Electronic structure and bonding in clusters: Theoretical studies

The electronic structures of small Al _n ,n=5, 9, 13, clusters with bulk geometry are studied using the ab initio Hartree-Fock-LCAO method. The cluster ground states have always multiplicity higher than the lowest possible value. However, the energy difference between ground and lowest low spin state decreases with increasing cluster size. The energy range of the Al _n cluster valence levels is comparable with the width of the occupied part of the 3sp band in bulk Al. The different binding mechanisms that arise when a CO molecule interacts with Al _n clusters in different coordination sites are analyzed in detail with the constrained space orbital variation (CSOV) method. Electrostatic and polarization contributions to the interaction are found to be important. Among charge transfer (donation) contributions π electron transfer from Al _n to CO corresponding to π backbonding is energetically more important than σ electron transfer from CO to Al _n characterizing the σ bond.     

Theoretical studies of structural and electronic properties of AlnAsn clusters

We present theoretical results of size dependent structural, electronic, and optical properties of ligand‐free stoichiometric Al_nAs_n clusters of zinc‐blende modification. The investigation is done using a simplified parametrized linear combination of atomic orbital–density functional theory‐local density approximation–tight‐binding (LCAO–DFT–LDA–TB) method and consider clusters with n up to around 100. Initial structures have assumed as spherical parts of infinite zinc‐blende structure and then allowed to relax to the closest local‐energy‐minimum structure. We analyze the radial distributions of atoms, Mulliken populations, electronic energy levels (in particular, HOMO and LUMO), bandgap, and stability as a function of size and composition. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Theoretical studies on a possible synthesis reaction pathway on N8 (CS) clusters

The potential energy surfaces of N₈ clusters were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) and a possible synthesis reaction pathway for N₈ (C_S) was suggested. The species involved were fully optimized up to the B3LYP/6‐311+G* level of theory. Relative energies were further calculated at the QCISD/6‐311+G*//B3LYP/6‐311+G* level. The reaction rate constants of these steps from the 1 (N₅⁺?N₃^?, complex, C_S) to 2 (N₈, C_S), 2 (N₈, C_S) to 3 (N₈, C_S), 3 (N₈, C_S) to 4 (N₈, D_2d), and 4 (N₈, D_2d) to 5 (N₈, C_S) reactions were predicted by the VTST theory. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1334–1339, 2001     

TinC2n(n=1-6)分子簇的量子化学从头算研究

用量子化学从头计算方法研究了TinC2n(n=1-6)分子簇的几何构型和电子结构。这些TinC2n分子簇以TiC2为结构单元, 通过C-C或Ti-C键进一步连接而逐渐长大。研究结果可以较好地解释实验现象, 并说明Metcars的形成机理。     

Electric deflection studies on lead clusters

The dielectric response to an inhomogeneous electric field has been investigated for Pb(N) clusters (N=7-38) within a molecular beam experiment. The experiments give clear evidence that lead clusters with 12, 14, and 18 atoms possess permanent dipole moments. For these cluster sizes, the permanent electric dipole moments strongly determine the response to the electric field, leading to a significantly increased apparent polarizability. An adiabatic polarization mechanism allows a semiquantitative explanation of the observed susceptibility anomalies. The beam profiles of most of the lead clusters with N not equal12, 14, and 18 also display a small broadening induced by the electric field, indicating permanent dipole moments of about (0.01-0.02) D/atom. Nearly constant dipole moments per atom for larger lead clusters (N>20) manifest in a linear increase in the polarizability per atom. Also, for lead clusters such as Pb(25), which do exhibit almost no measurable beam broadening, the polarizabilties are increased compared to the bulk value. This could be partially explained by the electronic structure of the lead clusters but might be also a consequence of quenched permanent dipole moments because for highly flexible clusters only an increased beam deflection, but no broadening, will be observed.     

Theoretical study of nitric oxide adsorption on Au clusters

The adsorption properties of NO molecule on anionic, cationic, and neutral Au(n) clusters (n=1-6) are studied using the density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation, and with the hybrid functional. For anionic and cationic clusters, the charge transfer between the Au clusters and NO molecule and the corresponding weakening and elongation of the N-O bond are essential factors of the adsorption. The neutral Au clusters have also remarkable adsorption ability to NO molecule. The adsorption energies of NO on the cationic clusters are generally greater than those on the neutral and anionic clusters.     

