Application of the ABEEM/MM model in studying the properties of the water clusters(H_2O)_n(n=7-10)

ABEEM/MM model has been applied to compute the various properties characterizing water clusters(H2O) n(n = 7-10) ,such as optimized geometries,the hydrogen bonds number,cluster interaction en-ergies,stabilities,ABEEM charge distributions,dipole moments,structural parameters,and so on,and to describe the transition reflected by the hexamer region from two-dimensional(from dimer to pen-tamer) to three-dimensional structures(for clusters larger than the hexamer) .     

Application of the ABEEM/MM model in studying the properties of the water clusters (H2O) n (n=7−10)

ABEEM/MM model has been applied to compute the various properties characterizing water clusters (H₂O) _n (n = 7?10), such as optimized geometries, the hydrogen bonds number, cluster interaction energies, stabilities, ABEEM charge distributions, dipole moments, structural parameters, and so on, and to describe the transition reflected by the hexamer region from two-dimensional (from dimer to pentamer) to three-dimensional structures (for clusters larger than the hexamer).     

应用ABEEM/MM模型研究水分子团簇(H2O)n (n=11～16)的性质

应用ABEEM/MM 模型计算了较大的水分子团簇(H2O)n (n=11~16)的各种性质,如：优化的几何构型, 氢键个数, 结合能, 稳定性, ABEEM 电荷分布, 偶极矩, 以及结构参数、平均氢键个数和强度, 增加的团簇结合能等.结果表明,从立方体结构到笼状结构的过渡出现在n=12的水分子团簇中,随着类似于笼状结构特点的不断增强,五元环的富集程度有所增加.     

Application of the ABEEM/MM model in studying the properties of the water clusters (H2O) n ( n =7?10)

ABEEM/MM model has been applied to compute the various properties characterizing water clusters (H₂O) _n (n = 7−10), such as optimized geometries, the hydrogen bonds number, cluster interaction energies, stabilities, ABEEM charge distributions, dipole moments, structural parameters, and so on, and to describe the transition reflected by the hexamer region from two-dimensional (from dimer to pentamer) to three-dimensional structures (for clusters larger than the hexamer). Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20373021)     

Ab initio determination of the ionization potentials of water clusters (H2O)n (n = 2-6)

High-level quantum-chemical ab initio coupled-cluster and multiconfigurational perturbation methods have been used to compute the vertical and adiabatic ionization potentials of several water clusters: dimer, trimer, tetramer, pentamer, hexamer book, hexamer ring, hexamer cage, and hexamer prism. The present results establish reference values at a level not reported before for these systems, calibrating different computational strategies and helping to discard less reliable theoretical and experimental data. The systematic study with the increasing size of the water cluster allows obtaining some clues on the structure and reductive properties of liquid water.     

Study of water clusters in the n = 2–34 size regime, based on the ABEEM/MM model

Various properties of water clusters in the n = 2–34 size regime with the change of cluster size have been systemically explored based on the newly developed flexible-body and charge-fluctuating ABEEM/MM water potential model. The ABEEM/MM water model is to take ABEEM charges of all atoms, bonds, and lone-pairs of water molecules into the intermolecular electrostatic interaction term in molecular mechanics. The computed correlating properties characterizing water clusters (H₂O) _n (n = 2–34) include optimal structures, structural parameters, ABEEM charge distributions, binding energies, hydrogen bonds, dipole moments, and so on. The study of optimal structures shows that the ABEEM/MM model can correctly predict the following important structural features, such as the transition from two-dimensional (from dimer to pentamer) to three-dimensional (for clusters larger than the hexamer) structures at hexamer region, the transition from cubes to cages at dodecamer (H₂O)₁₂, the transition from all-surface (all water molecules on the surface of the cluster) to one water-centered (one water molecule at the center of the cluster, fully solvated) structures at (H₂O)₁₇, the transition from one to two internal molecules in the cage at (H₂O)₃₃, and so on. The first three structural transitions are in good agreement with those obtained from previous work, while the fourth transition is different from that identified by Hartke. Subsequently, a systematic investigation of structural parameters, ABEEM charges, energetic properties, and dipole moments of water clusters with increasing cluster size can provide important reference for describing the objective trait of hydrogen bonds in water cluster system, and also provide a strong impetus toward understanding how the water clusters approach the bulk limit.     

