Electronic structures, vibrational and thermochemical properties of neutral and charged niobium clusters Nb(n), n = 7-12

Geometric and electronic structures, vibrational properties, and relative stabilities of niobium clusters Nb(n), n = 7-12, are studied using both DFT (BPW91 and M06 functionals) and CCSD(T) calculations with the cc-pVnZ-PP basis set. In each cluster, various lower-lying states are very close in energy in such a way that the ground state cannot be unambiguously established by DFT computations. Nb clusters tend to prefer the lowest possible spin state as the ground state, except for Nb(12) ((3)A(g)). The optimal structure of the cluster at a certain size does not simply grow from that of the smaller one by adding an atom randomly. Instead, the Nb clusters prefer a close-packed growth behavior. Nb(10) has a spherically aromatic character, high chemical hardness and large HOMO-LUMO gap. Electron affinities, ionization energies, binding energy per atom, and the stepwise dissociation energies are evaluated. Energetic properties exhibit odd-even oscillations. Comparison with experimental values shows that both BPW91 and M06 functionals are reliable in predicting the EA and IE values, but the BPW91 is deficient in predicting the binding and dissociation energies. We re-examine in particular the experimental far IR spectra previously recorded using the IR-MPD and free electron laser spectrometric techniques and propose novel assignments for Nb(7) and Nb(9) systems. The IR spectra of the anions are also predicted.     

Structure and properties of Mn(n), Mn(n)-, and Mn(n)+ clusters (n = 3-10)

Electronic and geometrical structures of Mn(3)-Mn(10) together with their singly negatively and positively charged ions are computed using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. The ground-state spin multiplicities in the neutral series are 16, 21, 4, 9, 6, 5, 2, and 5, for Mn(3)-Mn(10), respectively. Thus, there is a transition from a ferromagnetic ground state to a ferrimagnetic ground state at Mn(5). The energy difference between ferrimagnetic and ferromagnetic states in Mn(n) grows rapidly with increasing n and exceeds 2 eV in Mn(10). The corresponding change from ferro- to ferrimagnetic ground state occurs at Mn(6)(-) and Mn(3)(+) in the anionic and cationic series, respectively. Beginning with Mn(6), the ion spin multiplicities differ from that of the neutral by +/-1 (i.e., they obey the empirical "+/-1 rule"). We found that the energy required to remove an Mn atom is nearly independent of the charge state of an Mn(n) cluster and the number of atoms in the cluster, except for Mn(3). The results of our calculations are in reasonable agreement with experiment, except for the experimental data on the magnetic moments per atom, where, in general, we predict smaller values than the experiment.     

Trends in structural, electronic and energetic properties of bimetallic vanadium-gold clusters Au(n)V with n = 1-14

A systematic quantum chemical investigation on the electronic, geometric and energetic properties of Au(n)V clusters with n = 1-14 in both neutral and anionic states is performed using BP86/cc-pVTZ-PP calculations. Most clusters having an even number of electrons prefer a high spin state. For odd-electron systems, a quartet state is consistently favoured as the ground state up to Au(8)V. The larger sized Au(10)V, Au(12)V and Au(14)V prefer a doublet state. The clusters prefer 2D geometries up to Au(8)V involving a weak charge transfer. The larger systems bear 3D conformations with a more effective electron transfer from Au to V. The lowest-energy structure of a size Au(n)V is built upon the most stable form of Au(n-1)V. During the growth, V is endohedrally doped in order to maximize its coordination numbers and augment the charge transfer. Energetic properties, including the binding energies, embedding energies and second-order energy differences, show that the presence of a V atom enhances considerably the thermodynamic stability of odd-numbered gold clusters but reduces that of even-numbered systems. The atomic shape has an apparently more important effect on the clusters stability than the electronic structure. Especially, if both atomic shape and electronic condition are satisfied, the resulting cluster becomes particularly stable such as the anion Au(12)V(-), which can thus combine with the cation Au(+) to form a superatomic molecule of the type [Au(12)V]Au. Numerous lower-lying electronic states of these clusters are very close in energy, in such a way that DFT computations cannot clearly establish their ground electronic states. Calculated results demonstrate the existence of structural isomers with comparable energy content for several species including Au(9)V, Au(10)V, Au(13)V and Au(14)V.     

