Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / O grafeno à atualmente o tÃpico mais corrente em fÃsica da materia condensada e ciÃncia dos materiais e foi isolado pela primeira vez a menos de quatro anos. O grafeno tem sido proposto como um material alternativo aos nanotubos de carbono em diversas aplicaÃÃes, devido a sua fÃcil sintetizaÃÃo e seu baixo custo. A fim de explorar uma potencial aplicaÃÃo dessas nanoestruturas em dispositivos eletrÃnicos, atravÃs de cÃlculos de primeiros princÃpios baseados na teoria do funcional da densidade, estudamos a interaÃÃo entre uma superfÃcie de grafeno e Ãtomos alcalinos (Li, Na e K) e halogÃnios (Cl, I e I2). Verificamos que a adsorÃÃo desses Ãtomos na superfÃcie do grafeno provoca significativas modificaÃÃes na estrutura eletrÃnica do grafeno. Observamos uma grande transferÃncia de carga entre os Ãtomos alcalinos (halogÃnios) e a superfÃcie do grafeno. Essas transferÃncias foram da ordem de 0,65-0,85 e- dos Ãtomos alcalinos para o grafeno e 0,37 (0,27) e- do grafeno para o Ãtomo de cloro (iodo). Os metais alcalinos apresentaram uma maior estabilidade sobre o centro de um hexÃgono do grafeno, tendo energias de ligaÃÃo entre -1,47 e -1,03 eV, onde a ordem de intensidade à dada por Li > K > Na. Essa predisposiÃÃo por um sÃtio especÃfico nÃo foi observada para os dois halogÃnios estudados. O Ãtomo de cloro apresentou uma maior estabilidade quando adsorvido sobre um Ãtomo da superfÃcie do grafeno, com energia de ligaÃÃo da ordem de 0,98 eV, no entanto, isso nÃo foi visto no caso do Ãtomo de iodo onde energias de ligaÃÃo equivalentes para todos os sÃtios estudados foram encontradas da ordem de 0,42 eV. A molÃcula I2 tambÃm nÃo apresentou uma predileÃÃo por uma sitio especÃfico da superfÃcie do grafeno, mas mostrou-se mais estÃvel quando adsorvida com seu eixo perpendicular ao plano do grafeno. / Graphene is currently the hottest topic in condensed-matter physics and materials science and was isolated less than four years ago. Graphene layers have been proposed as alternative materials for replacing carbon nanotubes in some applications, due to its easy synthesis and low costs. In order to explore potential applications of those nanostructures in electronic devices, through first principles based on the density functional theory, we studied the interaction between graphene surface and alkaline (Li, Na and K) and halogens (Cl, I and I$_2$ ) atoms. We verified that the adsorption of these atoms on the graphene surface cause significant modifications in the graphene electronic structure. We observed a large charge transfer between the alkaline (halogens) atoms and graphene surface. These charge transfers were found to be 0,65 - 0,85 e- from the alkaline atoms to graphene and 0,37 (0,27) e- from the graphene to chlorine (iodine) atoms. The alkaline atoms presented a larger stability on the center of one of the graphene hexagons, presenting binding energy in the range -1, 47 and -1, 03 eV, where the order of intensity is given by Li > K > Na. This predisposition for a specific site was not observed for the twostudied halogens. The chlorine atom present the larger stability when adsorbed on a top atom of the graphene surface with binding energy about 0, 98 eV, however this behavior was not be seen in the iodine atom case where equivalent binding energies for all the studied sites were found to be about 0,42 eV. The I2 molecule also does not present predilection for a specific site on the graphene surface, however it showed more stable when adsorbed with its axis perpendicular to the graphene surface plane.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-12-05T17:42:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 StanrleyBandeira.pdf: 1297237 bytes, checksum: c39acc4db03b1190e402e8b3a4c9d8ff (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-05T17:42:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 StanrleyBandeira.pdf: 1297237 bytes, checksum: c39acc4db03b1190e402e8b3a4c9d8ff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-28 / FAPEMA / The present master's work was focused on quantum chemistry calculations and based on the Functional Density Theory (DFT) the interaction between platinum compounds used in anti-cancer therapy and DNA. Based on the analysis of the factors that influence the bonding process between the platinum complexes and the DNA. All the nitrogenous bases of the DNA were analyzed, in order to choose the one that would present better interaction with the studied complexes. The theoretical results showed that the different platinum compounds have binders that decrease toxicity, or increase membrane binding. The platinum compounds, Carboplatin, Iproplatin, Nedaplatin and Oxaliplatin, were structured through the GAUSS VIEW 5.0 software. Then, the optimization of these structures was performed using the GAUSSIAN 9.0 program. This optimization used bases extracted from the EMSL BASIS SET EXCHANGE database. As a result of these optimizations the HOMO-LUMO intervals were used to characterize the stability of the molecules, as well as the stability variations that occurred during the hydrolysis reactions, and their connections with the guanine base of the DNA. This observation, as well as the thermodynamic properties, served to describe the toxicities presented in the literature. / O presente trabalho de mestrado foi voltado a examinar por meio de cálculos de química quântica e com base na Teoria do Funcional Densidade (DFT) a interação entre compostos de platina usados na terapia anti-câncer e o DNA. Com base na análise dos fatores que influenciam o processo de ligação entre os complexos de platina e o DNA.Analisou-se todas as bases nitrogenadas do DNA, para a escolha da que apresentaria melhor facilidade de interação com os complexos estudados. os resultados teóricos mostraram que que os diferentes compostos de platina apresentam ligantes que diminuem a toxicidade, ou aumentam a ligação com membranas. Os compostos platínicos,Carboplatina, Iproplatina, Nedaplatina e Oxaliplatina, foram estruturados através do progarama GAUSS VIEW 5.0. Em seguida realizou-se a otimização dessas estruturas utilizando-se o programa GAUSSIAN 9.0. Essa otimização utilizou bases extraídas do banco de dados EMSL BASIS SET EXCHANGE. Como resultado dessas otimizações foram extraídos os intervalos HOMO-LUMO, utilizados para caracterizar a estabilidade das moléculas, bem como, as variações de estabilidade, que ocorriam durante as reações de hidrolise, e respectivas ligações com a base GUANINA do DNA. Essa observação,bem como as propriedades termodinâmicas serviu para descrever as toxicidades, apresentadas em literatura.