Sr2+和Ba2+水分子体系结构和结合能的从头算和ABEEM/MM研究

应用从头算方法和ABEEM/MM浮动电荷分子力场, 研究了水合碱土离子团簇Sr²⁺/Ba²⁺(H₂O)_n (n=1-6), 构建了离子-水相互作用的ABEEM/MM势能函数, 获得了水合离子团簇的稳定结构, 计算了结合能. 计算结果表明, ABEEM/MM方法的结果和从头算方法的结果有很好的一致性. 进一步应用ABEEM/MM对Sr²⁺和Ba²⁺水溶液进行了分子动力学模拟. 对Sr²⁺水溶液, 得到的Sr²⁺-水中氧原子的径向分布函数的第一和第二最高峰分别位于0.257和0.464 nm处, 第一和第二水合层的配位水分子数分别为9.2和11.4; 对Ba²⁺水溶液, 得到的Ba²⁺与水中氧原子的径向分布函数的第一和第二最高峰分别位于0.269和0.467 nm处, 第一和第二水合层的配位水分子数分别为9.9和12.4. 这与实验值或其它理论模拟结果有较好的一致性. 对比外层的水分子, 金属离子的极化作用使得溶液中第一水合层中水分子的O―H键长增长, HOH键角减小.     

Theoretical study of Al(n) and Al(n)O (n = 2-10) clusters

The stable structures, energies, and electronic properties of neutral, cationic, and anionic clusters of Al(n) (n = 2-10) are studied systematically at the B3LYP/6-311G(2d) level. We find that our optimized structures of Al5(+), Al9(+), Al9(-), Al10, Al10(+), and Al10(-) clusters are more stable than the corresponding ones proposed in previous literature reports. For the studied neutral aluminum clusters, our results show that the stability has an odd/even alternation phenomenon. We also find that the Al3, Al7, Al7(+), and Al7(-) structures are more stable than their neighbors according to their binding energies. For Al7(+) with a special stability, the nucleus-independent chemical shifts and resonance energies are calculated to evaluate its aromaticity. In addition, we present results on hardness, ionization potential, and electron detachment energy. On the basis of the stable structures of the neutral Al(n) (n = 2-10) clusters, the Al(n)O (n = 2-10) clusters are further investigated at the B3LYP/6-311G(2d), and the lowest-energy structures are searched. The structures show that oxygen tends to either be absorbed at the surface of the aluminum clusters or be inserted between Al atoms to form an Al(n-1)OAl motif, of which the Al(n-1) part retains the stable structure of pure aluminum clusters.     

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.     

Site-specific addition of D(2)O to the (H(2)O)(6)(-) "hydrated electron" cluster: isomer interconversion and substitution at the double H-bond acceptor (AA) electron-binding site

We report the results of an experimental study designed to establish whether, once formed, one of the isomer classes of the hydrated electron clusters, (H(2)O)(n)(-), can interconvert with others when a water molecule is added by condensation. This is accomplished in an Ar-cluster mediated approach where a single intact D(2)O molecule is collisionally incorporated into argon-solvated water hexamer anions, creating the isotopically labeled D(2)O.(H(2)O)(6)(-).Ar(n) heptamer anion. Photoelectron and infrared predissociation spectroscopies are employed both to characterize the isomers generated in the condensation event and to track the position that the D(2)O label adopts within these isomeric structures. Despite the fact that the water hexamer anion precursor clusters initially exist in the isomer I form, incorporation of D(2)O produces mostly isomers I' and II in the labeled heptamer, which bind the electron more (I') or less (II) strongly than does the isomer I class. Isomers I and I' are known to feature electron binding primarily onto a single water molecule that resides in an AA (A = H-bond acceptor) site in the network. Surprisingly, the D(2)O molecule can displace this special electron-binding H(2)O molecule such that the anionic cluster retains the high binding arrangement. In the more weakly binding isomer II clusters, the D(2)O molecule fractionates preferentially to sites that give rise to the vibrational signature of isomer II.     

Comparison of the growth patterns of Si(n) and Ge(n) clusters (n = 25-33)

We performed an unbiased search for low-energy structures of medium-sized neutral Si n and Ge n clusters ( n = 25-33) using a genetic algorithm (GA) coupled with tight-binding interatomic potentials. Structural candidates obtained from our GA search were further optimized by first-principles calculations using density functional theory (DFT). Our approach reproduces well the lowest-energy structures of Si n and Ge n clusters of n = 25-29 compared to previous studies, showing the accuracy and reliability of our approach. In the present study, we pay more attention to determine low-lying isomers of Si n and Ge n ( n = 29-33) and study the growth patterns of these clusters. The B3LYP calculations suggest that the growth pattern of Si n ( n = 25-33) clusters undergoes a transition from prolate to cage at n = 31, while this transition appears at n = 26 from the PBE-calculated results. In the size range of 25-33, the corresponding Ge n clusters hold the prolate growth pattern. The relative stabilities and different structural motifs of Si n and Ge n ( n = 25-33) clusters were studied, and the changes of small cluster structures, when acting as building blocks of large clusters, were also discussed.     

