This thesis presents a joint experimental and theoretical study of a bimolecular collision between OH(A) and H₂ diatoms. The study focuses on the relationship between the initial, <b><i>j</i></b>, and final rotational angular momentum, <b><i>j'</i></b>. This relationship is explored from both a scalar point of view by measuring rotational energy transfer (RET), and a vectorial viewpoint by considering the collisional depolarisation. The experimental technique used in this investigation, Zeeman quantum beat spectroscopy, is first demonstrated by applying it to the determination of the lab-frame orientation of OH(X) photofragments following the photolysis of H₂O₂. The H₂O₂ is photolysed by circularly-polarised light at 248 nm, and Zeeman quantum beat spectroscopy probes the angular momentum orientation as a function of the photofragment spin-rotation level. The results of this experiment are compared with orientation parameters predicted by a simulation that couples the rotation of the parent molecule to the torsional motion during bond cleavage. The calculations from the model agree qualitatively with those from the experiment. The Zeeman quantum beat spectroscopy technique is then used to monitor the evolution of angular momentum polarisation of OH(A) radicals during collisions with H₂. The technique allows for the determination of depolarisation cross sections for oriented and aligned distributions, as a result of collisions with H₂. Alongside this, cross sections for collisional quenching to non-reactive OH(X)+H₂ and reactive H₂O+H products are determined. By resolving the fuorescence with a monochromator the contributions to depolarisation from elastic collisions (the elastic depolarisation cross sections) are measured alongside cross sections for RET. Cross sections for total depolarisation and rotational energy transfer demonstrate only weak dependence on the rotational quantum number of the OH(A) radical, <i>N</i>_OH. Competing quenching processes that fall with <i>N</i>_OH are likely a considerable cause of this weak dependence. Furthermore, the polarisation of the angular momentum of OH(A) is randomised following RET. The elastic depolarisation cross sections make only a small contribution to the depolarisation and fall with increasing <i>N</i>_OH. Collectively these trends have not been seen previously in similar studies on OH(A) collisions with atomic colliders. For the theoretical calculations, a four-atom quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) method has been developed, utilising Lagrangian multipliers to fix the OH(A) and H₂ bonds. The calculations demonstrate that collisions involving the formation of complexes that survive for several rotational periods are prevalent in this collision system, and that these lead to large amounts of depolarisation. The calculations also demonstrate that RET in the H₂ diatom supports higher levels of RET in OH(A) than seen in previous triatomic systems. Additionally, when one diatom is depolarised the accompanying diatom is typically also depolarised. These trends, at least in part, are owed to the highly attractive and anisotropic potential energy surface (PES) describing the interaction. The QCT calculations overestimate the experimentally-measured cross sections by more than a factor of 2. The calculations are adiabatic and do not account for the non-adiabatic activity associated with this collision system, and this is likely one cause of the discrepancies. In an attempt to further account for this overestimation, alternative angular momentum binning approaches for the QCT calculations are developed, but with limited success. Further exploration of the topology of the PES used in the calculations suggests that inadequacies in this surface are a major contributor to the discrepancies.