Structure and bonding in coinage metal halide clusters M(n)X(n), M = Cu, Ag, Au; X = Br, I; n = 1-6

Ab initio calculations in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) were performed to study the lowest-energy isomers of noble metal halide clusters M(n)Br(n) and M(n)I(n), for M = Cu, Ag, or Au and n = 1-6. For all species, the most stable structures were found to be cyclic arrangements. Calculated bond lengths and infrared frequencies were compared with the available experimental data. The nature of the ionocovalent bonding was characterized. The stability and fragmentation were also investigated. The present work confirms previous observations on the particular stability of the trimer.     

Probing the structural and electronic properties of Ag(n)H(-) (n = 1-3) using photoelectron imaging and theoretical calculations

Structural and electronic properties of silver hydride cluster anions (Ag(n)H(-); n = 1-3) have been explored by combining the negative ion photoelectron imaging spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The photoelectron spectrum of AgH(-) exhibits transitions from AgH(- 2)Σ(+) to AgH (1)Σ(+) and AgH (3)Σ(+), with the electron affinity (EA) 0.57(3) eV. For Ag(2)H(-), the only observed transition is from Ag(2)H(-) (C(∞v)) (1)Σ(+) to Ag(2)H (C(2v)) (2)A(') and the electron affinity is 2.56(5) eV. Two obvious electron bands are observed in photoelectron imaging of Ag(3)H(-), which are assigned to the transitions from Ag(3)H(-) (C(2v)-T, which means C(2v) geometry with top site hydrogen) (2)B(2) to Ag(3)H (C(2v)-T) (1)A(1) and Ag(3)H (C(2v)-T) (3)B(2). The electron affinity is determined to be 1.61(9) eV. The Ag-H stretching modes in the ground states of AgH and Ag(2)H are experimentally resolved and their frequencies are measured to be 1710(80) and 1650(100) cm(-1), respectively. Aside from the above EAs and the vibrational frequencies, the vertical detachment energies to all ground states and some excited states of Ag(n)H (n = 1-3) are also obtained. Theoretical calculations reproduce the experimental energies quite well, and the results are used to assign the geometries and electronic states for all related species.     

Studies of NO adsorption on Pt(110)-(1 x 2) and (1 x 1) surfaces using density functional theory

Adsorption of NO on Pt(110)-(1 x 2) and (1 x 1) surfaces has been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) method (periodic DMol(3)) with full geometry optimization and without symmetry restriction. Adsorption energies, structures, and N-O stretching vibrational frequencies of NO are studied by considering multiple possible adsorption sites and comparing with the experimental data. Adsorption is strongly dependent on both coverage and surface phase. The assignment of adsorption sites has been carried out with precise calculation of vibrational frequencies for NO on various sites. We clearly show the NO site switching on both of the surfaces as found in the experiments: at low coverages, bridge species is formed on the surface, and at high coverages, NO switches to atop sites.     

Structure and properties of the aluminum borates Al(BO2)n and Al(BO2)n(-), (n = 1-4)

The geometrical and electronic structures of Al(BO(2))(n) and Al(BO(2))(n)(-) (n = 1-4) clusters are computed at different levels of theory including density functional theory (DFT), hybrid DFT, double-hybrid DFT, and second-order perturbation theory. All aluminum borates are found to be quite stable toward the BO(2) and BO(2)(-) loss in the neutral and anion series, respectively. Al(BO(2))(4) belongs to the class of hyperhalogens composed of smaller superhalogens, and should possess a large adiabatic electron affinity (EA(ad)) larger than that of its superhalogen building block BO(2). Indeed, the aluminum tetraborate possesses the EA(ad) of 5.6 eV, which, however, is smaller than the EA(ad) of 7.8 eV of the AlF(4) supehalogen despite BO(2) is more electronegative than F. The EA(ad) decrease in Al(BO(2))(4) is due to the higher thermodynamic stability of Al(BO(2))(4) compared to that of AlF(4). Because of its high EA and thermodynamic stability, Al(BO(2))(4) should be capable of forming salts with electropositive counter ions. We optimized KAl(BO(2))(4) as corresponding to a unit cell of a hypothetical KAl(BO(2))(4) salt and found that specific energy and energy density of such a salt are competitive with those of trinitrotoluol (TNT).     

