Author Archive

Theoretical ‘methods of choice’ for transition metal chemistry?

theoryPCCP Perspective article – Hot off the press!

A new class of variational states based on a tensor network approach is examined for application in transition metal chemistry.


New electron correlation theories for transition metal chemistry

Konrad H. Marti and Markus Reiher
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01883J

Electronic structure theory faces many computational challenges in transition metal chemistry. Usually, density functional theory is the method of choice for theoretical studies on transition metal complexes and clusters mostly because it is the only feasible one, although its results are not systematically improvable. By contrast, multireference ab initio  methods could provide a correct description of the electronic structure, but are limited to small molecules because of the tremendous computational resources required. In recent years, conceptually new ab initio  methods emerged that turned out to be promising for theoretical coordination chemistry.

Two efficient parametrization schemes are discussed for the electronic wave function, the matrix product states and the complete-graph tensor network states. Their advantages are demonstrated at example transition metal complexes. Especially, tensor network states might provide the key to accurately describe strongly correlated and magnetic molecular systems in transition metal chemistry.

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Understanding the fundamentals of organic aerosols

Perspective review article – using mass spectrometry to understand organic aerosols

Understanding the molecular composition and fundamental chemical transformations of organic aerosols (OA) during their formation and lifetime is a major challenge in atmospheric research.

This Perspective review by Sergey Nizkorodov and colleagues dissucess the recent advances and perspectives for future research on the chemical characterization of organic aerosols using high-resolution mass spectrometry.

organic aerosols

Read this feature article today:

Molecular chemistry of organic aerosols through the application of high resolution mass spectrometry
Sergey A. Nizkorodov, Julia Laskin and Alexander Laskin
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02032J

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Homochirality and the origin of life – out now!

Cover imagePCCP Issue 3, 2011, is now online and it includes a collection of articles on the theme homochirality and the origin of life.

The themed issue is Guest Edited by Professor Seong Keun Kim, Professor Taekjip Ha and Professor Jean-Pierre Schermann, and is part of the PCCP biophysics and biophysical chemistry series.

View all the issues in the series:

And coming soon:

  • Nano-bio: The interface between bio-systems and nano-devices

Sign-up to our contents e-alerts to have the upcoming issue sent direct to your inbox.

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Merry Christmas from the PCCP team!

We have had another record breaking year in 2010, with submissions continuing to rise, our biggest volume to date and our Impact Factor now leads the way with general physical chemistry journals.

Cover imagePlease take a look at our New Year Editorial for 2011 and we invite you to submit some of your best work for publication in PCCP this year.

We thank all of our authors, Board members, readers and referees for their valuable support, it is you that has achieved this great success! We look forward to working with you in the future to build on our achievements.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!

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Exploring exciplex forming donor–acceptor systems

‘HOT’ paper – magnetic field effects

In this paper, the magnetic field effects on the exciplex and locally excited fluorophore emission are explored. The results confirm reversibility in the excited state and the novel three-state model is also used to rationalize the extent of the magnetic field effects for different energetic situations.

magnetic field effectsComparing the experimental emission bands with those predicted by the model, a semi-quantitative picture of the magnetic field effect has been developed.

Magnetic field effects on exciplex-forming systems: the effect on the locally excited fluorophore and its dependence on free energy
Daniel R. Kattnig, Arnulf Rosspeintner and Günter Grampp
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01517B

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Calculating molecular properties of any element

ab initio calculation‘HOT’ Perspective article

A complete computational approach for calculating molecular properties involving any element in the periodic table

This article accounts some of the recent advances in the development of ab initio methods for the calculation of molecular response properties, involving electric, magnetic, and geometric perturbations.

Feature article
The ab initio calculation of molecular electric, magnetic and geometric properties
Radovan Bast, Ulf Ekström, Bin Gao, Trygve Helgaker, Kenneth Ruud and Andreas J. Thorvaldsen
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01647K

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In situ mapping of zeolite ZSM-5 crystals

‘HOT’ paper – using confocal fluorescence microscopy to view zeolite crystals

Bert  Weckhuysen and Lukasz Karwacki have combined UV-Vis/confocal fluorescence micro-spectroscopy to allow in situ mapping of the template decomposition process in large zeolite ZSM-5 crystals.

zeolite
New insight in the template decomposition process of large zeolite ZSM-5 crystals: an in situ UV-Vis/fluorescence micro-spectroscopy study

Lukasz Karwacki and Bert M. Weckhuysen
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02220A

Seeing small differences in the diffusion rate of the molecules by confocal fluorescence microscopy in the porous catalyst body allowed visualization of the internal architecture of zeolite crystals and confirmed the presence of a 90 degree intergrowth structure within large ZSM-5 crystals.

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New insights into fundamental chemical reactivity

chemical reactivityThe hydrogen exchange reaction H + H2 -> H2 + H is the simplest neutral bimolecular reaction and for nearly a century has been a benchmark for studying reaction dynamics.

Scientists have now measured differential cross sections (DCSs) for the reaction H + D2 -> HD + D, which has enabled them to fill many of the gaps in our basic understanding of chemical reactivity.

Differential cross sections for H + D2 → HD(v′ = 2, j′ = 0,3,6,9) + D at center-of-mass collision energies of 1.25, 1.61, and 1.97 eV
Nate C.-M. Bartlett, Justin Jankunas, Tapas Goswami, Richard N. Zare, Foudhil Bouakline and Stuart C. Althorpe
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02460K

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New insight into HIV-1 protein

A PCCP paper from Issue 1, 2011 has featured on the science forum Physorg.com.

In the research, new observations of the pH responsive folding of a membrane proximal HIV peptide provides a new insight into HIV membrane fusion.

HIV proteinRead the Physorg.com article or go straight t the PCCP paper:

Autonomous folding in the membrane proximal HIV peptide gp41659–671: pH tuneability at micelle interfaces
Craig R. Gregor, Eleonora Cerasoli, Paul R. Tulip, Maxim G. Ryadnov, Glenn J. Martyna and Jason Crain
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 127-135

We encourage you to check out the rest of the great articles featured in the first issue of 2011.

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Fluorine chemistry collection

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the RSC Fluorine Interest group we have published a web themed issue on fluorine chemistry, Guest Edited by Veronique Gouverneur.

The collection includes articles from across several RSC journals, including this paper from PCCP:

Chemical reactions inside structured nano-environment: SN2 vs. E2 reactions for the F + CH3CH2Cl system
Josefredo R. Pliego Jr.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01182G

View the whole collection today!

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