Adam Johannes Johansson

Reactivity of metal oxide clusters with hydrogen peroxide and water – a DFT study evaluating the performance of different exchange–correlation functionals

We have performed a density functional theory (DFT) investigation of the interactions of H2O2, H2O and HO radicals with clusters of ZrO2, TiO2 and Y2O3. Different modes of H2O adsorption onto the clusters were studied. In almost all the cases the dissociative adsorption is more exothermic than molecular adsorption. At the surfaces where H2O has undergone dissociative adsorption, the adsorption of H2O2 and the transition state for its decomposition are mediated by hydrogen bonding with the surface HO groups. Using the functionals B3LYP, B3LYP-D and M06 with clusters of 26 and 8 units of ZrO2, the M06 functional performed better than B3LYP in describing the reaction of decomposition of H2O2 and the adsorption of H2O. Additionally, we investigated clusters of the type (ZrO2)2, (TiO2)2 and (Y2O3) and the performance of the functionals B3LYP, B3LYP-D, B3LYP*, M06, M06-L, PBE0, PBE and PWPW91 in describing H2O2, H2O and HO˙ adsorption and the energy barrier for decomposition of H2O2. The trends obtained for HO˙ adsorption onto the clusters are discussed in terms of the ionization energy of the metal cation present in the oxide. In order to correctly account for the existence of an energy barrier for the decomposition of H2O2, the functional used must include Hartree-Fock exchange. Using minimal cluster models, the best performance in describing the energy barrier for H2O2 decomposition was obtained with the M06 and PBE0 functionals - the average absolute deviations from experiments are 6 kJ mol(-1) and 5 kJ mol(-1) respectively. With the M06 functional and a larger monoclinic (ZrO2)8 cluster model, the performance is in excellent agreement with experimental data. For the different oxides, PBE0 was found to be the most effective functional in terms of performance and computational time cost.

Quantifying the effects of the self-interaction error in density functional theory: When do the delocalized states appear? II. Iron-oxo complexes and closed-shell substrate molecules

Effects of the self-interaction error (SIE) in approximate density functional theory have several times been reported and quantified for the dissociation of charged radicals, charge transfer complexes, polarizabilities, and for transition states of reactions involving main-group molecules. In the present contribution, effects of the SIE in systems composed of a catalytic transition metal complex and a closed-shell substrate molecule are investigated. For this type of system, effects of the SIE have not been reported earlier. It is found that although the best density functionals (e.g., B3LYP) are capable of accurate predictions of structure, thermodynamics, and reactivity of such systems, there are situations and systems for which the magnitude of the SIE can be large, and for which the effects can be severe for the modeling of chemical reactivity. The largest energetic effect reported here is the artificial stabilization of a catalyst-substrate complex by as much as 18 kcal/mol. Also, the disappearance of significant energy barriers for hydrogen atom transfer in certain systems are reported. In line with earlier work, it is found that the magnitude of the SIE is related to the energetics of electron transfer between the metal catalyst and the substrate molecule. It is suggested that these problems might be circumvented by the inclusion of counterions or point charges that would alter the energetics of electron transfer. It is also pointed out that the effects of SIE in the modeling of transition metal reactivity need to be investigated further.

On the formation of hydrogen gas on copper in anoxic water

Hydrogen gas has been detected in a closed system containing copper and pure anoxic water [P. Szakalos, G. Hultquist, and G. Wikmark, Electrochem. Solid-State Lett. 10, C63 (2007) and G. Hultquist, P. Szakalos, M. Graham, A. Belonoshko, G. Sproule, L. Grasjo, P. Dorogokupets, B. Danilov, T. Aastrup, G. Wikmark, G. Chuah, J. Eriksson, and A. Rosengren, Catal. Lett. 132, 311 (2009)]. Although bulk corrosion into any of the known phases of copper is thermodynamically forbidden, the present paper shows how surface reactions lead to the formation of hydrogen gas in limited amounts. While water cleavage on copper has been reported and investigated before, formation of molecular hydrogen at a single-crystal Cu[100] surface is here explored using density functional theory and transition state theory. It is found that although solvent catalysis seems possible, the fastest route to the formation of molecular hydrogen is the direct combination of hydrogen atoms on the copper surface. The activation free energy (ΔG(s)(‡)(f)) of hydrogen formation in condensed phase is 0.70 eV, which corresponds to a rate constant of 10 s(-1) at 298.15 K, i.e., a relatively rapid process. It is estimated that at least 2.4 ng hydrogen gas could form per cm(2) on a perfect copper surface.

Theoretical Insights into Heme-Catalyzed Oxidation of Cyclohexane to Adipic Acid

Adipic acid is a key compound in the chemical industry, where it is mainly used in the production of polymers. The conventional process of its generation requires vast amounts of energy and, moreover, produces environmentally deleterious substances. Thus, there is interest in alternative ways to gain adequate amounts of adipic acid. Experimental reports on a one-pot iron-catalyzed conversion of cyclohexane to adipic acid motivated a theoretical investigation based on density functional theory calculations. The process investigated is interesting because it requires less energy than contemporary methods and does not produce environmentally harmful side products. The aim of the present contribution is to gain insight into the mechanism of the iron-catalyzed cyclohexane conversion to provide a basis for the further development of this process. The rate-limiting step of the process is discussed, but considering the accuracy of the calculations, it is difficult to ensure whether the rate-limiting step is in the substrate oxidation or in the generation of the catalytically active species. It is shown that the slowest step in the substrate oxidation is the conversion of cyclohexanol to cyclohexane-1,2-diol. Hydrogen-atom transfer from one of the OH groups of cyclohexane-1,2-diol makes the intradiol cleavage occur spontaneously.

