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Full-Text Articles in Chemistry

Computational And Experimental Investigation Of Elemental Sulfur And Polysulfide, Jyoti Sharma Aug 2023

Computational And Experimental Investigation Of Elemental Sulfur And Polysulfide, Jyoti Sharma

Dissertations

Petroleum processing results in the generation of significant quantities of elemental sulfur (S8), leading to a surplus of sulfur worldwide. Despite its abundance and low cost, the use of sulfur in value-added organic compound synthesis is limited due to its unpredictable and misunderstood reactivity. This dissertation aims to address this issue by tackling it from two angles. Firstly, by utilizing Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, the reactivity of sulfur in the presence of nucleophiles is studied. This facilitates the identification of organic polysulfide intermediates that can be generated under different conditions, as well as the corresponding reactivity for …


Advances In One-Electron Self-Interaction-Correction Methods For Accurate And Efficient Self-Interaction-Free Density Functional Calculations, Selim Romero Aug 2023

Advances In One-Electron Self-Interaction-Correction Methods For Accurate And Efficient Self-Interaction-Free Density Functional Calculations, Selim Romero

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Density functional theory (DFT) is a widely used computational method for studying electronic structures of atoms, molecules, and solids. It provides an exact theory for obtaining ground state energy from the ground state density. However, since the exact exchange-correlation functional remains unknown, approximate exchange-correlation functionals called approximate density approximations (DFAs) are used. The foundation of many DFAs is the local spin density approximation (LSDA). It serves as the starting point for constructing various DFAs. However, DFAs are prone to self-interaction errors (SIE) due to the improper cancellation of the approximate exchange energy and the Coulomb energy. This issue impacts the …


Isolating The Electronic Effects Of Systematic Twist In Highly Substituted Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Density Functional Theory, Grace Tully, Emily A. Jarvis May 2023

Isolating The Electronic Effects Of Systematic Twist In Highly Substituted Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Density Functional Theory, Grace Tully, Emily A. Jarvis

Honors Thesis

Density functional theory (DFT) was employed to investigate dodecaphenyltetracene as well as similar molecules containing differing backbone lengths and electron withdrawing groups with interest in manipulating the twist to lower the LUMO level for increased electron mobility. Optimization and frequency time-independent calculations followed by time-dependent (TD-DFT) energy calculations were performed at the B3LYP/G-311G level of theory to analyze electronic trends as a result of increased backbone length and consequently distorted end-to-end molecular twist. These calculations demonstrate a linear relationship with negative slope between the estimated HOMO-LUMO, fundamental, and optical gaps as a function of the number of fused rings along …


The Future Of Alternative Energy? Simulating Methyl Stearate Pyrolysis Via Molecular Dynamic Processes, Sarah J. Adeoye Jan 2023

The Future Of Alternative Energy? Simulating Methyl Stearate Pyrolysis Via Molecular Dynamic Processes, Sarah J. Adeoye

MSU Graduate Theses

The process of extracting and refining crude oil is both expensive and environmentally hazardous. The synthesis of biodiesel sourced from vegetable oils is a renewable process and less hazardous to the environment. Therefore, we seek to understand the pyrolysis procedure at an atomic level in hopes of optimizing future fuel viability. Herein, I analyze methyl stearate (a component of biodiesel) using an in-house database of ab initio trajectories, each simulating 1.0 ps (with 1.0 fs resolution). These jobs were observed for significant bond-breaking/forming events, the type of fragments produced, and the exact position and time for each event. Statistical analysis …


Predicting The Reactivities And Reaction Mechanisms Of Photochemically Produced Reactive Intermediates, Benjamin Barrios Cerda Jan 2023

Predicting The Reactivities And Reaction Mechanisms Of Photochemically Produced Reactive Intermediates, Benjamin Barrios Cerda

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Photochemically produced reactive intermediates (PPRIs) such as the hydroxyl radical, carbonate radical (CO3•-) singlet oxygen (1O2) and triplet state of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (3CDOM*) are formed in sunlit natural waters upon photoexcitation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). PPRIs react with the organic compounds involved in key environmental processes, resulting in transformation products of smaller molecular weight than their parent compounds. Photochemical transformation of these key water constituents due to their reactions with PPRIs may pose potential effects on human and aquatic ecosystems. Consequently, there is a need …


Turning Density Functional Theory Calculations Into Molecular Mechanics Simulations : Establishing The Fluctuating Density Model For Rna Nucleobases, Christopher A. Myers Dec 2022

Turning Density Functional Theory Calculations Into Molecular Mechanics Simulations : Establishing The Fluctuating Density Model For Rna Nucleobases, Christopher A. Myers

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Molecular mechanics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) have been the backbone of computational chemistry for decades. Due to its accuracy and computational feasibility, DFT has become the go-to method for theoretically predicting interaction energies, polarizability, and other electronic properties of small molecules at the quantum mechanical level. Although less fundamental than DFT, molecular mechanics (MM) algorithms have been just as influential in the fields of biology and chemistry, owing their success to the ability to compute measurable, macroscopic quantities for systems with tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of atoms at a time. Nevertheless, MD simulations would …


A Study Of Cannabigerolic Acid And Its Derivatives Via Raman Spectroscopy And Density Functional Theory, Trevor Wolfe May 2022

A Study Of Cannabigerolic Acid And Its Derivatives Via Raman Spectroscopy And Density Functional Theory, Trevor Wolfe

