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In recent years, advances in computer technology combined with new ab initio computational methods have allowed for dramatic improvement in the prediction of energetic properties. Unfortunately, even with these advances, the extensive computational cost, in terms of computer time, memory, and disk space of the sophisticated methods required to achieve chemical accuracy - defined as 1 kcal/mol from reliable experimental data effectively - limits the size of molecules [i.e. less than 10-15 non-hydrogen atoms] that can be studied. Several schemes were explored to help reduce the computational cost while still maintaining chemical accuracy. Specifically, a study was performed to assess the accuracy of ccCA to compute atomization energies, ionization potentials, electron affinities, proton affinities, and enthalpies of formation for third-row (Ga-Kr) containing molecules. Next, truncation of the correlation consistent basis sets for the hydrogen atom was examined as a possible means to reduce the computational cost of ab initio methods. It was determined that energetic properties could be extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit utilizing a series of truncated hydrogen basis sets that was within 1 kcal/mol of the extrapolation of the full correlation consistent basis sets. Basis set truncation for the hydrogen atom was then applied to ccCA in the development of two reduced basis set composite methods, ccCA(aug) and ccCA(TB). The effects that the ccCA(aug) and ccCA(TB) methods had upon enthalpies of formation and the overall percent disk space saved as compared to ccCA was examined for the hydrogen containing molecules of the G2/97 test suite. Additionally, the Weizmann-n (Wn) methods were utilized to compute the several properties for the alkali metal hydroxides as well as the ground and excited states of the alkali monoxides anion and radicals. Finally, a multi-reference variation to the correlation consistent Composite Approach [MR-ccCA] was presented and utilized in the computation of the potential energy surfaces for the N2 and C2 molecules.

Os compostos N-metil-1,8-naftalimida (NI), 4-fenóxi-N-metil-1,8-naftalimida (PNI) e 4-naftóxi-N-metil-1,8-naftalimida (NNI) foram sintetizados e caracterizados por técnicas usuais de caracterização de compostos orgânicos. As propriedades fotofísicas desses compostos foram estudadas tanto no estado estacionário quanto resolvidas no tempo. Com base nessas medidas, verificamos que os espectros de absorção e de emissão apresentam deslocamento batocrômico quando os grupos fenóxi e naftóxi são introduzidos na posição C-4. Quando estes compostos são comparados com NI, os espectros de absorção apresentam deslocamentos de 27 e 28 nm e os de emissão de 50,2 e 65,4 nm para o PNI e NNI, respectivamente. Os compostos possuem altos rendimentos quânticos (= 0,50-0,92) em solventes apolares e baixos em solventes polares apróticos e próticos (= 0,12-0,014), que pode ser uma conseqüência da estabilização do estado singlete (S1). A intensidade de emissão dos compostos em dioxano decresce com adição de água, e a supressão ocorre pela combinação estática e dinâmica em conseqüência de uma interação específica soluto-solvente. O caráter doador-retirador dos substituintes foi avaliado por voltametria cíclica, onde os substituintes fenóxi e naftóxi garantem um caráter eletrodoador aos compostos correspondentes (PNI e NNI), uma vez que apresentam, respectivamente, seus potenciais de redução mais negativos - 1,187 e -0,985 V em relação a -0,829 V do NI. Numa tentativa de compreender melhor o comportamento desses substituintes, implementamos cálculos de DFT (Teoria do Funcional de Densidade). Estes sugerem que as propriedades fotofísicas dos compostos podem estar intrinsecamente relacionadas com as suas geometrias podendo assim explicar o deslocamento mais pronunciado na emissão em virtude de um maior grau de conjugação entre o grupo aromático substituinte e a naftalimida. / The compounds N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide (NI), 4-phenoxy-N-methyl-1,8- naphthalimide (PNI) and 4-naphthoxy-N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide (NNI) were synthesized and characterized by usually technique for organics compounds. The steady state and time-resolved photophysical properties of the compounds were studied. Both absorption and fluorescence spectra are red-shifted when the electron donor phenoxy and naphthoxy group is introduced at C-4 position. When compared to NI, the spectral shift in acetonitrile for PNI and NNI is 27 and 28 nm for the absorption, and the fluorescence emission is 50,2 and 65,4 nm, respectively. The compounds PNI and NNI show high quantum yields in non-polar aprotic solvents (f = 0,50- 0,92), and low ones in polar non-protic and protic solvents (f = 0,12-0,014), which can be assigned to stabilization of the singlet state (S1). The emission intensity of the PNI and NNI decrease by addition of water to dioxane solution, and the fluorescence quenching occurs by combination of dynamic and static contribution ascribed to specific solute?solvent interaction. The substituent donor-acceptor character has been evaluated by means of cyclical voltammetry showing that PNI in the ground state has a the higher donor character than NNI, since the reduction potentials are -1,187 and - 0,985 V, respectively. As an attempt to comprehend the behavior of these substituents, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed. These calculations suggest that the photophysical properties oh the compounds may be intrinsically related to their geometries, thus explaining the more pronounced shift on the emission spectra, as a consequence of a higher degree of conjugation between the substituent aromatic-group and naphthalimide moiety.