Mechanistic Insights into the Stepwise Diels–Alder Reaction of 4,6-Dinitrobenzofuroxan

The stepwise Diels-Alder reaction between 1-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-butadiene and 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan is explored using state-of-the-art computational methods. The results support a stepwise mechanism via a persistent intermediate, however, not the one previously reported (Lakhdar et al., Chem. Eur. J.2007, 16, 5681) but a heterocyclic adduct. The novel DFT functional M062X and the SCS-MP2 method were essential to reproduce a reasonable potential energy surface for this challenging system.

Searching for the thermodynamic limit – a DFT study of the step-wise water oxidation of the bipyramidal Cu 7 cluster

Oxidative degradation of copper in aqueous environments is a major concern in areas such as catalysis, electronics and construction engineering. A particular challenge is to systematically investigate the details of this process for non-ideal copper surfaces and particles under the conditions found in most real applications. To this end, we have used hybrid density functional theory to study the oxidation of a Cu7 cluster in water solution. Especially, the role of a large water coverage is explored. This has resulted in the conclusion that, under atmospheric H2 pressures, the thermodynamically most favored state of degradation is achieved upon the generation of four H2 molecules (i.e. Cu7 + 8H2O → Cu7(OH)8 + 4H2) in both condensed and gas phases. This state corresponds to an average oxidation state below Cu(I). The calculations suggest that the oxidation reaction is slow at ambient temperatures with the water dissociation as the rate-limiting step. Our findings are expected to have implication for, among other areas, the copper catalyzed water-gas shift reaction, and for the general understanding of copper corrosion in aqueous environments.

Envisioning an enzymatic Diels–Alder reaction by in situ acid–base catalyzed diene generation

We present and evaluate a new and potentially efficient route for enzyme-mediated Diels-Alder reactions, utilizing general acid-base catalysis. The viability of employing the active site of ketosteroid isomerase is demonstrated.

Reactivity at the Cu2O(100):Cu–H2O interface: a combined DFT and PES study

The water-cuprite interface plays an important role in dictating surface related properties. This not only applies to the oxide, but also to metallic copper, which is covered by an oxide film under typical operational conditions. In order to extend the currently scarce knowledge of the details of the water-oxide interplay, water interactions and reactions on a common Cu2O(100):Cu surface have been studied using high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) as well as Hubbard U and dispersion corrected density functional theory (PBE-D3+U) calculations up to a bilayer water coverage. The PBE-D3+U results are compared with PBE, PBE-D3 and hybrid HSE06-D3 calculation results. Both computational and experimental results support a thermodynamically favored, and H2O coverage independent, surface OH coverage of 0.25-0.5 ML, which is larger than the previously reported value. The computations indicate that the results are consistent also for ambient temperatures under wet/humid and oxygen lean conditions. In addition, both DFT and PES results indicate that the initial (3,0;1,1) surface reconstruction is lifted upon water adsorption to form an unreconstructed (1 × 1) Cu2O(100) structure.

In situ evaluation of model copper-cast iron canisters for spent nuclear fuel: a case of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)

Abstract The Swedish method for disposal of spent nuclear fuel in a deep geological repository (KBS-3) relies on the stability of the granitic bed-rock and two engineered barriers: a copper-cast iron canister and highly compacted bentonite clay. In order to develop a better understanding of the internal corrosion processes that could take place if a leak were to occur in the outer copper canister, five miniaturised copper cast iron canisters were installed at a depth of 450 m at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory, in Sweden. The experiments differed in the density of the surrounding bentonite buffer, as well as in the number and position of leak points that were introduced in the copper shell. Several electrochemical techniques (e.g. AC impedance, linear polarisation resistance and electrochemical noise) were used to monitor the corrosion of different components of the experiment. Copper specimens were installed for post-test evaluation of the rate of general corrosion, localised corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). In addition, mechanical and environmental parameters, such as surface strain, hydrostatic pressure, redox potential, pH, water chemistry, dissolved gases, and microbial numbers, diversity, and activity were measured regularly. After five years of in situ exposure one of the canisters was retrieved and analysed to characterise and evaluate the corrosion processes that had occurred during the experiment. Extensive sulphide production by sulphate reducing bacteria led to rapid corrosion of iron, and the formation of iron sulphide deposits on the copper and iron electrodes disturbed the electrochemical measurements. This paper describes the various analyses that were carried out on the model canister and summarises the conclusions that can be drawn.

Computational analysis of the early stage of cuprous oxide sulphidation: a top-down process

ABSTRACT The initial steps of Cu2O sulphidation to Cu2S have been studied using plane-wave density functional theory at the PBE-D3+U level of sophistication. Surface adsorption and dissociation of H2S and H2O, as well as the replacement reaction of lattice oxygen with sulphur, have been investigated for the most stable (111) and (100) surface facets under oxygen-lean conditions. We find that the (100) surface is more susceptible to sulphidation than the (111) surface, promoting both H2S adsorption, dissociation and the continued oxygen–sulphur replacement. The results presented in this proceeding bridge previous results from high-vacuum experiments on ideal surface to more realistic corrosion conditions and set the grounds for future mechanistic studies. Potential implications on the long-term final disposal of spent nuclear fuel are discussed. This paper is part of a supplement on the 6th International Workshop on Long-Term Prediction of Corrosion Damage in Nuclear Waste Systems. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT