Quantum-mechanical (QM) and classical embedding models approximate a supermolecular quantumchemical calculation. This is particularly useful when the supermolecular calculation has a size that is out of reach for present QM models. Although QM and classical embedding methods share the same goal, they approach this goal from different starting points. In this study, we compare the polarizable embedding (PE) and frozen-density embedding (FDE) models. The former is a classical embedding model, whereas the latter is a density-based QM embedding model.Our comparison focuses on solvent effects on optical spectra of solutes. This is a typical scenario where super-system calculations including the solvent environment become prohibitively large. We formulate a common theoretical framework for PE and FDE models and systematically investigate how PE and FDE approximate solvent effects. Generally, differences are found to be small, except in cases where electron spill-out becomes problematic in the classical frameworks. In these cases, however, atomic pseudopotentials can reduce the electron-spill-out issue.

We report the findings of our experimental and theoretical investigations into the properties of pyridinium enolates and their potential utility in light-harvesting applications, such as in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). We present the synthesis, structures, photophysical characterization, and wavefunction-based quantum-chemical studies of five cyclobetaines. The performance of an LSC device incorporating one of these cyclobetaines is shown to be comparable to state-of-the-art devices.

Quantum-mechanical (QM) and classical embedding models approximate a supermolecular quantum-chemical calculation. This is particularly useful when the supermolecular calculation has a size that is out of reach for present QM models. Although QM and classical embedding methods share the same goal, they approach this goal from different starting points. In this study, we compare the polarizable embedding (PE) and frozen-density embedding (FDE) models. The former is a classical embedding model, whereas the latter is a density-based QM embedding model. Our comparison focuses on solvent effects on optical spectra of solutes. This is a typical scenario where super-system calculations including the solvent environment become prohibitively large. We formulate a common theoretical framework for PE and FDE models and systematically investigate how PE and FDE approximate solvent effects. Generally, differences are found to be small, except in cases where electron spill-out becomes problematic in the classical frameworks. In these cases, however, atomic pseudopotentials can reduce the electron-spill-out issue.

Die Ergebnisse experimenteller und theoretischer Untersuchungen der Eigenschaften von Pyridiniumenolaten werden vorgestellt, und ihre potenzielle Nutzbarkeit in Lichtsammelanwendungen, insbesondere lumineszierenden Solarkonzentratoren (LSCs), wird demonstriert. Synthesen, Strukturen, photophysikalische Charakterisierung und wellenfunktionsbasierte quantenchemische Studien fürf ünf Cyclobetaine werden präsentiert und die Leistungsfähigkeit einer LSC-Apparatur,d ie eines dieser Cyclobetaine enthält, wird mit dem aktuellen Stand der Technik verglichen.