Formation of positive cluster ions LinBr (n = 2–7) and ionization energies studied by thermal ionization mass spectrometry

Clusters of the type Li_nX (X = halides) can be considered as potential building blocks of cluster‐assembly materials. In this work, Li_nBr (n = 2–7) clusters were obtained by a thermal ionization source of modified design and selected by a magnetic sector mass spectrometer. Positive ions of the Li_nBr (n = 4–7) cluster were detected for the first time. The order of ion intensities was Li₂Br⁺ > Li₄Br⁺ > Li₅Br⁺ > Li₆Br⁺ > Li₃Br⁺. The ionization energies (IEs) were measured and found to be 3.95 ± 0.20 eV for Li₂Br, 3.92 ± 0.20 eV for Li₃Br, 3.93 ± 0.20 eV for Li₄Br, 4.08 ± 0.20 eV for Li₅Br, 4.14 ± 0.20 eV for Li₆Br and 4.19 ± 0.20 eV for Li₇Br. All of these clusters have a much lower ionization potential than that of the lithium atom, so they belong to the superalkali class. The IEs of Li_nBr (n = 2–4) are slightly lower than those in the corresponding small Li_n or Li_nH clusters, whereas the IEs of Li_nBr are very similar to those of Li_n or Li_nH for n = 5 and 6. The thermal ionization source of modified design is an important means for simultaneously obtaining and measuring the IEs of Li_nBr (n = 2–7) clusters (because their ions are thermodynamically stable with respect to the loss of lithium atoms in the gas phase) and increasingly contributes toward the development of clusters for practical applications. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hypercoordinate atoms of second-row elements in dodecahedrane endohedral complexes

The energy characteristics and geometric parameters of the dodecahedrane endohedral complexes X@C₂₀H₂₀ (X = C⁴⁻, N³⁻, O²⁻, F⁻, Ne) were studied by the density functional theory B3LYP method with the 6-311G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), and 6-311G(df,p)) basis sets. In all structures the central atoms X are characterized by a coordination number of 20. The energy of formation of the complexes decreases in the order X = C⁴⁻, N³⁻, O²⁻, F⁻, Ne. The coordination number of the central atom remains unchanged upon adding Li⁺ counterions to anionic systems. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 824–830, May, 2007.     

Study of small chlorine‐doped potassium clusters by thermal ionization mass spectrometry

The theoretical calculations have predicted that nonmetal‐doped potassium clusters can be used in the synthesis of a new class of charge‐transfer salts which can be considered as potential building blocks for the assembly of novel nanostructured material. In this work, K_nCl (n = 2–6) and K_nCl_n?1 (n = 3 and 4) clusters were produced by vaporization of a solid potassium chloride salt in a thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The ionization energies (IEs) were measured, and found to be 3.64 ± 0.20 eV for K₂Cl, 3.67 ± 0.20 eV for K₃Cl, 3.62 ± 0.20 eV for K₄Cl, 3.57 ± 0.20 eV for K₅Cl, 3.69 ± 0.20 eV for K₆Cl, 3.71 ± 0.20 eV for K₃Cl₂ and 3.72 ± 0.20 eV for K₄Cl₃. The K_nCl⁺ (n = 3–6) clusters were detected for the first time in a cluster beam generated by the thermal ionization source of modified design. Also, this work is the first to report experimentally obtained values of IEs for K_nCl⁺ (n = 3–6) and K_nCl_n?1⁺ (n = 3 and 4) clusters. The ionization energies for K_nCl⁺ and K_nCl_n?1⁺ clusters are much lower than the 4.34 eV of the potassium atom; hence, these clusters should be classified as ‘superalkali’ species. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative analysis of the state of lithium and sodium atoms in water clusters

Structures and energetic characteristics of Li(H₂O) _n and Li⁺(H₂O) _n clusters with n = 1–6, 19, and 27 determined in the second order of the Møller-Plesset perturbation theory with 6–31++G(d,p) basis set are analyzed. The electron density redistribution, which takes place upon the electron addition to a Li⁺(H₂O) _n cluster, is found to be provided by hydrogen-bonded water molecules: initially almost neutral molecules, which are most distant from lithium, become negatively charged. The calculated energies of the electron capture by Li⁺(H₂O) _n clusters are approximated with the appropriate electrostatic model, and estimates of the lithium ionization energy in water clusters of various sizes are found. Similar estimates obtained earlier for sodium are made more accurate.     