L'optimisation de la digestion anaérobie par voie sèche est actuellement limitée par un manque de connaissances fondamentales. En particulier, les effets des principaux paramètres de procédé sur la dynamique réactionnelle sont peu connus en digestion sèche : teneur en eau, propriétés du substrat ou taux d'inoculation. Ces conditions opératoires ont des conséquences importantes à l'échelle des micro-organismes par la modification des conditions environnementales locales. Si la relation entre les propriétés des substrats lignocellulosiques et l'activité de la biomasse microbienne est au cœur de la dynamique réactionnelle, elle reste très peu prise en compte lors de l'ajustement des conditions opératoires. Ce travail vise à comprendre l'impact des paramètres de procédé (teneur en eau, caractéristiques du substrat, taux d'inoculation) sur le développement, la structuration et l'activité des micro-organismes au cours de la digestion sèche de substrats lignocellulosiques, en vue de maitriser le procédé dans son ensemble. La stratégie retenue a consisté à suivre la dégradation de la paille de blé, modèle des résidus agricoles méthanisables, en réacteurs discontinus faiblement inoculés. Quatre séries d'expériences ont été mises en place pour : i) comprendre comment les paramètres de procédés impactent les réactions, ii) étudier le comportement métabolique des micro-organismes à faibles teneurs en eau, iii) déterminer comment les communautés microbiennes se spécialisent selon l'évolution des caractéristiques du substrat au cours de sa dégradation, et enfin iv) valider les résultats par un taux d'inoculation moins contraignant. Tout d'abord, le criblage des principaux paramètres de procédés (teneur en matières sèches, taille des particules et taux d'inoculation) a montré une évolution progressive de leurs effets au cours de l'avancement de la réaction, sur les processus de digestion. Ensuite, l‘étude de la fermentation en voie sèche a permis de montrer, qu'en présence d'eau libre, l'augmentation de la siccité n'impacte pas le métabolisme microbien, mais modifie les équilibres entre les communautés microbiennes. Le recours à un protocole de compartimentation de la biomasse microbienne spécialement développé dans cette thèse a mis en évidence une spécialisation forte et progressive des communautés microbiennes associées à l'hydrolyse du substrat, au cours de sa dégradation. Des observations par microscopie électronique à transmission indiquent que cette modification coïncide avec la dégradation progressive des tissus de la paille en fonction de leur degré de lignification. La mise en évidence de barrières physiques, récalcitrantes à la biodégradation et rarement décrites dans le contexte de la méthanisation, indique que l'accessibilité du substrat est le paramètre principal limitant la réaction. Ces informations suggèrent que le broyage du substrat est un prétraitement de choix en digestion sèche. Cependant, une dernière expérience a montré qu'en voie sèche, un broyage fin limite les gains de performances du procédé par une augmentation des risques d'acidification des digesteurs. / Nowadays, optimization of solid-state anaerobic digestion is limited by a lack of fundamental knowledge. In particular, the effects of the main process parameters, such as water content, substrate property or inoculation rate, on the reaction dynamics are poorly understood in solid-state anaerobic digestion. In fact, process parameters have consequences at microbial scale by the modification of the local environmental conditions. Nevertheless, even if the relationship between the lignocellulosic substrate characteristics and the microbial activity is a keystone of the reaction dynamics, it is rarely considered for the selection of operating conditions.This work aims to understand the influence of process parameters (total solid content, substrate characteristics, and inoculation ratio) on the microbial development, compartmentation and activity in order to optimize dry anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic substrate. The selected strategy consisted in following wheat straw biodegradation, which is a model of agricultural wastes available for anaerobic digestion, in low inoculated batch reactors. Four series of experiment have been established to: i) understand the impact of process parameters on the reaction, ii) study the metabolic behavior of microorganisms face to low water content, iii) evaluate the relationship between substrate characteristics and modification of microbial communities and finally iv) validate results by less restricting inoculation rate.First, a screening of solid-state process parameters (total solid content, particle size and inoculation rate) showed a progressive change of their effect on digestion process during the reaction progress. Then, the study of dry fermentation indicated that, when water is free within the media, increasing total solid content has a low impact on the microbial metabolism, but modifies equilibriums between microbial communities. Based on a protocol developed to investigate the biomass compartmentation, we enlightened a strong and progressive specialization of the microbial communities associated to substrate hydrolysis during its biodegradation. Observations using transmission electronic microscopy indicated that this modification corresponds to a progressive degradation of the straw tissues depending on their lignification degree. Furthermore, the identification of physical barriers, rarely described in anaerobic digestion, suggests that substrate accessibility is the main parameter limiting the reaction. This information suggests that substrate milling can be theoretically a good pretreatment to improve dry anaerobic digestion. However, a last experiment showed that fine milling limits the process performances by a higher risk of acidification in digesters.