Theoretical characterization of H2 adsorption on AuPt clusters

Linear and triangular AuPt_n cluster reactions with H₂ are studied theoretically, using ab initio multiconfiguration self-consistent field (MC-SCF) calculations, followed by extensive multireference configuration interaction (MR-CI) variational and perturbative. Both the linear dimer and the triangular trimers capture the hydrogen molecule by the Pt cluster side and by the Au cluster side. Gold has an electronic effect on the Pt activity, more important than a geometrical one, poisoning the Pt activity to dissociate H₂ and lowering the adsorption heats. This effect is stronger in the AuPt dimer, where the H₂ capture occurs only at the molecular level, without showing hydrogen bond dissociation. The trimers look more active, relaxing the H(SINGLE BOND)H bond until breakage. No activation barriers are observed in all the cases considered. The hydrogen molecule is not able to cross the clusters due to the large barriers present. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 67: 399–409, 1998     

Theoretical studies of O2−:(H2O)n clusters

The interaction of superoxide ion O₂^? with up to four water molecules [O₂^?: (H₂O)_n, n = 1, 2, 4] has been investigated using ab initio molecular orbital theory. The binding energy of O₂^?: H₂O is calculated to be ?20.6 kcal/mol in good agreement with gas phase experimental data. At the MP3/6-31G^* level the O₂^?:H₂O complex has a C_2v structure with a double (cyclic) hydrogen bond between O₂^? and H₂O. A C_s structure with a single hydrogen bond is only 0.7 kcal/mol less stable. Interaction of H₂O with the doubly occupied π^* orbital of O₂^? is preferred slightly over interaction with the singly occupied π^* orbital. Natural bond orbital analysis suggests that both electrostatic and charge transfer interactions are important in anionic complexes. The charge transfer occurs predominantly in the O₂^? → H₂O direction and is important in determining the relative stabilities of the different structures and states. Singly and doubly hydrogen-bonded structures for the O₂^?: (H₂O)₂ and O₂^?: (H₂O)₄ clusters were found to be similar in stability and the increase in binding of the cluster becomes smaller as each additional water molecule is added to the cluster.     

Theoretical studies on carbon and silicon clusters: comparison of the structures and stabilities of neutral and ionic forms

Optimized molecular geometries and electronic structures are determined for neutral, positively charged, and negatively charged carbon and silicon clusters containing up to ten atoms. The effects of polarization functions and electron correlation are included in these claculations. Carbon clusters have linear or monocyclic ground state geometries whereas silicon clusters containing five or more atoms have three-dimensional ground state structures. Neutral C₄, C₆ and C₈ all have linear and monocyclic isomers of comparable stability whereas the ionic forms appear to be generally more stable as linear geometrical arrangements. In the case of neutral and positively charged carbon clusters, the odd-numbered clusters are significantly more stable than the adjacent even-numbered clusters whereas the opposite order of stability occurs for the negative ions. This is due to the large values of the electron affinities of the linear forms of even-numbered clusters such as C₄ and C₆. The relative stabilities of silicon clusters does not change with the charge state of the clusters.     

Theoretical characterization of cyclic thiolated gold clusters

The density functional theory is used to explore structural, energetic, vibrational, and optical properties of thiolated gold clusters (MeSAu)x with x = 2-12. Clusters up to (MeSAu)4 adopt Au-S ring conformations, and crownlike structures are formed for larger sizes. The clusters are essentially polymeric and show convergence in structural and energetic properties at (MeSAu)4. The nature of the Au-S bond is polar covalent with a degree of cyclic electron delocalization. Vibrational analysis reveals characteristic Au-S stretch vibrations at approximately 300 cm(-1). Effects of ligand substitution are studied in the case of the tetramer by comparing the results for methylthiolate with hexylthiolate, benzenethiolate, and glutathionate (GS). The choice of ligand has clear effects on electronic properties. For example, the optical gap is approximately 1.5 eV lower for (GSAu)4 than for (MeSAu)4.     

