Heterocycle-Based Isomeric Chromophores with Substantially Varying NLO Properties: A New Structure−Property Correlation Study

Bimetallic Nanoalloy Catalysts for Green Energy Production: Advances in Synthesis Routes and Characterization Techniques

Bimetallic Nanoalloy catalysts have diverse uses in clean energy, sensing, catalysis, biomedicine, and energy storage, with some supported and unsupported catalysts. Conventional synthetic methods for producing bimetallic alloy nanoparticles often produce unalloyed and bulky particles that do not exhibit desired characteristics. Alloys, when prepared with advanced nanoscale methods, give higher surface area, activity, and selectivity than individual metals due to changes in their electronic properties and reduced size. This review demonstrates the synthesis methods and principles to produce and characterize highly dispersed, well-alloyed bimetallic nanoalloy particles in relatively simple, effective, and generalized approaches and the overall existence of conventional synthetic methods with modifications to prepare bimetallic alloy catalysts. The basic concepts and mechanistic understanding are represented with purposely selected examples. Herein, the enthralling properties with widespread applications of nanoalloy catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis are also presented, especially for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER), Oxidation Reduction Reaction (ORR), Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), and alcohol oxidation with a particular focus on Pt and Pd-based bimetallic nanoalloys and their numerous fields of applications. The high entropy alloy is described as a complicated subject with an emphasis on laser-based green synthesis of nanoparticles and, in conclusion, the forecasts and contemporary challenges for the controlled synthesis of nanoalloys are addressed.

Successive lithiation of acetylene, ethylene and benzene: a comprehensive computational study of large static second hyperpolarizability

This work is a revisit of the study of the electron correlation effect of lithium substitution on the second hyperpolarizability (10⁶ a.u.) of acetylene, ethylene and benzene. The large quenching of mean second hyperpolarizability has been addressed by CCSD calculations. The inclusion of triple excitation in the MP4 method generally overestimates second hyperpolarizability in comparison to the MP4SDQ method. The present CCSD γ_av value of C₆Li₆: 405 × 10⁴ a.u. obtained with a relatively larger basis set established the earlier prediction of Sadlej et al. [Phys. Chem. Phys. Chem., 2000, 2, 3393-3399] where degenerate non-dipolar transitions in low lying excited states play the crucial role. The successive lithiation results in gradual red shifting of transition energy leading to significant enhancement of second hyperpolarizability. Most of the chosen DFT functionals predict the correct qualitative trend of second hyperpolarizability. The quantitatively different results may be attributed to the case when the ground state wave function cannot be approximated by a single SD.

Is it Reasonable to Obtain Information on the Polarizability and Hyperpolarizability Only from the Electron Density?

Formulae for the static electronic polarizability and hyperpolarizability are derived in terms of moments of the ground-state electron density matrix by applying the Unsöld approximation and a generalization of the Fermi-Amaldi approximation. The latter formula for the hyperpolarizability appears to be new. The formulae manifestly transform correctly under rotations, and they are observed to be essentially cumulant expressions. Consequently, they are additive over different regions. The properties of the formula are discussed in relation to others that have been proposed in order to clarify inconsistencies. The formulae are then tested against coupled-perturbed Hartree-Fock results for a set of 40 donor-π-acceptor systems. For the polarizability, the correlation is reasonable; therefore, electron density matrix moments from theory or experiment may be used to predict polarizabilities. By constrast, the results for the hyperpolarizabilities are poor, not even within one or two orders of magnitude. The formula for the two- and three-particle density matrices obtained as a side result in this work may be interesting for density functional theories.

Second hyperpolarizability of delta shaped disubstituted acetylene complexes of beryllium, magnesium, and calcium

Present theoretical study involves the delta shape complexes of beryllium, magnesium, and calcium where the metal atom interacts perpendicularly with disubstituted acetylene. Most of the complexes are found to be fairly stable. The dependence of second-hyperpolarizability on the basis set with increasing polarization and diffuse functions has been examined which showed the importance of 'f-type' type polarization function for heavy metal (Mg, Ca) and 'd-type' polarization function for beryllium. Larger second hyperpolarizability has been predicted for complexes having significant ground state polarization and low lying excited states favoring strong electronic coupling. Transition energy plays the most significant role in modulating the second hyperpolarizability.

Second hyperpolarizability of multimetallocenes [Cp–Mn–Cp] of Be, Mg and Ca

Multimetallocene complexes ( Cp – M n– Cp ) of Be , Mg and Ca have been considered for the theoretical study of static second hyperpolarizability using a number of DFT functionals. Owing to the cooperative effect in bonding, beryllium forms multiberyllocene complexes ( Cp – Be n– Cp ) which have sufficient thermal stability with respect to dissociation into neutral fragments up to n = 10. On the other hand, multimetallocene complexes of Mg and Ca are found to be stable for n ≤ 5 which may be due to the weaker covalent bonding interaction between the larger metal atoms. The rather small variation of linear and cubic polarizabilities of Cp – Be n– Cp complexes beyond n = 5 arises from the rather weaker charge transfer transitions. The difference in NLO property among the investigated metal complexes arises from the extent of charge transfer from the terminal metal atoms and the distance between them. The charge transfer at longer distances in the ground state of Mg and Ca complexes leads to more intense electronic transition — the spectroscopic parameters of which strongly favors the enhancement of second hyperpolarizability.

Exploring bridging effect on first hyperpolarizability

Modulation of first hyperpolarizability on varying structure of the bridge.

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.

