All-electron relativistic calculations on hydrogen atom adsorption onto small copper clusters

An all-electron scalar relativistic calculation on Cu _n H (n = 1–13) clusters has been performed by using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation at the PW91 level. Our results reveal that the hydrogen atom prefers to occupy the two fold coordination site for Cu _n H (n = 2, 4–6, 8, 10–13) clusters, the single fold coordination site for Cu _n H (n = 1, 3, 7) and the three fold coordination site for Cu₉H cluster. For all Cu _n H clusters, only the Cu₁₁ structure in Cu₁₁H is distorted obviously. After adsorption, the Cu–Cu bond is strengthened and the Cu–H bond of odd-numbered Cu _n H clusters is relatively stronger than that of adjacent even-numbered Cu _n H clusters. The Cu–Cu bond-length and Cu–H bond-length for all Cu _n H clusters of our work are significantly shorter than those of previous work. This discrepancy can be explained in terms of the scalar relativistic effect. The most favorable adsorption between small copper clusters and hydrogen atom takes place in the case that hydrogen atom is adsorbed onto an odd-numbered pure Cu _n cluster and becomes Cu _n H cluster with even number of valence electrons. The odd–even alteration of magnetic moments is observed in Cu _n H clusters and may provide the material with tunable code capacity of “0” and “1” by adsorbing a hydrogen atom onto odd- or even-numbered copper clusters.     

Adsorption of carbon oxide on tetrahedral bimetallic gold–copper clusters

The interaction between carbon oxide and [Au_20–nCu_n]_q clusters (n = 0, 1, 19, 20 and q = 0, ±1) is studied by means of DFT/PBE in the scalar relativistic approximation. To establish the composition and structure of an adsorption site, isomers of bimetallic Au₁₉Cu and AuCu₁₉ particles with different positions of the heteroatom at an apex, edge, and face of the tetrahedral framework are considered. The optimized structures are used as the basis to determine the electronic properties of clusters (average bond energy per atom, difference of energies between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), ionization potential, electron affinity energy). The calculated parameters shrink as the copper content in clusters grows. Among the uncharged models, the highest CO adsorption energy is typical of Au₁₉Cu, the heteroatom of which lies at a cluster’s apex. The CO adsorption energy for cationic and anionic clusters grows in comparison to neutral clusters.     

Copper Crystallization from Aqueous Solution: Initiation and Evolution of the Polynuclear Clusters

The initial steps of copper electrocrystallization process from aqueous solutions have been studied at DFT level of theory. It has been shown that Cu(H₂O) unit is the final product of Cu²⁺-ions electroreduction. From this particle clusters Cu_n·aq are formed and grow. Aggregation of copper atoms to the Cu_n·aq clusters consists of two steps. The first step includes condensation of Cu(H₂O) units to hydrated clusters Cu_n(H₂O)_n (n = 2–6). At the second step bonding of Cu(H₂O) particles is accompanied by dehydration of clusters yielding Cu_n(H₂O)_m structures (n > m). Cluster Cu₇·aq has been singled out as key structure based on calculated values of energies and Cu–Cu bond distances of Cu_n·aq clusters. This cluster is of D_5h symmetry which is typical for copper microcrystals formed from aqueous solutions in electrocrystallization processes on foreign surface. This key particle could be considered as a critical nucleus. Number of copper atoms therein matches average dimension of critical nucleus.     

Theoretical investigation of the adsorption of oxygen on small bimetallic LimCun (m,n ≤ 4) clusters

A theoretical study of the adsorption of molecular oxygen on small bimetallic Li_mCu_n (m, n ≤ 4) clusters was carried out using density functional methods, and it was compared with the adsorption of O₂ on copper (Cu_n, n ≤ 8) clusters. The study of O₂‐Li_mCu_n system is important to understand the promotion effects of the alkali atoms on the copper surface participating in the catalytic processes. Adsorption energies ranging from 7.9 to 51 kcal/mol were found, which represented values over 30% to those calculated for the adsorption of O₂ on copper clusters in a previous study. Thus, the reactivity of molecular oxygen on bimetallic clusters is more favorable with high tendency being in favor of the dissociation of the O₂ molecule. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Electronic structure of small copper clusters

An all-electron ab initio LCAO -MO SCF calculation has been carried out for the electronic structure of small copper clusters (Cu_n, n = 2–6). The basis set superposition error occurring in the calculation, the equilibrium configuration of Cu₃, the bond energy in the clusters, and the localized d-hole in excited and ionized states of Cu₂ are closely examined.     