Density functional calculation of the structure and electronic properties of Cu(n)O(n) (n = 1-8) clusters

Ab initio simulations and calculations were used to study the structures and stabilities of copper oxide clusters, Cu(n)O(n) (n = 1-8). The lowest energy structures of neutral and charged copper oxide clusters were determined using primarily the B3LYP/LANL2DZ model chemistry. For n ≥ 4, the clusters are nonplanar. Selected electronic properties including atomization energies, ionization energies, electron affinities, and Bader charges were calculated and examined as a function of n.     

Theoretical study on (Al2O3)n (n = 1-10 and 30) fullerenes and H2 adsorption properties

The structures and stabilities of (Al2O3)n (n = 1-10 and 30) clusters were studied by means of first principles calculations. The calculated results reveal that the global minima of small (Al2O3)n (n = 1-5) clusters are cage structures with high symmetries, in which Al and O atoms are three- and two-coordinated, respectively, and are linked to neighbors via single bonds. Beyond (Al2O3)5, we calculated both cage and cage-dimer structures for (Al2O3)n (n = 6-10), and the results show that, at this size range, cage-dimer structures are more stable than cage structures. Furthermore, an onion-like motif for (Al2O3)10 was studied, and it is interesting to find that, at this size, the onion structure is more favorable than cage and cage-dimer structures. For large clusters, a shell structure of Al60O90 is suggested. Electronic properties and calculations on hydrogen adsorption of these aluminum oxide structures are reported, and we discuss their possible use as hydrogen storage materials.     

Synthesis, Reactivity, and Structural Characterization of the Nonclassical [MTe(7)](n)()(-) Anions (M = Ag, Au, n = 3; M = Hg, n = 2)

Several tellurometalates of the general formula [MTe(7)](n)()(-) (n = 2, 3) have been isolated as salts of organic cations by reaction of suitable metal sources with polytelluride solutions in DMF. The [HgTe(7)](2)(-) anion has the same structure in both the NEt(4)(+) and the PPh(4)(+) salts except for a minor change in the ligand conformation. The [AgTe(7)](3)(-) and [HgTe(7)](2)(-) anions contain metal atoms coordinated in trigonal-planar fashion to eta(3)-Te(7)(4)(-) ligands. The central Te atom of an eta(3)-Te(7)(4)(-) ligand is coordinated to the metal atom and to two Te atoms in a "T"-shaped geometry consistent with a hypervalent 10 e(-) center. The planar [AuTe(7)](3)(-) anion may best be described as possessing a square-planar Au(III) atom coordinated to an eta(3)-Te(5)(4)(-) ligand and to an eta(1)-Te(2)(2)(-) ligand. The reaction of [NEt(4)](n)()[MTe(7)] (M = Hg, n = 2; M = Au, n = 3) with the activated acetylene dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) has yielded the products [NEt(4)](n)()[M(Te(2)C(2)(COOCH(3))(2))(2)] (M = Hg, n = 2; M = Au, n = 1). The metal atoms are coordinated to two Te(COOCH(3))C=C(COOCH(3))Te(2)(-) ligands, for M = Hg in a distorted tetrahedral fashion and for M = Au in a square-planar fashion.     

Temperature dependence of the vibrational deactivation of NO(ν = 1) and NO(ν = 2) by NO

The temperature dependence of the vibrational relaxation of NO(ν = 1) and NO(ν = 2) by NO has been investigated over the range 220–470K. The vibrationally excited NO was produced by the pulse radiolysis of dilute NO-Ar mixtures and temporal dependence of the NO(ν = 1) and NO(ν = 2) followed by UV absorption spectrophotometry. The results for the self-relaxation of NO(ν = 1) are in good agreement with previous measurements exhibiting a minimum in the relaxation rate constant near 300 K; however, the results for the V-V exchange between NO(ν = 2) and NO(ν = 0) are approximately a factor of two smaller that the results calculated from the relaxation rate constant of the reverse 1+1 process and detailed balance at 300 K. The temperature dependence of the V-V exchange rate constant is in good agreement with calculated estimates based on Rapp's SSH theory for V-V transfer. The long-range dipole-dipole formulation must be extended to other than ¹Σ state systems in order to explicitly take into account the influence of spin-orbit coupling on the state-to-state rate constants for vibrational relaxation.     