Synthesis and crystal structure determination of the new intermetallic phase Li13Cu6Ga21

Li₁₃Cu₆Ga₂₁ crystallizes in a cubic structure, space group Im3, with a = 13.568(2) Å, Z = 4. Diffraction data were collected on a NONIUS CAD 4 diffractometer in the range 4 ≤ 2θ ≤ 50° (MoKα radiation). The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares to a final R(F) = 0.033 for 346 independent reflections with I> 3σ(I). Li₁₃Cu₆Ga₂₁ presents an interesting structure composed of Samson's polyhedral clusters (104 atoms) linked to each other through smaller junction polyhedral clusters (truncated tetrahedra and hypho-13-vertex polyhedra) containing lithium atoms in their centers.     

Dissociative Photoionization of m-Xylene

The photoionization and dissociative photoionization of m-xylene (C₈H₁₀) were researched by using synchrotron radiation vacuum ultraviolet (SR-VUV) and supersonic expanding molecular beam reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (RFTOF-MS) system. The photoionization efficiency spectra (PIEs) of parent ion C₈H₁₀⁺ and main fragment ions C₈H₉⁺ and C₇H₇⁺ were observed, and the ionization energy (IE) of m-xylene and appearance energies (AEs) of main fragment ions C₈H₉⁺ and C₇H₇⁺ were determined to be 8.60 ± 0.03 eV, 11.76 ± 0.04 eV and 11.85 ± 0.05 eV, respectively. Structures of reactant, transition states (TSs), intermediates (INTs), and products involved in two dominant dissociation channels were optimized at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level, and the relative energies were calculated at the G3 level. Based on the results, two major dissociative photoionization channels, C₇H₇⁺+CH₃ and C₈H₉⁺+H were calculated at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. On the basis of theoretical and experimental results, the dissociative photoionization mechanisms of m-xylene were proposed. The C–H or C–C bond dissociation and hydrogen migration are the main processes in the dissociation channels of m-xylene cation.

     

CO2-activation and enhanced capture by C6Li6: A density functional approach

In this study, we propose a simple and yet effective approach for capture and storage of CO₂ by C₆Li₆. C₆Li₆ possesses a planar star-like structure, whose ionization energy is lower than that of Li atom and hence, it behaves as a superalkali. We have systematically studied the interaction of successive CO₂ molecules with C₆Li₆ using long-range dispersion corrected density functional ωB97xD/6-311 + G(d) calculations. We notice that these interactions lead to stable C₆Li₆-nCO₂ complexes (n = 1-6) in which the structure of CO₂ moieties is bent appreciably (122-125°) due to electron transfer from C₆Li₆, whose planarity is distorted only slightly (≤7°). This clearly suggests that the CO₂ molecules can successfully be activated and captured by C₆Li₆. It has been also noticed that the bond-length of CO₂ in C₆Li₆-nCO₂ complexes increases monotonically whereas adsorption energy decreases, ranging 3.18-2.79 eV per CO₂ with the increase in n. These findings establish the potential of C₆Li₆ for capture and storage of CO₂ molecules.     

Mouvement du lithium dans deux nouvelles familles d'électrolytes solides: Les boracites Li4+xB7O12+x/2Cl et les halogénoborates de lithium vitreux

The boracites Li_4+xB₇O_12+x/2Cl and the related B₂O₃---xLi₂O---yLiCl glasses have been studied by cw and pulsed NMR between 130 and 500°K. Above 160°K the ⁷Li spectrum is composed of two lines: a broad one due to nonmobile Li⁺ ions and a narrow one due to diffusing Li⁺ with a hopping frequency greater than the dipolar frequency. The activation energy deduced from spin-lattice relaxation time measurements (T₁) is lower than that given by variation of conductivity with temperature. At low temperature T₁ disagrees with the BPP prediction (T₁ ω²_o). The diffusion process may be explained by the existence of a distribution of the local energy barriers.     

Magnesium-Based Clusters as Building Blocks of Electrolytes in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Superhalogens, owing to their large electron affinity (EA, exceeding those of any halogen atom), play an essential role in physical chemistry as well as new material design. They have applications in hydrogen storage and lithium-ion batteries. Owing to the unique geometries and electronic features of magnesium-based clusters, their potential to form a new class of lithium salts has been investigated here theoretically. The idea is assessed by conducting ab initio computations on Li⁺/Mg_nF_2n+1-2mO_m⁻ compounds (n=2, 3; m=0-3) and analyzing their performance as potential Li-ion battery electrolytes. The Mg₃F₇⁻ cluster, with large electron binding energy (EA of 7.93 eV), has been proven to serve as a building block for lithium salts. It is shown that, apart from high electronic stability, the new superhalogen-based electrolytes exhibit a set of desirable properties, including a large band gap, high electrolyte stability window, easy mobility of the Li⁺, and favorable insensitivity to water.     

Structure and stability for (AlN)n+ and (AlN)n+ (n=1–15) clusters

Using density functional theory (DFT) method with 6-31G* basis set, we have carried out the optimizing calculation of geometry, vibrational frequency and thermodynamical stability for (AlN) _n ⁺ and (AlN) _n ⁺ (n=1–15) clusters. Moreover, their ionic potential (IP) and electron affinity (EA) were discussed. The results show that the electrical charge condition of the cluster has a relatively great impact on the structure of the cluster and with the increase of n, this kind of impact is reduced gradually. There are no Al-Al and N-N bonds in the stable structure of (AlN) _n ⁺ or (AlN) _n ^-, and the Al-N bond is the sole bond type. The magic number regularity of (AlN) _n ⁺ and (AlN) _n ^- is consistent with that for (AlN) _n , indicating that the structure with even n such as 2, 4, 6, ... is more stable. In addition, (AlN₁₀ has the maximal ionization power (9.14 eV) and the minimal electron affinity energy (0.19 eV), which manifests that (AlN)₁₀ is more stable than other clusters.     

Geometry,stability, and isomerization of BnN2 (n = 1−6) isomers

We perform a systematic study on the geometry, stability, nature of bonding, and potential energy surface of low‐lying isomers of planar and cyclic B_nN₂ (n = 1?6) at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(d)//B3LYP/6‐311+G(d) level. B_nN₂ (n = 2?4) clusters are structurally similar to pure boron clusters. The evolution of the binding energy per atom, incremental binding energy, and second‐order difference of total energy with the size of B_nN₂ reveals that the lowest energy isomer of B₃N₂ has high stability. B₅N₂ and B₆N₂ possess π‐aromaticity according to Hückel (4n + 2) rule. The aromaticity of some isomers of B₄N₂ and B₆N₂ is examined based on their valence molecular orbitals. At the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(d)//B3LYP/6‐311+G(d) level, several B₂N₂, B₃N₂, B₄N₂, and B₅N₂ isomers are predicted to be stable both thermodynamically and kinetically, and detectable in future experiments. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis and structure analysis of tetragonal Li7La3Zr2O12 with the garnet-related type structure

