Title: Chemical reactivity of metal-supported ceria thin films: a density func- tional study Author: Lucie Szabová Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Vladimír Matolín, DrSc., Department of Surface and Plasma Science, FMF, CU Abstract: The present work is a theoretical analysis based on numerical DFT+U simulations investigating the physical and chemical properties of ultrathin ceria films supported by Cu(111). Such materials exhibit high activity towards several important reactions in heterogeneous catalysis such as water-gas shift and CO oxidation, with important applications also for renewable energy technologies such as fuel cells. We provide evidence of the influence of film thickness on the electronic and structural properties as well as on the reactivity of ultrathin ceria films supported by copper. The calculations combined with scanning tunneling microscopy experiments show that one monolayer thin film of ceria on Cu(111) is charged, strained and contains oxygen vacancies due to the limited thickness of the film. The influence of the film thickness on the reactivity of thin ceria films was explored for the case of water adsorption and dissociation. Significant differences were shown for water adsorption and dissociation on one-monolayer ceria compared to thicker films,...

We investigate the electronic band structure of device relevant GaInNAs/GaAs multiple quantum wells (MQWs) and veitical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) structures. We report photo-modulated reflectance (PR) studies under applied pressure and variable temperature that probe the influence of N-related states on the electronic structure of dilute nitrogen (N) III-V MQWs. The pressure and temperature dependence of the intersubband transitions within the MQWs is reduced by addition of N. By matching our experimental results with a theoretical model important predictions for the ground-state electron effective mass and conduction band offset as a function of N and pressure are made. We present results of angle- and temperature-dependent electro-reflectance (ER) measurements on a dilute-N GaInNAs VCSEL and show that these explain how the corresponding VCSEL device can operate over a such a wide range of temperatures. We argue that intrinsic properties of dilute-N QWs provide novel ways to design laser devices, especially in the crucial telecommunication range of wavelengths. We show how non-destructive ER and PR measurements can be used, in order to estimate the QW transition energy when it is coupled with the cavity mode (CM). The energy of the main exciton is determined by monitoring the amplitude and the phase of the PR spectra. The ER measurements are presented on the GaInNAs VCSEL described in the previous paragraph. Furthermore we present a growth characterisation study on a representative InGaAs/GaAs/AlAs/AlGaAs as-grown VCSEL structure, using PR spectroscopy as a function of position on a non-uniform wafer. We also show how temperature dependent PR and the appropriate lineshape model can be used to obtain a full picture of the relative movements between the gain and the CM over the full range of temperature. This information allows calculating the material gain in the temperature range of interest, independent from the effect of the CM and also provides an alternative method for characterising the growth, which can be applied to uniform wafers. PR and non-destructive ER can be used to identify regions suitable for fabrication into devices. For this reason modulation spectroscopy can be very useful for industry to reject wafers where good alignment between the CM and the QW does not occur and can thus save on the time consuming and expensive fabrication procedures.

La thèse concerne l’étude de l’ionisation dissociative simple (e,2e) de l’ion tri-centrique le plus simple de la nature H+3 qui est constitué par trois centres formant un triangle équilatéral, dont la structure électronique a été largement étudiée pendant différentes périodes du siècle passé. Actuellement cette molécule fait l’objet de nombreuses études concernant spécialement sa recombinaison dissociative avec des électrons, et son évolution en présence d’un champ LASER intense, dans le domaine de l’interaction du rayonnement avec la matière. Les techniques de détection développées récemment ouvrent la voie à une réalisation future des expériences d’ionisation simple (e,2e) durant laquelle un électron projectile interagit avec H+3. Pour guider ces expériences, la thèse entreprend le défi théorique de décrire ce processus complexe, et de préparer les outils nécessaires pour la détermination de la section efficace multiplement différentielle. Ceci a nécessité l’emploi de la fonction d’onde ThCC décrivant l’électron éjecté lent dans le champ coulombien de la molécule résiduelle tricentrique mono-électronique dans le cadre de la première approximation de Born. Les résultats ont exploré les conditions optimales de l’ionisation et l’influence de la corrélation électron-électron. Ils prévoient, entre autres, l’apparition de motifs d’interférence quantique dans la variation de la section efficace multiplement différentielle avec la direction de diffusion pour une orientation fixe de la molécule / This thesis is concerned by the (e,2e) simple ionization of the simplest tri-centric ion existing in nature, which is constituted by three centers forming an equilateral triangle. The electronic structure of H+3 has been largely studied during different periods in the past. Currently, it is the subject of numerous studies concerning specially its dissociative recombination with electrons, and its behavior in the field of intense LASER. The recent developments in the detection techniques has opened the possibility to realize (e,2e) simple ionization experiments where the projectile electron interacts with a gas of H+3 , and the emerging fragments are detected in coincidence. To guide these experiments, we undertake the theoretical challenge to describe this complex process, and prepare the necessary tools for the determination of the multiple differential cross section of this process. This task has needed the development and the application of an original three-center continuum wave function (ThCC), which describes the slow ejected electron in the Coulomb field of the residual tri-centric mono-electronic ion in the frame of a first order Born series procedure. Our calculations have explored the optimal conditions for the ionization process and the influence of the electron-electron correlation. Our results predict, among others, the appearance of quantum interference patterns during the variation of the multiple differential cross section with the scattering direction for a given orientation of the molecule