Structural,electronic and magnetic properties of small gold clusters with a copper impurity

A set of all-electron scalar relativistic calculations on Au _n Cu (n = 1–12) clusters has been performed using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation at PW91 level. The lowest energy geometries of Au _n Cu clusters may be considered as assemblies of triangular Au₃ moieties substituted with one Cu atom at the highest coordinated site. All these lowest energy geometries of the Au _n Cu clusters are slightly distorted but retain the planar structures of the Au _n+1 clusters due to the strong scalar relativistic effects. The Au–Cu bonds are stronger, and a few Au–Au bonds far from the Cu atom are weaker, than the corresponding Au–Au bonds in pure Au _n+1 clusters. After doping with a Cu atom, the thermodynamic stability and chemical reactivity are enhanced to some extent. The odd-numbered Au _n Cu clusters with even numbers of valence electrons are more stable than the neighboring even-numbered Au _n Cu clusters with odd numbers of valence electrons. Odd–even alternations of magnetic moments and electronic configurations for the Au _n Cu clusters can be observed clearly and may be understood in terms of the electron pairing effect.     

Relativistic effects on geometry and electronic structure of small Pdn species (n=1, 2, 4)

Relativistic effects on the properties of small neutral Pd_n species (n=1, 2, 4) and Pd₂⁻ have been examined for the first time at the all‐electron level by performing scalar‐relativistic and nonrelativistic density functional calculations using a gradient‐corrected density functional. Relativistic effects are found to be important: They lead to a contraction of bond lengths, increase of vibrational frequencies, and a significant enhancement of binding energies. While relativistic effects are quite uniform for several states of Pd₄, they vary for the states examined for Pd₂, leading to a change of ground state due to relativity. The calculated relativistic properties of Pd₂ and Pd₂⁻ are in good agreement with available experimental data from mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy. For Pd₄ three‐dimensional structures are found to be preferred to planar ones and many nearly isoenergetic isomers exist. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 74: 405–416, 1999     

A density functional theory study on the Ag<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>H (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 1–10) clusters

Density functional GGA-PW91 method with DNP basis set is applied to optimize the geometries of Ag _n H (n = 1–10) clusters. For the lowest energy geometries of Ag _n H (n = 1–10) clusters, the hydrogen atom prefers to occupy the two-fold coordination bridge site except the occupation of single-fold coordination site in AgH cluster. After adsorption of hydrogen atom, most Ag _n structures are slightly perturbed and only the Ag₆ structure in Ag₆H cluster is distorted obviously. The Ag–Ag bond is strengthened and the strength of Ag–H bond exhibits a clear odd–even oscillation like the strength of Au–H bond in Au _n H clusters, indicating that the hydrogen atom is more favorable to be adsorbed by odd-numbered pure silver clusters. The adsorption strength of small silver cluster toward H atom is obviously weaker than that of small gold cluster toward H atom due to the strong scalar relativistic effect in small gold cluster. The pronounced odd–even alternation of the magnetic moments is observed in Ag _n H systems, indicating that the Ag _n H clusters possess tunable magnetic properties by adsorbing hydrogen atom onto odd-numbered or even-numbered small silver cluster.     

Comparison of Nitrogen Activation on Trinuclear Niobium and Tungsten Sulfide Clusters Nb3Sn and W3Sn (n=0–3): A DFT Study

The reaction of N₂ with trinuclear niobium and tungsten sulfide clusters Nb₃S_n and W₃S_n (n=0–3) was systematically studied by density functional theory calculations with TPSS functional and Def2-TZVP basis sets. Dissociations of N−N bonds on these clusters are all thermodynamically allowed but with different reactivity in kinetics. The reactivity of Nb₃S_n is generally higher than that of W₃S_n. In the favorite reaction pathways, the adsorbed N₂ changes the adsorption sites from one metal atom to the bridge site of two metal atoms, then on the hollow site of three metal atoms, and at that place, the N−N bond dissociates. As the number of ligand S atoms increases, the reactivity of Nb₃S_n decreases because of the hindering effect of S atoms, while W₃S and W₃S₂ have the highest reactivity among four W₃S_n clusters. The Mayer bond order, bond length, vibrational frequency, and electronic charges of the adsorbed N₂ are analyzed along the reaction pathways to show the activation process of the N−N bond in reactions. The charge transfer from the clusters to the N₂ antibonding orbitals plays an essential role in N−N bond activation, which is more significant in Nb₃S_n than in W₃S_n, leading to the higher reactivity of Nb₃S_n. The reaction mechanisms found in this work may provide important theoretical guidance for the further rational design of related catalytic systems for nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR).     

