Adlane Sayede

Bio: Adlane Sayede is an academic researcher from Artois University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Density functional theory & Spintronics. The author has an hindex of 20, co-authored 67 publications receiving 996 citations. Previous affiliations of Adlane Sayede include University of Colorado Colorado Springs & Centre national de la recherche scientifique.

Ab-initio study of structural, elastic, thermal, electronic and magnetic properties of quaternary Heusler alloys CoMnCrZ (Z = Al, As, Si, Ge)

Abstract: First-principles approach is used to study the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of CoMnCrZ (Z = Al, Si, Ge and As) quaternary Heusler compounds, using full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) scheme within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The computed equilibrium lattice parameters agree well with the available theoretical data. The obtained negative formation energy shows that CoMnCrZ (Z = Al, Si, Ge, As) compounds have strong structural stability. The elastic constants C ij are calculated using the total energy variation with strain technique. The polycrystalline elastic moduli (namely: the shear modulus, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, sound velocities, Debye temperature and melting temperature were derived from the obtained single-crystal elastic constants. The ductility mechanism for the studied compounds is discussed via the elastic constants C ij . Our calculations with the GGA approximation predict that CoMnCrGe, CoMnCrAl, CoMnCrSi and CoMnCrAs are half-metallic ferrimagnets (HMFs) with a half-metallic gap E HM of 0.03 eV, 0.19 eV, 0.34 eV and 0.50 eV for, respectively. We also find that the half-metallicity is maintained on a wide range of lattice constants.

Ab initio calculation of vibrational absorption and circular dichroism spectra using density functional force fields

Abstract: : The unpolarized absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the fundamental vibrational transitions of the chiral molecule, 4-methyl-2-oxetanone, are calculated ab initio. Harmonic force fields are obtained using Density Functional Theory (DFT), MP2, and SCF methodologies and a 5S4P2D/3S2P (TZ2P) basis set. DFT calculations use the Local Spin Density Approximation (LSDA), BLYP, and Becke3LYP (B3LYP) density functionals. Mid-IR spectra predicted using LSDA, BLYP, and B3LYP force fields are of significantly different quality, the B3LYP force field yielding spectra in clearly superior, and overall excellent, agreement with experiment. The MP2 force field yields spectra in slightly worse agreement with experiment than the B3LYP force field. The SCF force field yields spectra in poor agreement with experiment.The basis set dependence of B3LYP force fields is also explored: the 6-31G* and TZ2P basis sets give very similar results while the 3-21G basis set yields spectra in substantially worse agreements with experiment. jg

Hydrophilic Ligands and Their Application in Aqueous-Phase Metal-Catalyzed Reactions

Abstract: Water is truly ubiquitous. Approximately 80% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, although only 1% of this is drinkable water. Water is the solvent of life and makes up about 60% of the mass of the human body. The majority of synthetic organic chemistry carried out in research laboratories or industrial processes utilizes organic solvents, however. Organic solvents have a number of attractive features: they will dissolve a wide range of organic compounds, they come with a variety of properties, and they are often volatile and easily removed. Unfortunately, organic solvents are often toxic, flammable, and nonrenewable and have low heat capacities. In contrast, water is nontoxic and nonflammable, has a high heat capacity, and is relatively inexpensive. Of course water has some significant drawbacks as a solvent: it is a poor solvent for most organic molecules, and it is highly reactive with many classes of reagents. Because of these drawbacks, water is rarely used as a primary solvent in synthetic organic chemistry, although there is a growing body of work related to organic chemistry in water.1-3

Inorganic perovskite photocatalysts for solar energy utilization

Abstract: The development and utilization of solar energy in environmental remediation and water splitting is being intensively studied worldwide. During the past few decades, tremendous efforts have been devoted to developing non-toxic, low-cost, efficient and stable photocatalysts for water splitting and environmental remediation. To date, several hundreds of photocatalysts mainly based on metal oxides, sulfides and (oxy)nitrides with different structures and compositions have been reported. Among them, perovskite oxides and their derivatives (layered perovskite oxides) comprise a large family of semiconductor photocatalysts because of their structural simplicity and flexibility. This review specifically focuses on the general background of perovskite and its related materials, summarizes the recent development of perovskite photocatalysts and their applications in water splitting and environmental remediation, discusses the theoretical modelling and calculation of perovskite photocatalysts and presents the key challenges and perspectives on the research of perovskite photocatalysts.

Metal borohydrides and derivatives – synthesis, structure and properties

Abstract: A wide variety of metal borohydrides, MBH4, have been discovered and characterized during the past decade, revealing an extremely rich chemistry including fascinating structural flexibility and a wide range of compositions and physical properties. Metal borohydrides receive increasing interest within the energy storage field due to their extremely high hydrogen density and possible uses in batteries as solid state ion conductors. Recently, new types of physical properties have been explored in lanthanide-bearing borohydrides related to solid state phosphors and magnetic refrigeration. Two major classes of metal borohydride derivatives have also been discovered: anion-substituted compounds where the complex borohydride anion, BH4−, is replaced by another anion, i.e. a halide or amide ion; and metal borohydrides modified with neutral molecules, such as NH3, NH3BH3, N2H4, etc. Here, we review new synthetic strategies along with structural, physical and chemical properties for metal borohydrides, revealing a number of new trends correlating composition, structure, bonding and thermal properties. These new trends provide general knowledge and may contribute to the design and discovery of new metal borohydrides with tailored properties towards the rational design of novel functional materials. This review also demonstrates that there is still room for discovering new combinations of light elements including boron and hydrogen, leading to complex hydrides with extreme flexibility in composition, structure and properties.