Transition-metal oxides (TMOs) display numerous fascinating and complex properties, such as mixed-valency, low dimensionality, lattice distortion, and phase transition, etc. These properties arise from the partially filled d- or f-electron shells of TM cations and are often accompanied by the intriguing interplay between degrees of freedom. To understand the complexity of d-electron TMOs, this thesis is primarily focused on studying their underlying electronic structure using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS). The measurements at the O K- and TM L-edges are achieved by taking advantage of high-flux and high-resolution synchrotron radiation light with tunable monochromatic photon energy. Four electronically and structurally distinctive oxides are selected as representative TMOs for investigation in this thesis. To begin with, through a comparative study of WO3 and Na0.67WO3 crystals, the narrowing of the conduction band is observed with Na doping and the core-hole energy shift in the O K-edge XAS process is experimentally determined. Indirect and direct band gaps of photoanode WO3 are measured from the resonant XES with polarization-dependent experimental geometry. The other sodium bronze studied is quasi-one-dimensional β-Na0.33V2O5 polycrystalline film. The film stoichiometry, preferential orientation, and orbital anisotropy are well characterized by a variety of photon and electron techniques and compared to density-functional theory (DFT) calculation. The V 3d orbital splitting of β-Na0.33V2O5 is surveyed by the V L-edge RIXS and compared with isoelectronic β-Sr0.17V2O5 regarding distortions to VO6 octahedra. Furthermore, the complex electronic structure of Mott insulators La1-xLuxVO3 is investigated to understand their spin-orbital phase diagram. The effects of rare-earth size on the O 2p hybridization states and the local crystal field of VO6 octahedron are found to agree with the prediction of DFT calculation and the evolution of crystal structure. The changes of experimental spectra with temperature are associated with Jahn-Teller distortion and orbital ordering due to structural phase transition. Lastly, the band structure and low-energy excitations of spinel MnV2O4 are explored using soft x-ray spectroscopies and theoretical calculations. The presence of Hubbard bands and the mixing between V and Mn 3d states are suggested both experimentally and theoretically.

Heteroestruturas digitais magnéticas (DMHs) são estruturas semicondutoras em que a distribuição de impurezas magnéticas (Mn) restringe-se a alguns arranjos bidimensionais (monocamadas) regularmente espaçados entre si. Na presença de um campo magnético, a interação de troca sp-d entre os momentos magnéticos localizados e os portadores itinerantes é responsável por um desdobramento de spin gigante, da ordem ou até superior que a separação cíclotron dos níveis de Landau. Aqui eu calculo a estrutura eletrônica de poços quânticos digitais magnéticos do grupo II-VI. Resolvo as equações de Kohn-Sham da teoria do funcional da densidade dependente de spin na aproximação de massa efetiva. Eu então calculo diversas propriedades magnetoópticas e de transporte relevantes experimentalmente. Em particular, eu investigo a física dependente de spin presente nestes sistemas sob dois diferentes pontos de vista. Primeiramente o enfoque é no efeito do magnetismo do Mn sobre o potencial dependente de spin da interação de troca sp-d, em particular nos efeitos da aglomeração antiferromagnética e da diluição do seu perfil de concentração (segregação e interdifusão). Ao considerar estes efeitos eu reproduzo resultados experimentais para desdobramento de spin $Delta_E$ e tempos de espalhamento de spin $tau_$ [S. A. Crooker et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 505 (1995); Phys. Rev. B 61, 1736 (2000)]. Na segunda parte eu mudo o enfoque para a física de gases de elétrons bidimensionais (2DEGs) altamente polarizados e mostro a importância da forte dependência de spin das contribuições de muitos corpos (troca e correlação) presentes nestes sistemas. Em particular, estes efeitos são relevantes para o surgimento de fases de ferromagnetismo de efeito Hall quântico. Eu calculo o magnetotransporte no regime de efeito Hall quântico para DMHs baseadas em ZnSe e CdTe. Meus resultados reproduzem resultados experimentais [R. Knobel et al., Phys. Rev. B 65, 235327 (2002); J. Jaroszynski et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 266802 (2002)] para a dependência com o campo magnético, com a temperatura, o aparecimento de picos anômalos e o surgimento de curvas de histerese em várias propriedades físicas. / Digital magnetic heterostructures (DMHs) are semiconductor structures with magnetic impurities (Mn) restricted to some planar arrangements (monolayers) regularly spaced. In the presence of an external magnetic field, the sp-d exchange interaction between the localized magnetic moments and the itinerant carriers is responsible for a giant spin splitting, of the order of, or even greater than, the cyclotron separation between Landau levels. Here I calculate the electronic structure of group II-VI digital magnetic quantum wells. I solve the Kohn-Sham equations of the spin-density functional theory within the effective mass approximation. Then I calculate some magneto-optical and transport properties which are experimentally relevant. In particular, I investigate the spin dependent physics of these systems from two different points of view. First, I focus on effects of the Mn magnetism on the sp-d exchange spin dependent potential, particularly the effect of antiferromagnetic clustering and the effect of dilution (segregation and interdiusion) of the Mn content prole. By considering these effects I reproduce experimental results for the spin splitting $Delta_E$ and spin scattering times $tau_$ [S. A. Crooker et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 505 (1995); Phys. Rev. B 61, 1736 (2000)]. In the second part I move on to the physics of spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs), and show the relevance of the strong dependence of the many-body contributions (exchange and correlation) with the spin polarization. In particular, these effects are relevant for the development of quantum Hall ferromagnetic phases. I calculate magneto- transport in the quantum Hall eect regime for DMHs consisting of ZnSe and CdTe. My results reproduce experimental results [R. Knobel et al., Phys. Rev. B 65, 235327 (2002); J. Jaroszynski et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 266802 (2002)] for the dependence with magnetic eld, temperature, development of anomalous resistivities spikes and hysteretic behaviors in many physical properties.

This work outlines the numerical strategies for two sets of problems of great importance in correlated materials research. First, we analyze the electronic structure and magnetic properties of 3d transition metals with linear coordination. Second, we study the mutiplet structure of 4f ions arranged on the 2D triangular-lattice.

Abstract In this thesis, the classic Kurland-McGarvey theory for the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift is presented in a modern framework for paramagnetic systems containing one or more unpaired electrons. First-principles computations are carried out for the NMR shielding tensors in paramagnetic transition-metal complexes. A combined ab initio/density-functional theory (DFT) approach is applied to obtain the necessary electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) property tensors, i.e., the g-tensor, zero-field splitting tensor (D) and hyperfine coupling tensors (A). In DFT, both the generalised-gradient approximation and hybrid DFT are applied to calculate A. The complete active space self-consistent field theory (CASSCF) and N-electron valence-state perturbation theory (NEVPT2) are applied to calculate the g- and D-tensors. Scalar relativistic effects are included at the second-order Douglas-Kroll-Hess level for the g- and D-tensors and, for A, at the fully relativistic four-component matrix-Dirac-Kohn-Sham level. This methodology is applied to study ¹³C and ¹H chemical shifts and shielding anisotropies in a series of Co(II) pyrazolylborate complexes, a Cr(III) quinolyl-functionalised cyclopentadienyl complex, Ni(II) acetylacetonate complexes and various metallocenes. The results obtained from these calculations are generally in a good agreement with the experimental data, in some cases, for Ni(II) complexes, allowing to correct the experimental spectral signal assignment. CASSCF/NEVPT2 computations (especially for the D-tensor) are more accurate than DFT, which is useful for the purpose of obtaining the NMR chemical shifts. The computational results obtained are dependent on the choice of molecular geometry (experimental X-ray or computationally optimised), wavefunction used for g and D (CASSCF or NEVPT2), DFT functional for A, and the quality of the basis sets. The locally dense basis method used for the CASSCF/NEVPT2 computations is less expensive and gives equally good results for g and D as fully balanced basis sets. The scalar relativistic influences are usually small for g and D, but are large for A. Due to that, scalar relativistic effects are important for the chemical shift and shielding anisotropy, especially for carbon nuclei. These first-principles computations based on combined ab initio/DFT methodology are promising for the treatment of important electron correlation and scalar relativistic effects in the calculation of pNMR chemical shifts and shielding anisotropies. This work provides a straightforward platform for further development of pNMR shielding theory in terms of first-principles wavefunctions, as well as for applications in current problems in bio- and materials sciences, including low-temperature experiments. / Original papers The original papers are not included in the electronic version of the dissertation. Vaara, J., Rouf, S. A., & Mareš, J. (2015). Magnetic Couplings in the Chemical Shift of Paramagnetic NMR. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, 11(10), 4840–4849. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jctc.5b00656 Rouf, S. A., Mareš, J., & Vaara, J. (2015). ¹H Chemical Shifts in Paramagnetic Co(II) Pyrazolylborate Complexes: A First-Principles Study. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, 11(4), 1683–1691. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jctc.5b00193 Rouf, S. A., Jakobsen, V. B., Mareš, J., Jensen, N. D., McKenzie, C. J., Vaara, J., & Nielsen, U. G. (2017). Assignment of solid-state ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra of paramagnetic Ni(II) acetylacetonate complexes aided by first-principles computations. Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, 87, 29–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssnmr.2017.07.003 Rouf, S. A., Mareš, J., & Vaara, J. (2017). Relativistic Approximations to Paramagnetic NMR Chemical Shift and Shielding Anisotropy in Transition Metal Systems. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, 13(8), 3731–3745. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jctc.7b00168 http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfi-fe201801031039

L'isolement du graphène, une monocouche de graphite composée d'un plan d’atomes de carbone, a démontré qu'il est possible de séparer un seul plan d'épaisseur atomique, que l'on appelle matériau bidimensionnel (2D), à partir des solides de Van de Waals (vdW). Grâce à leur stabilité, différents matériaux 2D peuvent être empilés pour former les hétérostructures de vdW. L'interaction vdW à l'interface étant suffisamment faible, les propriétés spécifiques de chaque matériau demeurent globalement inchangées dans l’empilement. En utilisant une démarche théorique et computationnelle basée sur la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT) et le formalisme de Keldysh-Green, nous avons étudié l'hétérostructure graphène/MoS₂ . Le principal intérêt des propriétés spécifiques du graphène et du MoS₂ pour la conception d'un transistor à effet de champ réside dans la mobilité du graphène, à la base d'un transistor haute performance et dans le gap électronique du MoS₂, à la base de la commutation du dispositif. Tout d'abord, nous avons étudié les effets de la rotation entre les deux couches sur les propriétés électroniques à l'interface, en démontrant que les propriétés électroniques globales ne sont pas affectées par l'orientation. En revanche, les images STM (microscope à effet tunnel) sont différentes pour chaque orientation, en raison d'un changement de densité de charge locale. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons utilisé l’interface graphène/MoS₂ en tant que modèle très simple de Transistor à Effet de Champ. Nous avons analysé le rôle des hétérostructures de vdW sur la performance du transistor, en ajoutant des couches alternées de graphène et MoS₂ sur l'interface graphène/MoS₂. Il a ainsi été démontré que la forme de la DOS au bord du gap est le paramètre le plus important pour la vitesse de commutation du transistor, alors que si l’on ajoute des couches, il n’y aura pas d’amélioration du comportement du transistor, en raison de l'indépendance des interfaces dans les hétérostructures de vdW. Cependant, cela démontre que, dans le cadre de la DFT, on peut étudier les propriétés de transport des hétérostructures de vdW plus complexes en séparant chaque interface et en réduisant le temps de calcul. Les matériaux 2D sont également étudiés ici en tant que pointe pour STM et AFM (microscope à force atomique) : une pointe de graphène testée sur MoS₂ avec défauts a été comparée aux résultats correspondants pour une pointe en cuivre. La résolution atomique a été obtenue et grâce à l'interaction de vdW entre la pointe et l’échantillon, il est possible d’éviter les effets de contact responsables du transfert d'atomes entre la pointe et l'échantillon. En outre, l'analyse des défauts est très utile du fait de la présence de nouveaux pics dans le gap du MoS₂ : ils peuvent ainsi être utilisés pour récupérer un pic de courant et donner des perspectives pour améliorer la performance des transistors. / The