Theoretical study on the adsorption of aromatic compounds on platinum clusters

B3 LYP hybrid functional with LACVP* pseudopotential was applied for the optimization of geometries of complexes resulting from interaction of benzene, pyridine, naphthalene, and quinoline with Pt_n (n = 4, 7) clusters. For benzene‐containing complexes, the most stable form corresponds to a bridge adsorption, with benzene undergoing considerable geometric distortions, assuming a boat‐like conformation. C? H bonds are bended upward from the plane of the cluster. C? C bonds stretch, especially when they form π‐complexes with low coordinated Pt atoms. Some arrangements for pyridine complexes involving the N atom of the organic moiety undergo further distortions, apparently preserving a formal C? N π bond. Except for that distortion, the behavior of any heteroaromatic complex is similar to that of benzene in the same arrangement. The quinoline–Pt₇ complex can suitably be used for simulation of the cinchonidine (CD) anchorage over Pt. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003     

Theoretical study on cooperative and extra-additive behavior of hydrogen-bonded clusters

The stabilization energy △ E(n) and four typical properties of hydrogen bond F-H…F in chain-like and cyclic (HF)n clusters (n = 1-5) have been calculated using MP2 and three DF levels of theory with the Gaussian 98 program, and 6-31++G** bases set. The results demonstrate that the extra-additive or cooperative behavior in (HF)n clusters is very obvious. In addition, we studied much larger chain-like (HF)n (n = 6, 9, 12,18, 24) clusters using one of these DF methods.     

Theoretical study of hydrogenated tetrahedral aluminum clusters

We report on the structures of aluminum hydrides derived from a tetrahedral aluminum (Al₄) cluster using ab initio quantum chemical calculation. Our calculation of binding energies of the aluminum hydrides reveals that stability of these hydrides increases as more hydrogen atoms are adsorbed, while stability of Al – H bonds decreases. We also analyze and discuss the chemical bonds of those clusters by using recently developed method based on the electronic stress tensor. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Theoretical investigations on geometrical and electronic structures of silver clusters

Geometrical structures and ground and excited states of silver clusters are theoretically investigated using long-range corrected (LC) density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The discrepancy between HOMO-LUMO gaps and the vertical ionization potential minus vertical electron affinity values, which should be the same values, is explored to reveal the significance of long-range exchange effects on the electronic states of metal clusters. The difference between HOMO-LUMO gaps and HOMO-LUMO excitation energies, which is called “exciton binding energy,” is also tested. As a result, it is found that the long-range exchange effects are requisite in DFT calculations to quantitatively investigate the ground and excited states of metal clusters. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Reaction studies of carbon clusters

Reaction studies of carbon clustersC _n in the rangen=8–37, produced by laser vaporisation in a supersonic nozzle, have been investigated using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Clear differences in reaction products formed on hydrogenation are detected which show that even and odd clusters behave quite differently and furthermore thatat least two different types of even cluster appear to exist. The reactivity patterns for clusters C _n withn=16, 18 and 22 are in a different class from those withn=20, 24, 26 ..., a behaviour consistent with the existence of closed cage fullerene structures for even clusters with 20 or more carbon atoms (other thann=22).     

二甲基精氨酸二甲胺水解酶-1的理论研究

运用分子对接和分子动力学方法研究二甲基精氨酸二甲胺水解酶-1(DDAH-1)与其抑制剂亚胺基烯丁基-L-鸟氨酸(L-VNIO)和亚胺基丙基-L-鸟氨酸(Me-L-NIO)的相互作用和结合模式,并根据实验得到的结论设计了亚胺基苯乙基-L-鸟氨酸(Ph-L-NIO)抑制剂.结果表明:L-VNIO比Me-L-NIO对DDAH-1的抑制效果更强,这个结果与实验测得L-VNIO和Me-L-NIO对DDAH-1的半抑制浓度IC50值大小一致.Phe75、Asp78、His172、Ser175和Asp268这五个氨基酸残基在三种抑制剂形成的复合物中起到非常重要的作用,从计算结果推断在这三个抑制剂中我们设计得到的Ph-L-NIO对DDAH-1的抑制效果最好.     

