Co-crystal structure of HCN:ethane

SND-ID: 2024-529. Version: 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.71870/5xrf-na15

Citation

Creator/Principal investigator(s)

Martin Rahm - Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering orcid

Fernando Izquierdo-Ruiz - Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering orcid

Description

Selected crystal structures of co-crystals between HCN and ethane are provided in .cif format (readable e.g., by VESTA). Structures were predicted at the vdW-DF2 level of theory using CALYPSO v6 combined with the Vienna Ab initio Software Package (VASP) version 5.4.4 (details provided in doi:10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-t8l8v)

Data for PBE-D3(BJ)/DZVP molecular dynamics simulation of 1:4 intercalated co-crystal structure (readable e.g., by VMD). Simulation made using CP2K, v2024.1 span 20ps.

Movie of molecular dynamics simulation of 1:4 intercalated co-crystal structure at 90 K (mp4 file)

Data contains personal data

No

Language

Method and outcome

Time period(s) investigated

2020-01-01 – 2024-10-25

Data format / data structure

Data collection
  • Mode of collection: Simulation
  • Description of the mode of collection: Co-crystal structures have been predicted with CALYPSO v6 coupled to Density Functional Theory calculations using the Vienna Ab initio Software Package (VASP) version 5.4.4, details of which are provided in https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-t8l8v. Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed with CP2K, v2024.1, at the PBE-D3(BJ)/DZVP level of theory.
  • Time period(s) for data collection: 2020-01-01 – 2024-10-25
  • Source of the data: Research data: Unpublished, Research data
Geographic coverage
Administrative information

Contributor(s)

Fernando Izquierdo-Ruiz - Chalmers University of Technology orcid

Morgan Cable - NASA JPL orcid

Robert Hodyss - NASA JPL orcid

Tuan Vu - NASA JPL orcid

Hilda Sandström - Chalmers University of Technology orcid

... Show more..

Fernando Izquierdo-Ruiz - Chalmers University of Technology orcid

Morgan Cable - NASA JPL orcid

Robert Hodyss - NASA JPL orcid

Tuan Vu - NASA JPL orcid

Hilda Sandström - Chalmers University of Technology orcid

Alvaro Lobato - Chalmers University of Technology orcid

Martin Rahm - Chalmers University of Technology orcid

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Commissioning organisation

Chalmers University of Technology

Funding 1

  • Funding agency: Swedish Research council rorId
  • Funding agency's reference number: 2020-04305
  • Project name on the application: Computational Astrobiology: The Rise of Macromolecules
  • Funding information: The goal of this project is to enhance our knowledge of chemical structures and processes that may play a role in life’s possible origins. We will apply quantum chemical calculations to study the properties and reactions of in particular hydrogen cyanide, one of the most abundant and widely distributed organic molecules in astrochemical environments. Together with collaborators, we aim to answer the following questions: How can heterocycles, including nucleobase-analogs, form from HCN polymers? What is the catalytic potential of HCN nanocrystals? What role might co-crystals have on worlds such as Saturn’s moon Titan? What are the next steps in the development of computational astrobiology? State-of-the-art computational methods, including steered ab initio molecular dynamics and structure prediction algorithms will be applied to several of these questions for the first time. Outcomes of this research will be concrete predictions of chemical structures and phenomena that will be amenable for verification by low temperature experiments by collaborating groups, by ongoing and future sample-return missions to asteroids and comets, as well as the recently selected Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan.

Funding 2

  • Funding agency: Swedish Research Council rorId
  • Funding agency's reference number: 2016-04127_VR
  • Project name on the application: Functional Materials Prediction with Implications for the Origin of Life and Planetary Science
  • Funding information: This research marks a beginning aimed at identifying entirely new classes of materials, starting with what can be made from one of nature’s simplest building blocks, hydrogen cyanide (HCN). It also intends to further the development of methods for analyzing chemical bonding and predicting material properties. I will combine structure search algorithms with quantum mechanical calculations to explore unknown materials, calculate their properties and seek ways to synthesize those most interesting. HCN is, of course, toxic, and whereas chemists are used to handling dangerous chemicals this is often unpractical, making computational studies ideal for its exploration. The combinatorial possibilities of HCN-based materials are incredibly diverse, varying in mechanical, electronic and chemical properties. Several are expected to be nontoxic; others will be able to teach us structure – function relationships and provide us with design rules for emergent properties such as semiconduction, ferroelectricity and catalytic activity. HCN is ubiquitous in the Universe and molecules and materials made thereof have long been suspected key to the chemistry that gave rise to life. HCN is, for instance, found in ample amounts in the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan, where it has mysteriously vanished at the surface. By collaborating with planetary scientists I will investigate if HCN-based polymers can explain part of the surface chemistry, and, maybe, provide a base for prebiotic chemistry.

Funding 3

  • Funding agency: Council of Government of the Principality of Asturias rorId
  • Funding agency's reference number: AYUD/2021/58773

Funding 4

  • Funding agency: Agencia Estatal de Investigación rorId
  • Funding agency's reference number: PID2021-122585NB-C22

Funding 5

  • Funding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) rorId
  • Funding agency's reference number: 80NM0018D0004
Topic and keywords

Research area

Theoretical chemistry (Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2011)

Publications

Izquierdo-Ruiz F, Cable M, Hodyss R, Vu T, Sandström H, Lobato A, et al. Polar Opposites Attract on Saturn’s Moon Titan. ChemRxiv. 2024; doi:10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-t8l8v This content is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-t8l8v

Published: 2024-10-30