Qingzhong Li

Bio: Qingzhong Li is an academic researcher from Yantai University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Hydrogen bond & Halogen bond. The author has an hindex of 34, co-authored 262 publications receiving 4507 citations.

Monolayer Ti₂CO₂: A Promising Candidate for NH₃ Sensor or Capturer with High Sensitivity and Selectivity.

Abstract: Ti2C is one of the thinnest layers in MXene family with high potential for applications. In the present study, the adsorption of NH3, H2, CH4, CO, CO2, N2, NO2, and O2 on monolayer Ti2CO2 was investigated by using first-principles simulations to exploit its potential applications as gas sensor or capturer. Among all the gas molecules, only NH3 could be chemisorbed on Ti2CO2 with apparent charge transfer of 0.174 e. We further calculated the current–voltage (I–V) relation using the nonequilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) method. The transport feature exhibits distinct responses with a dramatic change of I–V relation before and after NH3 adsorption on Ti2CO2. Thus, we predict that Ti2CO2 could be a promising candidate for the NH3 sensor with high selectivity and sensitivity. On the other hand, the adsorption of NH3 on Ti2CO2 could be further strengthened with the increase of applied strain on Ti2CO2, while the adsorption of other gases on Ti2CO2 is still weak under the same strain, indicating that the captur...

Cooperativity between the halogen bond and the hydrogen bond in H3N...XY...HF complexes (X, Y=F, Cl, Br).

Abstract: Ab initio calculations are used to provide information on H(3)N...XY...HF triads (X, Y=F, Cl, Br) each having a halogen bond and a hydrogen bond. The investigated triads include H(3)N...Br(2)-HF, H(3)N...Cl(2)...HF, H(3)N...BrCl...HF, H(3)N...BrF...HF, and H(3)N...ClF...HF. To understand the properties of the systems better, the corresponding dyads are also investigated. Molecular geometries, binding energies, and infrared spectra of monomers, dyads, and triads are studied at the MP2 level of theory with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. Because the primary aim of this study is to examine cooperative effects, particular attention is given to parameters such as cooperative energies, many-body interaction energies, and cooperativity factors. The cooperative energy ranges from -1.45 to -4.64 kcal mol(-1), the three-body interaction energy from -2.17 to -6.71 kcal mol(-1), and the cooperativity factor from 1.27 to 4.35. These results indicate significant cooperativity between the halogen and hydrogen bonds in these complexes. This cooperativity is much greater than that between hydrogen bonds. The effect of a halogen bond on a hydrogen bond is more pronounced than that of a hydrogen bond on a halogen bond.

Concerted Interaction between Pnicogen and Halogen Bonds in XCl ? FH2P ? NH3 (X=F, OH, CN, NC, and FCC)

Abstract: We analyze the interplay between pnicogen-bonding and halogen-bonding interactions in the XCl-FH(2)P-NH(3) (X=F, OH, CN, NC, and FCC) complex at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. Synergetic effects are observed when pnicogen and halogen bonds coexist in the same complex. These effects are studied in terms of geometric and energetic features of the complexes. Natural bond orbital theory and Bader's theory of "atoms in molecules" are used to characterize the interactions and analyze their enhancement with varying electron density at critical points and orbital interactions. The physical nature of the interactions and the mechanism of the synergetic effects are studied using symmetry-adapted perturbation theory. By taking advantage of all the aforementioned computational methods, the present study examines how both interactions mutually influence each other.

A σ-hole interaction with radical species as electron donors: does single-electron tetrel bonding exist?

Abstract: A single-electron tetrel bond was predicted and characterized in FXH3⋯CH3 (X = C, Si, Ge, and Sn) complexes by performing quantum chemical calculations, where the methyl radical acts as the Lewis base and the σ-hole on the X atom in FXH3 as the Lewis acid. The interaction between the methyl radical and FXH3 is characterized by a red shift of F–X stretching frequency. The strength of the tetrel bond becomes stronger by not only increasing the atomic number of the central atom X (X = C, Si, Ge, and Sn) but also by enhancing the electron-withdrawing ability of substituents in the Lewis acid. The energy decomposition analysis highlights the importance of the electrostatic interaction in the formation of the tetrel bond, although the dispersion part is also non-negligible for the weak tetrel bond. There is a competition between the formation of single-electron tetrel bonds and hydrogen bonds for the complexes composed of the methyl radical and CNCH3 or NCCH3. Furthermore, the single-electron tetrel bond exhibits the cooperative effect not only with the hydrogen bond in the complex of NCH⋯NCCH3⋯CH3, but also with the conventional tetrel bond in NCCH3⋯NCCH3⋯CH3.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

Fast parallel algorithms for short-range molecular dynamics

Abstract: Three parallel algorithms for classical molecular dynamics are presented. The first assigns each processor a fixed subset of atoms; the second assigns each a fixed subset of inter-atomic forces to compute; the third assigns each a fixed spatial region. The algorithms are suitable for molecular dynamics models which can be difficult to parallelize efficiently—those with short-range forces where the neighbors of each atom change rapidly. They can be implemented on any distributed-memory parallel machine which allows for message-passing of data between independently executing processors. The algorithms are tested on a standard Lennard-Jones benchmark problem for system sizes ranging from 500 to 100,000,000 atoms on several parallel supercomputers--the nCUBE 2, Intel iPSC/860 and Paragon, and Cray T3D. Comparing the results to the fastest reported vectorized Cray Y-MP and C90 algorithm shows that the current generation of parallel machines is competitive with conventional vector supercomputers even for small problems. For large problems, the spatial algorithm achieves parallel efficiencies of 90% and a 1840-node Intel Paragon performs up to 165 faster than a single Cray C9O processor. Trade-offs between the three algorithms and guidelines for adapting them to more complex molecular dynamics simulations are also discussed.

2D metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) for energy storage

Abstract: The family of 2D transition metal carbides, carbonitrides and nitrides (collectively referred to as MXenes) has expanded rapidly since the discovery of Ti3C2 in 2011. The materials reported so far always have surface terminations, such as hydroxyl, oxygen or fluorine, which impart hydrophilicity to their surfaces. About 20 different MXenes have been synthesized, and the structures and properties of dozens more have been theoretically predicted. The availability of solid solutions, the control of surface terminations and a recent discovery of multi-transition-metal layered MXenes offer the potential for synthesis of many new structures. The versatile chemistry of MXenes allows the tuning of properties for applications including energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, reinforcement for composites, water purification, gas- and biosensors, lubrication, and photo-, electro- and chemical catalysis. Attractive electronic, optical, plasmonic and thermoelectric properties have also been shown. In this Review, we present the synthesis, structure and properties of MXenes, as well as their energy storage and related applications, and an outlook for future research. More than twenty 2D carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of transition metals (MXenes) have been synthesized and studied, and dozens more predicted to exist. Highly electrically conductive MXenes show promise in electrical energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, electrocatalysis, plasmonics and other applications.

The Halogen Bond

Abstract: The halogen bond occurs when there is evidence of a net attractive interaction between an electrophilic region associated with a halogen atom in a molecular entity and a nucleophilic region in another, or the same, molecular entity. In this fairly extensive review, after a brief history of the interaction, we will provide the reader with a snapshot of where the research on the halogen bond is now, and, perhaps, where it is going. The specific advantages brought up by a design based on the use of the halogen bond will be demonstrated in quite different fields spanning from material sciences to biomolecular recognition and drug design.