This thesis presents work examining the characteristics and applicability of quantum cascade lasers. An introduction is given explaining both the desire for a widely tunable, narrow bandwidth device working in the midinfrared, as well as detailing the ways in which quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) fulfill these requirements. The development and manufacture of QCLs are then discussed. The experimental section of this thesis is then split into three parts. Chapter 2 concerns the characterisation and application of several pulsed QCLs. The intrapulse mode of operation is employed and the effect of the resulting rapid frequency chirp upon molecular spectra is investigated in the form of rapid passage signals. The evolution of said rapid passage signals is then investigated as a function of chromophore pressure and identity, with different QCLs, chirp rates, and optical path lengths. The prospect of producing population transfer with chirped lasers is discussed. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 are then concerned with the application and characterisation of continuous wave QCLs. In these chapters a widely tunable commercially produced EC-QCL is utilised as well as two DFB QCLs, one of which is used in tandem with a home-made mount and temperature controller. In Chapter 3 a number of sensitive detection techniques are compared with the employment of wavelength modulation spectroscopy, long path cells and optical cavities, and the narrow bandwidth of QCLs utilised to determine a previously unknown spectral constant of DBr. Chapters 4 and 5 then utilise the high power of an external cavity quantum cascade laser in sub-Doppler Lamb-dip and polarisation spectroscopy measurements and then a pump-probe experiment. The laser linewidth is investigated on a millisecond timescale returning a current noise limited value of c.a. 2 MHz and the fundamental linewidth of the device investigated by altering the injection current. Chapter 5 is concerned with the pump-probe experiment, directly measuring the hot band absorption in a ladder like transition (R(6.5)$_\frac{1}{2}$ $v=1\leftarrow0$ and P(7.5)$_\frac{1}{2}$ $v=1\leftarrow0$). The Bennett peak in the hot band is observed with a DFB-QCL swept at $\sim 0.15$ MHz ns$^{-1}$ and is seen not just as a pump bandwidth limited lineshape, but as a highly velocity selected rapid passage signal. The effect of pressure, pump and probe scan rate and power upon this rapid passage signal is also studied. It is further noted that rapid thermalisation occurs within $v=1$ such that at pressures above c.a. 30 mTorr a broad NO doublet absorption is observed beneath the Bennett peak from which a total population transfer of c.a. $16 \%$ can be estimated. Finally an experiment is discussed in which this population transfer could be increased for use in secondary applications. Chapter 6 then presents initial measurements with two prototype pulsed 3.3 \si{\micro\metre} QCLs considering the prospects of such devices. A Fabry-P\'rot device is first studied using a Fourier transform spectrometer and temperature tuning used to produce a spectrum of the Q-branch of CH$_4$ around 3025 cm$^$. Experiments are then performed using a DFB QCL investigating the chirp rate of the system as an indicator of the rate of heat accumulation within the system. Heat management is of particular consideration when the sea-change is made from pulsed to continuous devices. For this device absorption spectra of two CH$_4$ transitions at 2971 cm$^$ are used to determine the chirp rate, which is found to be c.a. 1.8 GHz ns$^$, at least an order of magnitude higher than that of the longer wavelength pulsed devices considered in Chapter 2.

This thesis is concerned with the influence of nanoscale boundaries and interfaces upon the electronic processes that occur within the inorganic semiconductors. Inorganic semiconductor nanowires and their blends with semiconducting polymers have been investigated using state-of-the-art ultrafast optical techniques to provide information on the sub-picosecond to nanosecond photoexcitation dynamics in these systems. Chapters 1 and 2 introduce the theory and background behind the work and present a literature review of previous work utilising nanowires in hybrid organic photovoltaic devices, revealing the performances to date. The experimental methods used during the thesis are detailed in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 describes the crucial roles of surface passivation on the ultrafast dynamics of exciton formation in gallium arsenide (GaAs) nanowires. By passivating the surface states of nanowires, exciton formation via the bimolecular conversion of electron-hole plasma can observed over few hundred picoseconds, in-contrast to the fast carrier trapping in 10 ps observed in the uncoated nanowires. Chapter 5 presents a novel method to passivate the surface-states of GaAs nanowires using semiconducting polymer. The carrier lifetime in the nanowires can be strongly enhanced when the ionization potential of the overcoated semiconducting polymer is smaller than the work function of the nanowires and the surface native oxide layers of nanowires are removed. Finally, Chapter 6 shows that the carrier cooling in the type-II wurtzite-zincblend InP nanowires is reduced by order-of magnitude during the spatial charge-transfer across the type-II heterojunction. The works decribed in this thesis reveals the crucial role of surface-states and bulk defects on the carrier dynamics of semiconductor nanowires. In-addition, a novel approach to passivate the surface defect states of nanowires using semiconducting polymers was developed.

