Nitrides of late transition metals possess interesting properties leading to different technological applications, yet, due to many factors, synthesis and reliable characterization of the physical properties of these materials constitute a big challenge. In this work, we present a detailed firstprinciples investigation of the structural, the electronic and the optical properties of the bulk crystalline MNx (where M = Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag or Au; and x = 1/3, 1 or 2) and ZnN. The studied structural properties include energy-volume equation of state (EOS), equilibrium lattice structural parameters, cohesive and formation energies, relative phase stabilities, bulk modulus and its pressure derivative. By means of the enthalpy-pressure EOS, some possiblepressure-induced structural phase transitions are carefully examined. Electronic properties of the energetically most stable phases are investigated via the analysis of their band structure and their total and partial densities of states (DOSs). The frequency-dependent optical constants (absorption coefficient, reflectivity, refractive index, and energy-loss spectrum) of some phases are derived from the calculated frequency-dependent microscopic dielectric tensor. Our calculations of the structural and the electronic properties are based on density functional theory (DFT) within the projector-augmented wave (PAW) formulation and the generalised-gradient approximation (GGA) to the exchange-correlation functional. In order to improve the calculated electronic structure, and to investigate the optical spectra, we carry out expensive GW0 calculations within the the random-phase approximation (RPA) to the dielectric tensor. Obtained results are discussed within the employed theoretical methods of calculations. Whenever possible, our obtained results are compared with experiment and with previous theoretical studies. We report the discovery of some possible low-energy competitive phases which are more stable at zero pressure than the synthesized and other hypothetical structural phases. To the best of our knowledge, our calculated optical spectra may be considered as the first, and thus, the most accurate, calculations within the many-body perturbation GWA calculations, so far.

Presented herein is the development, optimization and mechanistic investigation of an Cu catalytic system for the oxidation of sp 3 C-H bond of simple arenes to form C-N bond in a direct manner. Due to the prevalence of nitrogen containing molecules among biologically active synthetic and natural compounds, synthetic chemists have always been motivated to develop new efficient ways to directly transform ubiquitous carbonhydrogen (C-H) bonds into carbon- nitrogen (C-N) bonds. Recent advances in transition metal catalyzed C-H amination has demonstrated that it is not only possible but also practical to functionalize C-H bonds that are often considered inert in one step, circumventing more classical, sequential functional group interconversion approaches. Existing catalytic systems that promote the transition metal-catalyzed, amination of sp 3 C-H bonds displayed certain limitations, especially the lack of built-in versatility and stability in their amination reagents. To overcome these drawbacks of these existing catalytic system, our group developed a new Cu amination protocol that deployed versatile hydroxylamine-based with general structure RSO 2 NH-OAc as amination reagents. Although the reactivity of the catalytic system ranges from moderate to good, the catalytic system provided promising results using simple arene substrates. Further detailed mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction undergoes an unprecedented two subsequent cycles divided by a major intermediate PhCH 2 (NTsOAc). The proposed mechanism is consistent with radical clock experiments, observed reaction profiles, the need for excess of substrate, and the documented role of the ligand in the catalytic system. The exciting proposed mechanism led to a new type of copper catalyzed amination reaction using N- fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) as oxidant, which overcomes the need to use an excess of substrate. A wide range of unactivated amines HNR 1 R 2 , including sulfonamide and benzamide, can be used as amine sources, which enables the installation of different nitrogen groups on benzylic sp 3 C-H bond of a variety of substrates in moderate to excellent yield. Moreover, mechanistic experiments and critical analysis of related reactivity in the literature provide insight into the catalytic cycle, resulting in a proposal that details the role of both oxidant and amine source in the new system.

