A comprehensive density functional theory study on molecular structures of (5, 5) carbon nanotube doped with B, N, Al, Si, P, Co, and Ni

Constructing Donor-Resonance-Donor Molecules for Acceptor-Free Bipolar Organic Semiconductors

Organic semiconductors with bipolar transporting character are highly attractive as they offer the possibility to achieve high optoelectronic performance in simple device structures. However, the continual efforts in preparing bipolar materials are focusing on donor-acceptor (D-A) architectures by introducing both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing units into one molecule in static molecular design principles. Here, we report a dynamic approach to construct bipolar materials using only electron-donating carbazoles connected by N-P=X resonance linkages in a donor-resonance-donor (D-r-D) structure. By facilitating the stimuli-responsive resonance variation, these D-r-D molecules exhibit extraordinary bipolar properties by positively charging one donor of carbazole in enantiotropic N+=P-X- canonical forms for electron transport without the involvement of any acceptors. With thus realized efficient and balanced charge transport, blue and deep-blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes hosted by these D-r-D molecules show high external quantum efficiencies up to 16.2% and 18.3% in vacuum-deposited and spin-coated devices, respectively. These results via the D-r-D molecular design strategy represent an important concept advance in constructing bipolar organic optoelectronic semiconductors dynamically for high-performance device applications.

Selective Separation of HNO3 and HCl by Extraction: The Investigation on the Noncovalent Interaction between Extractants and Acids by Density Functional Theory

There is a huge demand for the highly selective separation of HNO₃ and HCl in many industries, and solvent extraction is considered a feasible method. In this article, DFT calculations were performed to investigate the interactions between acids and extractants including alcohols, ketones, phosphorus, and amines. One of the significant findings to emerge from this study is that amines bind to acids through ion association. Nevertheless, the interaction between acids and alcohols, ketones, and phosphorus with a (RO)₃P═O structure is mainly dominated by hydrogen bonds. The change of Gibbs free energy in the extraction process shows that the phosphorus ((RO)₃P═O) is superior to other types of extractants in the selective separation of HNO₃ and HCl. Furthermore, after the alkoxyl group (RO-) in phosphorus ((RO)₃P═O) is replaced by RN- or R- with less electronegativity, the interaction between HCl and the substituted extractants transitions from a hydrogen bond to ion association, but there are still strong hydrogen bonds between them and HNO₃. That will lead to a decrease in the selectivity of phosphorus due to the change in interaction types. This new understanding should help the design and screening of efficient extractants for the separation of mineral acids.

Effects of oxygen functional complexes on arsenic adsorption over carbonaceous surface

The adsorption mechanism of As₂O₃ on carbonaceous surface modified with oxygen functional complexes was studied using density functional theory to understand the effect of oxygen functional complexes on arsenic adsorption. Full-parameter geometrical optimization and single point energy were calculated on B3LYP/def2-SVP and B3LYP/def2-TZVP level. Results showed that As₂O₃ adsorption on bare carbonaceous surface took place in physical as well as chemical way. The adsorption energies were between -2.07 kJ/mol to -480.20 kJ/mol. Compared to armchair model, zigzag model was more suitable as a carbonaceous sorbent. The participation of oxygen functional complexes greatly promoted the surface activity of carbonaceous surface and its adsorption capacity on arsenic. The adsorption energies of arsenic on carbonaceous surface with oxygen functional complexes were between -111.56 kJ/mol to -669.46 kJ/mol. The promotion order of oxygen functional complexes on surface activity was: phenol > lactone > carbonyl > semiquinone > carboxyl. Oxygen functional complexes promoted adsorption capacity of carbonaceous surface through enhancing the activities of neighboring carbon atoms rather than directly providing active sites. Mayer bond order was a reliable way to understand the adsorption process of arsenic on carbonaceous surface. This study provides a new idea for using modified carbonaceous sorbent to remove arsenic pollution from power stations.