Alkali metal atom-aromatic ring: A novel interaction mode realizes large first hyperpolarizabilities of M@AR (M = Li, Na, and K, AR = pyrrole, indole, thiophene, and benzene)

OEEF-Driven Intramolecular Self-Redox of Superalkali Rb3BeB6Be'Rb'3: A High-Performance Candidate for NLO Molecular Switch

To provide a novel intramolecular self-redox switch, a boron-based sandwich-like complex Rb3BeB6Be'Rb'3 is achieved by using theoretical computations. An applicable oriented external electric field (OEEF) can result in the occurrence of intramolecular self-redox (IMSR) with a long-range electron transfer from tetrahedral Be'Rb'3 to Rb3Be and subsequently [Rb3Be]3+[B6]6-[Be'Rb'3]3+ (D3d) changes to [Rb3Be]2+[B6]6-[Be'Rb'3]4+ (C3v), accompanying high-performance NLO switchable effect for both static and dynamic first hyperpolarizability (β0). [Rb3Be]3+[B6]6-[Be'Rb'3]3+ (off-form) owns zero of dipole moment (μ0) and β0, while [Rb3Be]2+[B6]6-[Be'Rb'3]4+ (on-form) exhibits a μ0 of 3.36 D and a β0e of 2.18 × 105 au. The different dynamic first hyperpolarizabilities between [Rb3Be]3+[B6]6-[Be'Rb'3]3+ and [Rb3Be]2+[B6]6-[Be'Rb'3]4+ are also significant. This indicates that Rb3BeB6Be'Rb'3 is a potential candidate for an IMSR NLO switch.

Shedding light on the optical and nonlinear optical properties of superalkali-doped borophene

The present investigation highlights the two-dimensional design of several interesting superalkali-doped borophene derivatives for efficient nonlinear optics (NLO). The combination effects and resulting NLO responses of borophene (B₃₆) and superalkali units (Li₃O) were evaluated by orienting superalkali clusters at various sites, such as the hub, rim, and bridge, around an B₃₆ molecule. The charge analysis was characterized by frontier and natural bond orbital analyses, a narrowed HOMO-LUMO bandgap and greater intramolecular charge transfers. Molecular electrostatic potential surfaces demonstrated enhanced optoelectronic features of these complexes that are viable due to Li₃O adsorption. Singly doped and doubly doped complexes were considered, and their NLO properties were calculated. Bandgap energy was reduced approximately threefold when doped with two Li₃O. As a considerably high figure of merit, first hyperpolarizability (β_o) values of up to five digits (including 10,611 au for complex A) prove that these systems can be utilized as promising candidates in various NLO applications.

Designing and Encapsulation of Inorganic Al12N12 Nanoclusters with Be, Mg, and Ca Metals for Efficient Hydrogen Adsorption: A Step Forward Towards Hydrogen Storage Materials

Nanoclusters such as [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] have received increased attention due to their diverse applications in the fields of optoelectronics and energy storage. In this paper, we have investigated a series of alkaline earth metal (AEM)-encapsulated [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] nanoclusters for hydrogen adsorption. Thermodynamic adsorption parameters, optical and nonlinear optical properties were investigated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. Encapsulation of AEMs (Be, Mg and Ca) is an effective strategy to improve the NLO reaction and thermodynamic and adsorption properties of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] nanoclusters. The adsorption energies ranging from [Formula: see text]26.57[Formula: see text]kJ/mol to [Formula: see text]213.33[Formula: see text]kJ/mol for the three guests (Be, Mg and Ca) capsulated [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] nanoclusters are observed. The adsorption energy is affected by the size of the nanocage. Therefore, Ca- and Mg-encapsulated cages show higher values of adsorption energy. Overall, an increase in adsorption energy ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]kJ/mol to [Formula: see text]91.06[Formula: see text]kJ/mol) is observed for (Be, Mg and Ca) encapsulated [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] nanoclusters compared to untreated [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] and H2-[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] cages. Moreover, adsorption of hydrogen on AEMs encapsulated in [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] leads to a decrease in the HOMO-LUMO energy gap with an enhancement of linear and nonlinear hyperpolarizability. All hydrogen-adsorbed AEMs [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] nanocages exhibit large [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] values, suggesting that these systems are potential candidates for optical materials. Various geometrical parameters such as frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), partial density of states, global quantum descriptor of reactivity, natural bond orbital testing and molecular electrostatic strength analyses were performed to investigate the thermodynamic stability of all the studied systems. The results obtained confirmed that the designed systems are suitable for hydrogen storage. Therefore, we recommend that these systems be investigated for their hydrogen storage and optical properties.