Ab initio studies on the reaction of O2 with Ba(n) (n=2,5) clusters

Ab initio theoretical calculations have been performed to study the reaction of O(2) with Ba(n) (n=2,5) clusters. Our results show that O(2) can easily chemisorb and dissociate on small Ba(n) clusters and there is no obvious energy barrier in the process of the dissociation. The local magnetic moment contributed by oxygen must vanish during the intermediate states before the O(2) dissociation. Correspondingly, local magnetic moment only decreases from 2 mu(B) to about 1 mu(B) if O(2) molecularly adsorbs onto Ba(5) cluster. The electronic structure analysis indicates that the charge transfer from Ba(n) cluster to O(2) as well as the orbital hybridization between the cluster and the oxygen molecule may play a key role in O(2) dissociation.     

氟化氢团簇(HF)_n(n=2～8)拓扑性区别氢键构型的图论列举法和量子化学计算法研究

利用提出的图论程序列举出氟化氢团簇(HF)_n(n=2~8)所有可能存在的拓扑性区别氢键构型,通过精密调查获得有可能存在的拓扑性区别构型,发现了满足HF团簇稳定性的若干条件,在这些条件的基础上编写FORTRAN程序和Python语言执行程序,再用画图软件包Graph Viz2.37自动画出对应的有向图或条件性有向图.以对应的有向图作理论框架,分别利用从头算法Moller-Plesset(MP2)二级微扰方法和密度泛函理论(DFT)方法 B3LYP计算水平的6-31G**(d,p)基组对氟化氢团簇(HF)_n(n=3~7)所有拓扑性区别条件性有向图对应的初始结构进行结构优化并作振动频率分析,获得氟化氢团簇(HF)_n(n=2~7)的最稳定构型,发现了氟化氢团簇的五聚体(HF)_5、六聚体(HF)_6和七聚体(HF)_7等一些新的稳定结构.     

Comparative ab initio study of CO adsorption on Sc(n) and Sc(n)O (n = 2-13) clusters

Using a cluster model, we investigated the similarities and differences in chemical activity and the magnetic properties of Sc(n) clusters (n = 2-13) and their oxides, Sc(n)O, toward CO molecule adsorption via a spin-polarized density functional theory approach. The Sc(n) and Sc(n)O clusters have similar chemical activity at small sizes of n = 2-10, whereas remarkable differences are observed at large sizes of n = 11-13. More interestingly, different magnetic responses are found in the Sc(n) and Sc(n)O clusters with the presence of CO molecule: The magnetic moment is attenuated significantly for Sc(n) with n = 2, 4, 12, and 13, whereas for Sc(n)O, it is enhanced at n = 4 and 13 and is reduced for n = 7, 8, 10, and 11. In particular, the magnetic moment remarkably increases from 7 μ(B) of Sc(13)O to 13 μ(B) of Sc(13)OCO, whereas it reduces from 19 μ(B) of Sc(13) to 5 μ(B) of Sc(13)CO.     

Electronic and structural evolution and chemical bonding in ditungsten oxide clusters: W2O(n)- and W2O(n) (n = 1-6)

We report a systematic and comprehensive investigation of the electronic structures and chemical bonding in a series of ditungsten oxide clusters, W2O(n)- and W2O(n) (n = 1-6), using anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Well-resolved photoelectron spectra were obtained at several photon energies (2.331, 3.496, 4.661, 6.424, and 7.866 eV), and W 5d-based spectral features were clearly observed and distinguished from O 2p-based features. More complicated spectral features were observed for the oxygen-deficient clusters because of the W 5d electrons. With increasing oxygen content in W2O(n)-, the photoelectron spectra were observed to shift gradually to higher binding energies, accompanied by a decreasing number of W 5d-derived features. A behavior of sequential oxidation as a result of charge transfers from W to O was clearly observed. A large energy gap (2.8 eV) was observed in the spectrum of W2O6-, indicating the high electronic stability of the stoichiometric W2O6 molecule. Extensive DFT calculations were carried out to search for the most stable structures of both the anion and neutral clusters. Time-dependent DFT method was used to compute the vertical detachment energies and compare to the experimental data. Molecular orbitals were used to analyze the chemical bonding in the ditungsten oxide clusters and to elucidate their electronic and structural evolution.     