Cellulose nanocrystals/ZnO as a bifunctional reinforcing nanocomposite for poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan blend films: fabrication, characterization and properties

In this study, cellulose nanocrystals/zinc oxide (CNCs/ZnO) nanocomposites were dispersed as bifunctional nano-sized fillers into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan (Cs) blend by a solvent casting method to prepare PVA/Cs/CNCs/ZnO bio-nanocomposites films. The morphology, thermal, mechanical and UV-vis absorption properties, as well antimicrobial effects of the bio-nanocomposite films were investigated. It demonstrated that CNCs/ZnO were compatible with PVA/Cs and dispersed homogeneously in the polymer blend matrix. CNCs/ZnO improved tensile strength and modulus of PVA/Cs significantly. Tensile strength and modulus of bio-nanocomposite films increased from 55.0 to 153.2 MPa and from 395 to 932 MPa, respectively with increasing nano-sized filler amount from 0 to 5.0 wt %. The thermal stability of PVA/Cs was also enhanced at 1.0 wt % CNCs/ZnO loading. UV light can be efficiently absorbed by incorporating ZnO nanoparticles into a PVA/Cs matrix, signifying that these bio-nanocomposite films show good UV-shielding effects. Moreover, the biocomposites films showed antibacterial activity toward the bacterial species Salmonella choleraesuis and Staphylococcus aureus. The improved physical properties obtained by incorporating CNCs/ZnO can be useful in variety uses.

Third-order NLO property of beryllium-pyridyne complexes

Six pyridyne isomers and their complexes with beryllium have been considered for the theoretical study of the third-order polarizability. The NLO properties are calculated by employing the DFT functionals BLYP, B3LYP, BHHLYP, B3PW91, BP86 and B2PLYP for the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The C - Be bond length in the complexes varies within 1.644 Å–1.771 Å indicating covalent interactions between the metal and pyridynes. The present investigation reveals that the magnitude of second-hyperpolarizability of pyridynes strongly enhances upon complex formation with beryllium. The maximum hyperpolarizability has been predicted for the 2,5-diberyllium pyridine complex. The lowest value of hyperpolarizability is obtained for the 2,3- and 3,4-diberyllium pyridine complexes. The chosen DFT methods predict almost identical pattern of variation of NLO property. The variation of second-hyperpolarizability has been satisfactorily explained by the excitation energy and transition dipole moment associated with the most dominant excited state.

Beryllium-cyclobutadiene multidecker inverse sandwiches: electronic structure and second-hyperpolarizability

Beryllium forms stable sandwich and inverse sandwich complexes with the cyclobutadiene molecule. Two types of multidecker complexes are designed. Multidecker inverse sandwiches are found to be thermally more stable than the corresponding sandwich complexes. The average distance between two consecutive metals and the two consecutive cyclobutadiene rings increase gradually on increasing size of the chosen inverse sandwich complexes. The density functional theory functionals B3LYP, BHHLYP, BLYP, M06, CAM-B3LYP, and B2PLYP in conjunction with the 6-311++G (d, p) basis set have been employed for calculating the third-order electric response properties of the chosen beryllium-cyclobutadiene complexes and the results obtained for each functional are found to have a consistent trend. Compared to the normal sandwich compounds the second-hyperpolarizability of inverse sandwiches is predicated to be larger, which fairly correlates with the extent of ground-state polarization. The significant enhancement of cubic polarizability of higher-order multidecker inverse sandwiches arises from the strong coupling between the ground and the low lying charge transfer excited states. The rather strong enhancement of second-hyperpolarizability on increasing size of the beryllium-multidecker inverse sandwiches may provide a new route to design efficient nonlinear optical materials.

INTERACTION OF BERYLLIUM WITH ACCEPTOR HYDROCARBONS: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND SECOND HYPERPOLARIZABILITY

Some selected acceptor-Be hydrocarbon complexes have been considered for evaluation of second hyperpolarizability at different DFT functional. All the complexes have been found thermally stable and there is a significant increase of second hyperpolarizability compared to the ligands. Second hyperpolarizability has been explained in terms of charge transfer interaction. Co-operative interaction is required for maximization of second hyperpolarizability. Localized charge transfer in the vicinity of metal alone cannot increase second hyperpolarizability while charge delocalization over entire molecule is mandatory. Substitution by more electropositive metals e.g. Mg , Ca have greater enhancement in longitudinal component of γ. Basis set 6-311++G** is reasonable with respect to computational cost at aug-cc-pVnZ's (n = D, T, Q) for evaluation of second hyperpolarizability for the present complexes.

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIFFERENT-ORDER POLARIZABILITIES AND GROUND STATE DIPOLE MOMENT

A number of charge transferring molecules with varying electron donor, acceptor and π-conjugative paths have been considered for the theoretical study of their NLO properties in terms of the linear polarizability and the ground state dipole moment. The equilibrium structures are calculated at the HF, MP2 and B3LYP levels, respectively. The longitudinal components of NLO coefficients are calculated by using HF, MP2, B3LYP, BHHLYP, CAM-B3LYP, and wB97XD methods for 6-31+G(p,d) and 6-311++G(p,d) basis sets. The hyperpolarizabilities obtained at different levels of calculation showed a fairly consistent trend. The relationships between hyperpolarizabilities, polarizability and ground state dipole moment have been proposed by considering only the two-level term in the standard sum-over-state (SOS) expressions and the generalized Thomas–Kuhn (TK) sum rule. The ab initio calculated first- and second-hyperpolarizabilities fairly correlate with the reduced 2-level contributions relating to the linear polarizability and ground state dipole moment. For a given length of conjugation the stronger enhancement of cubic polarizability arises from the increase of quadratic polarizability for comparable values of linear polarizability and dipole moment. The idea developed in the present work can be used to make a rational design of potential NLO-phores.