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Orientador: Antonio Carlos Dias Angelo / Banca: Hamilton Brandão Varela de Albuquerque / Banca: Nelson Henrique Morgon / O Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais, PosMat, tem caráter institucional e integra as atividades de pesquisa em materiais de diversos campi da Unesp / Resumo: A utilização das fases intermetálicas ordenadas como eletrocatalisadores em células a combustível já pode ser considerada como uma solução iminente para os problemas que envolvem a eficiência e as questões econoômicas. Para assegurar que as propriedades geométricas e eletrônicas destes materiais sejam realmente as almejadas para atender a todas as exigências na eletrocatálise das reações de oxidação das moléculas é necessário um estudo aprofundado de caracterização das fases intermetálicas, comumente realizado por criteriosas técnicas experimentais. Entretanto, experimentalmente, a caracterização destes materiais não fornece informações precisas que permitam correlacionar as propriedades dos materiais com o seu desempenho frente a uma dada reação eletrostática. Desta forma, uma estratégia metodológica para se obter um conhecimento mais adequado no estudo das fases intermetálicas é a utilização de métodos computacionais, baseados na Teoria do Funcional da Densidade (DFT). A metodologia empregada neste trabalho aborda uma sistemática para a otimização das propriedades geométricas através da minimização da energia total do sistema, bem como uma avaliação da estrutura eletrônica para estes materiais por meio de projeções sobre os orbitais atômicos na densidade de estados e de mapas de densidade de carga. O processo de otimização é feito por cálculos de campo auto-consistente sucessivos que variam o parâmetro de rede até encontrar uma estrutura que possua energia mínima, este processo pode ser realizado de duas formas, manual e automaticamente pelo código computacional, os resultados obtidos mostram que ambas as formas possuem a mesma precisão, levando a valores quase idênticos e que permitem reproduzir bem os cristais para os materiais estudados. A análise comparativa entre os dados cristalográficos da literatura e os resultados... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The use of ordered intermetallic phases as electrocatalysts in fuel cells can now be regarded as an imminent solution for the problems concerning the efficiency of the device and for economic issue. To ensure that the geometric and electronic properties of these materials are actually suitable for the requirements in the electrocatalysis of melecules oxidation reactions need a meticulous characterization of the intermetallic phases, in general done by standard experimental techniques. However, the characterization of these materials performed solely experimentally does not provide accurate information to enable correlation of the properties of the materials with their performance against a given electrocatalytic reaction. Thus, a methodological strategy for obtaining a better knowledge in the study of ordered intermetallic phases is the use of computational methods, based on the Density Functional Theory. The methodology used in in thius research presents a sytematic optimization of the geometric properties by minimizing the total energy of the system and an evaluation of the electronic structure for these materials by means of the density of states projected onto atomic orbital and charge density maps. The optimization process is done by successively self-consistent field calculations that very the lattice parameter to find a structure that has a minimum energy, this process can be accomplished in two ways, manually and automatically by the computer code, the results show that both forms have the same precision, leading to almost identical identical values and allow to reproduce well the crystals of the studied materials. A comparative analysis of the crystallographic data from the literature and the results presented here show very small errors (in the order of 2-3% for most of the materials), which can be attributed exclusively to the various mathematical approaches applied... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

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.