Experimental and computational study of the Zn(n)S(n) and Zn(n)S(n)+ clusters

Zinc sulfide clusters produced by direct laser ablation and analyzed in a time-of-flight mass-spectrometer, showed evidence that clusters composed of 3, 6, and 13 monomer units were ultrastable. The geometry and energies of neutral and positively charged Zn(n)S(n) clusters, up to n = 16, were obtained computationally at the B3LYP/6-311+G level of theory with the assistance of an algorithm to generate all possible structures having predefined constraints. Small neutral and positive clusters were found to have planar geometries, neutral three-dimensional clusters have the geometry of closed-cage polyhedra, and cationic three-dimensional clusters have structures with a pair of two-coordinated atoms. Physical properties of the clusters as a function of size are reported. The relative stability of the positive stoichiometric clusters provides a thermodynamic rationale for the experimental results.     

Structure and vibrations of Ga(n)N(n) (n = 3-10) clusters

The structure and harmonic vibrations of Ga(n)N(n) (n = 3-10) clusters have been investigated using the B3LYP (Becke 3-parameter-Lee-Yang-Parr) density functional theory. All structures are found to be cumulenic D(nh) rings (equal bonds, alternating angles), with one intense out of plane mode and three infrared-active degenerate modes, of which the highest one is extremely intense and asymptotically increases to 1029 cm(-1) for n = 10. Comparisons with C2n, B(n)N(n), and Al(n)N(n) clusters, the structure and bonding type for the Ga(n)N(n) (n=3-10) clusters are consistent with those of the C2n (n = 3, 5, 7, ...) clusters, the B(n)N(n) (n = 3-10), and Al(n)N(n) (n = 3-9) clusters.     

Probing the electronic structure of early transition-metal oxide clusters: polyhedral cages of (V2O5)n(-) (n = 2-4) and (M2O5(2)(-) (M = Nb, Ta)

Vanadium oxide clusters, (V2O5)n, have been predicted to possess interesting polyhedral cage structures, which may serve as ideal molecular models for oxide surfaces and catalysts. Here we examine the electronic properties of these oxide clusters via anion photoelectron spectroscopy for (V2O5)n(-) (n = 2-4), as well as for the 4d/5d species, Nb4O10(-) and Ta4O10(-). Well-resolved photoelectron spectra have been obtained at 193 and 157 nm and used to compare with density functional calculations. Very high electron affinities and large HOMO-LUMO gaps are observed for all the (V2O5)n clusters. The HOMO-LUMO gaps of (V2O5)n, all exceeding that of the band gap of the bulk oxide, are found to increase with cluster size from n = 2-4. For the M4O10 clusters, we find that the Nb/Ta species yield similar spectra, both possessing lower electron affinities and larger HOMO-LUMO gaps relative to V4O10. The structures of the anionic and neutral clusters are optimized; the calculated electron binding energies and excitation spectra for the global minimum cage structures are in good agreement with the experiment. Evidence is also observed for the predicted trend of electron delocalization versus localization in the (V2O5)n(-) clusters. Further insights are provided pertaining to the potential chemical reactivities of the oxide clusters and properties of the bulk oxides.     

Charge-transfer processes in the assembly of Si(n)O(m) neutral clusters

The chemical bond formation in oxygen-rich Si(n)O(m) clusters was investigated by sampling the potential energy surface of the model systems SiO + SiO(2) → Si(2)O(3) and (SiO)(2) + SiO(2) → Si(3)O(4) along a two-dimensional reaction coordinate, by density functional theory calculations. Evidence for crossing between the weakly bound neutral-neutral (SiO)(n) + SiO(2) and the highly attractive ion-pair (SiO)(n)(+) + SiO(2)(-) surfaces was found. Analysis of frontier molecular orbitals and charge distribution showed that surface crossing involves transfer of valence electron charge from (SiO)(2) to SiO(2). The sum of the natural atomic charges over the (SiO)(n) and (SiO(2)) groups of the Si(n)O(m) cluster products, gave a net positive charge on the (SiO)(n) "core" and a net negative charge on the (SiO(2)) groups. This is interpreted as the "ion-pair memory" left on the Si(n)O(m) products by the charge-transfer mechanism and may provide a way to assess the role of charge-transfer processes in the assembly of larger Si(n)O(m) neutral clusters.