In addition to a central circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), zebrafish (Danio rerio) have local clock systems in their peripheral tissues. These peripheral tissues express a complement of clock genes that can be synchronized with the 24 h light/dark cycle and thus may be entrained by light. To date, teleost multiple tissue (tmt) opsin identified from Fugu rubripes and Danio rerio is the only opsin that has been proposed as a candidate to mediate this cellular photoentrainment (Moutsaki et al., 2003). Here we report the discovery of a multigene family of tmt opsins found not only in the teleost fishes, but in vertebrates,including amphibians, birds, reptiles, and some mammals. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that this gene family consists of three main classes, tmtI, tmtII and tmtIII, with each duplicating further to give two paralogues in the zebrafish genome. Their predicted amino acid sequences contain most of the characteristic features for the function of a photopigment opsin, as well as seven transmembrane segments indicative of a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. Significantly, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) reveals that the tmt opsin genes in zebrafish are both temporally and spatially regulated. To investigate if these tmt photopigments mediate light-activated currents in cells, each opsin was expressed in vitro and the responses characterised by calcium imaging, whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology, UV-Vis spectrophotometric analysis, and bioluminescence reporter assay. Collectively, these data suggest that some of the opsin photoproteins signal via Gi-type G protein pathway. Interestingly, the spectral analysis obtained shows that most tmt opsins tested are UV-sensitive when reconstituted in vitro with 11-cis and all-trans retinal, indicating an intrinsic bistable dynamics. Using site directed mutagenesis on one of the tmt opsins, tmt10, the potential spectral tuning sites involved in UV detection were tested. As part of this study, tmt opsin cDNAs were isolated from three populations of Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus): surface, Pachon and Steinhardt. This allowed for a direct comparison between the tmt opsins present in the dark adapted species (cavefish) versus those of the light adapted species (zebrafish). It is hoped that the findings from this project will contribute to our understanding of non-visual light detection in fish and the evolution of their non-image forming photoreception.

In this work, experimental and theoretical approaches are applied to the study of chemical reaction dynamics. In Chapter 2, two applications of transition state theory are presented: (1) Application of microcanonical transition state theory to determine the rate constant of dissociation of C2F3I after π∗ ← π excitation. It was found that this reaction has a very fast rate constant and thus is a promising system for testing the statistical assumption of molecular reaction dynamics. (2) A general rate constant expression for the reaction of atoms and molecules at surfaces was derived within the statistical framework of flexible transition state theory. In Chapter 4, a computationally efficient TDDFT approach was found to produce useful potential energy surface landscapes for application to non-adiabatic predissociative dynamics of the molecule CS2 after excitation from the ground state to the singlet C-state. In Chapter 5, ultrafast experimental results of excitation of CS2 to the predissociative neutral singlet C-state is presented. The bandwidth of the excitation laser was carefully tuned to span a two-component scattering resonance with each component differently evolving electronically with respect to excited state character during the quasi-bound