isolation of graphene, a single stable layer of graphite, composed by a plane of carbon atoms, demonstrated the possibility to separate a single layer of atomic thickness, called bidimensional (2D) material, from the van der Waals (vdW) solids. Thanks to their stability, 2D materials can be used to form vdW heterostructures, a vertical stack of different 2D crystals maintained together by the vdW forces. In principle, due to the weakness of the vdW interaction, each layer keeps its own global electronic properties. Using a theoretical and computational approach based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Keldish-Green formalism, we have studied graphene/MoS₂ heterostructure. In this work, we are interested in the specific electronic properties of graphene and MoS₂ for the conception of field effect transistor: the high mobility of graphene as a basis for high performance transistor and the gap of MoS₂ able to switch the device. First, the graphene/MoS₂ interface is electronically characterized by analyzing the effects of different orientations between the layers on the electronic properties. We demonstrated that the global electronic properties as bandstructure and Density of State (DOS) are not affected by the orientation, whereas, by mean of Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) images, we found that different orientations leads to different local DOS. In the second part, graphene/MoS₂ is used as a very simple and efficient model for Field Effect Transistor. The role of the vdW heterostructure in the transistor operation is analyzed by stacking additional and alternate graphene and MoS₂ layers on the simple graphene/MoS₂ interface. We demonstrated that the shape of the DOS at the gap band edge is the fundamental parameter in the switch velocity of the transistor, whereas the additional layers do not improve the transistor behavior, because of the independence of the interfaces in the vdW heterostructures. However, this demonstrates the possibility to study, in the framework of DFT, the transport properties of more complex vdW heterostructures, separating the single interfaces and reducing drastically the calculation time. The 2D materials are also studied in the role of a tip for STM and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). A graphene-like tip, tested on defected MoS₂, is compared with a standard copper tip, and it is found to provide atomic resolution in STM images. In addition, due to vdW interaction with the sample, this tip avoids the contact effect responsible for the transfer of atoms between the tip and the sample. Furthermore, the analysis of defects can be very useful since they induce new peaks in the gap of MoS₂: hence, they can be used to get a peak of current representing an interesting perspective to improve the transistor operation.

Materialien formen die moderne Welt: Sie umgeben uns in unserem alltäglichen Leben. Unser Ziel ist die Materialeigenschaften nach unseren Bedürfnissen maßzuschneidern. Viele Materialeigenschaften wie Bandücken und Elektronendichteverteilung werden durch elektronische Zustände bestimmt. Die meisten Vorhersagen in Bezug auf Materialien entstammen der Dichtefunktionaltheorie (DFT). Diese Theorie ermittelt Grundzustandseigenschaften und kann jedoch keine Energien von angeregten Zuständen liefern. Um angeregte Zusände zu beschreiben, bedarf es daher einer höherstufigen Theorie: die Vielteilchen-Störungstheorie (MBPT) . Im Rahmen von MBPT ist das üblichste Verfahren die GW-Näherung (GWA), worin Elektronen als Quasiteilchen (QP) beschrieben werden. Der Energieunterschied zwischen einem nicht-wechselwirkenden Teilchen und einem QP ist die Selbstenergie. In GWA ergibt sich die Selbsenergie als Produkt aus die Einteilchen-Greenfunktion, G, und die abgeschirmte Coulomb-Wechselwirkung, W, und führt zu der wahren Anregungsenergie von QP. Diese Doktorarbeit beinhaltet die Implementierung von selbstkonsistentem Quasiteilchen-GW (QSGW) im exciting Code. Dieses Software-Paket benutzt die Linearized-Augmented-Plane-Wave-Methode (LAPW), welche alle Elektronen gleichberechtigt behandelt. Beginnend mit DFT optimiert die QSGW-Methode den Einteilchen-Hamiltonoperator durch eine selbstkonsistente Suche eines optimierten Austausch-Korrelationspotentials. Am Ende des iterativen Prozesses liefert die QSGW-Methode Eigenfunktionen und Eigenwerte der QP. Wir präsentieren mit QSGW ermittelte elektronische Strukturen von neun kristallinen Festkörpern. Wir präsentieren die zugehörigen Bandstrukturen und Zustandsdichtediagramme und vergleichen anhand dieser die QSGW-Ergebnisse mit Ergebnissen von DFT und G0W0. Zusätzlich untersuchen wir die elektronische Ladungsdichte und Wellenfunktion in ausgewählten Materialien. / Materials