We have successfully synthesized a high-purity polycrystalline sample of tetragonal Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂. Single crystals have been also grown by a flux method. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis verifies that tetragonal Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ has the garnet-related type structure with a space group of I4₁/acd (no. 142). The lattice constants are a=13.134(4) Å and c=12.663(8) Å. The garnet-type framework structure is composed of two types of dodecahedral LaO₈ and octahedral ZrO₆. Li atoms occupy three crystallographic sites in the interstices of this framework structure, where Li(1), Li(2), and Li(3) atoms are located at the tetrahedral 8a site and the distorted octahedral 16f and 32g sites, respectively. The structure is also investigated by the Rietveld method with X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. These diffraction patterns are identified as the tetragonal Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ structure determined from the single-crystal data. The present tetragonal Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ sample exhibits a bulk Li-ion conductivity of σ_b=1.63×10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ and grain-boundary Li-ion conductivity of σ_gb=5.59×10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ at 300 K. The activation energy is estimated to be E_a=0.54 eV in the temperature range of 300–560 K.     

Structure and Stability of Endohedral Complexes X@（HBNH）12

Using quantum chemistry methods B3LYP/6-31＋＋G（d,p） to optimize endohedral complexes X@（HBNH）12 （X=Li^0/＋, Na^0/＋, K^0/＋, Be^0/2＋, Mg^0/2＋, Ca^0/2＋, H and He）, the geometries with the lowest energy were achieved. Inclusion energy, standard equilibrium constant, natural charge, spin density, ionization potentials, and HOMO-LUMO energy gap were also discussed. The calculation predicted that X=Na^0/＋, K^0/＋, Mg^0/2＋, Ca^0/2＋, H and He are nearly located at the center of （HBNH）12 cluster. Li^＋ lies in less than 0.021 nm departure from the center. Li and Be^0/2＋ dramatically deviate from the center. （HBNH）12 prefers to enclose Li^＋, Be^2＋, Mg^2＋, and Ca^2＋ in it than others. Moreover, M@（HBNH）12 （M=Li, Na, K） species are ＂superalkalis＂ in that they possess lower first ionization potentials than the Cs atom （3.9 eV）.     

[C5Li5]Mgn[C5Li5] (n?=?2–8): novel sandwich complexes containing –Mg–Mg– chain

A density functional theory (DFT) investigation on novel sandwich-type D ₅ [C₅Li₅]Mg _n [C₅Li₅] (n = 2–8) complexes containing –Mg–Mg– chain has been performed in this work. The equilibrium geometries, electronic structures, vibrational frequencies, and stabilities of these complexes are researched by B3LYP and BP86 methods at 6-311+G(d) levels of theory. The Mg _n ²⁺ sandwich complexes with D ₅ symmetry are all true minima on the potential energy surface. NBO analyses for the series of complexes reveal that the Mg–Mg bond is a weak σ covalent bond. There are mainly electrostatic interactions between C₅Li₅ ⁻ ligands and Mg _n ²⁺(n = 2–8) nuclear in these complexes. The NICS and NICS_zz computed with GIAO-B3LYP/6-311+G(d) indicates that the C₅Li₅ ⁻ rings in the series of complexes are aromatic. These novel complexes turn out to be strongly thermodynamically favored in the gas phases and may be targeted in future experiments to expand the structural domain of sandwich-type complexes.     

Highly symmetrical phthalocyanines and perfluorophthalocyanines: The quantum-chemical study

By the quantum-chemical method (U)B3LYP/6-31G(d ₅,p) are determined point symmetry group (D _4h ) and equilibrium structure of phthalocyanine (PcH₂), phthalocyaninates PcBe, PcMg, PcCo, PcNi, PcCu, PcZn, perfluorophthalocyaninates ^FPcNi, ^FPcCu, ^FPcZn, cations Pc⁺Mt, ^FPc⁺Mt and anion PcCo⁻. In the approximation (U)B3LYP/6-311++G(3d ₅ f ₇,p)//6-31G(d ₅,p) is achieved the satisfactory accuracy of the calculation of ionization potentials of the studied molecules. Effect of nuclear relaxation at the ionization is 0.07±0.06 eV; correction for “zero” vibrations does not exceed 0.01 eV. Perfluorination increases ionization potentials by 0.7–0.8 eV.     

