On the formation of doubly charged ions in field ionization

The observation of doubly charged ions in field ionization with blade or wire emitters does not in itself indicate that high excitation energies (≥ 17 eV) are accessible through gas phase ionization with such emitters.     

Potential energy profiles along the doubly degenerate vibrational modes in conjugated molecules

In order to predict the molecular symmetries and the geometrical structures of conjugated molecules having the doubly degenerate first-order Jahn-Teller active modes (Q ₁ and Q ₂) or the doubly denegerate modes through which the second-order vibronic couplings occur (Q₁ and Q₂), the potential energy curves along these modes are expressed as the power series, including up to the third power. It is shown that although there are cases in which we cannot practically differentiate between the potential energy profiles along Q ₁, and Q ₂ or Q₁ and Q₂, in so far as we can differentiate between them, a potential energy minimum should always be located along Q ₁ or Q₁ that distorts a molecule in a more symmetrical way. This is in agreement with the available experimental facts. Finally on the basis of the perturbation theory, the coefficients of various powers (up to the third power) in the expansion of the electronic part of potential energy in the power series of the relevant mode are expressed in terms of the zeroth-order electronic wavefunctions and energies.     

On obtaining localized bonding schemes from delocalized molecular-orbital wave functions

A straightforward procedure is proposed for expanding a molecular orbital determinantal wave function into a set of determinantal wave functions composed of atomic orbitals localized at the atoms of a molecule. By employing this method, atomic orbital determinants and their weights can be derived for a molecule from the computed molecular-orbital wave function. The procedure permits the interpretation of a molecular orbital determinantal wave function in terms of bonding schemes related to the classic resonance structures used by organic chemists. By using the unrestricted molecular orbital determinant, bonding schemes and their weights are obtained for butadiene, the butadiene radical cation and the acrylonitrile radical anion. Their dominant bonding schemes are in accord with the relevant resonance structures for these molecules. For the butadiene radical cation and the acrylonitrile anion they are shown to be compatible with the accepted mechanisms of the electrochemical coupling reactions of butadiene and acrylonitrile. Received: 7 August 1996 / Accepted: 18 March 1997     

A comparative study of the bonding in heteroatom analogues of benzene

Summary Inorganic benzenes X₃Y₃H₆ are investigated, with X and Y chosen from Zn, B, Al, Ga, C, Si, Ge, N, P, As, O, and S such that there are a total of 6 electrons. Geometries and bond orders are used to qualitatively assess the degree of aromatic bonding in these species. Bond orders are extracted from the CI density matrix over localized molecular orbitals, using methods pioneered by Ruedenberg. Second row elements C, N, O are found to be more effective at this bonding. The aromatic bonding is poorest when X and Y have a large electronegativity difference.Dedicated to Prof. Klaus Ruedenberg     

On the photodissociation of ozone in the range of 5–9 eV

The photoabsorption spectrum of ozone in the UV range (5–9 eV) is calculated from a short-time wave packet propagation using six potential energy surfaces obtained from ab initio electronic structure calculations. It is shown that the (unnamed) band around 7 eV, which is immediately adjacent to the intense Hartley band, is primarily due to excitation of three electronic states: 5 ¹A′ (3 ¹A₁), 6 ¹A′ (4 ¹A₁), and 4 ¹A″ (2 ¹B₁). Excitation of the state 8 ¹A′ (¹B₂) leads to a broad and intense band starting around 8 eV with a maximum near 9.1 eV. In full accord with the recent experimental study of Brouard et al. [M. Brouard, R. Cireasa, A.P. Clark, G.C. Groenenboom, G. Hancock, S.J. Horrocks, F. Quadrini, G.A.D. Ritchie, C. Vallance, J. Chem. Phys. 125 (2006) 133308], the excitation at 193 nm (6.42 eV) involves at least two states (5 ¹A′ and 4 ¹A″) different from the state excited in the Hartley band (3 ¹A′). The dynamics along the dissociation path is discussed in terms of one-dimensional potential curves. Several avoided crossings among the excited ¹A′ as well as the ¹A″ states point to a complicated fragmentation process. Although a quantitative analysis of branching ratios is not possible on the basis of the present calculations, we surmise, that in addition to and O(¹D) + O₂(¹Δ_g), the next higher spin-allowed channel, , also is likely to be a major product channel, in agreement with experimental observations.     

