When doing computations on the negatively (positively) charged NV-center in diamond, the common procedure is to add (subtract) an electron from the system. However, when using periodic boundary conditions, this addition/subtraction of an electron from the supercell would result in a divergent electrostatic energy. So an artificial background jellium charge of opposite charge that compensate the electronic charge to make the supercell neutral is needed. This introduces further problems that needs corrections. And this method is especially problematic for slab supercells, as the compensating background charge leads to a dipole, which diverges as the vacuum between the slab images increases. An alternative, recently proposed way of charging the NV-center is to introduce electron donors/acceptors in the form of nitrogen/boron atoms (at substitutional sites in the diamond lattice). In this way, we keep the supercell/slab neutral, and avoid correction schemes. In this work we verify that the addition of a substitutional nitrogen atom indeed has the same effect on the NV-center as the more traditional method of adding an extra electron to the system. Further, we investigate the effects of 1. Adding two substitutional nitrogen atoms to the system (3 nitrogen atoms in total, neutral supercell), 2. Adding a substitutional nitrogen atom and an electron to the system (2 nitrogen atom in total, negatively charged supercell), 3. Adding two electrons to the system (1 nitrogen atom, doubly negatively charged supercell). Additionally, we investigate the addition of acceptor dopants (boron) in order to analyze the effect on the electronic structure of the NV-center and diamond.

No description available.

Methoden der Dichtefunktionaltheorie (DFT) sind beliebte quantenmechanische (QM) Verfahren. Einige Größen, wie z.B. Dispersionsenergien oder Reaktionsbarrieren, werden mit Standardfunktionalen jedoch schlecht beschrieben. Solche Probleme sind für kleine Systeme mit Elektronenkorrelationsmethoden lösbar. In dieser Arbeit wird ein Hybridansatz vorgestellt, der Vorzüge von DFT und Elektronenkorrelationsmethoden vereint. Dazu erfolgen DFT-Rechnungen für das Gesamtsystem und ein darin eingebettetes Modell des aktiven Zentrums. Dieses wird außerdem mit Moller–Plesset Störungstheorie zweiter Ordnung (MP2) zur Korrektur entsprechender DFT-Werte beschrieben. Die Zuverlässigkeit so erzielter Ergebnisse wird durch Extrapolation auf den Grenzfall einer vollständigen Orbitalbasis und eines unverkleinerten Modells erhöht. MP2-Korrekturen werden für eine Reihe unterschiedlich großer Modelle ermittelt. Daran wird ein C6-Paarpotential angepasst, das auch für das (periodische) Gesamtsystem die Ableitung von Werten in MP2-Qualität erlaubt. Zur Anwendung der Hybridmethode in der Katalyseforschung werden Protonensprünge im Zeolith Chabasit und Protonierungsreaktionen von Isobuten im Zeolith Ferrierit untersucht. Die MP2/DFT-Ergebnisse bestätigen, dass Aktivierungsbarrieren mit einfachen Dichtefunktionalen unterschätzt werden. Geschwindigkeitskonstanten sind nach Korrektur um ein bis zwei Größenordnungen kleiner. DFT-Adsorptions- und -Chemisorptionsenergien für Kohlenwasserstoffe in Zeolithen sind nicht verlässlich. Unterschiedlich große MP2-Korrekturen für die untersuchten Produkte liegen in einem Bereich von –29 bis –70 kJ/mol. Gegenüber dem wasserstoffgebundenen tert-Butylcarbeniumion profitieren Oberflächenalkoxide energetisch am meisten von der Erfassung der Dispersion. Die berechnete MP2-Adsorptionswärme des Isobutens im Zeolith Ferrierit (–74+–10 kJ/mol) entspricht experimentellen Anhaltspunkten und zeigt die Zuverlässigkeit des in dieser Arbeit vorgestellten Hybridansatzes. / Density functional theory (DFT) belongs to the most popular computational approaches in quantum mechanics (QM). For certain terms, e.g., dispersion energies or reaction barriers, widely used functionals do not yield reliable results. For small systems these problems can be overcome by using electron correlation methods. In this work a hybrid approach is presented combining advantages of both DFT and electron correlation methods. DFT calculations are performed for the full system and an embedded model representing the active site. The embedded model is also described by second-order Moller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) to obtain corrections to corresponding DFT values. The reliability of the results obtained with this hybrid method is further improved by extrapolation to the limiting case of a complete orbital basis set and an unreduced model system. MP2 corrections are obtained for a series of models of increasing size to fit a C6 pair potential. The fitted potential is applied to the full (periodic) system yielding results of MP2 quality. The hybrid method is applied in the field of catalysis research to investigate proton jump reactions in the zeolite chabazite and protonation reactions of isobutene in the zeolite ferrierite. The MP2/DFT results obtained confirm that with purely gradient corrected density functionals reaction barriers are clearly underestimated. Rate constants are corrected by one to two orders of magnitude. DFT reaction energies for adsorption and chemisorption of hydrocarbons in zeolites are not reliable. MP2 corrections obtained range between –29 and –70 kJ/mol and are not the same for different products. Compared to the hydrogen-bonded tert-butyl carbenium ion the surface alkoxides benefit most from treating dispersion explicitly. The calculated MP2 heat of adsorption of isobutene in ferrierite (–74+–10 kJ/mol) corresponds to experimental clues and underlines the reliability of the hybrid MP2/DFT approach presented in this work.