Theoretical studies on titanium pentafulvene complexes

A series of six titanium pentafulvene complexes are thoroughly investigated using the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. Excellent agreement with the available structural data is obtained. Relevant structural parameters indicate that a gradual change of the fulvene ligand coordination to the titanium center. Depending on the nature of the exocyclic fulvene substituents dianionic η⁵, η¹-and olefinic η⁶-coordination modes are found. This behavior is further supported by NBO and AIM population analyses which predict differences in the bond nature meanly of the contacts between titanium and the exocyclic carbon atom. In an excitation study, several theoretical approaches are evaluated against the available recorded UV-Vis spectra of the six complexes. The “best” approach, time-dependant DFT calculations reproduce the experimental UV data reasonably well, although systematically slightly too small values (abut 50 cm⁻¹) are obtained. The other levels of theory are significantly more erratic. It could further be testified that the absorption maxima correspond to a ligand-to-metal charge transfer from the HOMO to the LUMO+1 of the complexes.     

Theoretical studies on electrochemistry of p-aminophenol

Geometric parameters, vibrational frequencies and thermochemical values of p-quinonimine (p-Q) and p-aminophenol (p-AP) were computed by ab initio calculation (HF) and density function theory (DFT) with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. Cyclic voltammetry with a goldren electrode of p-AP solutions in phosphate buffers at pH 7.30 showed that standard electrode potential of half reaction for (p-Q) and (p-AP) is 0.728V. Standard electrode potential of half reaction for p-Q and p-AP were calculated using the sum of electronic and thermal free energies of p-Q and p-AP with normal hydrogen electrode (NHE) as a reference electrode. The results show that the theoretical standard electrode potential of half reaction for p-Q and p-AP is 0.682V at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level and 0.622V at HF/6-31G(d,p) level, respectively, indicating that computed standard electrode potential at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level are more reliable than that at HF/6-31G(d,p) level.     

TiP2^+,TiP4^+,Ti2P4^+二元团簇的理论研究

利用含有电子相关效应校正的密度泛函理论DFT中的B3LYP方法,选择LANL2DZ双ξ基组,并考虑极化函数,对TiP2^+,TiP4^+,Ti2P4^+二元团簇各种可能存在的几何构型及电子结构进行了密度泛函理论研究,得到了TimPn^+二元团族的最稳定构型,其中TiP2^+的最稳定构型为C2v对称性的三角形,TiP4^+的最稳定构型亦具有C2v对称性,Ti2P4^+的最稳定构型为具有D2d对称性的共边双四面体,所得构型很好地说明了激光光解的实验结果。     

Theoretical studies on photoelectron and IR spectral properties of Br2.-(H2O)n clusters

We report vertical detachment energy (VDE) and IR spectra of Br2.-.(H2O)n clusters (n=1-8) based on first principles electronic structure calculations. Cluster structures and IR spectra are calculated at Becke's half-and-half hybrid exchange-correlation functional (BHHLYP) with a triple split valence basis function, 6-311++G(d,p). VDE for the hydrated clusters is calculated based on second order Moller-Plesset perturbation (MP2) theory with the same set of basis function. On full geometry optimization, it is observed that conformers having interwater hydrogen bonding among solvent water molecules are more stable than the structures having double or single hydrogen bonded structures between the anionic solute, Br2.-, and solvent water molecules. Moreover, a conformer having cyclic interwater hydrogen bonded network is predicted to be more stable for each size hydrated cluster. It is also noticed that up to four solvent H2O units can reside around the solute in a cyclic interwater hydrogen bonded network. The excess electron in these hydrated clusters is localized over the solute atoms. Weighted average VDE is calculated for each size (n) cluster based on statistical population of the conformers at 150 K. A linear relationship is obtained for VDE versus (n+3)(-1/3) and bulk VDE of Br2.- aqueous solution is calculated as 10.01 eV at MP2 level of theory. BHHLYP density functional is seen to make a systematic overestimation in VDE values by approximately 0.5 eV compared to MP2 data in all the hydrated clusters. It is observed that hydration increases VDE of bromine dimer anion system by approximately 6.4 eV. Calculated IR spectra show that the formation of Br2.--water clusters induces large shifts from the normal O-H stretching bands of isolated water keeping bending modes rather insensitive. Hydrated clusters, Br2.-.(H2O)n, show characteristic sharp features of O-H stretching bands of water in the small size clusters.