DFT studies of single and multiple alkali metals doped C24 fullerene for electronics and nonlinear optical applications

The geometric, electronic and nonlinear properties of exohedral and endohedral single and multiple alkali metal (Li, Na and K) atom doped C₂₄ fullerene are studied. First, the most stable orientations at the most stable spin state are evaluated. Complexes with odd metal atoms are stable at doublet spin state and complexes with even number of metal atoms are stable at singlet spin state. Thermodynamic analysis shows that Li₄C₂₄ among all complexes with highest thermodynamic stability has interaction energy of -190.78 kcal mol^-1. The energy gaps (G_H-L) are fairly reduced in single and multi-doped cages, and the lowest energy gap is observed for K₄C₂₄ complex. NBO analysis is performed to validate the charge transfer from alkali metal toward C₂₄. The largest amount of charge (0.95 |e|) transfer is monitored in exohedral K₂C₂₄ complex where the highest charge transfer is for potassium (K) metal. Total density of states (TDOS) spectra of doped complexes justify the involvement of alkali metals and nanocage in new HOMO formation for the excess electrons. First hyperpolarizability is descriptor of NLO properties of single and multi-doped complexes are calculated. It is observed that doping of alkali metal atoms (Li, Na and K) greatly enhances the first hyperpolarizability. Among all the complexes of C₂₄, Na₃C₂₄ shows the highest hyperpolarizability value of 2.74 × 10⁵ au. The results of this study are a guideline for the computational designing of highly efficient and thermodynamically stable complexes for the optical and optoelectronic technologies.

Computational Study of Structural, Molecular Orbitals, Optical and Thermodynamic Parameters of Thiophene Sulfonamide Derivatives

Thiophene and sulfonamide derivatives serve as biologically active compounds, used for the manufacture of large numbers of new drugs. In this study, 11 selected derivatives of thiophene sulfonamide were computed for their geometric parameters, such as hyperpolarizability, chemical hardness (ƞ), electronic chemical potential (μ), electrophilicity index (ω), ionization potential (I), and electron affinity (A). In addition, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectra were also simulated through theoretical calculations. The geometrical parameters and vibrational frequencies with assignments of the vibrational spectra strongly resemble the experimentally calculated values. Besides, the frontier molecular orbitals were also determined for various intramolecular interactions that are responsible for the stability of the compounds. The isodensity surfaces of the frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) are the same pattern in most of the compounds, but in some compounds are disturbed due to the presence of highly electronegative hetero-atoms. In this series of compounds, 3 shows the highest HOMO–LUMO energy gap and lowest hyperpolarizability, which leads to the most stable compound and less response to nonlinear optical (NLO), while 7 shows the lowest HOMO–LUMO energy gap and highest hyperpolarizability, which leads to a less stable compound and a high NLO response. All compounds have their extended three-dimensional p-electronic delocalization which plays an important role in studying NLO responses.

Exploration of adsorption behavior, electronic nature and NLO response of hydrogen adsorbed Alkali metals (Li, Na and K) encapsulated Al12N12 nanocages

Due to the increasing demand of Al[Formula: see text]N[Formula: see text] in optoelectronics and sensing materials, we intended to investigate the adsorption behavior, electronic nature and NLO response of hydrogen and different metals decorated Al[Formula: see text]N[Formula: see text] nanocages. Different systems are designed by hydrogen adsorption and encapsulation of metals (Li, Na and K) in Al[Formula: see text]N[Formula: see text]. Density functional theory at B3LYP functional with conjunction of 6-31G([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] basis set is utilized in order to gain optimized geometries. Different calculations including linear and first-order hyperpolarizability are conducted at same level of theory. Instead of chemiosorption, a phyisosorption phenomenon is seen in all hydrogen adsorbed metal encapsulated Al[Formula: see text]N[Formula: see text] nanoclusters. The [Formula: see text] analysis confirmed the charge separation in hydrogen adsorbed metal encapsulated nanocages. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analysis cleared the different charge sites in all the systems. Similarly, frontier molecular orbitals analysis corroborated the charge densities shifting upon hydrogen adsorption on metal encapsulated AlN nanocages. HOMO–LUMO band gaps suggest effective use of H2-M-AlN in sensing materials. Global indices of reactivity also endorsed that all hydrogen adsorbed metal encapsulated systems are better materials than pure Al[Formula: see text]N[Formula: see text] nanocage for sensing applications. Lastly, linear and first hyperpolarizability of H2-M-AlN nanocages are found to be greater than M-AlN and pure AlN nanocages. Results of these parameters recommend metal encapsulated nanocages as efficient contributors for the applications in hydrogen sensing and optoelectronic devices.