As an additional study, effect of tyrosine nitration on the BCD of protonated and metalated peptides was investigated. Some fragment ions that were inhibited in the ECD of protonated peptides were liberated in the ECD of metalated peptides. By theoretical calculation of the cation-pi and cation-nitro group coordination using the metal ions nitrated phenol complex as a model, it is found that the metal ions might favor coordinating with the nitro group of the nitrated tyrosine residue in the peptides. / In order to improve the performance of the electron capture dissociation (BCD) mass spectrometry for structural analysis of peptides/proteins, BCD of peptides cationized with various transition metal ions was investigated. It was found that peptides adducted with different divalent transition metal ions generated different BCD tandem mass spectra. For Mn2+and Zn2+, the incoming low-energy electron would not favor being trapped by the metal ions and instead trigger the usual BCD dissociation channel(s) via "hot-hydrogen" or "superbase" intermediates to form a series of c-/z·- fragments. For other first row transition metal ions, including Fe2+, Co2+, Ni 2+and Cu2+, reduction of the metal ions occurs preferentially during the electron capture event and lead to the formation of usual "slow-heating" type of fragment ions, i.e. metalated a-/y-fragments & metalated b-/y- fragments. / To further compare the behavior of metal ions with the same electronic configuration, BCD of Group IIB metal ions adducted peptides were investigated. In contrast to the ECD behavior of Zn2+ adducted peptides, peptide radical cations (M+· ) and fragment ions corresponding to losses of neutral side chain from M+· were observed in the ECD spectra of Hg2+ and Cd2+ adducted peptides. The experimental observations appeared to depend on the balance of the ionization energy of peptide and the solvation modulated ionization energies of the metal atom. The reduction of divalent metal ions by the electron capture event could induce spontaneous electron transfer from the peptide moiety to the monovalent metal centre and generate hydrogen-deficient M +· species. / Chen, Xiangfeng. / Adviser: T.-W. Dominic Chan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-06, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-139). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Guo-cong Guo. / "June 1999." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Chapter 1 focuses on the computational study of Zr(CH2Ph)4 and chapter 2 discusses synthesis, characterization and density functional study of 2-imidazolethione. Chapters 3 - 6 describe the synthesis, structural characterization several multidentate tripodal ligands, namely tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)-hydroborato ligand, [TmR], tris(2-pyridylseleno)methyl ligand, [Tpsem], bis(2-pyridonyl)(pyridine-2-yloxy)methyl ligand, [O-poBpom] and allyl-tris(3-t-butylpyrazolyl)borato ligand, [allylTpBut], and their application to main group and transition metals. Chapter 1 describes the analysis of a monoclinic modification of Zr(CH2Ph)4 by single crystal X-ray diffraction, which reveals that the Zr-CH2-Ph bond angles in this compound span a range of 25.1°; that is much larger than previously observed for the orthorhombic form (12.1°;). In accord with this large range, density functional theory calculations demonstrate that little energy is required to perturb the Zr-CH2-Ph bond angles in this compound. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations on Me3ZrCH2Ph indicate that bending of the Zr-CH2-Ph moiety in the monobenzyl compound is also facile, thereby demonstrating that a benzyl ligand attached to zirconium is intrinsically flexible, such that its bending does not require a buffering effect involving another benzyl ligand. Chapter 2 describes the structure of 1-t-butyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-thione which has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The compound exists in the chalcogenone form instead of chalcogenol form, which is similar to its oxo and selone counterparts. Comparison of 2-imidazolone, 2-imidazolethione and 2-imidazoleselone compounds shows that two N-C-E bond angles in the chalcogenone forms are not symmetric. This trend can be reproduced by density functional theory calculations. Additionally, H(mbenzimBut) has intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions, whereas its selenium counterpart does not. The C-E bond lengths of 2-imidazolone, 2-imidazolethione and 2-imidazoleselone