Quasi-Barrierless Submolecular Motion in Mechanically Interlocked Carbon Nanotubes

Author(s):  
Julia Villalva ◽  
Belén Nieto-Ortega ◽  
Manuel Melle-Franco ◽  
Emilio Pérez

The motion of molecular fragments in close contact with atomically flat surfaces is still not fully understood. Does a more favourable interaction imply a larger barrier towards motion even if there are no obvious minima? Here, we use mechanically interlocked rotaxane-type derivatives of SWNTs (MINTs) featuring four different types of macrocycles with significantly different affinities for the SWNT thread as models to study this problem. Using molecular dynamics, we find that there is no direct correlation between the interaction energy of the macrocycle with the SWNT and its ability to move along or around it. Density functional tight-binding calculations reveal small (<2.5 Kcal·mol-1) activation barriers, the height of which correlates with the commensurability of the aromatic moieties in the macrocycle with the SWNT. Our results show that macrocycles in MINTs rotate and translate freely around and along SWNTs at room temperature, with an energetic cost lower than the rotation around the C−C bond in ethane.<br>

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Villalva ◽  
Belén Nieto-Ortega ◽  
Manuel Melle-Franco ◽  
Emilio Pérez

The motion of molecular fragments in close contact with atomically flat surfaces is still not fully understood. Does a more favourable interaction imply a larger barrier towards motion even if there are no obvious minima? Here, we use mechanically interlocked rotaxane-type derivatives of SWNTs (MINTs) featuring four different types of macrocycles with significantly different affinities for the SWNT thread as models to study this problem. Using molecular dynamics, we find that there is no direct correlation between the interaction energy of the macrocycle with the SWNT and its ability to move along or around it. Density functional tight-binding calculations reveal small (<2.5 Kcal·mol-1) activation barriers, the height of which correlates with the commensurability of the aromatic moieties in the macrocycle with the SWNT. Our results show that macrocycles in MINTs rotate and translate freely around and along SWNTs at room temperature, with an energetic cost lower than the rotation around the C−C bond in ethane.<br>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Villalva ◽  
Belén Nieto-Ortega ◽  
Manuel Melle-Franco ◽  
Emilio Pérez

We use mechanically interlocked rotaxane-type derivatives of SWNTs (MINTs) featuring four different types of macrocycles with significantly different affinities for the SWNT thread as models to study this problem. Using molecular dynamics, we find that there is no direct correlation between the interaction energy of the macrocycle with the SWNT and its ability to move along or around it. Density functional tight-binding calculations reveal small (<2.5 Kcal·mol-1) activation barriers, the height of which correlates with the commensurability of the aromatic moieties in the macrocycle with the SWNT. Our results show that macrocycles in MINTs rotate and translate freely around and along SWNTs at room temperature, with an energetic cost lower than the rotation around the C−C bond in ethane.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (41) ◽  
pp. 28330-28343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amrita Pal ◽  
Lai Kai Wen ◽  
Chia Yao Jun ◽  
Il Jeon ◽  
Yutaka Matsuo ◽  
...  

Comparative DFT–DFTB study of multiple derivatives of C60 and C70 with different addends, in molecular and solid state.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 7560-7567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeid Arabnejad ◽  
Koichi Yamashita ◽  
Sergei Manzhos

We present a comparative density functional theory (DFT) and density functional tight binding (DFTB) study of structures, energetics, vibrational properties as well as electronic structures of the four crystalline phases of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with different types of defects.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Vasquez ◽  
Agnieszka Dybala-Defratyka

<p></p><p>Very often in order to understand physical and chemical processes taking place among several phases fractionation of naturally abundant isotopes is monitored. Its measurement can be accompanied by theoretical determination to provide a more insightful interpretation of observed phenomena. Predictions are challenging due to the complexity of the effects involved in fractionation such as solvent effects and non-covalent interactions governing the behavior of the system which results in the necessity of using large models of those systems. This is sometimes a bottleneck and limits the theoretical description to only a few methods.<br> In this work vapour pressure isotope effects on evaporation from various organic solvents (ethanol, bromobenzene, dibromomethane, and trichloromethane) in the pure phase are estimated by combining force field or self-consistent charge density-functional tight-binding (SCC-DFTB) atomistic simulations with path integral principle. Furthermore, the recently developed Suzuki-Chin path integral is tested. In general, isotope effects are predicted qualitatively for most of the cases, however, the distinction between position-specific isotope effects observed for ethanol was only reproduced by SCC-DFTB, which indicates the importance of using non-harmonic bond approximations.<br> Energy decomposition analysis performed using the symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) revealed sometimes quite substantial differences in interaction energy depending on whether the studied system was treated classically or quantum mechanically. Those observed differences might be the source of different magnitudes of isotope effects predicted using these two different levels of theory which is of special importance for the systems governed by non-covalent interactions.</p><br><p></p>


