Single-and double transition metal atoms anchored C2N as a high-activity catalyst for CO oxidation: A first-principles study

The oxidation of CO has attracted great interest in recent years due to its important role in enhancing the catalyst durability in fuel cells and solving the growing environmental problems caused by CO emissions. Consequently, the catalytic oxidation of CO at double non-noble metal atoms anchored C2N is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) computations. All the screened Ti@C2N and Ti2@C2N are thermodynamically stable based on their binding energy calculations. The electronic characteristics, the natural bond orbital analyses (NBO), Frontier orbital, statistical thermodynamics, projected densities of states (PDOS) characteristics, non-covalent interactions (NCI), and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) descriptors of these systems have been examined to analyze the interaction process. Our comparative study suggested that the newly predicted double-atom catalyst (Ti2@C2N) is highly active for CO oxidation, which is a useful guideline for further development. The calculated static first-order hyperpolarizability (βo) illustrated that the double-atom catalyst under investigation can be considered a potential candidate for non-linear optical behavior and could be used for NLO applications. CO oxidation on Ti2@C2N along the Eley-Rideal (ER) mechanism with a low energy barrier of 0.16 eV, which is smaller than the maximum energy barrier (0.73 eV) of CO oxidation along the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) mechanism. Consequently, the ER mechanism is more favorable both thermodynamically and dynamically. This work can provide useful insights and guidelines for future theoretical and experimental investigations to promote the design and development of highly effective and low-cost non-precious-metal Ti2@C2N nanocatalysts towards CO oxidation at ambient temperature.

Tenability on schiff base Hydrazone derivatives and Frontier molecular orbital

Context hydrazine compounds based on 1,3,5-triazine were synthesised and their molecular structures were characterised by elemental analysis, Electronic, IR and 1H NMR spectra. The spectral behaviour of the newly prepared compounds in organic solvents of different polarities was extensively studied and correlated to the molecular structure. In this study, 1,3,5-Triazine derivatives (L1, L6, L7, L8) have been subjected to theoretical studies using the Semi-empirical PM3 quantum chemical method. The physical-chemical properties of some Hydrazone derivatives are determined theoretically. The molecular geometry, the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) - Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) energy gap, molecular hardness (η), ionisation energy (IE), Electron affinity and total energy were analysed, and applications as biological effects were done.

The effect of central transition metals and electron-donating substituent on the performances of dye/TiO2 interface for dye-sensitized solar cells applications

Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) approaches were applied to explore the effect of central transition metals and the dye/TiO₂ interface on dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) performance and supply a promising way to estimate and screen possible candidates for DSSC applications. The interaction properties, bonding characteristics, sensitized mechanisms, charge transfer, frontier molecular orbitals, energy gap, partial densities of states (PDOS), non-covalent interactions (NCI), and electronic absorption spectra were examined and analyzed to provide the photovoltaic characteristics of Sc, Cu, and Ti tetrasulfonic acid phthalocyanine sensitizer@TiO₂ interface in both gas phase and polar solvent as acetonitrile. The interfacial of TiPc-(SO₃H)₄ with TiO₂, which facilitates the driving force for the electron injection of photosensitizers (ΔG^inj), increases the charge separation, open-circuit voltage (V_oc), and high light-harvesting efficiency (LHE) values. However, minimize the charge recombination, lifetime of the excited state (τ), regeneration driving force (ΔG^reg). Our results reveal that TiPc-(SO₃H)₄@TiO₂ is superior to those of ScPc-(SO₃H)₄, CuPc-(SO₃H)₄, TiPc-(SO₃H)₄ and Pc-(SO₃H)₄/TiO₂, indicating the novel TiPc-(SO₃H)₄@TiO₂ interface could be promising candidates for DSSC photovoltaic devices performance. In addition, the static mean polarizability and first hyperpolarizability of all six dyes elucidated that the TiPc-(SO₃H)₄@TiO₂ interface can be regarded as a potential performer in non-linear optical (NLO) properties. These theoretical identifications may provide novel perspectives and instructions for future experimental researchers to promote the synthesis and application of TiPc-(SO₃H)₄@TiO₂ interfaces to improve the photo-to-current conversion efficiency.

Enhanced hydrogen storage performance of Li and Co functionalized h-GaN nanosheets: DFT study

Based on the density functional theory (DFT) computations, we investigated the hydrogen storage performances of alkali metal (Li) and transition metal (Co) decorated the defective GaN nanosheets. Fundamental aspects including the interaction properties, bonding characteristics, adsorption ability, frontier orbital, HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, projected densities of states (PDOS) and statistical thermodynamic stability have been demonstrated to analyze the interaction properties of H₂ molecules. As a theoretical strategy, non-covalent interactions (NCI) and the atoms in molecules (QTAIM) descriptors were performed to depict weak interactions. The Li_N-GaN and Co_N-GaN systems and the H₂ uptake capacity revealed to be 7.78% and 5.55%, respectively. Our results demonstrated that H₂ molecules are introduced sequentially on the Li and Co that functionalized both sides of V_N-GaN nanosheets yielded the gravimetric densities up to 8.158% (2Co-V_N-GaN) that well above the gravimetric DOE achieve. The 2Li_N-GaN and 2Co_N-GaN are energetically more effective for the H₂ adsorption, stable and preferred than pristine GaN nanosheet. Additionally, two binding mechanisms including polarization of the hydrogen molecules and σ orbitals hybridization of H₂ molecules have been investigated to explain the interaction of H₂ molecules. The hydrogen desorption enthalpy and desorption temperatures of hydrogen molecules, indicating the H₂ molecules are easy to desorb from Li and Co decorated defective GaN nanosheets. These results suggest the possibility of an excellent and promising nanostructural material to improve the performance of hydrogen storage for in fuel cells application at ambient temperature.

Theoretical investigation of favipiravir antiviral drug based on fullerene and boron nitride nanocages

Smart implementation of novel advanced nanocarriers such as functionalized C₂₄ and B₁₂N₁₂ nanocages is used supplement for antiviral activity 5-Fluoro-2-hydroxypyrazine-3-carboxamide (Favipiravir; Avigan; T-705), as treatment of COVID-19. The interaction energies of Favipiravir with perfect (B₁₂N₁₂ and C₂₄) and doped (BC₂₃ and CB₁₁N₁₂) nanocages were studied at temperatures equal to 310.15 K and 298.15 K using DFT. Our results have shown that the interaction of the Favipiravir (C[bond, double bond]O group) with BC₂₃ and CB₁₁N₁₂ is more favorable than with the C₂₄ and B₁₂N₁₂ nanocages in the gas and aqueous environments. Additionally, the natural bond orbital, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), energy gap, chemical reactivity, molecular electrostatic potential, and thermodynamic parameters of the optimized structure have been examined. Furthermore, the UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopy have been evaluated for the investigation of the molecular orbitals Participated in the absorption spectrum of the Favipiravir before and after the interaction with the C₂₄, BC₂₃, B₁₂N_12, and CB₁₁N₁₂, sites at maximum wavelength utilizing the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-B3LYP and TD-CAM-B3LYP). The intermolecular interactions have been analyzed by non-covalent interactions (NCI) and also, the electron localization function (ELF) is discussed.