Formation of doubly charged atomic ions in the inductively coupled plasma

Experimental and theoretical studies dealing with the formation efficiency of M²⁺ ions, which reduce the analytical signal of M⁺ ions and cause spectral interferences in the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), have been discussed. Inconsistencies in the results have been pointed out and goals have been formulated for further investigations necessary to correct those spectral interferences. The range of elements that form most readily M²⁺ ions has been determined. Partition functions and reduced thermodynamic potentials of atoms, M⁺ and M²⁺ ions of elements with the lowest second ionization potentials have been calculated. The Saha equation and the thermodynamic simulation were used to calculate the formation efficiency of M⁺ and M²⁺ ions for a selected group of elements in ICP. The results have been compared with experimental and theoretical data available in the literature. The accuracy of the calculations and their applicability to the prediction of the formation efficiency of M⁺ and M²⁺ ions in ICP and other spectral sources has been demonstrated. The main factors responsible for the disagreement between experimental and theoretical values of the formation efficiency of M⁺ and M²⁺ ions have been determined.     

HFI and DFT study of the bonding in complexes of halogen and interhalogen diatomics with Lewis base

We have analyzed by means of DFT calculations with use of the pseudo-potential the nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of a range of XYB complexes (n aσ type in Mulliken notation) formed between diatomic interhalogen molecules XY and Lewis bases B. The geometrical parameters, rotational and halogen nuclear quadrupole coupling constants obtained by these calculations substantially corresponded to the data of microwave spectroscopy in the gas phase. An analysis of the quality of the calculations that employ the pseudo-potential and the expanded basis set for the halogen compounds was carried out. The ZORA model is shown to be a viable alternative to the computationally demanding BH and HLYP model for the calculation of halogen and nitrogen coupling constants in molecules. In addition, the ZORA model, in contrast to the pseudo-potential model, leads to realistic values of iodine nuclear quadrupole coupling constants. From electron partitioning analyses and Klopman's approach it follows that for the IClB complexes the electrostatic bonding is predominant relative to covalent bonding.     

Accurate potential energy surfaces for hydrogen abstraction reactions: A benchmark study on the XYG3 doubly hybrid density functional

The potential energy surface (PES) for the H + CH₄ system has been constructed with the recently developed XYG3 doubly hybrid functional, while those with the standard B3LYP hybrid functional, and the Møller–Plesset perturbation theory up to the second order (MP2) are also presented for comparison. Quantum dynamics studies demonstrated that satisfactory results on the reaction probabilities and the rate coefficients can be obtained on top of the XYG3‐PES, as compared to the results based on the highly accurate, yet expensive, CCSD(T)‐PES (Li et al., J. Chem. Phys. 2015, 142, 204302). Further investigation suggested that the XYG3 functional is useful in providing accurate rate coefficients for some larger systems involving H atom abstractions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Gaussian-3 investigation on the stabilities and bonding of the nine N10 clusters

A Gaussian-3 investigation has been performed to examine the stabilities of the nine N₁₀ isomers. G3 energies at 0K, enthalpies and heats of formation at 298K have been calculated. The most stable structure is VIII, which consists of three five-membered rings with a bowl-shape structure. The thermodynamic stability trend of the nine N₁₀ clusters is VIII > V > IX > VII > IV > VI > III > I > II, which is different from the previous theoretical results. Natural bond orbital (NBO) and atom in molecules (AIM) analysis have been carried out to study the bonding of these isomers.     

Radial and angular correlations in doubly excited states: A time‐dependent perturbation approach

The time‐dependent variation perturbation theory (TDVPT) was applied to estimate separately the effect of radial and angular correlations in the doubly excited states of two‐electron systems. Test calculations were performed for the transitions 1s² : ¹S^e→2s² : ¹S^e for H⁻ and 1s² : ¹S^e→ns² : ¹S^e (n=2,…,5) for He, Li⁺, Be²⁺, and B³⁺. Transition energies to various doubly excited states were estimated using radially correlated basis sets as well as with basis sets which take care of both radial and angular correlations. Angular correlation is taken care of by incorporating higher angular momentum basis sets in the expansion of the perturbed wave functions. The excitation energy is lower in all the cases, indicating the correct behavior. Overall improvement of the results is observed when angular correlation is included. The effect of angular correlation, however, diminishes rapidly with increase of the nuclear charge. This has been demonstrated explicitly for the lowest doubly excited transitions in the highly stripped ions Al¹¹⁺, Si¹²⁺, P¹³⁺, S¹⁴⁺, and Cl¹⁵⁺. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 76: 99–104, 2000     

Formation of Dianions in Helium Nanodroplets

The formation of dianions in helium nanodroplets is reported for the first time. The fullerene cluster dianions (C₆₀)_n^2? and (C₇₀)_n^2? were observed by mass spectrometry for n≥5 when helium droplets containing the appropriate fullerene were subjected to electron impact at approximately 22 eV. A new mechanism for dianion formation is described, which involves a two‐electron transfer from the metastable He^? ion. As well as the prospect of studying other dianions at low temperature using helium nanodroplets, this work opens up the possibility of a wider investigation of the chemistry of He^?, a new electron‐donating reagent.     