Static second hyperpolarizability of inverse sandwich compounds (M1-C5H5-M2) of alkali (M1 = Li, Na, K) and alkaline earth metals (M2 = Be, Mg, Ca)

In the investigated inverse sandwich complexes, charge transfer from alkali metal (M1) led to aromatically stabilized Cp ring, which prevented further charge transfer from the alkaline earth metal (M2). This electron push effect resulted in diffusion of electron density from the outermost "ns" subshell of alkaline earth metal. The alkaline earth metal is weakly bound to the alkali metal-C5H5 complex. The vertical ionization energy of the chosen M1-Cp-M2 complexes was smaller than that of the corresponding alkaline earth metals. Large second hyperpolarizability (106-108 a.u.) was obtained for the studied molecules. The correction due to the basis set superposition error (BSSE) in the calculated second hyperpolarizability was found to be small for larger systems, while it was rather significant for small systems. The MP4SDQ and CCSD results were in fair agreement, which indicates the necessity of higher order electron correlation treatment in the accurate description of second hyperpolarizability. Calculated dynamic second hyperpolarizabilities at 1064 nm were found to increase considerably for most of the chosen metal complexes.

Transition metal doping: a new and effective approach for remarkably high nonlinear optical response in aluminum nitride nanocages

NLO response of early transition metal (Sc)-doped aluminum nitride nanocages is comparable to those of their alkali-metal-doped analogues.

Substituent effects on the electronic structures and nonlinear optical properties of Li-doped nano-carbon bowl

A series of Li-corannulene-(NH₂)_n and Li-corannulene-(NO₂)_n (n = 1, 2, 5) compounds have been theoretically designed and investigated using density functional theory. In this work, two models are systematically investigated to explore the important factors for enhancing the static first hyperpolarizability by introducing the substitution group. It is revealed that energy gaps (E_gap) between highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of all compounds are in the range of 4.149-4.934 eV. Different DFT methods are adopted to calculate polarizabilities and the first hyperpolarizabilities of Li-corannulene-(NH₂)_n and Li-corannulene-(NO₂)_n (n = 1, 2, 5) compounds. It is revealed that polarizability values of the systems increase with increasing number of NH₂/NO₂ substitution group. Moreover, it is found that the first hyperpolarizabilities of Li-corannulene-(NO₂)_n are larger than those of Li-corannulene-(NH₂)_n, which can be attributed to the lower transition energies. In contrast to the NH₂ substitution group, NO₂ substitution group can be more powerful in increasing the first hyperpolarizability of Li-doped corannulene. We hope that this study can provide a new idea for designing nonlinear optical materials using the NH₂ and NO₂ groups.

Introducing the triangular BN nanodot or its cooperation with the edge-modification via the electron-donating/withdrawing group to achieve the large first hyperpolarizability in a carbon nanotube system

Doping the triangular BN nanodomain or its cooperation with the edge-modification can significantly improve the NLO properties of CNT systems.