Guanine is generally accepted as the most easily oxidized DNA base when cells are subjected to ionizing radiation, photoionization or photosensitization. At pH 7, the midpoint reduction potential is on the order of 0.2 – 0.3 V higher than those of the radicals of e.g. tyrosine, tryptophan cysteine and histidine, so that the radical “repair” (or at least, a thermodynamically favorable reaction) involving these amino acids is feasible. Computational quantum studies have been done on tyrosine, tryptophan, cysteine and histidine side chains as they appear in histones. Density functional theory was employed using B3LYP/6-31G+ (d, p) basis set to study spin densities on these amino acids side chains as they pair with the guanine radical cation. The amino acid side chains are positioned so as not to disrupt the Watson-Crick base pairing. Our results indicate that, these side chains of amino acid with reducing properties can repair guanine radical cation through electron transfer coupled with proton transfer.

Molecular modeling, using both ab initio and semi-empirical methods has been undertaken for a series of dirhodium complexes in order to improve the understanding of the nature of the chemical bonding in this class of homogeneous catalysts. These complexes, with carboxylamidate and carboxylate ligands, are extremely functional metal catalysts used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The X-ray crystallography shows anomalies in the bond angles that have potential impact on understanding the catalysis. To resolve these issues, minimum energy structures of several examples (e.g. Rh2(NHCOCH3)4, Rh2(NHCOCH3)4NC, Rh2(CO2CH3)4, Rh2(CO2CH3)4NC, Rh2(CHO2)4, and Rh2(CHO2)4NC) were calculated using Hatree-Fock and Density Functional Theory/B3LYP with the LANL2DZ ECP (Rh), and cc-pVDZ (all other atoms) basis sets.

Dans un superréseau, le confinement modifie les états électroniques et la réduction de symétrie produit une forte anisotropie des propriétés optiques. Dans les super-réseaux GaAs/AlAs cette anisotropie, avec en plus les effets non-linéaires dans les propriétés optiques de GaAs, est un élément essentiel pour la réalisation des convertisseurs de fréquence. Dans mon travail de thèse, j'ai étudié le tenseur diélectrique statique et les spectres d'absorption des superréseaux (GaAs)p/(AlAs)p en fonction de leur période p. Le calcul de ces quantités a été commencé à l'aide de techniques semi-empiriques à l'Université de Pavia, sous la direction du Prof. L.C. Andreani. En particulier, J'ai développé un code pour appliquer la méthode «linear combination of bulk bands» au calcul des structures de bande et des fonctions diélectriques des héterostructures (superréseaux et nanofils). Dans la suite j'ai passé 12 mois au LSI sous la direction du Dr. Lucia Reining, pour réaliser des calculs ab-initio dans le cadre de la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité dépendante du temps. Nous avons réussi à bien décrire l'effet du confinement sur les spectres. L'anisotropie de la réponse diélectrique, mesurée par la biréfringence, est déterminée par les contributions du confinement et des champs locaux cristallins : si on tient compte des deux effets, on peut reproduire les données expérimentales. Les ultérieurs effets à N-corps ne donnent que des corrections quantitatives. La comparaison entre les résultats des calculs ab-initio et semi-empiriques, ainsi qu'avec les données de l'expérience, nous a permis de détecter les mécanismes physiques essentiels qui contribuent à l'anisotropie des propriétés optiques et, de plus, de déterminer les limites de validité de la méthode semi-empirique et de l'approche classique des milieux effectifs.

<p>Ordinary yet unique, water is the substance on which life is based. Water seems, at first sight, to be a very simple molecule, consisting of two hydrogen atoms attached to one oxygen. Its small size belies the complexity of its action and its numerous anomalies, central to a broad class of important phenomena, ranging from global current circulation, terrestrial water and CO₂ cycles to corrosion and wetting. The explanation of this complex behavior comes from water's unique ability to form extensive three-dimensional networks of hydrogen-bonds, whose nature and structures, in spite of a great deal of efforts involving a plethora of experimental and theoretical techniques, still lacks a complete scientific understanding.</p><p>This thesis is devoted to the study of the local structure of hydrogen-bonded liquids, with a particular emphasis on water, taking advantage of a combination of core-level spectroscopies and density functional theory spectra calculations. X-ray absorption, in particular, is found to be sensitive to the local hydrogen-bond environment, thus offering a very promising tool for spectroscopic identification of specific structural configurations in water, alcohols and aqueous solutions. More specifically, the characteristic spectroscopic signature of the broken hydrogen-bond at the hydrogen side is used to analyze the structure of bulk water, leading to the finding that most molecules are arranged in two hydrogen-bond configurations, in contrast to the picture provided by molecular dynamics simulations. At the liquid-vapor interface, an interplay of surface sensitive measurements and theoretical calculations enables us to distinguish a new interfacial species in equilibrium with the gas. In a similar approach the cluster form of the excess proton in highly concentrated acid solutions and the different coordination of methanol at the vacuum interface and in the bulk can also be clearly identified.</p><p>Finally the ability of core-level spectroscopies, aided by sophisticated density functional theory calculations, to directly probe the valence electronic structure of a system is used to observe the nature of the interaction between water molecules and solvated ions in solution. Water around transition metal ions is found to interact with the solute via orbital mixing with the metal d-orbitals. The hydrogen-bond between water molecules is explained in terms of electrostatic interactions enhanced by charge rehybridization in which charge transfer between connecting molecules is shown to be fundamental.</p>

<p>The overall aim of this thesis is to compare different methods for calculation of Core-Level shifts in metallic alloys. The methods compared are the Initial State model, the Complete screening and the Transition state model. Core-level shifts can give information of chemical bonding and about the electronic structure in solids.</p><p>The basic theory used is the so-called Density-Functional-Theory, in conjunction with the Local-Density Approximation and the Coherent-Potential- Approximation. The metallic alloys used are Silver-Palladium, Copper-Palladium, Copper-Gold and Copper-Platinum, all inface-centered-cubic configuration.</p><p>The complete screening- and the transition-state model are found to be in better agreement with experimental results than those calculated with the initial state model. This is mainly due to the fact that the two former models includes final-state effects, whereas the last one do not. The screening parameters within the Coherent-Potential approximation are also investigated. It is found that the Screened-Impurity Model can extend the validity of the Coherent-Potential-Approximation and increase it's accuracy.</p>