Os compostos N-metil-1,8-naftalimida (NI), 4-fenóxi-N-metil-1,8-naftalimida (PNI) e 4-naftóxi-N-metil-1,8-naftalimida (NNI) foram sintetizados e caracterizados por técnicas usuais de caracterização de compostos orgânicos. As propriedades fotofísicas desses compostos foram estudadas tanto no estado estacionário quanto resolvidas no tempo. Com base nessas medidas, verificamos que os espectros de absorção e de emissão apresentam deslocamento batocrômico quando os grupos fenóxi e naftóxi são introduzidos na posição C-4. Quando estes compostos são comparados com NI, os espectros de absorção apresentam deslocamentos de 27 e 28 nm e os de emissão de 50,2 e 65,4 nm para o PNI e NNI, respectivamente. Os compostos possuem altos rendimentos quânticos (= 0,50-0,92) em solventes apolares e baixos em solventes polares apróticos e próticos (= 0,12-0,014), que pode ser uma conseqüência da estabilização do estado singlete (S1). A intensidade de emissão dos compostos em dioxano decresce com adição de água, e a supressão ocorre pela combinação estática e dinâmica em conseqüência de uma interação específica soluto-solvente. O caráter doador-retirador dos substituintes foi avaliado por voltametria cíclica, onde os substituintes fenóxi e naftóxi garantem um caráter eletrodoador aos compostos correspondentes (PNI e NNI), uma vez que apresentam, respectivamente, seus potenciais de redução mais negativos - 1,187 e -0,985 V em relação a -0,829 V do NI. Numa tentativa de compreender melhor o comportamento desses substituintes, implementamos cálculos de DFT (Teoria do Funcional de Densidade). Estes sugerem que as propriedades fotofísicas dos compostos podem estar intrinsecamente relacionadas com as suas geometrias podendo assim explicar o deslocamento mais pronunciado na emissão em virtude de um maior grau de conjugação entre o grupo aromático substituinte e a naftalimida. / The compounds N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide (NI), 4-phenoxy-N-methyl-1,8- naphthalimide (PNI) and 4-naphthoxy-N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide (NNI) were synthesized and characterized by usually technique for organics compounds. The steady state and time-resolved photophysical properties of the compounds were studied. Both absorption and fluorescence spectra are red-shifted when the electron donor phenoxy and naphthoxy group is introduced at C-4 position. When compared to NI, the spectral shift in acetonitrile for PNI and NNI is 27 and 28 nm for the absorption, and the fluorescence emission is 50,2 and 65,4 nm, respectively. The compounds PNI and NNI show high quantum yields in non-polar aprotic solvents (f = 0,50- 0,92), and low ones in polar non-protic and protic solvents (f = 0,12-0,014), which can be assigned to stabilization of the singlet state (S1). The emission intensity of the PNI and NNI decrease by addition of water to dioxane solution, and the fluorescence quenching occurs by combination of dynamic and static contribution ascribed to specific solute?solvent interaction. The substituent donor-acceptor character has been evaluated by means of cyclical voltammetry showing that PNI in the ground state has a the higher donor character than NNI, since the reduction potentials are -1,187 and - 0,985 V, respectively. As an attempt to comprehend the behavior of these substituents, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed. These calculations suggest that the photophysical properties oh the compounds may be intrinsically related to their geometries, thus explaining the more pronounced shift on the emission spectra, as a consequence of a higher degree of conjugation between the substituent aromatic-group and naphthalimide moiety.