A fotodinâmica de sistemas moleculares representa um dos principais tópicos atuais da físico-química molecular. O conhecimento das propriedades dos estados eletrônicos excitados tem permitido desenvolver áreas de vital importância como das energias renováveis, da fotomedicina, dos sensores fluorescentes, entre outras. O objetivo desta tese está orientado a estudar teoricamente a influência do meio (ou efeito de solvente) na fotofísica e nas propriedades dos estados eletrônicos excitados de sistemas moleculares. Nesta tese, primeiramente foi feito um estudo em fase gasosa da superfície de energia potencial do sistema molecular HSO2 e do efeito da energia rotacional na reação OH+SO. Na superfície de energia potencial foram caracterizadas um grande número de estruturas estacionárias e foi encontrado um estado de transição que liga a região mais energética da superfície com a menos energética. Em relação ao papel da energia rotacional na reação mencionada, foi realizado um estudo de trajetórias quase-clássicas, onde foi observado um decréscimo da reatividade com o aumento da energia rotacional total depositada nos reagentes. Posteriormente, foi estudado o efeito do solvente nas propriedades dos estados eletrônicos excitados e nos mecanismos de decaimento de três sistemas moleculares, acetona, 1-nitronaftaleno e daidzein. Na acetona, foi estudada a influência da polarização eletrônica do estado excitado n* provocada pelo solvente no deslocamento espectral da banda de fluorescência. A banda de emissão obtida em água mostra um deslocamento espectral muito pequeno em relação à fase gasosa, em concordância com as evidencias experimentais. Também foi observada pouca dependência do deslocamento espectral com o grau de polarização eletrônica desse estado excitado. O sistema molecular 1-nitronaftaleno foi estudado a fim de esclarecer a ultrarápida desativação eletrônica não fluorescente observada experimentalmente após a transição de absorção, assim como, caracterizar os espectros de absorção transitória também observados nos experimentos. Foi encontrado um intersystem crossing muito eficiente entre o primeiro estado excitado singleto e o segundo estado tripleto, que explica o decaimento não fluorescente deste sistema molecular. O modelo de decaimento proposto permite descrever corretamente os espectros de absorção transitória nos solventes metanol e etanol, através de transições de absorção dos estados eletrônicos tripletos. Finalmente, o sistema molecular daidzein foi estudado a fim de entender porque em solvente polar prótico, como a água, o sistema é fluorescente, mostrando um valor de Stokes shift consideravelmente grande e na presença de solvente polar aprótico, como a acetonitrila, não é observada fluorescência. Nesse sentido, foi estudada a evolução dos estados eletrônicos excitados, na presença dos solventes água e acetonitrila, após as transição de absorção. A topologia dos estados eletrônicos excitados é diferente para cada um dos solventes, em acetonitrila o sistema tem acesso a um intersystem crossing muito eficiente que permite o decaimento não fluorescente. Em água o panorama é diferente, neste caso, não é possível a ocorrência do intersystem crossing e o sistema decai por fluorescência para o estado fundamental. No estado eletrônico fluorescente é observada uma polarização eletrônica significativa que provoca o grande valor de Stokes shift observado experimentalmente. / The photodynamics of molecular systems represents one of the most important topics of the molecular physical chemistry today. The knowledge of the excited electronic states properties has allowed the development of several important areas, such as the renewable energies, the photomedicine, fluorescent sensors, etc. The aim of this thesis is oriented to the theoretical study of the solvent effect on the photophysics and on the excited electronic states properties of molecular systems. In this thesis, it was initially studied the potential energy surface of the HSO2 molecular system in gas phase and the rotational energy effect on the reactivity of the OH+SO reaction. In the potential energy surface a large number of stationary structures were characterized and it was found a transition state which connects the highest energetic region to the lowest one. Regarding the role of rotational energy on the mentioned reaction, a quasi-classical trajectories study was performed, indicating a decrease in the reactivity when the total rotational energy deposited in the reactants is increased. Subsequently, it was studied the solvent effect on the excited electronic states and on the deactivation mechanisms of three molecular systems, acetone, 1-nitronaphthalene and daidzein. In the acetone molecular system, it was studied the influence of the electronic polarization, caused by the solvent, in the fluorescence spectral shift of the n* excited state. The emission band obtained in water shows a small spectral shift compared to the gas phase, in agreement with the experimental evidences. It was also observed a little dependence of the spectral shift with the degree of the excited state polarization. The 1-nitronaphthalene molecular system was studied to clarify the ultrafast non-fluorescent deactivation mechanism experimentally observed after the absorption transitions, as well as to characterize the transient absorption spectra also observed in the experiments. A very efficient intersystem crossing was found between the first singlet excited state and the second triplet state, which explains the nonfluorescent decay of this molecular system. The proposed deactivation model allows properly describing the transient absorption spectra in methanol and ethanol solvents by absorption transitions from the triplet electronic states. Finally, the daidzein molecular system was studied to understand why in polar protic solvent, such as water, the system is fluorescent, showing a very large Stokes shift value and in polar aprotic solvent, such as acetonitrila, the fluorescence is not observed. In that sense, it was studied the evolution of the excited electronic states in water and in acetonitrile after the absorption transition. The topology of the excited electronic states is different for each solvent, in acetonitrile the system is accessible to a very efficient intersystem crossing that enables the non-fluorescent decay. In water the picture is different, the intersystem crossing is not possible to occur and the system decays by fluorescence to the ground electronic state. In the fluorescent state is observed a considerable electronic polarization that causes the so large Stokes shift value experimentally observed.

