RESUMO

CNDOL is an a priori, approximate Fockian for molecular wave functions. In this study, we employ several modes of singly excited configuration interaction (CIS) to model molecular excitation properties by using four combinations of the one electron operator terms. Those options are compared to the experimental and theoretical data for a carefully selected set of molecules. The resulting excitons are represented by CIS wave functions that encompass all valence electrons in the system for each excited state energy. The Coulomb-exchange term associated to the calculated excitation energies is rationalized to evaluate theoretical exciton binding energies. This property is shown to be useful for discriminating the charge donation ability of molecular and supermolecular systems. Multielectronic 3D maps of exciton formal charges are showcased, demonstrating the applicability of these approximate wave functions for modeling properties of large molecules and clusters at nanoscales. This modeling proves useful in designing molecular photovoltaic devices. Our methodology holds potential applications in systematic evaluations of such systems and the development of fundamental artificial intelligence databases for predicting related properties.

RESUMO

Based on the determination of single crystal XRD structures of potassium hexacyanidometallates and on IR, and Raman data, here we propose for the first time the occurrence of an electron-deficient bonding between the N end of the CN- ligand and the K+ metal center. The crystal structures of Kn[M6-n(CN)6]·xH2O (M = Fe(ii), Ru(ii), Os(ii), Co(iii), Rh(iii), Ir(iii), Pt(iv)) reveal the presence of four types of CN-K interactions: (i) a linear CN-K bond, (ii) the N ends in a bipodal coordination involving two K atoms, (iii) the N ends in a tripodal coordination mode involving three K atoms and (iv) the N ends and the K atoms with the largest K-N distances within the subseries that can be attributed to the electrostatic interactions. The bi- and tripodal coordination modes between the N end of the CN- ligand and K+ ions are atypical and their nature is discussed in this contribution. The CN- ligand N end can behave as a two-electron donor that participates in a three-center two-electron bonding (i.e. Class II µ-L 3c-2e) for a N-bipodal coordination mode or as a two-electron donor that participates in a four-center two-electron bonding (4c-2e) for an N-tripodal coordination mode. Such a possibility is closely related to the π-back donation ability of the CN- ligand, which results in a charge density accumulation on the N end, which could be partially donated to the K atom through an σ-mechanism. For the divalent metals (Fe, Ru, Os), the solids crystallize with a monoclinic unit cell in the C2/c space group, while for the trivalent ones (Co, Rh, Ir), the crystal structure corresponds to an orthorhombic unit cell in the Pbcn space group. Potassium hexacyanidoplatinate(iv) crystallizes with a trigonal unit cell, in the P3[combining macron]1m space group, where each N end is always found coordinating two K atoms. The finding of these novel coordination modes of the CN- ligands, relying on an electron-deficient bonding behavior, paves the way for the design of functional materials based on hexacyanidometallates. The experimental results and the proposed electron-deficient bonding model herein discussed were appropriately supported by the computational calculations.

RESUMO

Characterization and control of surfaces and interfaces are critical for photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications. In this work, we propose CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPI) perovskite slab models whose energy levels, free of quantum confinement, explicitly consider the spin-orbit coupling and thermal motion. We detail methodological tools based on the density functional theory that allow achieving these models at an affordable computational cost, and analytical corrections are proposed to correct these effects in other systems. The electronic state energies with respect to the vacuum of the static MAPI surface models, terminated in PbI2 and MAI atomic layers, are in agreement with the experimental data. The PbI2-terminated slab has in-gap surface states, which are independent of the thickness of the slab and also of the orientation of the cation on the surface. The surface states are not useful for alignments in photovoltaic devices, while they could be useful for photocatalytic reactions. The energy levels calculated for the MAI-terminated surface coincide with the widely used values to estimate the MAPI alignment with the charge transport materials, i.e., -5.4 and -3.9 eV for valence band maximum and conduction band minimum, respectively. Our study offers these slab models to provide guidelines for optimal interface engineering.

RESUMO

Evaluating the availability of molecular oxygen (O2 ) and energy of excited states in the retinal binding site of rhodopsin is a crucial challenging first step to understand photosensitizing reactions in wild-type (WT) and mutant rhodopsins by absorbing visible light. In the present work, energies of the ground and excited states related to 11-cis-retinal and the O2 accessibility to the ß-ionone ring are evaluated inside WT and human M207R mutant rhodopsins. Putative O2 pathways within rhodopsins are identified by using molecular dynamics simulations, Voronoi-diagram analysis, and implicit ligand sampling while retinal energetic properties are investigated through density functional theory, and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical methods. Here, the predictions reveal that an amino acid substitution can lead to enough energy and O2 accessibility in the core hosting retinal of mutant rhodopsins to favor the photosensitized singlet oxygen generation, which can be useful in understanding retinal degeneration mechanisms and in designing blue-lighting-absorbing proteic photosensitizers.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Very large molecular systems can be calculated with the so called CNDOL approximate Hamiltonians that have been developed by avoiding oversimplifications and only using a priori parameters and formulas from the simpler NDO methods. A new diagonal monoelectronic term named CNDOL/21 shows great consistency and easier SCF convergence when used together with an appropriate function for charge repulsion energies that is derived from traditional formulas. It is possible to obtain a priori molecular orbitals and electron excitation properties after the configuration interaction of single excited determinants with reliability, maintaining interpretative possibilities even being a simplified Hamiltonian. Tests with some unequivocal gas phase maxima of simple molecules (benzene, furfural, acetaldehyde, hexyl alcohol, methyl amine, 2,5 dimethyl 2,4 hexadiene, and ethyl sulfide) ratify the general quality of this approach in comparison with other methods. The calculation of large systems as porphine in gas phase and a model of the complete retinal binding pocket in rhodopsin with 622 basis functions on 280 atoms at the quantum mechanical level show reliability leading to a resulting first allowed transition in 483 nm, very similar to the known experimental value of 500 nm of "dark state." In this very important case, our model gives a central role in this excitation to a charge transfer from the neighboring Glu(-) counterion to the retinaldehyde polyene chain. Tests with gas phase maxima of some important molecules corroborate the reliability of CNDOL/2 Hamiltonians.

Assuntos