shape the modern world: they appear everywhere in our daily life. We investigate what governs the material's properties, in order to tailor them to meet our needs. Properties, e.g., bandgaps, and electronic density distribution are determined by the electronic structure. Most predictions on materials follow from computational physics, in particular density-functional theory (DFT). This scheme returns ground-state properties, but it fails to provide excited-state energies. To find the latter, we have to recourse to a higher degree of theory, namely many-body perturbation theory (MBPT). Within MBPT, the most popular framework is the GW approximation (GWA) which describes electrons as quasiparticles (QP). The difference in energy between a non-interacting particle and a QP is called the self-energy. In GWA, the product of the Green function G and W, the screened Coulomb interaction, returns the self-energy. GWA is in principle self-consistent, but is mostly implemented as a perturbative correction to DFT results, known as G0W0. Unfortunately, the electronic structure given by G0W0 depends on the initial DFT results. This PhD project consists in the implementation of the self-consistent quasiparticle GW (QSGW) in the exciting code. This software package uses the all-electron linearized augmented planewave (LAPW) method, treating every electron on equal footing. Starting from DFT, the QSGW method (based in the GWA) optimizes the one-particle Hamiltonian through a self-consistent search for an optimized exchange-correlation potential. At the end of the iterative process, the QSGW method provides eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the QPs. Considering nine crystalline solids, we present their electronic structure by means of QSGW. We present the bandstructures and density of state diagrams, comparing QSGW results to DFT and G0W0 results. In addition, we study the electronic charge density and wavefunction in selected materials.

Nous étudions la dynamique d’anions hydroxyde et fluorure micro-solvatés dans un agrégat d’eau après photo-excitation. Du fait du coût numérique important des calculs ab-initio et de la faible transférabilité des potentiels modèles de la littérature, nous avons développé un nouveau modèle transférable permettant de décrire l’interaction d’un soluté quelconque avec une molécule d’eau. Nous avons également effectué une étude des propriétés statiques de F^-(H2O)n=1−7 et OH−(H2O)n=1−7 qui sert de référence pour la paramétrisation du modèle et fournit une base à l’interprétation des calculs de dynamique. De cette étude, nous avons déduit le nombre de molécules d’eau nécessaires pour stabiliser le premier état excité de F− et OH−. Nous avons aussi déterminé l’impact de la base sur la description des états excités. Enfin, nous avons mis en évidence un motif géométrique favorable à la recombinaison géminée. L’étude de trajectoires sur le premier état singulet excité pour F^-(H2O)3,5 et OH^-(H2O)3,5 montre des différences de comportement entre le fluorure et l’hydroxyde. Pour F^−, l’électron est très diffus et se transfère en une centaine de femtosecondes à l’eau. Dans le cas de OH^−, à cause du dipôle du radical OH qui maintient l’électron, le transfert de charge ne s’effectue que lorsque le radical OH tourne vers l’agrégat d’eau. Cette différence de comportement entre OH^−et F^−offre une piste pour la compréhension du phénomène de recombinaison géminée rapide observé pour OH^−. Nous avons également étudié le spectre d’énergie de détachement vertical de l’électron pour des agrégats d’eau négativement chargés qui constituent l’un des produits finaux de la dynamique des anions photo-excités. Ces résultats ont été discutés et comparés à l’expérience. Nous avons ainsi pu faire correspondre des structures géométriques aux pics des spectres mesurés expérimentalement. Nous discutons aussi du rôle de l’énergie interne des agrégats sur l’allure des spectres via son impact sur l’évaporation de molécules d’eau. / We study the dynamics of micro-solvated hydroxide and fluoride anions in water clusters after photoexcitation. Because ab-initio calculations are numerically expensive and model potentials from literature lack of transferability, we developed a transferable model, which allows us to describe the interaction between any solute and a water molecule. We have studied the statics properties of F^−(H2O)n=1−7 and OH^−(H2O)n=1−7. The results from this study serve as a basis for the parametrization of the model and for the interpretation of dynamics simulation. From this study, we deduced the number of water molecules needed to stabilize an excited state for F^−and OH^−. We investogated the impact of the basis on the description of the excited states