oscillation. Scalar time-resolved photoelectron spectra (TRPES) and vector time-resolved photoelectron angular distribution (TRPAD) observables were recorded during the predissociation. The TRPES yield of photoelectrons was found to oscillate with a quantum beat pattern for the photoelectrons corresponding to ionization to the vibrationless cation ground state; this beat pattern was obscured for photoelectron energies corresponding to ionization from the vibrationally excited CS2 cation. The TRPAD data was recorded for two general molecular ensemble cases: with and without a pre-excitation alignment laser pulse. It was found that in the case of ensemble alignment (Chapter 6), the “molecular frame” TRPAD (i.e. TRMFPAD) was able to image the purely valence electronic dynamics of the evolving CS2 C-state. The unaligned ensemble TRPAD observable suffers from excessive orientational averaging and was unable to observe the quantum beat. Engineering efforts were also undertaken to eliminate scattered light background signal (Chapter 7, Appendix A) and improve laser stability as a function of ambient pressure (Appendix B) for TRMFPAD experiments. / Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-11 22:18:20.89

Magnetic fields influence the rate and/or yield of chemical reactions that proceed via spin correlated radical pair intermediates. The field of spin chemistry centres around the study of such magnetic field effects (MFEs). This thesis is particularly concerned with the effects of the weak magnetic fields B₀ ~ 1mT relevant in the ongoing debates on the mechanism by which animals sense the geomagnetic field and on the putative health effects of environmental electromagnetic fields. Relatively few previous studies have dealt with such weak magnetic fields. This thesis presents several new theoretical tools and applies them to interpret experimental measurements. Chapter 1 surveys the development and theory of spin chemistry. Chapter 2 introduces the use of Tikhonov and Maximum Entropy Regularisation methods as a new means of analysing MARY field effect data. These are applied to recover details of the diffusive motion of reacting pyrene and N,N-dimethylaniline radicals. Chapter 3 gives a fresh derivation and appraisal of an approximate, semiclassical approach to MFEs. Monte Carlo calculations allow the elucidation of several "rules of thumb" for interpreting MFE data. Chapter 4 discusses recent optically-detected zero-field EPR measurements, adapting the gamma-COMPUTE algorithm from solid state NMR for their interpretation. Chapter 5 explores the role of RF polarisation in producing MFEs. The breakdown in weak fields of the familiar rotating frame approximation is analysed. Chapter 6 reviews current knowledge and landmark experiments in the area of animal magnetoreception. The origins of the sensitivity of European robins Erithacus rubecula to the Earth’s magnetic field are given particular attention. In Chapter 7, Schulten and Ritz’s hypothesis that avian magnetoreception is founded on a radical pair mechanism (RPM) reaction is appraised through calculations in model systems. Chapter 8 introduces quantitative methods of analysing anisotropic magnetic field effects using spherical harmonics. Chapter 9 considers recent observations that European robins may sometimes be disoriented by minuscule RF fields. These are shown to be consistent with magnetoreception via a radical pair with no (effective) magnetic nuclei in one of the radicals.