<p>The work presented in this thesis deals with experimental and theoretical studies related to the growth of crystalline alumina thin films. Alumina, Al₂O₃, is a polymorphic material utilized in a variety of applications, e.g., in the form of thin films. Many of the possibilities of alumina, and the problems associated with thin film synthesis of the material, are due to the existence of a range of different crystalline phases. Controlling the formation of the desired phase and the transformations between the polymorphs is often difficult.</p><p>In the experimental part of this work, it was shown that the thermodynamically stable alpha phase, which normally is synthesized at substrate temperatures of around 1000 °C, can be grown using reactive sputtering at a substrate temperature of 500 °C by controlling the nucleation surface. This was done by predepositing a Cr₂O₃ nucleation layer. Moreover, it was found that an additional requirement for the formation of the <em>α</em> phase is that the depositions are carried out at low enough total pressure and high enough oxygen partial pressure. Based on these observations, it was concluded that energetic bombardment, plausibly originating from energetic oxygen, is necessary for the formation of <em>α</em> alumina (in addition to the effect of the chromia nucleation layer). Further, the effects of impurities, especially residual water, on the growth of crystalline films were investigated by varying the partial pressure of water in the ultra high vacuum (UHV) chamber. Films deposited onto chromia nucleation layers exhibited a columnar structure and consisted of crystalline <em>α</em>-alumina if deposited under UHV conditions. However, as water to a partial pressure of 1x10^-5 Torr was introduced, the columnar growth was interrupted. Instead, a microstructure consisting of small, equiaxed grains was formed, and the gamma-alumina content was found to increase with increasing film thickness. When gamma-alumina was formed under UHV conditions, no effects of residual water on the phase formation was observed. Moreover, the H content was found to be low (< 1 at. %) in all films. Consequently, this shows that effects of residual gases during sputter deposition of oxides can be considerable, also in cases where the impurity incorporation in the films is found to be low.</p><p>In the modeling part of the thesis, density functional theory based computational studies of adsorption of Al, O, AlO, and O2 on different alpha-alumina (0001) surfaces have been performed. The results give possible reasons for the difficulties in growing the <em>α</em> phase at low temperatures through the identification of several metastable adsorption sites, and also provide insights related to the effects of hydrogen on alumina growth.</p> / Report code: LiU-TEK-LIC-2007:1.

<p>The present thesis is concerned to the application of first-principles self-consistent total-energy calculations within the density functional theory on different topics in materials science.</p><p>Crystallographic phase-transitions under high-pressure has been study for TiO2, FeI2, Fe3O4, Ti, the heavy alkali metals Cs and Rb, and C3N4. A new high-pressure polymorph of TiO2 has been discovered, this new polymorph has an orthorhombic OI (Pbca) crystal structure, which is predicted theoretically for the pressure range 50 to 100 GPa. Also, the crystal structures of Cs and Rb metals have been studied under high compressions. Our results confirm the recent high-pressure experimental observations of new complex crystal structures for the Cs-III and Rb-III phases. Thus, it is now certain that the famous isostructural phase transition in Cs is rather a new crystallographic phase transition.</p><p>The elastic properties of the new superconductor MgB2 and Al-doped MgB2 have been investigated. Values of all independent elastic constants (c11, c12, c13, c33, and c55) as well as bulk moduli in the a and c directions (Ba and Bc respectively) are predicted. Our analysis suggests that the high anisotropy of the calculated elastic moduli is a strong indication that MgB2 should be rather brittle. Al doping decreases the elastic anisotropy of MgB2 in the a and c directions, but, it will not change the brittle behaviour of the material considerably.</p><p>The three most relevant battery properties, namely average voltage, energy density and specific energy, as well as the electronic structure of the Li/LixMPO4 systems, where M is either Fe, Mn, or Co have been calculated. The mixing between Fe and Mn in these materials is also examined. Our calculated values for these properties are in good agreement with recent experimental values. Further insight is gained from the electronic density of states of these materials, through which conclusions about the physical properties of the various phases are made.</p><p>The electronic and magnetic properties of the dilute magnetic semiconductor Mn-doped ZnO has been calculated. We have found that for an Mn concentration of 5.6%, the ferromagnetic configuration is energetically stable in comparison to the antiferromgnetic one. A half-metallic electronic structure is calculated by the GGA approximation, where Mn ions are in a divalent state leading to a total magnetic moment of 5 μB per Mn atom.</p>

<p>The subject of the present thesis is theoretical first principles electronic structure calculations on designer hard materials such as the transition metal carbides and oxides. The theoretical investigations have been made in close collaboration with experimental research and have addressed both bulk electronic properties and surface electronic properties of the materials.</p><p>Among the bulk studies are investigations on the effects of substoichiometry on the relative phase stabilities and the electronic structure of several phases of MoC and the nature of the resulting vacancy peaks. The changes in phase stabilities and homo-geneity ranges in the group IV to VI transition metal carbides have been studied and explained, from calculations of the T=0 energies of formation and cohesive energies. The anomalous volume behavior and phase stabilities in substoichiometric TiC was studied including effects of local relaxations around the vacancy sites. The vacancy ordering problem in this compound was also studied by a combination of electronic structure calculations and statistical physics.</p><p>The studies of the surface electronic properties include research on the surface energies and work functions of the transition metal carbides and an investigation on the segregation of transition metal impurities on the TiC (100) surface.</p><p>Theoretical studies with the aim to facilitate the realization of novel designer hard materials were made, among these a survey of means of stabilizing potentially super-hard cubic RuO₂, studying the effects of alloying, substoichiometry and lattice strains. A mechanism for enhancing hardness in the industrially important hard transition metal carbides and nitrides, from the discovery of multi-phase/polytypic alloys, has also been predicted from theoretical calculations.</p>