O estudo computacional da interação de biomoléculas com metais de transição é bastante desafiador. Sendo assim, investigamos computacionalmente diferentes propriedades eletrônicas, estruturais e hiperfinas de complexos metálicos, a saber: a) o gradiente do campo elétrico de Crown thioethers coordenados à Ag e ao Cd e comparado com as medidas da técnica espectroscópica Time Differential Perturbed Angular Correlation durante o decaimento nuclear 111Ag -> 111Cd ; b) o acoplamento hiperfino no metal coordenado à bases de Schiff e comparado com as medidas de ressonância eletrônica paramagnética durante o equilíbrio ceto-enol; c) a interação termodinâmica entre o complexo [Cu(isaenim)]2+ e o sulco menor do DNA, por meio da dissociação do complexo supramolecular [Cu(isaenim)]2+-DNA, comparada com a energia livre experimental fornecida pela constante de equilíbrio de formação deste sistema; e d) por meio do cálculo do acoplamento hiperfino realizamos alguns passos na direção da caracterização teórica do complexo supramolecular no estado ligado. Utilizamos a teoria do funcional da densidade no esquema de Kohn-Sham para obter as propriedades hiperfinas eletrônicas e magnéticas dos complexos metálicos. No estudo do equilíbrio ceto-enol utilizamos simulações de dinâmica molecular clássica e híbrida QMMM para estimar as distancias Cu-Oágua. No caso do complexo supramolecular [Cu(isaenim)]2+-DNA, simulações de dinâmica molecular e metadinâmica clássica foram utilizadas para propor uma rota de reconhecimento molecular em um oligômero de DNA. / Computational study of the interaction of biomolecules with transition metals is very challenging. Thus, we have investigated different electronic, structural and hyperfine properties of the metal complexes: a) the electric field gradient properties of Crown thioethers coordinated with Ag and Cd and compared to Time Differential Perturbed Angular Correlation measurements during nuclear decay; b) the hyperfine coupling in the metal of Schiff basis coordinated with copper and compared to electronic paramagnetic resonance measurements during the keto-enol equilibrium; c) the thermodynamic interaction between [Cu(isaenim)]2+ complex and the DNA minor groove, by the dissociation of this supramolecular complex, comparing its free energy experimental provided by the formation constant; and d) through the calculation of the hyperfine coupling in the Cu, we characterized the bound state of this supramolecular complex. We used the density functional theory in the Kohn-Sham scheme in order to obtain the electric and magnetic hyperfine properties of the metal complexes. In the keto-enol equilibrium study, we used classic and QMMM molecular dynamics to estimate the Cu-Owater distances. Regarding [Cu(isaenim)]2+-DNA system, classical molecular dynamics and metadynamics simulations were used to propose a molecular recognition route in a DNA oligomer.

Orientador: Rogerio Custodio / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T16:17:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Politi_JoseRobertodosSantos_D.pdf: 1434250 bytes, checksum: 9907fe783c6f36299444800b1f937bc8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Doutorado / Físico-Química / Doutor em Ciências

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