At last, we highlight a favorable motif for geminate recombination. Study of trajectories on the first excited singlet states of F^−(H2O)3,5 and OH^−(H2O)3,5 shows differences in the dynamics between OH^−and F^− For F^−, the excess electron is very diffuse and transferred quickly to the water For OH−, because of the OH dipole, the excess electron remains bound to the neutral . OH, until charge transfer takes place when OH rotate to the water cluster. This difference provides a way to understand the fast geminate recombination process observed for OH^−. We also studied vertical detachment spectra of the electron for negatively charged water clusters which are the final products of the anions dynamics on the first excited state. These results are compared to experience from literature. We associate isomers to the experimentally observed peaks. We discuss the effect of internal energy on the shape of the spectra through water molecules evaporation

Dans cette thèse, nous construisons un modèle de liaisons fortes tridimensionnel minimal pour les cuprates supraconducteurs monocouches à base de lanthane. Celui-ci prend en compte huit orbitales, dont deux d'entre elles impliquent les ions oxygène apicaux. L'optimisation des paramètres microscopiques permet de reproduire presque parfaitement la bande de conduction tridimensionnelle telle qu'elle a été obtenue à partir des calculs DFT. Nous discutons la façon dont chacun des paramètres entrant en jeu dans ce modèle multi-bandes influence la bande de conduction, et nous montrons que la forme particulière de sa dispersion contraint les valeurs des paramètres. Nous mettons alors en évidence que la détermination standard d'un modèle effectif à une bande au travers d'un traitement perturbatif converge lentement en raison de la valeur relativement faible du gap de transfert de charges. A ce stade, cela nous permet, en revanche, de lever le voile sur l'origine microscopique des amplitudes de saut des électrons au sein des plans et en-dehors des plans. Une approche alternative au calcul des paramètres microscopiques de saut du modèle effectif de liaisons fortes est présentée et mise à contribution. Il en résulte que l'accord avec la DFT est préservé à condition que les amplitudes de saut de plus longue portée soient conservées. Une comparaison avec les modèles existants est également effectuée. La surface de Fermi, mettant en exergue des domaines décalés qui alternent en taille et en forme, est comparée à l'expérience. De plus, la densité d'états du modèle est aussi calculée. Une analyse plus approfondie du modèle est réalisée au travers d'une étude en couplage faible des instabilités magnétiques. Les calculs sont effectués sur de grandes cellules et nous avons trouvé une compétition parmi plusieurs instabilités magnétiques tridimensionnelles dans la région d’intérêt du dopage en trous accessible expérimentalement. Bien qu'à notre connaissance cela ne semble pas avoir été évoqué expérimentalement, nous montrons à l'issue de notre étude, que la tendance du modèle à former des ondes de densité de spin incommensurables tridimensionnelles est la plus forte à proximité du dopage 1/8. / In this thesis, we construct a minimal three-dimensional tight-binding model for single-layer La-based cuprate superconductors. It entails eight orbitals, two of them involving apical oxygen ions. Parameter optimization allows to almost perfectly reproduce the three-dimensional conduction band as obtained from DFT. We discuss how each parameter entering this multiband model influences it, and show that the peculiar form of its dispersion severely constraints the parameter values. We then evidence that standard perturbative derivation of an effective one-band model is poorly converging because of the comparatively small value of the charge transfer gap. Yet, this allows us to unravel the microscopical origin of the in-plane and out-of-plane hopping amplitudes. An alternative approach to the computation of the tight-binding parameters of the effective model is presented and worked out. It results that the agreement with DFT is preserved provided longer-ranged hopping amplitudes are retained. A comparison with existing models is performed, too. The Fermi surface, showing staggered pieces alternating in size and shape, is compared to experiment. The density of states is calculated as well. The model is further analyzed through a weak coupling study of magnetic instabilities. It is performed on large clusters and competition between several three-dimensional magnetic instabilities in the hole-doping region of experimental interest is found. We show that the tendency to form a three-dimensional incommensurate spin density wave is strongest in the vicinity of 1/8 doping.