compounds are intermediate between those of formal C-E single and double bonds, which is in accord with the notion that zwitterionic structures that feature single C+-E- dative covalent bonds provide an important contribution in such molecules. Furthermore, NBO analysis of the bonding in H(ximBut) derivatives demonstrates that the doubly bonded C=E resonance structure is most significant for the oxygen derivative, whereas singly bonded C+-E- resonance structures dominate for the tellurium derivative. This result appears to be counterintuitive, based on the fact that it opposes the trend that one would expect on the basis of electronegativity difference, however, studies on XC(E)NH2 derivatives provide solid support for it. In this regard, the C~E bonding in these compounds is significantly different to that in chalcogenoformaldehyde derivatives for which the bonding is well represented by a H2C=E double bonded resonance structure. Chapter 3 describes the computational study on [TmMeBenz] anion and the synthesis and characterization of [TmButBenz]Na, [TmButBenz]Tl and [TmButBenz]Tl. It is worth noting that the two thallium compounds are the first structurally characterized monovalent monomeric [TmR]Tl complexes. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis and characterization of a few [TmR]M (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) complexes, including (i) Cp[TmBut]TiCl2 and Cp[TmBut]ZrCl2, which are analogues of Cp2TiCl2 and Cp2ZrCl2; (ii) [TmBut]Zr(CH2Ph)3 and (iii) [TmBut]Hf(CH2Ph)3 and [TmAd]Hf(CH2Ph)3, which are the first structurally characterized [TmR]Hf complexes. Chapter 5 describes two multidentate, L3X type ligands, which feature [CN3] and [CNO2] donors, namely tris(2 pyridylseleno)methane, [Tpsem]H, and bis(2-pyridonyl)(pyridin-2-yloxy)methane, [O-poBpom]H. They have been synthesized, characterized, and employed in the synthesis of zinc and cadmium complexes. Chapter 6 describes the synthesis and structural characterization of a new [Tp] ligand featuring an allyl substituent on the central boron atom, namely [allylTpBut]Li is reported. The compound reacts steadily with CH3CH2SH under 350 nm UV light via a thiol-ene click reaction. The resulting [CH3CH2S(CH2)3TpBut]Li complex can further react with metal halide. For example, the reaction of [CH3CH2S(CH2)3TpBut]Li with ZnI2 produced [CH3CH2S(CH2)3TpBut]ZnI at room temperature. This study provides a simple model on the immobilization of [Tp] metal complexes to the polymer chains with -SH terminals.

New chiral half-sandwich Ru hydride enantiomers with asymmetric disubstitution on the Cp ligand have been successfully synthesized and resolved. An enantiopure thiolate ligand was installed on the Ru center to form a pair of diastereomers, which were separated by crystallization via vapor diffusion of pentane into their saturated Et2O solution. Racemization occurred at elevated temperatures, but a room temperature conversion pathway was developed to remove the chiral thiolate ligand and generate the enantiopure hydride complex. Two new Rh(III) hydride complexes and their Ir analogues have been synthesized and characterized. The hydride complexes readily transfer H– to the N-carbophenoxypyridinium cation at room temperature, giving mixtures of 1,2- and 1,4-dihydropyridine products. In CD3CN, all four hydrides give nearly the same product ratio, demonstrating that the hydride transfer mechanism is outer sphere. In weak or non-coordinating solvents, the resulting 16-electron cations catalyze the isomerization of 1,2- to 1,4-dihydropyridine at rates that depend upon the cation and the solvent. The fastest isomerization was observed with the Rh(III) cation [Cp*Rh(2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl)]+, Acetonitrile can trap the 16-electron cations resulting from hydride transfer, dramatically slowing the isomerization process. The thermodynamics and kinetics of hydride, hydrogen atom and proton transfer reactions of the Rh(III) hydride, Cp*Rh(2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl)H, were studied both thermodynamically and kinetically. This hydride is both a good hydride and hydrogen atom donor, but a poor proton donor. This previously unobserved combination of properties is due to the high energy of the hydride’s conjugate base, [Cp*Rh(2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl)]−. Its exceptional hydride donor ability makes Cp*Rh(2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl)H a very efficient catalyst for the ionic hydrogenation of iminium cations.

