach permitted to determine the current limitations of IETS-simulations. The associated identification shortcomings were resolved by conducting complementary STM-image simulations.

The continuous migration to smaller feature sizes puts high demands on materials and technologies for future ultra-large-scale integrated circuits. Particularly, the copper-based interconnect system will reach fundamental limits soon. Their outstanding properties make metallic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) an ideal material to partially replace copper in future interconnect architectures. Here, a low contact resistance to existing metal lines is crucial. The present thesis contributes to the theory and numerical description of electronic transport in metallic CNTs with metal contacts. Different theoretical approaches are applied to various contact models and electrode materials (Al, Cu, Pd, Ag, Pt, Au) are compared. Ballistic transport calculations are based on the non-equilibrium Greens function formalism combined with tight-binding (TB), extended Hückel theory (EHT) and density functional theory (DFT). Simplified contact models allow a qualitative investigation of both the influence of geometry and CNT length, and the strength and extent of the contact on the transport properties. In addition, such simple contact models are used to compare the influence of different electronic structure methods on transport. It is found that the semiempirical TB and EHT are inadequate to quantitatively reproduce the DFT-based results. Based on this observation, an improved set of Hückel parameters is developed, which remedies this insufficiency. A systematic investigation of different contact materials is carried out using well defined atomistic metal-CNT-metal structures, optimized in a systematic way. Analytical models for the CNT-metal interaction are proposed. Based on that, electronic transport calculations are carried out, which can be extended to large systems by applying the computationally cheap improved EHT. The metal-CNT-metal systems can then be ranked by average conductance: Ag ≤ Au < Cu < Pt ≤ Pd < Al. This corresponds qualitatively with calculated contact distances, binding energies and work functions of CNTs and metals. To gain a deeper understanding of the transport properties, the electronic structure of the metal-CNT-metal systems and their respective parts is analyzed in detail. Here, the energy resolved local density of states is a valuable tool to investigate the CNT-metal interaction and its influences on the transport. / Die kontinuierliche Verkleinerung der Strukturgrößen stellt hohe Anforderungen an Materialen und Technologien zukünftiger hochintegrierter Schaltkreise. Insbesondere die Leistungsfähigkeit kupferbasierte Leitbahnsystem wird bald an fundamentale Grenzen stoßen. Aufgrund ihrer hervorragenden Eigenschaften könnten metallische Kohlenstoffnanoröhren (engl. Carbon Nanotubes, CNTs) Kupfer in zukünftigen Leitbahnsystemen teilweise ersetzen. Dabei ist ein geringer Kontaktwiderstand mit vorhandenen Leitbahnen von entscheidender Bedeutung. Die vorliegende Arbeit liefert grundlegende Beiträge zur Theorie und zur numerischen Beschreibung elektronischer Transporteigenschaften metallischer CNTs mit Metallkontakten. Dazu werden verschiedene theoretische Ansätze auf diverse Kontaktmodelle angewandt und eine Auswahl von Elektrodenmaterialen (Al, Cu, Pd, Ag, Pt, Au) verglichen. Die Beschreibung ballistischen Elektronentransports erfolgt mittels des Formalismus der Nichtgleichgewichts-Green-Funktionen in Kombination mit Tight-Binding (TB), erweiterter Hückel-Theorie (EHT) und Dichtefunktionaltheorie (DFT). Vereinfachte Kontaktmodelle dienen der qualitativen Untersuchung des Einflusses von Geometrie und Länge der Nanoröhren, sowie von Stärke und Ausdehnung des Kontaktes. Darüber hinaus erlauben solch einfache Modelle mit geringem numerischen Aufwand den Einfluss verschiedener Elektronenstrukturmethoden zu untersuchen. Es zeigt sich, dass die semiempirischen Methoden TB und EHT nicht in der Lage sind die Ergebnisse der DFT quantitativ zu reproduzieren. Ausgehend von diesen Ergebnissen wird ein verbesserter Satz von Hückel-Parametern generiert, der diesen Mangel behebt. Die Untersuchung verschiedener Kontaktmaterialien erfolgt an wohldefinierten atomistischen Metall-CNT-Metall-Strukturen, welche systematisch optimiert werden. Analytische Modelle zur Beschreibung der CNT-Metall-Wechselwirkung werden vorgeschlagen. Darauf aufbauende Berechnungen der elektronischen Transporteigenschaften, können mit Hilfe der verbesserten EHT auf große Systeme ausgedehnt werden. Die Ergebnisse ermöglichen eine Reihung der Metall-CNT-Metall-Systeme hinsichtlich ihrer Leitfähigkeit: Ag ≤ Au < Cu < Pt ≤ Pd < Al. Dies korrespondiert qualitativ mit berechneten Kontaktabständen, Bindungsenergien und Austrittarbeiten der CNTs und Metalle. Zum tieferen Verständnis der Transporteigenschaften erfolgt eine detaillierte Analyse der elektronischen Struktur der Metall-CNT-Metall-Systeme und ihrer Teilsysteme. Dabei erweist sich die energieaufgelöste lokale Zustandsdichte als nützliches Werkzeug zur Visulisierung und zur Charakterisierung der Wechselwirkung zwischen CNT und Metall sowie deren Einfluss auf den Transport.