Partículas nanométricas de óxidos têm despertado um grande interesse devido a ampla gama de aplicações, por exemplo em catálise, óptica, sensores de gases, semicondutores, entre outros. Por isso, há vários estudos para uma grande variedade de óxidos com composição MO2, em função do tamanho e terminação da superfície. Também existe um grande interesse no estudo de óxidos mistos devido a possibilidade de combinar dois ou mais óxidos em escala nanométrica, com objetivo de controlar as propriedades físicas e químicas em função da composição. Neste trabalho, utilizou-se os metais Ce e Zr, uma vez que os óxidos desses elementos têm um grande potencial de aplicação na indústria como em células combustíveis, reações catalíticas entre outros. Os óxidos mistos Cem-nZrnO2mpossuem a capacidade de armazenar ou liberar oxigênio ao longo de reações químicas, e portanto, são largamente empregados em catalisadores de três-vias na indústria automobilística. Neste estudo foi empregada a teoria do funcional da densidade (DFT) com o funcional de troca-correlação proposto por Perdew, Burke e Ernzerhof (PBE). Investigou-se as propriedades estruturais, energéticas e eletrônicas dos clusters puros e então, selecionou-se quatro estruturas, as quais foram aplicadas na construção dos clusters de óxidos mistos de céria-zircônia. Por meio dos estudos de eletronegatividade de Mulliken, verificou-se que os clusters de zircônia apresentam uma tendência maior em atrair elétrons, quando comparados aos clusters de céria. Observou-se também que as estruturas de mais baixa energia de céria e zircônia apresentam diferentes números de coordenação (CN), no caso 4 e 3 NNN (vizinhos mais próximos), respectivamente. Isso se deve ao fato de tais estruturas não serem esféricas e também aos diferentes tamanhos atômicos de Ce e Zr. Além disso, notou-se que há uma maior compactação dos clusters de menor energia se comparados aos de maior energia, tanto para o céria quanto para zircônia, obteve-se os seguintes valores de diâmetro 1 nm e 2 nm para essa variação da energia relativa. Com esses resultados tem-se que há uma propensão dos clusters mistos, manterem propriedades semelhantes dos cluster puros, devido a similaridade entre o comportamento das estruturas de céria e da zircônia, os quais foram os agentes geradores dos clusters mistos. Observou-se que as propriedades estruturais dos cluster puros como CN, dav, σ e raio, mantiveram-se com a mesmas tendências nos clusters mistos. Para a obtenção do cluster mais estável analisou-se a energia de formação dos sistemas, sendo que a configuração mais favorável de ser formada é a Ce0,27Zr0,73O2, a qual considerou-se a estrutura pGMC representativa das configurações estudadas. Levando-se em consideração os resultados obtidos, na análise de formação dos clusters mistos delimitou-se a região de maior probabilidade de formação de clusters mistos estáveis entre 25% a 60%, de cério na composição. / Oxide nanomaterials have aroused great interest due to their application in several fields, such as in catalysis, optics, gas sensors, semiconductors, among others. Therefore, there are several studies for a wide variety of oxides with composition, and MO2, depending on the size and surface termination. There is also great interest in the study of mixed oxides due to the possibility of combining two or more oxides on a nanometric scale, in order to control their physical and chemical properties. In this work the metals Ce and Zr were used, since the oxides of these elements have a promising application in the industry as in fuel cells, catalytic reactions among others. The mixed oxides Cem-nZrnO2m present the ability to store or release oxygen during chemical reactions and therefore are widely used in three-way catalysts in the automotive industry. In this study, we used density functional theory (DFT) with PBE for the exchange-correlation functional. To investigate the structural, electronic and energetic properties of clusters, four selected structures were applied to build up the mixed ceria-zirconia oxides. Through the Mulliken electronegativity studies, it was found that zirconia clusters have a greater tendency to attract electrons, than the ceria clusters. Also observed that the lowest energy structures of ceria and zirconia have different coordination numbers, 4 and 3 NNN (Number of Nearest Neighbours), respectively. This is due to the fact that such structures are not spherical and have different atomic sizes. In addition, it was noted that there is a higher compaction of the clusters of lower energy compared to higher energy, for both ceria and zirconia, it was obtained the following values of diameter 1 nm and 2 nm for this variation of relative energy change. These results show that there is a trend in which mixed clusters have similar properties of the pure cluster, due to the similarity between the behavior of the structures of ceria and zirconia, which were the generating agents of the mixed clusters. It was observed that the structural properties of the pure clusters like CN, dav, σ and cluster radii, remained with the same trends in the mixed clusters. To obtain the most stable clusters we analyzed the formation energy of the systems, the most favorable configuration to be obtained is Ce0,27Zr0,73O2, which was considered the representative pGMC structure of the studied configurations. Taking into consideration the results, obtained in the analysis of the formation of the mixed clusters, delimited the higher probability of formation of mixed stable clusters between 25% to 60%, of cerium in composition.

