scholarly journals Thermodynamic Cyclic Voltammograms: Peak Positions and Shapes

Author(s):  
Nicolas G Hörmann ◽  
Karsten Reuter

Based on a mean-field description of thermodynamic cyclic voltammograms (CVs), we analyse here in full generality, how CV peak positions and shapes are related to the underlying interface energetics, in particular when also including electrostatic double layer (DL) effects. We show in particular, how non-Nernstian behaviour is related to capacitive DL charging, and how this relates to common adsorbate-centered interpretations such as a changed adsorption energetics due to dipole-field interactions and the electrosorption valency -- the number of exchanged electrons upon electrosorption per adsorbate. Using Ag(111) in halide-containing solutions as test case, we demonstrate that DL effects can introduce peak shifts that are already explained by rationalizing the interaction of isolated adsorbates with the interfacial fields, while alterations of the peak shape are mainly driven by the coverage-dependence of the adsorbate dipoles. In addition, we analyse in detail how changing the experimental conditions such as the ion concentrations in the solvent but also of the background electrolyte can affect the CV peaks via their impact on the potential drop in the DL and the DL capacitance, respectively. These results suggest new routes to analyse experimental CVs and use of those for a detailed assessment of the accuracy of atomistic models of electrified interfaces e.g. with and without explicitly treated interfacial solvent and/or approximate implicit solvent models.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas G Hörmann ◽  
Karsten Reuter

Based on a mean-field description of thermodynamic cyclic voltammograms (CVs), we analyse here in full generality, how CV peak positions and shapes are related to the underlying interface energetics, in particular when also including electrostatic double layer (DL) effects. We show in particular, how non-Nernstian behaviour is related to capacitive DL charging, and how this relates to common adsorbate-centered interpretations such as a changed adsorption energetics due to dipole-field interactions and the electrosorption valency -- the number of exchanged electrons upon electrosorption per adsorbate. Using Ag(111) in halide-containing solutions as test case, we demonstrate that DL effects can introduce peak shifts that are already explained by rationalizing the interaction of isolated adsorbates with the interfacial fields, while alterations of the peak shape are mainly driven by the coverage-dependence of the adsorbate dipoles. In addition, we analyse in detail how changing the experimental conditions such as the ion concentrations in the solvent but also of the background electrolyte can affect the CV peaks via their impact on the potential drop in the DL and the DL capacitance, respectively. These results suggest new routes to analyse experimental CVs and use of those for a detailed assessment of the accuracy of atomistic models of electrified interfaces e.g. with and without explicitly treated interfacial solvent and/or approximate implicit solvent models.


2015 ◽  
Vol 177 ◽  
pp. 181-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Skelton ◽  
E. Lora da Silva ◽  
Rachel Crespo-Otero ◽  
Lauren E. Hatcher ◽  
Paul R. Raithby ◽  
...  

As the spatial and temporal resolution accessible to experiment and theory converge, computational chemistry is an increasingly powerful tool for modelling and interpreting spectroscopic data. However, the study of molecular processes, in particular those related to electronic excitations (e.g. photochemistry), frequently pushes quantum-chemical techniques to their limit. The disparity in the level of theory accessible to periodic and molecular calculations presents a significant challenge when modelling molecular crystals, since accurate calculations require a high level of theory to describe the molecular species, but must also take into account the influence of the crystalline environment on their properties. In this article, we briefly review the different classes of quantum-chemical techniques, and present an overview of methods that account for environmental influences with varying levels of approximation. Using a combination of solid-state and molecular calculations, we quantitatively evaluate the performance of implicit-solvent models for the [Ni(Et4dien)(η2-O,ON)(η1-NO2)] linkage-isomer system as a test case. We focus particularly on the accurate reproduction of the energetics of the isomerisation, and on predicting spectroscopic properties to compare with experimental results. This work illustrates how the synergy between periodic and molecular calculations can be exploited for the study of molecular crystals, and forms a basis for the investigation of more challenging phenomena, such as excited-state dynamics, and for further methodological developments.


2013 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 190-193
Author(s):  
Nisarg K. Bhatt ◽  
Brijmohan Y. Thakore ◽  
P.R. Vyas ◽  
A.Y. Vahora ◽  
Asvin R. Jani

Commonly employed quasiharmonic approximation (QHA) is inadequate to account for intrinsic anharmonism such as phonon-phonon interaction, vacancy contribution, etc. Though anharmonic contributions are important at high temperatures and low pressure, complete ab initio calculations are scanty due largely to laborious computational requirements. Nevertheless, some simple semi-empirical schemes can be used effectively to incorporate the anharmonism. In this regards, in the present study we have proposed a simple computational scheme to include the effect of vacancy directly into the description within the mean-field potential approach, which calculates vibrational free energy of ions. Validity of the scheme is verified by taking calcium oxide as a test case. Equilibrium properties at (T,P) = (0,0) condition is obtained within the tight-binding second-moment approximation (TB-SMA), whose parameters were determined through first principles density functional theory. Kohn-Sham equations for core electrons were solved using ultrasoft plane-wave pseudopotential employing the generalized gradient approximation for exchange and correlation. Present findings for thermal expansion and high-T EOS clearly show perceptible improvement over the case when vacancy contribution was not included. Some related thermodynamic properties are also calculated and compared with the available experimental and theoretical data.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (06) ◽  
pp. 1340020
Author(s):  
XIAOCHUAN TANG ◽  
YONG DUAN

The generalized Born (GB) model, one of the implicit solvent models, is widely applied in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations as a simple description of the solvation effect. In the GB model, an empirical function called the Still's formula, with the algorithmic simplicity, is utilized to calculate the solvation energy due to the polarization, termed as ΔG pol . Applications of the GB model have exhibited reasonable accuracy and high computational efficiency. However, there is still room for improvements. Most of the attempts to improve the GB model focus on optimizing effective Born radii. Contrarily, limited researches have been performed to improve the feasibility of the Still's formula. In this paper, analytical methods was applied to investigate the validity of the Still's formula at short distance. Taking advantage of the toroidal coordinates and Mehler–Fock transform, the analytical solutions of the GB model at short distances was derived explicitly for the first time. Additionally, the solvation energy was numerically computed using proper algorithms based on the analytical solutions and compared with ΔG pol calculated in the GB model. With the analysis on the deficiencies of the Still's formula at short distances, potential methods to improve the validity of the GB model were discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Michalík ◽  
Vladimír Lukeš

AbstractThe validation of octanol-water partition coefficients (logP) quantum chemical calculations is presented for 27 alkane alcohols. The chemical accuracy of predicted logPvalues was estimated for six DFT functionals (B3LYP, PBE0, M06-2X, ωB97X-D, B97-D3, M11) and three implicit solvent models. Triple-zeta basis set 6-311++G(d,p) was employed. The best linear correlation with the experimental logPvalues was achieved for the B3LYP and B97-D3 functionals combined with the SMD model. On the other hand, no linearity was found when IEF-PCM or C-PCM implicit models were employed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 1677-1685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Brieg ◽  
Julia Setzler ◽  
Steffen Albert ◽  
Wolfgang Wenzel

Hydration free energy estimation of small molecules from all-atom simulations was widely investigated in recent years, as it provides an essential test of molecular force fields and our understanding of solvation effects.


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