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Computational and Theoretical Insights on Molecular Structure, Solvation, Interactions and New Materials Design, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Computational and Theoretical Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 1049

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Physical Chemistry, Pharmacy Faculty, Collegium Medicum of Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Kurpińskiego 5, 85-950 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: theoretical chemistry; in silico modeling; solution thermodynamics; new materials screening
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The exploration of molecular phenomena is a multidisciplinary inquiry that spans the domains of chemistry, physics, biology, and materials science. As the Guest Editor for the upcoming Special Issue, I invite colleagues to contribute to the following potential areas and topics that can enhance our understanding of molecular structure, solvation, solute–solvent interactions, stability, and the dynamics of dissolution phenomena. All types of submissions, including reviews, original papers, and short essays, are welcome as contributions to the various aspects of the titled phenomena. The potential themes include deciphering molecular structures and quantifying intermolecular interactions using modern electronic structure analysis, emerging computational techniques such as quantum chemistry, density functional theory, molecular dynamics, and machine learning methodologies. In particular, new ideas related to solvation dynamics and equilibria, as well as solvation effects and mechanisms, are welcome.

We welcome submissions presenting new research related to solvation structure, dynamics, equilibria, and their underlying mechanisms. The recent advances in computational methods allow for an accurate prediction and analysis of complex molecular structures, thus making it possible to model real physical phenomena such as solvation. These tools are especially important in materials science, where they can support the design and characterization of new materials. Specifically, solvation and molecular interactions play a key role in determining part of the material properties, hence their study can be an opportunity to further the development of materials with specific functions. Also, contributions of new research combining spectroscopy with computational techniques are highly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Piotr Cysewski
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • solvation effects
  • solvation dynamics
  • designed solvents
  • intermolecular interactions
  • molecular modeling
  • machine learning
  • materials science
  • saturated solutions
  • chemical reactivity
  • computational techniques

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 6840 KB  
Article
Microscopic Insights into Impurity-Modulated Capture of Platinum-Group Metals by Bismuth in Copper Anode Slimes
by Dongji Liu, Hong Zeng, Fupeng Liu, Jing Cao, Huihui Xiong, Feixiong Chen, Tao Zhang and Jie Wang
Molecules 2026, 31(9), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31091383 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 210
Abstract
The efficient recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from decoppered anode slimes is essential for sustainable resource management, yet the atomic-level mechanisms underlying their capture remain unclear. Herein, first-principles calculations were employed to elucidate the microscopic interactions by which bismuth acts as a [...] Read more.
The efficient recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from decoppered anode slimes is essential for sustainable resource management, yet the atomic-level mechanisms underlying their capture remain unclear. Herein, first-principles calculations were employed to elucidate the microscopic interactions by which bismuth acts as a trapping agent for PGMs (Ru, Ir, Pt, Rh, Os, Pd) and to determine the effects of four representative impurities (As, Sb, Pb, Si). The results demonstrate that pristine Bi(001) exhibits strong chemisorption toward all six PGMs, as proved by the large charge transfer, significant electron sharing and pronounced p-d orbital hybridization. Furthermore, these impurities spontaneously incorporate into the Bi(001) surface due to the large binding energy. Crucially, some impurities such as As and Si function as potent surface activators rather than detrimental contaminants. These dopants significantly enhance the PGM binding strength by inducing intense localized charge redistribution and establishing strong orbital hybridizations among the Bi-5d, PGM-d and p orbitals of dopants. Overall, this work provides a theoretical foundation for strategically utilizing the impurities to optimize the recovery of PGMs in complex smelting systems. Full article
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25 pages, 5007 KB  
Article
Molecular Structure, Theoretical NBO Analysis, Vibrational Spectrum of CO2-Responsive Hydroxyamidine-Based Ionic Liquid: A Combined Computational and Experimental Approach
by Lyazzat Abulyaissova, Nikolay Barashkov, Irina Irgibaeva and Yerbolat Tashenov
Molecules 2026, 31(6), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31061055 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 568
Abstract
The utilization and chemical transformation of carbon dioxide remains a pressing problem in modern chemistry. Numerous experimental and theoretical studies have focused on the interaction of CO2 with amines. In this work, quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) calculations of equilibrium geometries, [...] Read more.
The utilization and chemical transformation of carbon dioxide remains a pressing problem in modern chemistry. Numerous experimental and theoretical studies have focused on the interaction of CO2 with amines. In this work, quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) calculations of equilibrium geometries, energies, electronic and vibrational characteristics of CO2-sensitive mono-, di-, tris-hydroxyamidines and their associates were carried out by the B3LYP/6-31G(d, p) method. The harmonic vibrational frequencies were scaled and compared with the experimental FTIR spectra for supporting wavenumber assignments. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of the atomic charges and charge delocalization was employed to investigate the nature of hydrogen bonding in hydroxyamidine associates. We also used the intrinsically polarizable continuum model (IEFPCM), and the DFT-D3 method was applied to account for dispersion effects during associate formation. Using the 6-311+G(2d, p) basis set for tris-hydroxyamidine, and its adducts, a comparative analysis of the experimental and calculated 1H NMR spectra was performed. Here, we considered non-trivial sites of carbon dioxide absorption and hydroxyamidine protonation, which, to our knowledge, have hardly been considered by other authors. Present DFT results agree rather well with the experimental data and support new insight into the formation of the PIL structure. Full article
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