Theoretical study on reactions of cyclic-N3 with NO, NO2 and Cl2

In this article, we report our detailed mechanistic study on the reactions of cyclic-N₃ with NO, NO₂ at the G3B3//B3LYP/6-311+G(d) and CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//QCISD/6-311+G(d)+ZPVE levels; the reactions of cyclic-N₃ with Cl₂ was studied at the G3B3//B3LYP/6-311+G(d) and CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//QCISD/6-31+G(d)+ZPVE levels. Both of the singlet and triplet potential-energy surfaces (PESs) of cyclic-N₃ + NO, cyclic-N₃ + NO₂ and the PES of cyclic-N₃ + Cl₂ have been depicted. The results indicate that on singlet PESs cyclic-N₃ can undergo the barrierless addition–elimination mechanism with NO and NO₂ forming the respective dominant products N₂ + ¹cyclic-NON and ¹NNO(O) + N₂. Yet the two reactions on triplet PESs are much less likely to take place under room temperature due to the high barriers. For the cyclic-N₃ + Cl₂ reaction, a Cl-abstraction mechanism was revealed that results in the product cyclic-N₃Cl + Cl with an overall barrier as high as 14.7 kcal/mol at CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//QCISD/6-31+G(d)+ZPVE level. So the cyclic-N₃ radical could be stable against Cl₂ at low temperatures in gas phase. The present results can be useful for future experimental investigation on the title reactions.     

Interconverting WW Triple Bonds and W4 Clusters: Structures of W4(OPrn)16 and [Li2W2(OPrn)8(DME)]2*

Alcoholysis of W₂(NMe₂)₆ with excess n-propanol in hexane yields the tetranuclear cluster, W₄(OPrⁿ, I. Reduction of I with two equivalents of Li₂COT in THF gives a small yield of Li₂W₂(OPrⁿ)₈. Single crystals were isolated by cooling the product mixture in DME and were shown to be [Li₂W₂(OPrⁿ)₈(DME)]₂, II, which consists of a unique “dimer of dimers” structure. In this reaction sequence, W₄¹⁶⁺ cluster formation is followed by four electron reduction to reform the (W≡W)⁶⁺ unit. Better yields of the lithium salt can be obtained by the addition of LiOPrⁿ/HOPrⁿ solutions to W₂(OBu^t)₆ in which case Li₂W₂(OPrⁿ)₈ has been obtained as a 1:1 adduct with LiOPr. This identity of this salt was confirmed by solution NMR spectroscopy. In the alternative reaction, the (W≡W)⁶⁺ center remains intact from reactant to product. No attempt has been made to separate the product from excess LiOPr. DFT (ADF 2004.01) molecular orbital calculations on the model cluster W₄(OH)₁₆ are used to help elucidate the disruption of the W₄ cluster upon four electron reduction. The molecular structures of compounds I and II are reported.*Dedicated to Professor F. A Cotton on the occasion of his 75th birthday.     

Competition between reactivity and relaxation in free electron attachment to molecules

The reactivity of the C₆F₅X (X=F, Cl, Br, I) molecules following low energy (0–15 eV) electron attachment is studied in the gas phase under single collision conditions, free molecular clusters and condensed molecules by means of crossed beams and surface experiments. All four molecules exhibit a very prominent resonance for low energy electron attachment (<1 eV, attachment cross section >10⁻¹⁴ cm²). Under collision free conditions thermal electron capture generates long lived molecular parent anions C₆F₅X^−*. Along the line Cl, Br, I dissociation into X⁻+C₆F₅ and X+C₆F₅-increasingly competes until for X=1 only chemical fragmentation is observed on the mass spectrometric time scale. In free molecular clusters chemical fragmentation is quantitatively quenched at low energies in favour of associative attachment yielding undissociated, relaxed ions (C₆F₅X)⁻ _n,n≥1. A further dissociative resonance at 6.5 eV in C₆F₅Cl is considerably enhanched in clusters. If these molecules are finally condensed on a solid surface, one observes a prominent Cl⁻ desorption resonance at 6.5 eV. While the quantitative quenching of the chemical reactivity at low energies is due to the additional possibilities of energy dissipation under aggregation, the enhanched reactivity at 6.5 eV is interpreted by the conversion of a core excited open channel resonance in single molecules into a closed channel (Feshbach) resonance when it is coupled to environmental molecules.     

Quantum chemical study of the coordination of glycolic acid conformers and their conjugate bases to [Ca(OH2)n] (n=0–4) ions

A detailed exploration of the configurational and conformational space of glycolic acid and their conjugate bases has been carried out with the aid of first principles quantum chemical techniques at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory. The most stable configuration among the eight possible glycolic acid conformers corresponds to the E-s-cis, s-trans configuration, while the highest energy E-s-trans, s-cis conformer was found at 10.88 and 12.17 kcal mol⁻¹ higher in energy at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, respectively. Upon dissociation of glycolic acid the s-cis(syn), and s-trans(anti) configurations of the glycolate anion can be formed. The anti conformer was found to be less stable than the syn one by 14.20 and 16.87 kcal mol⁻¹ at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p)) levels of theory, respectively. The computed B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) proton affinity of the syn conformer for the protonation process affording the more stable E-s-cis, s-trans conformer, in vacuum was found to be 325.35 kcal mol⁻¹ (ΔG⁰ value). From a methodological point of view, our results confirm the reliability of the integrated computational tool formed by the B3LYP density functional model. This model has subsequently been used to investigate the interaction of Ca²⁺ ions with the glycolic acid conformers and their conjugate bases in vacuum and in the presence of extra water ligands. For the complexes of glycolic acid conformers the η²–O,O–(COOH) coordination, that is the structure that arises from the coordination of the Ca²⁺ to the carboxylic group, is the global minimum of the PES, while the η²–O(OH),O–(COOH) coordination is a local minimum found at only 1.0 and 1.3 kcal mol⁻¹ higher in energy at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, respectively. Moreover, the two isomers exhibit nearly the same binding affinities, which are predicted to be 89 and 85 kcal mol⁻¹ at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, respectively. The same holds also true for the complexes of the glycolate anion. The η²–O,O–(COO⁻) coordination involving the syn conformer of the glycolato ligand, is the global minimum, while the η²–O(OH),O–(COO⁻) one lies at 1.5 and 5.6 kcal mol⁻¹ higher in energy at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, respectively. The other conformer with an η²–O,O–(COO⁻) coordination involving the anti conformer of the glycolato ligand, is less stable by only 0.2 kcal mol⁻¹ at both levels of theory. Noteworthy is the trend seen for the incremental binding energy due to the successive addition of water molecules to [HOCH₂C(O)O]Ca²⁺ species; the computed values are 30.4, 26.8, 22.9 and 16.2 kcal mol⁻¹ at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory for the mono-, di-, tri- and tetraaqua complexes, respectively. This trend arising from the repulsion of the dipoles between the water ligands and from unfavorable many body interactions is in accordance with those anticipated from electrostatic considerations. The Ca(II)-water interaction weakens with increasing coordination of the metal. Obviously, it is the electrostatic nature of the Ca(II)-water interactions that accounts well for the computed coordination geometries of the cationic (aqua)(glycolato)calcium complexes. Calculated structures, relative stability and bonding properties of the conformers and their complexes with [Ca(OH₂)_n]²⁺ (n=0–4) ions are discussed with respect to computed electronic and spectroscopic properties, such as charge density distribution, harmonic vibrational frequencies and NMR chemical shifts.