Honors Theses

The cannabinoids are a class of molecules endogenous to the cannabis plant. Their scientific relevance has increased in recent years due to the mercurial legal status of marijuana across the United States. Some of the most known are cannabidiol (CBD), δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (δ9-THC), and δ8-THC due in large part to their widespread use, especially in states where marijuana and related products are legal. However, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) is arguably the most important cannabinoid; it is enzymatically converted into other acidic cannabinoids, which subsequently undergo non-enzymatic processes (isomerization, thermal decarboxylation, oxidation, etc.) to synthesize further cannabinoids. Although there is a wealth of …


Dft Study Of NiM@Pt1AuN-M-1 (N=19, 38, 55, 79; M = 1, 6, 13, 19) Core-Shell Orr Catalyst, Wen-Jie Li, Dong-Xu Tian, Hong Du, Xi-Qiang Yan Aug 2021

Dft Study Of NiM@Pt1AuN-M-1 (N=19, 38, 55, 79; M = 1, 6, 13, 19) Core-Shell Orr Catalyst, Wen-Jie Li, Dong-Xu Tian, Hong Du, Xi-Qiang Yan

Journal of Electrochemistry

The slow kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) limits the performance of low temperature fuel cells. Thus, it needs to design effective catalysts with low cost. Core-shell clusters (CSNCs) show promising activity because of their size-dependent geometric and electronic effects. The ORR activity trend of Nim@Pt1Aun-m-1(n = 19, 38, 55, 79; m = 1, 6, 13, 19) was studied using the GGA-PBE-PAW methods. The adsorption configurations of *O, *OH and *OOH were optimized and the reaction free energies of four proton electron (H+ + e-) transfer steps were calculated. Using …


Theoretical Study On Electrical Properties Of Molecular Junctions Of Viologen Derivatives, Zhuan-Yun Cai, Jia Liu, Si-Yuan Guan, De-Yin Wu, Zhong-Qun Tian Feb 2021

Theoretical Study On Electrical Properties Of Molecular Junctions Of Viologen Derivatives, Zhuan-Yun Cai, Jia Liu, Si-Yuan Guan, De-Yin Wu, Zhong-Qun Tian

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this paper, the electrical properties of molecular junctions formed N,N′-bis(4-thioalkyl)-4,4′-bipyridinium (viologen) moiety between two gold (Au) electrodes have been investigated by combining density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green’s functional approach. To modulate the viologen molecule to be a cation with one and two positive charges (V+ and V2+), we introduce one and two trifluoroacetic acid ions (TFA-) around the molecule, respectively. The valence states of V+ and V2+ are confirmed by checking Mulliken and NBO charges. Then the relationship between molecular conductance and electronic structures of the neutral state V, the radical state V+ and dication …


Dft Study Of Water Assisted Hydrogen Dissociation On Gold Nanoparticles, Jia-Li Chen, Xia-Guang Zhang, De-Yin Wu, Zhong-Qun Tian Jun 2018

Dft Study Of Water Assisted Hydrogen Dissociation On Gold Nanoparticles, Jia-Li Chen, Xia-Guang Zhang, De-Yin Wu, Zhong-Qun Tian

Journal of Electrochemistry

The gold nanoparticles (GNPs) show special activity toward hydrogen (H2) dissociation, comparing with bulk gold. Such activity is significantly affected by the existence of water. To inspect the influence of water on GNPs catalyzed H2 dissociation, we carried out density functional theory (DFT) calculations along the reaction paths for water clusters (H2O)m (m = 1, 2, 3, 7) assisted H2 dissociation on gold clusters (Aunδ, n = 3 ~ 5; δ = 0, 1). Our calculated results show that water benefits to the H2 dissociation. The dissociation mechanism varies …


Surface Chemical Properties Of Mo2C, W2C, Mo2N And W2N Probed With Co, Co2And O2 Adsorption: A Dft Analysis, Jingyun Ye, Tianyu Zhang, Lingyun Xu, Shuxia Yin, Krishanthi Weerasinghe, Pamela Ubaldo, Ping And Ge Qingfeng He Aug 2017

Surface Chemical Properties Of Mo2C, W2C, Mo2N And W2N Probed With Co, Co2And O2 Adsorption: A Dft Analysis, Jingyun Ye, Tianyu Zhang, Lingyun Xu, Shuxia Yin, Krishanthi Weerasinghe, Pamela Ubaldo, Ping And Ge Qingfeng He

Journal of Electrochemistry

Transition metal carbides and nitrides are attractive materials for electrodes in many electrochemical energy storage and conversion applications. In the present study, we use density functional theory slab calculations to characterize the surface chemical properties of molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) carbides and nitrides, namely, Mo2C, W2C, Mo2N and W2N with the adsorption of CO, CO2 and O2. These probing molecules provide measures of in both acidity/basicity and redox property of for the surfaces of these carbides and nitrides. Our results show that Lewis basic sites were responsible for CO2 …


Electrochemical Catalysis: A Dft Study, Li Li, Zi-Dong Wei Aug 2014

Electrochemical Catalysis: A Dft Study, Li Li, Zi-Dong Wei

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this review, we focus on achievements in electro-catalysis based on the density function theory study. The relationships among the electrode potential, electronic structure of catalysts and electro-catalytic activity are summarized in three parts: the adsorption and desorption of species, electron transfer, and stability of catalysts. The electrode potential and the electronic structure (d-band center or Fermi (HOMO) energy) of catalysts significantly influence the formation, adsorption and desorption of surface species on electrode. The electro-catalytic activity can be improved by modulating the electrode potential and electronic structure of catalysts.