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A two-component quasirelativistic theory based on the Douglas-Kroll-Hess ͑DKH͒ transformation has been developed to study magnetic properties of molecules. The proposed Hamiltonian includes the relativistic magnetic vector potential in the framework of the DKH theory, and is applicable to the calculations of magnetic properties without further expansion in powers of c Ϫ1. By combining with the finite-perturbation theory and the generalized-UHF method, new pictures of the magnetic shielding constant are derived. We apply the theory to calculations of the magnetic shielding constants of He isoelectronic systems, Ne isoelectronic systems, and noble gas atoms. The results of the present theory compare well with those of the four-component Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations; the differences were within 3%. We note that the quasirelativistic theory that handles the magnetic vector potential at a nonrelativistic level greatly underestimates the relativistic effect. The so-called ''picture change'' effect is quite important for the magnetic shielding constant of heavy elements. The change in the orbital picture plays a significant role in the valence-orbital magnetic response as well as the core-orbital one. The effect of the finite nucleus is also studied using Gaussian nucleus model. The present theory reproduces the correct behavior of the finite-nucleus effect that has been reported with the Dirac theory. In contrast, the nonrelativistic theory and the quasirelativistic theory with the nonrelativistic vector potential underestimate the finite-nucleus effect.

In this paper we present the theory and implementation of the symmetry-adapted cluster (SAC) and symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction (SAC-CI) method, including the solvent effect, using the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The PCM and SAC/SAC-CI were consistently combined in terms of the energy functional formalism. The excitation energies were calculated by means of the state-specific approach, the advantage of which over the linear-response approach has been shown. The single-point energy calculation and its analytical energy derivatives are presented and implemented, where the free-energy and its derivatives are evaluated because of the presence of solute-solvent interactions. We have applied this method to s-trans-acrolein and metylenecyclopropene of their electronic excitation in solution. The molecular geometries in the ground and excited states were optimized in vacuum and in solution, and both the vertical and adiabatic excitations were studied. The PCM-SAC/SAC-CI reproduced the known trend of the solvent effect on the vertical excitation energies but the shift values were underestimated. The excited state geometry in planar and nonplanar conformations was investigated. The importance of using state-specific methods was shown for the solvent effect on the optimized geometry in the excited state. The mechanism of the solvent effect is discussed in terms of the Mulliken charges and electronic dipole moment.

The structures of low-lying singlet excited states of nine π-conjugated heteroaromatic compounds have been investigated by the symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction (SAC-CI) method and the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) using the PBE0 functional (TD-PBE0).In particular, the geometry relaxation in some ππ* and nπ* excited states of furan, pyrrole, pyridine, p-benzoquinone, uracil, adenine, 9,10-anthraquinone, coumarin, and 1,8-naphthalimide as well as the corresponding vertical transitions, including Rydberg excited states, have been analyzed in detail. The basis set and functional dependence of the results was also examined. The SAC-CI and TD-PBE0 calculations showed reasonable agreement in both transition energies and excited-state equilibrium structures for these heteroaromatic compounds.

A series of organic sensitizers with the direct electron injection mechanism and a high molar extinction coefficient comprising double donors, a π-spacer, and anchoring acceptor groups (D−D−π−A type) were synthesized and characterized by experimental and theoretical methods for dye-sensitized solar cells. (E)-2-Cyano-3-(5″-(4-((4-(3,6-di-tert-butylcarbazol-9-yl)phenyl)dodecylamino)phenyl)-[2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene]-5-yl)acrylic acid showed performance with a maximal incident photon to electron conversion efficiency of 83%, J sc value of 10.89 mA cm −2 , V oc value of 0.70 V, and fill factor of 0.67, which correspond to an overall conversion efficiency of 5.12% under AM 1.5G illumination. The molecular geometry, electronic structure, and excited states were investigated with density functional theory, time-dependent density functional theory, and the symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction method. The double donor moieties not only contribute to enhancement of the electron-donating ability, but also inhibit aggregation between dye molecules and prevent iodide/triiodide in the electrolyte from recombining with injected electrons in TiO 2 . Detailed assignments of the UV−vis spectra below the ionization threshold are given. The low-lying light-harvesting state has intramolecular charge transfer character with a high molar extinction coefficient because of the long π-spacer. Our experimental and theoretical findings support the potential of direct electron injection from the dye to TiO 2 in one step with electronic excitation for the present D− D−π−A sensitizers. The direct electron injection, inhibited aggregation, and high molar extinction coefficient may be the origin of the observed high efficiency. This type of D−D−π−A structure with direct electron injection would simplify the strategy for designing organic sensitizers.

Single‐atom catalysts have attracted much interest recently because of their excellent stability, high catalytic activity, and remarkable atom efficiency. Inspired by the recent experimental discovery of a highly efficient single‐atom catalyst Pd1/γ‐Al2O3, we conducted a comprehensive DFT study on geometries, stabilities and CO oxidation catalytic activities of M1/γ‐Al2O3 (M=Pd, Fe, Co, and Ni) by using slab‐model. One of the most important results here is that Ni1/Al2O3 catalyst exhibits higher activity in CO oxidation than Pd1/Al2O3. The CO oxidation occurs through the Mars van Krevelen mechanism, the rate‐determining step of which is the generation of CO2 from CO through abstraction of surface oxygen. The projected density of states (PDOS) of 2p orbitals of the surface O, the structure of CO‐adsorbed surface, charge polarization of CO and charge transfer from CO to surface are important factors for these catalysts. Although the binding energies of Fe and Co with Al2O3 are very large, those of Pd and Ni are small, indicating that the neighboring O atom is not strongly bound to Pd and Ni, which leads to an enhancement of the reactivity of the O atom toward CO. The metal oxidation state is suggested to be one of the crucial factors for the observed catalytic activity.

The aerobic oxidation of methanol to formic acid catalyzed by Au(20)(-) has been investigated quantum chemically using density functional theory with the M06 functional. Possible reaction pathways are examined taking account of full structure relaxation of the Au(20)(-) cluster. The proposed reaction mechanism consists of three elementary steps: (1) formation of formaldehyde from methoxy species activated by a superoxo-like anion on the gold cluster; (2) nucleophilic addition by the hydroxyl group of a hydroperoxyl-like complex to formaldehyde resulting in a hemiacetal intermediate; and (3) formation of formic acid by hydrogen transfer from the hemiacetal intermediate to atomic oxygen attached to the gold cluster. A comparison of the computed energetics of various elementary steps indicates that C-H bond dissociation of the methoxy species leading to formation of formaldehyde is the rate-determining step. A possible reaction pathway involving single-step hydrogen abstraction, a concerted mechanism, is also discussed. The stabilities of reactants, intermediates and transition state structures are governed by the coordination number of the gold atoms, charge distribution, cooperative effect and structural distortion, which are the key parameters for understanding the relationship between the structure of the gold cluster and catalytic activity in the aerobic oxidation of alcohols.