L’étude de la dissociation de molécules poly-atomiques en surface est d’une importance à la fois fondamentale et industrielle. La compréhension du mécanisme et la dynamique réactionnelle sous-jacents représente un défi. Comme un système modèle, la dissociation de méthane sur la surface de nickel a fait l’objet de nombreuses études pour élucider les chemins de réaction et le transfert d’énergie parmi les différents degrés de liberté durant la réaction. La mode-spécifique ou liaison-spécifique réactivité pour la dissociation de CH4 sur Ni(111) et Ni(100) ont été mise en évidence récemment par des expériences de pointe du jet moléculaire. Jusqu’à présent, les études théoriques de la dynamique réactionnelle ont été effectuées avec un modèle simplifié dans lequel CH4 est décrit comme une molécule pseudo-diatomique. Le concept d’un groupe méthyle spectateur introduit dans un tel modèle impose des contraintes drastiques. Par exemple, l’indiscernabilité des quatre liaisons C-H de méthane est violée par le fait que la liaison C-H capable de se dissocier se singularise par rapport aux trois autres liaisons inertes. En réalité, n’importe quelle des quatre liaisons est susceptible de se dissocier. Par ailleurs, l’unique mode vibrationnel du modèle pseudo-diatomique ne ressemble à aucun des quatre modes vibrationnels principaux du méthane, qui décrivent tous des mouvements collectifs de plusieurs atomes. Lorsque tous les degrés de liberté sont pris en compte, la dimensionnalité de la surface de l’énergie potentielle pour CH4/Ni(111) est très élevée (15 degrés de liberté pour CH4 et certains degrés de liberté du substrat). Construire une surface de l’énergie potentielle fiable à une telle grande dimension est, en soi, un grand défi. A notre connaissance, ce défi n’a jamais été tenté auparavant pour quelconque réaction d’une molécule poly-atomique sur une surface métallique. En utilisant un champ de force réactif, nous avons développé, dans le présent travail, une surface de l’énergie potentielle qui prend en compte tous les 15 degrés de liberté de CH4 ainsi que ceux des 3 premières couches de NI(111). Des simulations de dynamique moléculaire ont été effectuées pour étudier la dynamique réaction de CH4 sur Ni(111) aussi bien dans son état fondamental vibrationnel que dans un état excité. Ces simulations ont permis de révéler des comportements dynamiques inattendus et très intéressants. / In the present work, we undertook a challenging task, i.e., construction a full-dimension potential energy surface (PES) for a benchmark poly-atomic molecular surface reaction, CH4/Ni(111), by using a reactive force field. Careful appraisal of the PES was made in order to establish the validity of the PES. The differences between the results for the transition state (dissociation barriers and structures) given by our PES and those by DFT calculations do not exceed 15%. The molecular dynamics simulation results obtained by using our PES are compared to experimental results for CH4 dissociation probability on Ni(111). For the vibrationally excited state, v3 (v=1, J=0), the agreement between our simulation results and the experimental ones is excellent. For the ground state, the sticking coefficient is somehow over-estimated because of the under-estimation of the dissociation barrier by about 150 meV with our reactive force field. Nevertheless, the overall agreement between simulation and experiment is pretty good. Within the help of the full-dimensional PES, we have extensively studied some important aspects of reaction dynamics, e.g., the effects of surface impact position, surface temperature, vibrationally excited state, rotationally excited states etc. For CH4 in ground state (v=0, J=0), the investigation of the effect of CH4 impact position shows that the top site is the most reactive one. The surface temperature strongly affects the reactivity of methane, especially in the region of the low incident energy near to the dissociation threshold, while in the high incident energy region, the effect is less important. For CH4 v3 (v=1, J=0), an important coupling between rotation and vibration is found. The rotation of CH4 can enhance its reactivity in the following way. In its ground