The effect of inclusion of explicit polarization is investigated through several theoret- ical studies of crystalline porous materials herein. In addition to the use of Monte Carlo simulation for such studies, a robust molecular dynamics software is presented which is suitable for analyzing time dependent properties of gases or other molecules in porous materials and other condensed phase systems. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are the main focus of the work included here, a relatively young class of materials originally in- troduced in the early 1990s. These are usually three dimensional crystalline nanoporous materials that exhibit unique properties such as gas separation, storage and catalysis. They are synthesized by the combination of a metal ion e.g. Cu2+ with an organic linker e.g. benzene dicarboxylate. They are a very popular topic of scientific research due to the diversity in possible structures and manifold utility – finding applications in electron transfer, sensing, drug release etc. Industrially, MOFs like HKUST-1 and others are on the global market for use in gas storage and separation in fuel cell and raw materials processing. These materials are often ideal candidates for computer simulation owing to their crystalline nature – a very large atomic system (that is, moles of particles) can be under- stood by only evaluating one or a few unit cells of the MOF, usually less than 5,000 atoms, and macroscopic properties such as gas sorption capacity and diffusion coefficients can be calculated through extrapolation of atomistic interactions in a mathematically infinite lattice. The software developed by the space group as of 2005, Massively Parallel Monte Carlo (MPMC), allows for sophisticated calculation of repulsion dispersion, electrostatic and polarization energies. In this work, Monte Carlo Molecular Dynamics (MCMD) is in- troduced, which can hybridize both methods to explore the phase space of a system with ease and better efficiency, as well as explore the effects of MOF flexibility and dynamic properties which to-date are rarely studied. Studies involving primarily CO2, H2 and CH4 will be presented, but other gases investigated include C2 H2 , C2 H4 , C2 H6 , N2 , H2 O and others. Metal-organic materials with a wide variety of composition and structure will also be presented. Finally, features of the software MCMD will be presented for use by future studies.

Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit werden ab initio Berechnungen des Restwiderstandes von metallischen Nanostrukturen vorgestellt. Die elektronische Struktur der idealen Systeme wird mit Hilfe einer Screened KKR Greenschen Funktionsmethode im Rahmen der Vielfachstreutheorie auf der Grundlage der Dichtefunktionaltheorie berechnet. Die Potentiale von Punktdefekten werden selbstkonsistent mit Hilfe einer Dyson-Gleichung für die Greensche Funktion des gestörten Systems berechnet. Unter Nutzung der ab initio Ubergangswahrscheinlichkeiten wird der Restwiderstand durch Lösung der quasi-klassischen Boltzmann-Gleichung bestimmt. Ergebnisse für ultradünne Cu-Filme und die Leitfähigkeitsanomalie während des Wachstums von Co/Cu-Vielfachschichten werden vorgestellt. Der Einfluss von Oberflächen, geordneten und ungeordneten Grenzflächenlegierungen und von Defekten an verschiedenen Positionen in der Vielfachschicht auf den Effekt des Giant Magnetoresistance wird untersucht. Die selbstkonsistente Berechnung der Streueigenschaften und die verbesserte Lösung der Boltzmann-Transportgleichung unter Einbeziehung der Vertex-Korrekturen stellen ein leistungsfähiges Werkzeug zur umfassenden theoretischen Beschreibung dar. Sie verhelfen zu nützlichen Einsichten in die mikroskopischen Prozesse, die die Transporteigenschaften von nanostrukturierten Materialen bestimmen. / A powerful formalism for the calculation of the residual resistivity of metallic nanostructured materials without adjustable parameters is presented. The electronic structure of the unperturbed system is calculated using a screended KKR multiple scattering Green's function formalism in the framework of density functional theory. The scattering potential of point defects is calculated self-consistently by solving a Dyson equation for the Green's function of the perturbed system. Using the ab initio scattering probabilities the residual resistivity was calculated solving the quasiclassical Boltzmann equation. Examples are given for the resistivity of ultrathin Cu films and the conductance anomaly during the growth of a Co/Cu multilayer. Furthermore, the influence of surfaces, ordered and disordered interface alloys and defects at different positions in the multilayer on the effect of Giant Magnetoresistance is investigated. The self-consistent calculation of the scattering properties and the improved treatment of the Boltzmann transport equation including vertex corrections provide a powerful tool for a comprehensive theoretical description and a helpful insight into the microscopic processes determining the transport properties of magnetic nanostructured materials.