Abstract Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) are among the most used catalysts in photodegradation. Paracetamol and salicylic acid are widely used as pharmaceutical drugs. We found that paracetamol is less susceptible to photodegradation compared to salicylic acid. From a chemical perspective, this was not expected since paracetamol is more vulnerable to chemical oxidation. Aiming the comprehension of this phenomenon, studies were performed comparing the efficiency of photodegradation of paracetamol versus salicylic acid and acetophenone versus 4-aminoacetophenone. The presence of amino/amide group decreased the efficiency of degradation significantly. It was also found that salicylic acid improved the degradation of paracetamol when both compounds were present in the reaction medium. The lower efficiency of photodegradation of the amino-based compounds seems to be related to the deactivation of the excited states of the TiO2 and ZnO. Theoretical calculations at the TD-PBE0/6-311++G(3df,2p) high level were performed and corroborated our proposal.

PbO2 is one material that has recently emerged as potential transparent conducting oxide for applications in the modern opto-electronic industry. In this work the electronic structure of the α-PbO2 polymorph has been investigated, aiming to contribute to the understanding of its high levels of conductivity. DFT calculations using B3LYP hybrid density functional and considering long range interactions among the atoms have been performed. A direct band gap of 0.90 eV has been found, compatible with high conductivity values. Although the stoichiometric material is somewhat transparent, the band structure indicates that appropriated modifications in the material Fermi level can be performed in order to decrease the absorption of light. Charge distribution plus overlap population analysis show that the material is predominantly ionic. The charge distribution throughout the material is strongly dependent on the crystal direction. Results suggest that α-PbO2 can be potentially more interesting for opto-electronic purposes than the β polymorph.

Computational simulations based on periodic density functional theory have been carried out to investigate the control of crystal morphology by accurate values of surface energies by Wulff theorem. This method can be used as a very useful tool for the design and knowledge of synthesis of new materials. In a special case, rutile TiO2 phase, exhibits great variety of morphologies and properties making this system an interesting target for this approach. The low index, (100), (001), (101), (110), (111) surfaces were modeled and the respective surface energies produces the follows stability order: (110) < (010) < (101) < (001) < (111). The map of some morphologies routes was constructed from the calculated energies as a starting point without environmental influence and can be used to elucidate the influence of chemical routes. This method has helped in the knowledge of morphological modifications as a function of synthesis environment besides the connection between system characteristics and the exposed surfaces.

Resultados obtidos por cálculos Dirac-Fock correlacionados de 4 componentes para o fluoreto do elemento E119 (Eka-Frâncio) com base estável e precisa, livre de prolapso variacional, são reportados neste trabalho. No nível CCSD(T), a distância de equilíbrio Re, frequência harmônica ωe e energia de dissociação De são 2,432 Å, 354,97 cm-1 e 116,92 kcal mol-1, respectivamente. Também são reportados base livre de prolapso variacional de 4 componentes para o elemento 119, uma curva analítica de energia potencial precisa e o espectro vibracional a partir dos dados obtidos no nível CCSD(T). Nossos resultados sugerem que a molécula E119F deva ser menos iônica que seus fluoretos alcalinos homólogos mais leves, em contraste com o senso químico comum baseado nas propriedades periódicas - era de se esperar nesta molécula a ligação química mais iônica possível. Também encontramos que a correção do tipo modelo de carga para negligenciar as integrais do tipo SS resulta em erros insignificantes e acelera os cálculos cerca de 3 vezes no nível CCSD(T) e cerca de 4 vezes no nível DFT/B3LYP.

Results obtained with correlated 4-component Dirac-Fock calculations for element E119 (eka-francium) fluoride with stable and accurate basis set (prolapse-free) are reported in this work. At CCSD(T) level, the equilibrium distance Re, harmonic frequency ωe and dissociation energy De are 2.432 Å, 354.97 cm-1 and 116.92 kcal mol-1, respectively. A 4-component prolapse free basis set for E119, an accurate analytical potential energy curve and vibrational spectra from CCSD(T) data are also reported. Our results suggest that E119F should be less ionic than lighter alkaline fluoride homologues, in contrast to the common chemical belief based on periodic trends - it would be expected in this molecule the most ionic bond possible. We also found that the charge model correction to neglect SS integrals leads to negligible errors and speed up calculations close to three times at CCSD(T) level and close to 4 times at DFT/B3LYP level.

The absorption edge and the bandgap transition of sol-gel-dip-coating SnO2 thin films, deposited on quartz substrates, are evaluated from optical absorption data and temperature dependent photoconductivity spectra. Structural properties of these films help the interpretation of bandgap transition nature, since the obtained nanosized dimensions of crystallites are determinant on dominant growth direction and, thus, absorption energy. Electronic properties of the bulk and (110) and (101) surfaces are also presented, calculated by means of density functional theory applied to periodic calculations at B3LYP hybrid functional level. Experimentally obtained absorption edge is compared to the calculated energy band diagrams of bulk and (110) and (101) surfaces. The overall calculated electronic properties in conjunction with structural and electro-optical experimental data suggest that the nature of the bandgap transition is related to a combined effect of bulk and (101) surface, which presents direct bandgap transition.

A computational method to simulate the changes in the electronic structure of Ga1-xMn xN was performed in order to improve the understanding of the indirect contribution of Mn atoms. This periodic quantum-mechanical method is based on density functional theory at B3LYP level. The electronic structures are compared with experimental data of the absorption edge of the GaMnN. It was observed that the indirect influence of Mn through the structural parameters can account for the main part of the band gap variation for materials in the diluted regime (x<0.08), and is still significant for higher compositions (x~0.18).

The electronic, structural properties and elastic constants of the wurtzite phase of zinc oxide, ZnO, was investigated using computer simulation at Density Functional Theory level, with B3LYP hybrid functional and Hartree-Fock methodology. The electronic properties as well the band energy was investigated through the analysis of the band structures and density of states (DOS), and the mechanical properties was studied through the calculus of the elastic constants C11, C33, C44, C12 e C13. The results are in good agreement with experimental data found in the literature and in accordance with results obtained by another theoretical methodology.

Calculations based on density functional theory at the B3LYP hybrid functional level applied to periodic models have been performed to characterize the structural and electronic properties of PbTiO3. Two different slab terminations (PbO and TiO2) have been considered to obtain and discuss the results of band structure, density of states, charge distribution on bulk and surface relaxation. It is observed that the relaxation processes are most prominent for the Ti and Pb surface atoms. The electron density maps confirm the partial covalent character of the Ti-O bonds. The calculated optical band gap and other results are in agreement with experimental data.

Ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF), Density Functional (B3LYP) and electron correlation (MP2) methods have been used to caracterize the aqueous medium intramolecular hydrogen bond in <FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font>-alanine. The 6-31G* and 6-31++G** were taken from Gaussian94 library. We were concerned on the structure of three conformers of <FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font>-alanine, in their neutral form plus on the structure of the zwitterionic form (Z). The Z structure is a stationary point at the HF/6-31G* level but it is not when diffuse functions and electron correlation are included. This results shows that the Z form does not exist in the gas phase. The inclusion of solvent effects changed significantly the results obtained in gas phase, therefore this inclusion make the Z form a stationary point within all level of theory, and the relative energy depends dramatically on the level of calculation.