Proton exchange membrane or anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers and fuel cells are still expensive for large-scale commercialization. It requires more investigation and research on finding more economical and efficient electrocatalysts for reactions in these devices. This thesis investigates the performance of metal-modified transition metal carbides on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). The catalysts screening principles for HER and EOR in acid and alkaline are examined and developed by correlating density functional theory (DFT) calculations with experimental results. Metal-modified transition metal carbides can reduce the amount of platinum group metals required for HER, but it is unclear what descriptors are relevant for these materials for the HER under alkaline conditions. Several transition metal carbides (Mo2C, NbC, TaC, WC, VC) thin films were synthesized and modified with monolayers of platinum or gold. The experimentally measured HER exchange current densities were compared with DFT calculations of adsorbed hydrogen and hydroxyl binding energies. The plot of HER activity versus hydrogen binding energy showed a volcano shape for catalysts in both acid and alkaline electrolytes, but the hydroxyl binding energy did not form a strong correlation with alkaline HER activity. Relatively high surface area molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) particles was modified with 5 wt % silver, copper, nickel, platinum, and palladium and subsequently assessed for their HER activity in alkaline and acid electrolytes. DFT‐calculated hydrogen binding energies predicted that Pt–Mo2C and Pd–Mo2C should be most active, which was confirmed with experimental results. Similar activity trends were observed at both high and low pH values, with Cu/Mo2C being the least active. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that metal particles remained on the sample before and after HER testing. Pt‐modified nanocrystalline Mo2C showed superior HER activity compared with Pt‐modified commercial Mo2C, making it a potential replacement for bulk Pt in alkaline membrane electrolyzers. The positive effect on the HER activity of the metal contact with non‐passivated Mo2C surfaces was also demonstrated. Ethanol is an ideal fuel in low-temperature fuel cells. The EOR on platinum-modified tantalum carbide (TaC) was investigated using both model thin films and powder catalysts. The results demonstrated that the 1.5 wt% Pt-modified TaC catalyst obtained enhanced EOR activity compared to Pt. In-situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) study revealed that the Pt surface was less poisoned by EOR intermediates and a higher CO2 selectivity (7~9%) was achieved on the 1.5 wt% Pt/TaC catalyst, compared to the 40 wt% Pt/C. DFT calculations revealed that the binding energies of EOR intermediates on the Pt/TaC(111) surface a weaker than on Pt(111), suggesting an enhanced poison-tolerance from the adsorption of these intermediates. The combined experimental and theoretical investigations strongly suggested that Pt/TaC should be a promising electrocatalyst for EOR. Palladium-modified tungsten carbide (Pd/WC) as an efficient catalyst was investigated for EOR through combined DFT, surface science and electrochemical measurements. Compared to the Pd(111) surface, DFT calculations suggested that the Pd/WC(0001) surface should be less poisoned by the ethanol decomposition intermediates, consistent with surface science results that desorption temperatures of the detected intermediates were lower on the Pd/WC surface. Electrochemical evaluation coupled with in-situ IRRAS measurements of 5 wt% Pd/WC/C powder catalysts were then conducted. The EOR activity of the 5 wt% Pd/WC/C-op catalyst synthesized by the one-pot (op) method was noticeably enhanced, compared to the benchmark 40 wt% Pd/C and 5 wt% Pd/WC/C-iwi that was synthesized using a conventional incipient wetness impregnation (iwi) method. The IRRAS results showed that the EOR products were detected at a lower onset potential on 5 wt% Pd-WC/C-op than on 40 wt% Pd/C. Overall, results from the current thesis demonstrated the feasibility of using metal-modified transition metal carbides as lower-cost and more efficient electrocatalysts for HER and EOR. These results identified descriptors that can be potentially used to design more cost-effective catalysts. Furthermore, results from this thesis also revealed the general similarities and differences of the activity and stability of carbide-based catalysts in acid and alkaline electrolytes.