state (v=0, J=0), CH4 does not rotate during its flight to the surface. In this case, only one of the two lowest C-H bonds pointing initially toward the surface can be cleaved while the two other bonds never break. In v3 (v=1, J=0) vibrational state, due to the rotation induced by vibration-rotation coupling, any of the four H atoms can be dissociated even if it forms a C-H bond which has an unfavorable initial orientation (i.e., pointing away from the substrate). The rotation of CH4 induced by vibration-rotation coupling near the substrate allows for bringing an unfavorable initial orientation of C-H bond to the right one required by a transition state (TS) during the adsorbate’s approaching to the substrate. As the enhanced reactivity of vibrationally excited molecules is concerned, the intuitively limpid and overwhelmingly accepted explanation is that the vibration-induced bond stretching helps bond breaking. Our simulation results show clearly that the vibration-induced CH4 rotation contributes an important part to the enhanced reactivity of a v3 (v=1, J=0) vibrationally excited CH4. A series of simulations to determine the sticking curves for CH4 in the vibrational ground state (ν=0) but excited to higher rotational levels (J=0-12) have also been performed. Due to its small level spacing, the lowest rotational excited states (J=1-3) of CH4 do not affect its reactivity on Ni(111) as observed experimentally. We found that rotation enhances significantly CH4 reactivity on Ni(111) with a deposited rotational energy amounting only to 12% of the dissociation barrier. Moreover, in a hypothetic simulation, we found also very striking evidences that rotation can even promote better dissociation of CH4 on Ni(111) than vibration. In a vibrationally excited CH4, its C-H bonds undergo alternate stretching and compressing and the latter hinders dissociation. In this case, the reactivity is inevitably modulated by vibration phase. However, the centrifugal force due to rotation tends always to stretch the C-H bonds for CH4 in rotationally excited states. / 多原子气相分子的分解，不仅在物理，化学及相关学科有着基本的重要性，而且可以促进工业进程，如工业制氢气。对其涉及的反应，即化学键的断裂与形成，在理解其反应机制和动力学上更是一项挑战。作为多原子气相-固相化学反应中最为典型的反应，甲烷分子在金属镍表面的分解，已经被广泛地研究从而理解其在动力学过程中的能量转化和反应路径。最近，选态分子束实验报道了有关甲烷在镍表面分解反应的重要特征，即模式选择性和化学键选择性。从理论角度来看，以前大多数理论研究都是基于一个简化模型，即将甲烷分子看成是一个赝双原子分子(CH4=RH,其中R=CH3)。在该简化模型中，将甲基团当做一个“spectator”会导致严重的限制性，如四个碳氢键的不可分辨性就被破坏。因为在简化模型中，只有一个可分解的碳氢键而其他三个碳氢键则被保护起来；而在实际的分解反应过程中，甲烷分子的任何一个碳氢化学键应该都有概率被分解掉。此外，在该赝双原子分子模型中，单键伸长振动模式不能类比于甲烷的四个基本振动模式，因为其每种基本振动模式都涉及多个原子的复合运动。如果不将甲烷处理成赝双原子分子，那么该体系（CH4/Ni(111)）的势能面的维度会很高，即甲烷的15 个自由度加上部分基地原子的自由度。欲建立一个如此高维度而且又可靠的势能面，本身就是一个值得挑战的研究任务。据我们所知，目前对多原子分子在金属表面反应的高维度势能面的报道几乎没有。在本论文中，我们运用键序反应力场（REBO），为体系CH4/Ni(111)，首次建立起一个全维度的势能面。该势能面的维度包含甲烷的15 个自由度和3 层基地原子的自由度。在经典分子动力学（和准经典分子动力学）模拟下，我们研究了甲烷处于基态和激发态时在金属表面的分解活性，并发现了一些非常有趣的结果。本论文包含以下六章：第一章：简单介绍了甲烷在过渡金属表面分解的最新进展。在选态分子束试验报道中，我们介绍了一些有关该反应的重要特征，如模式选择性，化学键选择性，表面温度效应，空间效应，旋转激发效应等。在理论工作方面，主要介绍了两个理论研究小组近期在简化模型下的一些量子动力学结果。第二章：对本文所运用的理论方法和近似做了基本的介绍。这些方法主要归纳于两类：i)电子结构计算；ii) 分子动力学模拟。我们重点介绍了这些方法和近似的特征。第三章：我们运用二阶矩近似力场(SMA)和键序反应力场(REBO)模拟了氢分子在金属钯表面的分解反应, 从而验证反应力场在模拟表面化学反应的适用性。该章讨论了在参数化反应力场时的一些影响因素，如有效数据库大小，不同排斥势以及长程作用项等，为对复杂体系的研究提供了有效的帮助。第四章：基于键序反应力场(REBO)，我们首次为CH4/Ni(111) 体系建立起一个全维度势能面(PES)。同时我们对该势能面(REBO(PES))做了全面评估，如比较势能面(REBO(PES))与DFT计算得到的过渡状态结构和与之对应的分解势垒，比较两者对于不同形式相互作用给出的势能变化等。此外，我们还直接模拟了甲烷在基态时的活性，其模拟结果与实验有着很好的符合度，从而进一步地说明了该势能面(REBO(PES))的可靠性。第五章：在全维度势能面下，我们深入地研究了甲烷处于不同状态时在镍表面分解的反应活性，即基态(v=0,J=0)，反对称振动态v3 (v=1,J=0)和旋转激发态(v=0,J=1-12)。对于基态的甲烷，我们定性并定量地分析了表面碰撞位置，表面温度对其分解概率的影响。对于反对称振动态的甲烷，我们观察到振动激发态的甲烷分子反应活性比基态甲烷的反应活性要大大地增强。究其根源在于，平动能量不易转换至旋转自由度，而振动能量则非常容易转入到旋转自由度。我们利用三个定量参数详细地阐述了这种振动耦合转动的重要性。此外，对于甲烷处于旋转激发态时，我们发现其激发状态非常有利于甲烷的分解，尽管其旋转能量只有分解势垒的12%。更为惊奇的是，对于甲烷分子而言，其旋转激发态比振动激发态更有利于其分解。其相应的物理解释是，对于振动激发的甲烷，它的碳氢键处于伸长与收缩的交替中，而后者却阻止其分解。对于旋转激发中的甲烷，其离心力一直促使碳氢键的伸长。第六章：总结和展望。我们总结了本文的主要结论以及给出一些将来需要进行的工作，如同位素效应等。