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar A. Douglas-Gallardo ◽  
Cristián Gabriel Sánchez ◽  
Esteban Vöhringer-Martinez

<div> <div> <div> <p>Nowadays, the search of efficient methods able to reduce the high atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has turned into a very dynamic research area. Several environmental problems have been closely associated with the high atmospheric level of this greenhouse gas. Here, a novel system based on the use of surface-functionalized silicon quantum dots (sf -SiQDs) is theoretically proposed as a versatile device to bind carbon dioxide. Within this approach, carbon dioxide trapping is modulated by a photoinduced charge redistribution between the capping molecule and the silicon quantum dots (SiQDs). Chemical and electronic properties of the proposed SiQDs have been studied with Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Density Functional Tight-Binding (DFTB) approach along with a Time-Dependent model based on the DFTB (TD-DFTB) framework. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that proposes and explores the potential application of a versatile and friendly device based on the use of sf -SiQDs for photochemically activated carbon dioxide fixation. </p> </div> </div> </div>


Author(s):  
Vasil Tsanov ◽  
Hristo Tsanov

Background:: This article concentrates on the processes occurring in the medium around the cancer cell and the transfer of glycoside amides through their cell membrane. They are obtained by modification of natural glycoside-nitriles (cyano-glycosides). Hydrolysis of starting materials in the blood medium and associated volume around physiologically active healthy and cancer cells, based on quantum-chemical semi-empirical methods, is considered. Objective:: Based on the fact that the cancer cell feeds primarily on carbohydrates, it is likely that organisms have adapted to take food containing nitrile glycosides and / or modified forms to counteract "external" bioactive activity. Cancers, for their part, have evolved to create conditions around their cells that eliminate their active apoptotic forms. This is far more appropriate for them than changing their entire enzyme regulation to counteract it. In this way, it protects itself and the gene sets and develops according to its instructions. Methods:: Derived pedestal that closely defines the processes of hydrolysis in the blood, the transfer of a specific molecular hydrolytic form to the cancer cell membrane and with the help of time-dependent density-functional quantum- chemical methods, its passage and the processes of re-hydrolysis within the cell itself, to forms causing chemical apoptosis of the cell - independent of its non-genetic set, which seeks to counteract the process. Results:: Used in oncology it could turn a cancer from a lethal to a chronic disease (such as diabetes). The causative agent and conditions for the development of the disease are not eliminated, but the amount of cancer cells could be kept low for a long time (even a lifetime). Conclusion:: The amide derivatives of nitrile glycosides exhibit anti-cancer activity, the cancer cell probably seeks to displace hydrolysis of these derivatives in a direction that would not pass through its cell membrane and the amide- carboxyl derivatives of nitrile glycosides could deliver extremely toxic compounds within the cancer cell itself and thus block and / or permanently damage its normal physiology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. eabd4248
Author(s):  
Fengmiao Li ◽  
Yuting Zou ◽  
Myung-Geun Han ◽  
Kateryna Foyevtsova ◽  
Hyungki Shin ◽  
...  

Titanium monoxide (TiO), an important member of the rock salt 3d transition-metal monoxides, has not been studied in the stoichiometric single-crystal form. It has been challenging to prepare stoichiometric TiO due to the highly reactive Ti2+. We adapt a closely lattice-matched MgO(001) substrate and report the successful growth of single-crystalline TiO(001) film using molecular beam epitaxy. This enables a first-time study of stoichiometric TiO thin films, showing that TiO is metal but in proximity to Mott insulating state. We observe a transition to the superconducting phase below 0.5 K close to that of Ti metal. Density functional theory (DFT) and a DFT-based tight-binding model demonstrate the extreme importance of direct Ti–Ti bonding in TiO, suggesting that similar superconductivity exists in TiO and Ti metal. Our work introduces the new concept that TiO behaves more similar to its metal counterpart, distinguishing it from other 3d transition-metal monoxides.


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