Neste trabalho estudamos as propriedades estruturais, energéticas e eletrônicas das nanopartículas puras de prata (Ag) e de ouro (Au) e estruturas do tipo core-shell com número total de átomos variando de 147 à 923, no formato cubo-octaédrico. Estudamos também a adsorção da molécula de metanotiol (SCH4) sobre os sítios de coordenação dessas nanoestruturas, analisando, entre outros aspectos, os efeitos da interação de van de Waals. Para tanto, foram feitos cálculos teóricos de primeiros princípios dentro da Teoria do Funcional da Densidade (DFT) usando a Aproximação do Gradiente Generalizado (GGA) e Pseudopotenciais Ultrassuaves (USPP). Concluímos que as maiores nanopartículas puras e core-shell apresentam uma superfície mais esférica e suas energias de formação tendem às energias das superfícies [001] e [111] e dos bulks de Ag e de Au. Uma única camada de shell de ouro ou de prata na core-shell já determina praticamente o comportamento energético e as propriedades da nanopartícula. A inclusão da interação de van de Waals nos cálculos uniformiza, de certa forma, os padrões de deslocamento atômico das superfícies das nanopartículas e o comportamento energético das core-shell, sem entretanto alterar o perfil das densidades de estado. A adsorção da molécula de metanotiol nas nanopartículas puras de Ag e de Au e suas core-shell foi analisada verificando-se que ela praticamente não perturba os estados eletrônicos das nanopartículas e que sua estrutura molecular é preservada. Nas nanopartículas maiores verifica-se um único padrão de adsorção independente do número de camadas de shell nas estruturas core-shell. / In this work we study the structural, energetic and electronic properties of the pure nanoparticles of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) and their core-shell with total number of atoms ranging from 147 to 923 in cube-octahedral shape. We also investigated the adsorption of the methanethiol molecule (SCH4) in the coordination sites of these nanoparticles, analyzing, among other things, the influence of dispersion(van der Waals) interactions. Our simulations are performed using first principles theoretical calculations within of the Density Functional Theory (DFT) framework, described in terms of the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA), and by using Ultra-Soft Pseudo-potentials (USPP). We conclude that the largest pure nanoparticles and core-shell have a more spherical surface and their formation energies tend to formation energies of bare surfaces [001] and [111] and bulks of Ag and Au. A single layer of gold or silver shell already determines the properties and energetic behavior of the nanoparticles. The inclusion of van der Waals\' dispersion interaction in the calculations makes uniform, in certain way, the atomic displacement patterns surfaces of the nanoparticles and energetic behavior of core-shell, without change the form of the density of states. The adsorption of methanethiol molecule on the surface of the Ag and Au pure nanoparticles and their core-shell was analyzed and we verified that it almost does not disturb the electronic states of the nanoparticles and their molecular structure is preserved. In the largest nanoparticles we checking only one pattern of adsorption independent of the number of layers shell in the core-shell.

Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit de thèse peuvent être divisés en deux parties. Dans une première partie, nous nous sommes intéressé à une extension multiconfigurationnelle de la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT) par l'intermédiaire d'une séparation de portée permettant un traitement hybride entre DFT et fonction d'onde multiconfigurationnelle « state-averaged ». Ainsi, nous récupérons en même temps la corrélation dynamique et la corrélation statique. De plus, cette étude est réalisée en considérant la DFT pour les ensembles afin de considérer une alternative à la méthode usuelle utilisée (DFT dépendante du temps) pour la détermination des états excités d'une molécule, évitant ainsi certains problèmes théoriques rencontrés avec cette approche. En particulier, les intersections coniques entre états excités nous intéressent particulièrement car il s'agit de cas pour lesquels une approche multiconfigurationnelle est primordiale. Dans une seconde partie, le développement de nouvelles fonctionnelles est réalisé sur le dimère de Hubbard asymétrique afin de tester de nouvelles approximations et d'étudier plus en détail les processus auto-cohérents. De plus, des couplages non-adiabatiques sont calculés en utilisant des énergies déterminées dans le cadre de la DFT pour les ensembles ayant la particularité de ne pas être dépendant du temps. / This thesis manuscript can be divided in two parts. In the first one, we are interested in a multiconfigurational extension for the density functional theory (DFT) including a range separation to deal with a hybrid theory between DFT and state-averaged wave function theory. In this case, we recover, at the same time, the dynamical correlation and the static correlation. Moreover, this study is performed considering the ensemble DFT to use an alternative to the usual method (time-dependent DFT) to describe the excited states of a molecule, avoiding some theoretical problems known with this approach. Particularly, conical intersections between excited states are interesting because a multiconfigurational approach is necessary. In the second part, new functionals development are performed and applied on the non-symmetric Hubbard dimer in order to test new approximations and to study more in detail self-consistency processes. In addition, non-adiabatic couplings are calculated using energies from ensemble DFT framework without time-dependence.

Des facteurs fondamentaux pour la performance de matériaux à haute permittivité basés sur des pérovskites sont étudiés par des techniques ab-initio. L’anomalie diélectrique géante à 0K des pérovskites est investiguée aux niveaux Hartree-Fock, Théorie de la Fonctionnelle de la Densité et méthodes hybrides, en termes de la stabilité thermodynamique des phases, des contributions structurales et vibrationnelles et des charges effectives de Born. Le mode mou actif en infra-rouge est responsable par l’anomalie et des méthodes hybrides sont nécessaires pour reproduire les données expérimentales. L’évolution de l’instabilité ferroélectrique dans les pérovskites ABO3 avec la substitution de l’ion A est reliée de façon systématique aux rayons ioniques ainsi qu’aux degrés d’hybridation dans les liaisons pour des tantalates, niobates et titanates. / Ab-initio techniques are used to investigate key factors influencing the dielectric performance of high permittivity materials based on perovskites. The pressure-induced giant dielectric anomaly at 0K of ABO3 perovskites is investigated at the Hartree-Fock, density-functional theory and hybrid levels. Its mechanism is analyzed in terms of thermodynamic phase stability, structural and phonon contributions and Born effective charges. It is shown that the IR-active soft phonon is responsible for the anomaly and the use of hybrid functionals is required for agreement with experimental data. The evolution of the ferroelectric instability in ABO3 perovskites with substitution of the ion in the A site is systematically investigated for tantalates, niobates and titanates and correlated with the ionic radii as well as the degree of hybridization in the bonds.