Structural and electronic properties of Si(n), Si(n)-, and PSi(n-1) clusters (2 < or = n < or = 13): Theoretical investigation based on ab initio molecular orbital theory

The geometric and electronic structures of Si(n), Si(n)-, and PSi(n-1) clusters (2 < or = n < or = 13) have been investigated using the ab initio molecular orbital theory formalism. The hybrid exchange-correlation energy functional (B3LYP) and a standard split-valence basis set with polarization functions (6-31+G(d)) were employed to optimize geometrical configurations. The total energies of the lowest energy isomers thus obtained were recalculated at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. Unlike positively charged clusters, which showed similar structural behavior as that of neutral clusters [Nigam et al., J. Chem. Phys. 121, 7756 (2004)], significant geometrical changes were observed between Si(n) and Si(n)- clusters for n = 6, 8, 11, and 13. However, the geometries of P substituted silicon clusters show similar growth as that of negatively charged Si(n) clusters with small local distortions. The relative stability as a function of cluster size has been verified based on their binding energies, second difference in energy (Delta2 E), and fragmentation behavior. In general, the average binding energy of Si(n)- clusters is found to be higher than that of Si(n) clusters. For isoelectronic PSi(n-1) clusters, it is found that although for small clusters (n < 4) substitution of P atom improves the binding energy of Si(n) clusters, for larger clusters (n > or = 4) the effect is opposite. The fragmentation behavior of these clusters reveals that while small clusters prefer to evaporate monomer, the larger ones dissociate into two stable clusters of smaller size. The adiabatic electron affinities of Si(n) clusters and vertical detachment energies of Si(n)- clusters were calculated and compared with available experimental results. Finally, a good agreement between experimental and our theoretical results suggests good prediction of the lowest energy isomeric structures for all clusters calculated in the present study.     

Structural and electronic properties of TaSi(n) (n=1-13) clusters: a relativistic density functional investigation

The TaSi(n) (n=1-13) clusters with doublet, quartet, and sextet spin configurations have been systematically investigated by a relativistic density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation available in Amsterdam density functional program. The total bonding energies, equilibrium geometries, Mulliken populations as well as Hirshfeld charges of TaSi(n) (n=1-13) clusters are calculated and presented. The emphasis on the stabilities and electronic properties is discussed. The most stable structures of the small TaSi(n) (n=1-6) clusters and the evolutional rule of low-lying geometries of the larger TaSi(n) (n=7-13) clusters are obtained. Theoretical results indicate that the most stable structure of TaSi(n) (n=1-6) clusters keeps the similar framework as the most stable structure of Si(n+1) clusters except for TaSi(3) cluster. The Ta atom in the lowest-energy TaSi(n) (n=1-13) isomers occupies a gradual sinking site, and the site moves from convex, to flatness, and to concave with the number of Si atom varying from 1 to 13. When n=12, the Ta atom in TaSi(12) cluster completely falls into the center of the Si frame, and a cagelike TaSi(12) geometry is formed. Meanwhile, the net Mulliken and Hirsheld populations of the Ta atom in the TaSi(n) (n=1-13) clusters vary from positive to negative, manifesting that the charges in TaSi(n) (n>/=12) clusters transfer from Si atoms to Ta atom. Additionally, the contribution of Si-Si and Si-Ta interactions to the stability of TaSi(n) clusters is briefly discussed. Furthermore, the investigations on atomic averaged binding energies and fragmentation energies show that the TaSi(n) (n=2,3,5,7,10,11,12) clusters have enhanced stabilities. Compared with pure silicon clusters, a universal narrowing of highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap in TaSi(n) clusters is found.     