The effect of Li doping on the nonlinear optical properties of [2.2]paracyclophane

The similar molecules [2.2]paracyclophane (22PCP) and 1,1,2,2,9,9,10,10-octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane (8F22PCP) have both generated considerable synthetic interest since they were first prepared. In this work, the nonlinear optical properties of 22PCP, 8F22PCP, and the related Li-doped systems 22PCP-Li and 8F22PCP-Li (which have a Li atom above 22PCP and 8F22PCP, respectively) were investigated. An analysis of natural bond orbital charges showed that there is greater charge transfer from the Li atom to the benzene rings in 8F22PCP-Li than in 22PCP-Li. The variation in the calculated nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) value as a function of the distance from the lower benzene ring towards the upper benzene ring was found to be W-shaped for both 22PCP and 22PCP-Li. Moreover, whereas all of the NICS values of 22PCP and 22PCP-Li were markedly negative, all of the NICS values of 8F22PCP and 8F22PCP-Li were either positive or only moderately negative. Calculations of the electro-optical properties of these systems showed that the first hyperpolarizability of 22PCP-Li was noticeably larger than that of 8F22PCP-Li. According to the two-level model, the larger first hyperpolarizability of 22PCP-Li is due to its smaller transition energy.

Theoretical study of the non linear optical properties of alkali metal (Li, Na, K) doped aluminum nitride nanocages

The effect of alkali metal (Li, Na, and K) doping in aluminum nitride (Al₁₂N₁₂) nanocages is studied through density functional theory (DFT) methods.

Constructing a mixed π-conjugated bridge to effectively enhance the nonlinear optical response in the Möbius cyclacene-based systems

Using density functional theory computations, employing the concept of a mixed π-conjugated bridge can effectively improve the first hyperpolarizability (β0) of Möbius cyclacene (MC)-based systems with a D-π-A framework. This mixed π-conjugated bridge is constructed by applying a -(CH=CH)x-NH2 or -(CH=CH)x-NO2 chain to modify [8]MC, which can lead to a considerable β0 value (e.g. [8]MC-(CH=CH)12-NO2 (9.87 × 10(5) au) with only a certain chain length), much larger than the sole [8]MC (261 au) and the corresponding NH2/NO2-modified polyethylene chain with the same π-conjugated length. It is revealed that the substituent sites and the chain length can play a crucial role in improving β0 values of these MC-chain systems, where the β0 value can monotonically increase with increasing -(CH=CH)x- length, and the substituent electron-withdrawing -(CH=CH)x-NO2 chain is superior to the parallel electron-donating -(CH=CH)x-NH2. These appealing findings can provide valuable insights into the design of novel NLO materials based on MC.

One lithium atom binding with P-nitroaniline: lithium salts or lithium electrides?

Recently, both lithium (Li) salts and Li electrides formed by one Li atom interacting with ligand complexes, have been widely investigated. An interesting question emerges: is the configuration of one Li atom interacting with ligand complexes a Li salt or electride? In the present work, four configurations n-Li-PNA (n = 1-4) were obtained by binding one Li atom with the p-nitroaniline (PNA) at different positions to explore this question. The results show that 1-Li-PNA and 2-Li-PNA are typical Li salts, and 4-Li-PNA is a typical Li electride. Significantly, 3-Li-PNA possesses both characteristics of Li salt and electride. At the same time, 3-Li-PNA has the largest first hyperpolarizability (2.9 × 10(6) au) by ROMP2 method compared with the other three configurations. Furthermore, the first hyperpolarizability of 3-Li-PNA is about 2600 times larger than that of PNA. Further, the vertical ionization potential (VIP) and interaction energy (E int) indicate that 3-Li-PNA is less stable than 1-Li-PNA and 2-Li-PNA (Li salts), but is more stable than 4-Li-PNA (Li electrides).

Static second hyperpolarizability of Λ shaped alkaline earth metal complexes

A number of Λ shaped complexes of alkaline earth metals Be , Mg and Ca with varying terminal groups have been considered for the theoretical study of their second hyperpolarizability. The chosen complexes are found to be sufficiently stable and for a chosen ligand the stability decreases in the order: Be -complex > Ca -complex > Mg -complex. The calculated results of second hyperpolarizability obtained at different DFT functionals for the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set are found to be fairly consistent. The Λ shaped ligands upon complex formation with metals lead to strong enhancement of second hyperpolarizability. The highest magnitude of cubic polarizability has been predicted for the metal complex having > C ( C 2 H 5)2 group. For a chosen ligand, the magnitude of second hyperpolarizability increases in the order Be -complex < Mg -complex < Ca -complex which is the order of increasing size and electropositive character of the metal. The variation of second hyperpolarizability among the investigated metal complexes has been explained in terms of the transition energy and transition moment associated with the most intense electronic transition.