Density functional calculation of simple molecules

Date
2012-03
Authors
Olaoye, Olufemi Opeyemi.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Berekeninge met Density Functional Theory (DFT) is ’n nuttige tegniek om die dinamika van molekules op potensiële energievlakke te verstaan. Beginnende met ’n prototipe molekuul formaldimien, wat die kern vorm van die groter fotochromiese molekuul dithizonatophenyl kwik (DPM), word die modellering van die molekuul meer ingewikkeld tot laasgenoemde bestudeer kan word asook sy fotochromiese afgeleides wat vervanging van elektronryk en elektronarm radikale by orto, meta en para posisies van die phenyl ringe insluit. DFT berekeninge word met spektra van Absorpsiespektroskopie met UV en sigbare lig asook tyd opgeloste spektra, verkry dmv femtosekondespektroskopie, vergelyk. In pol^ere aprotiese, pol^ere protiese en nie-pol^ere oplosmiddels, isomeriseer die molekuul om die C=N dubbelbinding. Daar kan tussen die twee isomere onderskei word deur dat die een in oplossing in sy grondtoestand blou en die ander een oranje voorkom. Die isomerisering is’n fotogeinduseerde proses. Die optimering van die molekul^ere struktuur, absorpsiespektra, oplosmiddel-afhanklikheid, en potensiële energievlak metings van die molekuul word bestudeer. Die sterk/swak wisselwerking wat in pol^ere protiese/aprotiese oplosmiddels verskyn word geopenbaar deur die hoe/lae absorpsie van die sekond^ere bande van die molekules. Daar is gevind dat die absorpsiespektra van DPM bathochromies in oplosmiddels met hoë diëlektriese konstantes is. Vir die potensiële energievlak berekeninge van die grondtoestand word rigiede en ontspanne metodes gebruik waar laasgenoemde met gebroke simmetrie berekeninge verkry word. Van alle metodes wat vir berekeninge gebruik was, gee die B3LYP/CEP-31G metode die beste benadering aan eksperimentele data. Alle berekeninge word gedoen met twee bekende sagteware pakkette; Amsterdam Density Functional (ADF) en Gaussian, wat op twee verskillende DFT metodes gebaseer is.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Density functional theory is a useful computational tool in the understanding of molecular dynamics on potential energy surfaces. Starting with a prototype molecule formaldimine, the photochromic molecule dithizonatophenylmercury II (DPM) and a set of its photochromic derivatives, (involving substitutions of electron donating and electron withdrawing substituents at ortho, meta and para positions of the dithizonato phenyl rings), are studied through density functional calculation in comparison with steady state absorption spectra obtained from UV-Visible and femto second spectroscopy experiments. In polar aprotic, polar protic and non-polar solvents these molecules isomerise around C=N double bond chromophore, from orange electronic ground states to blue electronic ground states upon photo-excitation. We investigate the structural optimisations, the absorption spectra, the solvent dependence and the potential energy surface (PES) of these molecules. The strong (weak) interactions exhibited by the polar protic (aprotic) solvents used are revealed through high (low) absorbance in the secondary bands of these molecules. The absorption spectra of DPM are found to be bathochromic in solvents with high dielectric constants. For the ground state PES calculation we make use of rigid and relaxed methods, and the latter is obtained through broken symmetry calculation. Of all the methods used in calculation, B3LYP/CEP-31G method gives the best approximation to the experimental data. All calculations are done using the two renown software, Amsterdam Density Functional (ADF) and Gaussian, availing their different density functional methods.
Description
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Density functional calculation, Metal organic complexes, Ultrafast spectroscopy, Dissertations -- Physics, Theses -- Physics, Formaldimine, Dithizonatophenylmercury, Energy surfaces
Citation