The bonding in second row transition metal dihydrides,difluorides and dichlorides

Summary The dihydrides, the difluorides and the dichlorides of the second row transition metal atoms from yttrium to palladium have been studied with methods including electron correlation of all valence electrons. Comparisons are made to the previously studied corresponding diatomic systems. It is found that the general trends of the binding energies of the second hydride and halide remain the same as in the diatomic hydrides and halides. The second ligand binding energies for the dihalides thus vary much more than for the dihydrides. This is due to important attractive effects between the halide lone-pairs and empty 4d-orbitals to the left and strong repulsions towards occupied 4d-orbitals to the right. For some systems the second ligand binds much more than the first ligand, as for RuF₂ where the difference is 34.3 kcal/mol, whereas for other systems the reverse is true, as for PdCl₂ where the first ligand binds more than the second with 20.4 kcal/mol. The results can be explained by strong ligand field effects and differences in the atomic spectra.     

Predicting Potential Stable Isomers on the Singlet Surface of the [H,P,C,S] System by the MP2 and QCISD(T) Methods

A detailed singlet potential energy surface of [H,P, C,S] system is investigated by means of the MP2 and QCISD(T) methods. Eight isomers are located on the potential energy surface, and at the final QCISD(T)/6-311++G (3df,2p)//MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level with zero-point energy correction, the chainlike isomer HPCS is found to be kinetically and thermodynamically the most stable species followed by the chainlike HSCP, planar three-membered ring HC(S)P, chainlike HCPS, and stereo three-membered ring HP(C)S, which are predicted to be also kinetically stable isomers and should be experimentally observable provided that accurate experimental conditions are available. The dissociation processes from the kinetically and thermodynamically most stable species HPCS to the low-lying molecular dissociation fragments are not more favorable in energy than the isomerization process from HPCS to HSCP. Therefore, the experimental observation for potential isomer HSCP with C ≡ P triple bond is possible by means of photoisomerization technology using HPCS as precursor.     

Cluster-assistant generation of multiply charged atomic ions in nanosecond laser ionization of seeded methyl iodide beam

The photoionization of methyl iodide beam seeded in argon and helium is studied by time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a 25 ns, 532 nm Nd-YAG laser with intensities in the range of 2 × 10¹⁰–2 × 10¹¹ W/cm². Multiply charged ions of I^q+ (q = 2–3) and C²⁺ with tens of eV kinetic energies have been observed when laser interacts with the middle part of the pulsed molecular beam, whose peak profiles are independent on the laser polarization directions. Strong evidences show that these ions are coming from the Coulomb explosion of multiply charged CH₃I clusters, and laser induced inverse bremsstrahlung absorption of caged electrons plays a key role in the formation of multiply charged ions.     

乙炔基自由基(C2H·)与二氧化氮(NO2)气体反应势能面的理论研究

在 CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPE 水平上对反应C2H+NO2 进行了计算, 建立了反应势能面并得到了3种产物. 利用RRKM理论估算了反应的总速率和分支比. 总速率为1.427×10-12×T0.556×exp(190.547/T) cm3*molecule-1*s-1, 其中主要产物P1(HCCO+NO)比例大于96%, 次要产物P2(HCNO+CO)和P3(HCN+CO2)小于4%.     

Ritz variational method for the high‐lying nonautoionizing doubly excited 1,3Fe states of two‐electron atoms

Energy eigenvalues of nonautoionizing doubly excited states originating from 2pnf ( ) configuration of two‐electron atoms have been calculated by expanding the basis set in explicitly correlated Hylleraas coordinates under the framework of Ritz variational method. A detailed discussion on the evaluation of correlated basis integrals is given. The energy eigenvalues of a number of these doubly excited states are being reported for the first time especially for the high lying states. The effective quantum numbers ( ) for the states mentioned above have been calculated by using the theory of quantum defect.