O iminente fim da \"era do Silício\" tem motivado a busca de novas tecnologias para utilização na indústria eletrônica. Dentre estas tecnologias, a eletrônica molecular explora o uso moléculas como elementos funcionais em dispositivos eletrônicos. Nesta Tese, realizamos cálculos de primeiros princípios baseados na teoria do funcional da densidade (DFT) para determinar as propriedades eletrônicas, estruturais e de transporte em sistemas com aplicação em eletrônica molecular. Para o benzeno-1,4-ditiol (BDT), considerado um sistema protótipo dentro da eletrônica molecular, correlacionamos a adsorção, em uma superfície de Au, com as propriedades de transporte. Na sequência, analisamos evolução estrutural e o efeito de átomos de Au adsorvidos na superfície de Au na transmitância do BDT entre eletrodos de Au. A importância da correção de auto-interação (SIC), nos cálculos de transporte da junção molecular (Au/BDT/Au), também foi discutida. Em seguida, determinamos as propriedades eletrônicas e estruturais da molécula y[(tpy SH)2]x, onde y representa os metais de transição Co, Fe e Ni e; x está associado aos estados de carga 0, +, 2+ e 3+. Verificamos que os metais de transição ficam em uma configuração de baixo spin e, dependendo do estado de carga do metal de transição uma distorção Jahn-Teller leva a uma redução na simetria local de D2d para C2v. Por fim, devido à possibilidade de aplicação em spintrônica, discutimos o efeito de uma impureza de Cobalto na evolução estrutural e transmitância de um nanofio de Au. / The possible end of the road for Silicon has motivated academic researchers and research laboratories to search for new technologies to be applied in the electronic industry. The molecular electronics, which studies the possibility of using molecules as active elements in a new generation of electronic devices, is among these new technologies. In this Thesis, we performed first principles calculations within the density functional theory (DFT) framework to determine the structural, electronic and transport properties of systems with strong application on molecular electronics. We analised the benzene-1,4-dithiol (BDT). For this prototypical system we coupled its adsorption on an Au(111) surface with its transport properties. After this, we investigated its structural evolution between gold leads and the effects of adsorded gold atoms on the Au(111) surface in the trasmitance. The effect of the self-interaction correction (SIC) in the transport calculations of the molecular junction (Au/BDT/Au) was discussed as well. Moreover, we determined the electronic and the structural properties of the molecule y[(tpySH)2]x, where y stands for the transition metals Co, Fe and Ni and; x is associated with the charge states 0, +, 2+ e 3+. We verified that the transition metals are more stable at the low spin configuration. Depending on the charge state a Jahn-Teller distortion leads to a local symmetry reduction: D2d to C2v. Finally, with a spintronic application in mind, we analised the effect of a Cobalt impurity on the structural evolution and transmitance of a gold nanowire.

La fonctionnalisation non covalente des nanotubes de carbone constitue une approche élégante pour moduler leurs propriétés physiques. Néanmoins, une compréhension profonde des interactions entre la matrice hôte et les substances ajoutés est nécessaire pour maîtriser les propriétés physiques des systèmes hybrides ainsi construits. Dans ce cadre, l'étude des propriétés vibrationnelles, par le biais de techniques spectroscopiques, est une étape indispensable. Cependant, la mise en jeu de plusieurs composantes en interaction au sein de ces systèmes hybrides rend difficile l'extraction de l'information pertinente de leur réponse spectrale. Ainsi, plusieurs approches doivent être considérées. Le présent travail de thèse combine une approche expérimentale et théorique, se basant sur la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT), pour l'étude de la réponse infrarouge d'un système modèle de nanotubes de carbone fonctionnalisés avec des diméthyl-quaterthiophènes. De plus, une étude énergétique DFT est réalisée pour un autre système modèle de nanotube de carbone fonctionnalisés avec des molécules de phthalocyanine. Cette étude est effectuée dans le but de déterminer la conformation structurale de ces molécules à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur des nanotubes. / Non covalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes is an elegant approach to modulate their physical properties. Yet, a deep understanding of the interactions between the host matrix and the added substances is necessary to master the physical properties of the constructed hybrid systems. In this context, the study of the vibrational properties, via spectroscopic techniques, is an essential step. However, the interactions between several components within these hybrid systems makes it difficult to extract the relevant information from their spectral response. Thus, several approaches need to be considered. The present work combine an experimental approach and a theoretical one, based on the density functional theory (DFT), to study the infrared response of a model system of carbon nanotubes functionalized with dimethyl-quaterthiophenes. Moreover, a DFT energetic study is realized for another model system of carbon nanotubes functionalized with phthalocyanine molecules. This study is performed to determine the structural conformation of these molecules inside and outside the nanotube

Orientador: Ronei Miotto. / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC. Programa de Pós Graduação em Nanociências e Materiais Avançados, 2010.