Two dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides provide a host of unique optoelectronic properties, attributed to their two dimensional nature and unique band structure, making them promising for future optoelectronics device applications. In the work presented in this thesis, we focus on the theoretical understanding and modelling of the optoelectronic properties of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides, their heterostructures and multilayers. We studied the relaxation rates of photo-excited carriers leading to the formation of electron-hole pairs and their subsequent radiative recombination, resulting in emission of light. We find sub-ps relaxation times, attributed to the strong coupling of carriers with optical phonons, allowing the efficient formation of strongly bound multi-particle complexes such as excitons, trions and biexcitons, which can recombine radiatively if allowed by selection rules. We classify the various complexes according to their optical activity, and predict using diffusion quantum Monte Carlo calculations the resulting photoluminescence spectra in these materials. We proposed a novel, material specific, Auger process in WS2 and WSe2 involving dark excitons, which dominates over radiative processes for relatively low carrier densities, providing an explanation to the observed low quantum efficiencies in these materials. In the same pair of materials, we have shown how the ground state dark trions and biexcitons can become bright and recombine radiatively through an electron-electron intervalley scattering process, resulting in new observable lines in the photoluminescence spectra of these materials. The ability to form van der Waals heterostructures of two or more layers of these materials, allows for new degrees of freedom to be explored and utilised. The heterobilayer system made of MoSe2/WSe2 has a type-II band alignment, allowing for the formation of interlayer bound complexes with carriers localized on opposite layers. We studied the bound complexes formed in this bilayer system, localized on donor impurities. We used quantum Monte Carlo methods to obtain binding energies and wave functions, and calculated the radiative rates and doping dependent photoluminescence spectra of these complexes for closely aligned layers, and asymptotic behaviour for strongly misaligned layers. Finally, we studied few-layers of 2H-stacked transition metal dichalcogenides. The van der Waals quantum well structure results in the splitting of the conduction and valence bands into multiple subbands with energy spacings covering densely the infrared to far-infrared spectral range. We developed a hybrid k.p-tight binding model parameterised by DFT calculations of monolayer and bulk crystals of the studied materials. We used the model to describe the subband dispersions, transition energies, phonon induced broadening and resulting absorption lineshapes for both p-doped and n-doped few-layer films.

Song Haibin. / "March, 2002." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-151). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Alkane elimination reaction of Hf(CH2SiMe3) 4 with a zwitterionic salt 1-Me2NHCH2CH2 -1,3-C2B10H12 has resulted in the isolation and structurally characterization of the first example of half-sandwich group 4 metallacarborane alkyls of the C2B10 system. This is also a new route to high-valent group 4 metallacarboranes. / Alkane or amine elimination reactions are also effective methods for the preparation of half-sandwich group 4 metal] acarboranes of the C 2B9 system. The Lewis base functionalized sidearm can effectively stabilize half-sandwich group 4 metallacarborane alkyls through intramolecular coordination. These novel metallacarborane alkyls undergo insertion reaction with alkyne and intramolecular hydrogen atom abstraction reactions. / High-valent group 4 half-sandwich metallacarboranes incorporating an eta 7-carboranyl ligand have been prepared and structurally characterized. The heteroatom-containing pendant sidearms on the carborane cage are both electronically and entropically necessary for the formation of such complexes. / Reaction of [(Me2NCH2CH2)C2B 10H11]Na2 with YCl3 gives eta 1:eta6-[(Me2NCH2CH2)C 2B10H11]YCl(THF)3 containing an exopolyhedral Y-Cl bond, which offers an important intermediate for the preparation of lanthanacarboranes bearing the Ln-C or Ln-X (X = heteroatoms) bonds. On the other hand, it implies that Lewis base functionalized carboranes can stabilize half-sandwich metallacarboranes via the coordination of heteroatom from the sidearm. Silylamine elimination reactions of the neutral ligand 7-Me2NHCH2CH2-7,8-C 2B9H11 with Ln[N(SiHMe2)2] 3(THF)2 are effective method for the preparation of half-sandwich lanthanacarboranes. / Reactions of alkali metal salt of these carboranes with LnCl3 in the presence of excess alkali metal afford a novel class of 13-vertex closo-metallacarboranes incorporating eta7-carboranyl ligands [{eta1:eta1:eta7-[(DCH 2CH2)RC2B10H10]Ln}{Na(solvent) x}]n. Structural studies show that the Lewis base functionalized sidearms have some effects on the coordination environments of the central metal atom, but do not change the gross structures of the 13-vertex closo-metallacarboranes. The reactivity patterns of these 13-vertex closo-metallacarboranes have been studied for the first time. / Several mono- and bisfunctional carboranes (DCH2CH2)RC 2B10H10 (R = H, DCH2CH2, D = MeO, Me2N) have been designed and successfully synthesized. They can be conveniently converted into the monoanions, the dianions and the tetraanions by treatment with suitable reagents. Their applications in organolanthanide and group 4 organometallic chemistry have been studied. / Cheung Mak-shuen. / "June 2005." / Adviser: Kevin W. P. Leung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-01, Section: B, page: 0258. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-181). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.