Studies on the Configuration and Structural Stability for Subnitrosyl Fe(NO)n (n = 1—4)

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.     

硅-硫二元团簇[(SiS2)nS]-(n=1～4)的结构和稳定性的量子化学研究

用密度泛函(DFT)方法(B3LYP/6-31+G*)研究了硅硫团簇[(SiS2)nS]-(n=1～4)的可能几何构型,得到各稳定构型的电子结构,并计算了相应的振动频率,预测了稳定构型的振动光谱.由其稳定构型的比较可在理论上预测团簇的生长规律,并可初步预测团簇的形成机理.     

Infrared spectroscopy of Li(+)(CH4)1Ar(n), n = 1-6, clusters

Infrared predissociation (IRPD) spectra of Li(+)(CH(4))(1)Ar(n), n = 1-6, clusters are reported in the C-H stretching region from 2800 to 3100 cm(-1). The Li(+) electric field perturbs CH(4) lifting its tetrahedral symmetry and gives rise to multiple IR active modes. The observed bands arise from the totally symmetric vibrational mode, v(1), and the triple degenerate vibrational mode, v(3). Each band is shifted to lower frequency relative to the unperturbed CH(4) values. As the number of argon atoms is increased, the C-H red shift becomes less pronounced until the bands are essentially unchanged from n = 5 to n = 6. For n = 6, additional vibrational features were observed which suggested the presence of an additional conformer. By monitoring different photodissociation loss channels (loss of three Ar or loss of CH(4)), one conformer was uniquely associated with the CH(4) loss channel, with two bands at 2914 and 3017 cm(-1), values nearly identical to the neutral CH(4) gas-phase v(1) and v(3) frequencies. With supporting ab initio calculations, the two conformers were identified, both with a first solvent shell size of six. The major conformer had CH(4) in the first shell, while the conformer exclusively present in the CH(4) loss channel had six argons in the first shell and CH(4) in the second shell. This conformer is +11.89 kJ/mol higher in energy than the minimum energy conformer at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level. B3LYP/6-31+G* level vibrational frequencies and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level single-point binding energies, D(e) (kJ/mol), are reported to support the interpretation of the experimental data.     

Ultraviolet-visible absorption of small silver clusters in neon: Ag(n) (n = 1-9)

We present optical absorption and fluorescence spectra in the UV-visible range of size selected neutral Ag(n) clusters (n = 1-9) in solid neon. Rich and detailed optical spectra are found with linewidths as small as 50 meV. These spectra are compared to time dependent density functional theory implemented in the TURBOMOLE package. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment is achieved in particular for the dominant spectroscopic features at photon energies below 4.5 eV. This allows a clear attribution of the observed electronic transitions to specific isomers. Optical transitions associated to the s-electrons are concentrated in the energy range between 3 and 4 eV and well separated from transitions of the d-electrons. This is in contrast to the other coinage metals (Au and Cu) which show a strong coupling of the d-electrons.     

The structure and energetics of (GaAs)n, (GaAs)n(-), and (GaAs)n+ (n=2-15)

Electronic and geometrical structures of neutral, negatively, and positively charged (GaAs)n clusters are computed using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. All-electron computations are performed on (GaAs)2-(GaAs)9 while effective core potentials (ECPs) are used for (GaAs)9-(GaAs)15. Calibration calculations on GaAs and (GaAs)9 species support the use of the ECP for the larger clusters. The ground-state geometries of (GaAs)n(-) and/or (GaAs)n+ are different from the corresponding neutral ground-state geometry, except for n=7, 9, 12, 14, and 15, where the neutral and ions have similar structures. Beginning with n=6, all atoms are three coordinate, except for (GaAs)10+ and (GaAs)13+. For the larger species, there is a competition between fullerenes built from hexagons and rhombi and geometrical configurations where Ga-Ga and As-As bonds are formed, which results in the formation of pentagons. As expected, the static polarizability varies in the order of anion>neutral>cation, but the values are rather similar for all three charge states. The thermodynamic stability for the loss of GaAs is reported.