Despite numerous advances in experimental methodologies capable of addressing the various phenomenon occurring on metal surfaces, atomic scale resolution of the microscopic dynamics remains elusive for most systems. Computational models of the processes may serve as an alternative tool to fill this void. To this end, parallel molecular dynamics simulations of self-diffusion on metal surfaces have been developed and employed to address microscopic details of the system. However these simulations are not without their limitations and prove to be computationally impractical for a variety of chemically relevant systems, particularly for diffusive events occurring in the low temperature regime. To circumvent this difficulty, a corresponding coarse-grained representation of the surface is also developed resulting in a reduction of the required computational effort by several orders of magnitude, and this description becomes all the more advantageous with increasing system size and complexity. This representation provides a convenient framework to address fundamental aspects of diffusion in nonequilibrium environments and an interesting mechanism for directing diffusive motion along the surface is explored. In the ensuing discussion, additional topics including transition state theory in noisy systems and the construction of a checking function for protein structure validation are outlined. For decades the former has served as a cornerstone for estimates of chemical reaction rates. However, in complex environments transition state theory most always provides only an upper bound for the true rate. An alternative approach is described that may alleviate some of the difficulties associated with this problem. Finally, one of the grand challenges facing the computational sciences is to develop methods capable of reconstructing protein structure based solely on readily-available sequence information. Herein a checking function is developed that may prove useful for addressing whether a particular proposed structure is a viable possibility.

The accuracy of a quantum chemical calculation inherently depends on the ability to account for the completeness of the one- and n-particle spaces. The size of the basis set used can be systematically increased until it reaches the complete one-particle basis set limit (CBS) while the n-particle space approaches its exact full configuration interaction (FCI) limit by following a hierarchy of electron correlation methods developed over the last seventy years. If extremely high accuracy is desired, properly correcting for very small effects such as those resulting the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and the neglect of relativistic effects becomes indispensable. For a series of chemically interesting and challenging systems, we identify the limits of conventional approaches and use state-of-the-art quantum chemical methods along with large basis sets to get the “right answer for the right reasons.” First, we quantify the importance of small effects that are ignored in conventional quantum chemical calculations and manage to achieve spectroscopic accuracy (agreement of 1 cm−1 or less with experimental harmonic vibrational frequencies) for BH, CH+ and NH. We then definitively resolve the global minimum structure for Li₆ , Li₆⁺ , and Li₆- using high accuracy calculations of the binding energies, ionization potentials, electron affinities and vertical excitation spectra for the competing isomers. The same rigorous approach is used to study a series of hydrogen transfer reactions and validate the necessary parameters for the hydrogen abstraction and donation steps in the mechanosynthesis of diamondoids. Finally, in an effort to overcome the steep computational scaling of most high-level methods, a new hybrid methodology which scales as O(N⁵) but performs comparably to O(N⁶) methods is benchmarked for its performance in the equilibrium and dissociation regimes.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:28:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:57:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:28:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:57:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Este trabalho apresenta as medidas das taxas de reação nuclear ao longo da direção radial da pastilha combustível por irradiação e posterior espectrometria gama de um fino disco de UO2 com enriquecimento de 4,3% no reator IPEN/MB- 01. A partir de sua irradiação, a taxa de captura radioativa e de fissão foram medidas em função do raio do disco utilizando um detector HPGe. Colimadores de chumbo foram utilizados para esse fim. O disco de UO2 é inserido no interior de uma vareta combustível desmontável e esta é então colocada na posição central do núcleo do reator IPEN/MB-01 e irradiada durante uma hora sob um fluxo de nêutrons de aproximadamente 9 x 108 n/cm2s. Na espectrometria gama, 10 colimadores com diâmetros diferentes foram utilizados, consequentemente, as reações nucleares de captura radioativa que ocorrem nos átomos de 238U e as fissões que ocorrem em ambos 235U e 238U são mensuradas em função de 10 regiões distintas do disco combustível. Correções de eficiência geométrica devido à introdução dos colimadores no sistema de detecção HPGe foram estimados usando o código MCNP-4C. Alguns valores calculados da taxa de reação nuclear de captura radioativa e fissão obtidos pela metodologia de Monte Carlo, utilizando o código MCNP-4C, são apresentados e comparados aos dados experimentais apresentando boa concordância. Além de taxas de reação nuclear, os índices espectrais 28ρ e 25δ foram obtidos para cada raio do disco combustível. / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP