Key papers in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

Pofolia’s corpus holds 86 papers from the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry subfield (1985–2026). The list below starts with the most cited.

Most cited

Ranked by citation count. Because citations accumulate over time, this list naturally leans towards work published a few years ago; for where the field is now, see “recently added”.

  • CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

    2016 · FWCI 174.50 · 13,961 citations

    The 97th edition of the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics is now available, featuring 20 new or updated tables and expanded content, continuing its legacy as a leading scientific reference.

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  • Development and use of quantum mechanical molecular models. 76. AM1: a new general purpose quantum mechanical molecular model

    Journal of the American Chemical Society · 1985 · Q1 · SJR 5.00 · FWCI 86.97 · 13,108 citations

    The AM1 method is introduced as a new, general-purpose quantum mechanical molecular model that significantly improves upon the previous Austin 1 (AM1) model.

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  • The Cambridge Structural Database

    Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science Crystal Engineering and Materials · 2016 · Q2 · FWCI 1174.97 · 10,167 citations · Open access

    The Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) is a comprehensive, 50-year-old repository of organic and metal-organic small-molecule crystal structures, serving as the primary platform for sharing structural chemistry data.

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  • Comprehensive organic synthesis

    Elsevier eBooks · 2014 · FWCI 123.96 · 6,250 citations

    The second edition of Comprehensive Organic Synthesis is a fully revised and updated reference work offering a comprehensive overview of organic chemistry, essential for practitioners and students alike.

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  • <i>CrystalExplorer</i>: a program for Hirshfeld surface analysis, visualization and quantitative analysis of molecular crystals

    Journal of Applied Crystallography · 2021 · Q1 · FWCI 518.34 · 4,765 citations · Open access

    CrystalExplorer21 is a free, cross-platform software for visualizing and analyzing molecular crystal structures, now featuring enhanced capabilities for calculating intermolecular interactions and interfacing with quantum-mechanical programs.

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  • A comprehensive electron wavefunction analysis toolbox for chemists, Multiwfn

    The Journal of Chemical Physics · 2024 · Q1 · FWCI 1287.05 · 4,181 citations

    The Multiwfn program, after over a decade of development, now offers a comprehensive suite of tools for analyzing electron wavefunctions, essential for diverse quantum chemistry problems.

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  • Molecular Fluorescence

    2012 · FWCI 153.00 · 4,025 citations

    This text is a preface and table of contents for a book on molecular fluorescence, outlining its key topics.

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  • The Halogen Bond

    Chemical Reviews · 2016 · Q1 · SJR 16.00 · FWCI 468.75 · 3,918 citations

    The halogen bond is a directional, non-covalent interaction involving an electrophilic halogen atom and a nucleophilic region, with applications spanning material sciences to drug design.

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  • OPLS3: A Force Field Providing Broad Coverage of Drug-like Small Molecules and Proteins

    Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation · 2015 · Q1 · SJR 1.00 · FWCI 151.88 · 3,152 citations

    The OPLS3 force field significantly improves accuracy in modeling small molecules and proteins, achieving less than 1 kcal/mol RMS error in predicting protein-ligand binding, a 30% enhancement over previous versions.

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  • - Analytic combinatorics

    2015 · FWCI 610.30 · 2,413 citations

    This abstract describes a comprehensive textbook on analytic combinatorics, a mathematical field crucial for analyzing discrete structures in computer science, physics, biology, and chemistry.

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  • Inorganic Chemistry: Principles of Structure and Reactivity

    Bright Sky Publications eBooks · 2024 · FWCI 75.64 · 2,395 citations · Open access

    This abstract is a product listing for a textbook titled 'Inorganic Chemistry: Principles of Structure and Reactivity'. It provides purchasing information rather than research findings.

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  • Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

    Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · 2026 · Q2 · 2,269 citations

    This is a journal description, not a research paper abstract. It outlines the scope and metrics of the journal 'Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics'.

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  • 11. Introduction to Spectroscopy

    2018 · FWCI 752.85 · 2,069 citations

    This abstract outlines a comprehensive textbook chapter covering fundamental spectroscopic techniques for molecular analysis, including Infrared, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Ultraviolet, and Mass Spectrometry.

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  • The calculations of excited-state properties with Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory

    Chemical Society Reviews · 2012 · Q1 · SJR 11.00 · FWCI 50.22 · 1,971 citations

    Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) is now a widely adopted computational method for calculating molecular properties related to optical spectra, such as absorption and emission.

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  • Introduction to Solid State Physics

    WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks · 2018 · FWCI 55.53 · 1,936 citations

    This is an introductory textbook on solid state physics, translated from Hebrew and designed for self-study.

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  • Accurately extracting the signature of intermolecular interactions present in the NCI plot of the reduced density gradient versus electron density

    Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · 2017 · Q2 · FWCI 58.14 · 1,799 citations

    A new method derives a unique signature from the reduced density gradient (RDG) versus electron density (ED) plot to specifically identify and isolate intermolecular interaction regions.

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  • <i>NBO 6.0</i>: Natural bond orbital analysis program

    Journal of Computational Chemistry · 2013 · Q1 · SJR 1.00 · FWCI 64.66 · 1,709 citations

    The new NBO 6.0 program offers "link-free" interactivity with electronic structure systems, enhancing its usability and expanding its analytical capabilities for a wider array of chemical species.

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  • Rethinking the term “pi-stacking”

    Chemical Science · 2012 · Q1 · SJR 2.00 · FWCI 64.61 · 1,653 citations

    The commonly used terms “pi-stacking” and “pi–pi interactions” are misleading and should be abandoned as they do not accurately describe the forces driving association between aromatic molecules.

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  • Halogen bonding and other σ-hole interactions: a perspective

    Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · 2013 · Q2 · FWCI 143.81 · 1,623 citations

    σ-hole bonds are noncovalent interactions involving a positively charged region (σ-hole) on an atom and a negative site, with halogen bonding being a specific type. These interactions are primarily driven by electrostatics and polarization.

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  • Exploring Nature and Predicting Strength of Hydrogen Bonds: A Correlation Analysis Between Atoms‐in‐Molecules Descriptors, Binding Energies, and Energy Components of Symmetry‐Adapted Perturbation Theory

    Journal of Computational Chemistry · 2019 · Q1 · SJR 1.00 · FWCI 92.98 · 1,563 citations

    This study proposes a new classification of hydrogen bonds (HBs) based on their interaction energies and dominant forces, and develops predictive equations using electron density at the bond critical point.

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Recently added

  • Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

    Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · 2026 · Q2 · 2,269 citations

    This is a journal description, not a research paper abstract. It outlines the scope and metrics of the journal 'Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics'.

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  • Chemical Communications

    Chemical Communications · 2026 · Q1 · 638 citations

    Chemical Communications is a journal publishing urgent communications of outstanding significance from across the chemical sciences.

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  • Chemical Society Reviews

    Chemical Society Reviews · 2026 · Q1 · SJR 11.00 · 313 citations

    Chemical Society Reviews is a journal publishing high-impact reviews across the chemical sciences.

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  • Journal of the Chemical Society, Faraday Transactions

    Journal of the Chemical Society Faraday Transactions · 2026 · 239 citations

    The Journal of the Chemical Society, Faraday Transactions was a scientific journal published from 1990 to 1998.

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  • Chemistry Education Research and Practice

    Chemistry Education Research and Practice · 2026 · 229 citations

    Chemistry Education Research and Practice is a diamond open access journal serving teachers, researchers, and practitioners in chemistry education.

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