The adsorptions of silver-doped small gold clusters toward carbon monoxide molecule

An all-electron scalar relativistic calculation on Au _n AgCO (n = 1–12) clusters has been performed using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation at PW91 level. The introduction of impurity silver weakens the adsorption, and, however, promotes the reactivity enhancement of CO molecule. The CO molecule is relatively more favorable to be adsorbed by the odd-numbered Au _n Ag clusters with closed-shell electronic structure. The values of chemical hardness indicate that the Au _n AgCO cluster is less stable than the corresponding Au _n+1CO cluster chemically. This picture of the influence of impurity silver on the adsorption behavior of Au _n Ag (n = 1–12) clusters toward CO molecule is consistent with previous experimental work (Haeck et al. in J Phys Chem A 115:2103, 2011), in which the cluster’s reaction probability toward CO molecule is reduced upon substitution of gold atoms for silver and the clusters with closed electronic shell are the most reactive toward CO molecule.     

UV/Vis Spectroscopy of Copper Formate Clusters: Insight into Metal-Ligand Photochemistry

The electronic structure and photochemistry of copper formate clusters, Cu^I₂(HCO₂)₃⁻ and Cu^II_n(HCO₂)_2n+1⁻, n≤8, are investigated in the gas phase by using UV/Vis spectroscopy in combination with quantum chemical calculations. A clear difference in the spectra of clusters with Cu^I and Cu^II copper ions is observed. For the Cu^I species, transitions between copper d and s/p orbitals are recorded. For stoichiometric Cu^II formate clusters, the spectra are dominated by copper d–d transitions and charge-transfer excitations from formate to the vacant copper d orbital. Calculations reveal the existence of several energetically low-lying isomers, and the energetic position of the electronic transitions depends strongly on the specific isomer. The oxidation state of the copper centers governs the photochemistry. In Cu^II(HCO₂)₃⁻, fast internal conversion into the electronic ground state is observed, leading to statistical dissociation; for charge-transfer excitations, specific excited-state reaction channels are observed in addition, such as formyloxyl radical loss. In Cu^I₂(HCO₂)₃⁻, the system relaxes to a local minimum on an excited-state potential-energy surface and might undergo fluorescence or reach a conical intersection to the ground state; in both cases, this provides substantial energy for statistical decomposition. Alternatively, a Cu^II(HCO₂)₃Cu⁰⁻ biradical structure is formed in the excited state, which gives rise to the photochemical loss of a neutral copper atom.     

Reactivity of Oxygen Radical Anions Bound to Scandia Nanoparticles in the Gas Phase: CH Bond Activation

The activation of C?H bonds in alkanes is currently a hot research topic in chemistry. The atomic oxygen radical anion (O^?.) is an important species in C?H activation. The mechanistic details of C?H activation by O^?. radicals can be well understood by studying the reactions between O^?. containing transition metal oxide clusters and alkanes. Here the reactivity of scandium oxide cluster anions toward n‐butane was studied by using a high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer coupled with a fast flow reactor. Hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) from n‐butane by (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? (N=1–18) clusters was observed. The reactivity of (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? (N=1–18) clusters is significantly sizedependent and the highest reactivity was observed for N=4 (Sc₈O₁₃^?) and 12 (Sc₂₄O₃₇^?). Larger (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? clusters generally have higher reactivity than the smaller ones. Density functional theory calculations were performed to interpret the reactivity of (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? (N=1–5) clusters, which were found to contain the O^?. radicals as the active sites. The local charge environment around the O^?. radicals was demonstrated to control the experimentally observed size‐dependent reactivity. This work is among the first to report HAA reactivity of cluster anions with dimensions up to nanosize toward alkane molecules. The anionic O^?. containing scandium oxide clusters are found to be more reactive than the corresponding cationic ones in the C?H bond activation.     

Density functional theory study of the adsorption of NO on CunX (n = 2–8; X = Cu,K) clusters

Density functional theory calculations are performed to analyze the structure and stability of Cu and Cu-K clusters with 3 to 9 atoms. The results indicate that the stability of the clusters decreases after doping with a K atom. With the increase of cluster size, the stability of the clusters shows odd-even alternation. Cu₈ and Cu₇K clusters exhibit the highest stability. Next, different adsorption sites are considered to investigate the geometry of Cu_nNO and Cu_n−1KNO clusters. By calculating the adsorption energy and the HOMO-LUMO energy gap, it is determined that both types of reactions are exothermic processes, indicating stable adsorption of NO. Notably, the Cu_nK clusters are more active (stronger adsorption) for NO than the Cu_n clusters. The most chemically active clusters among Cu_nNO and Cu_n−1KNO clusters are Cu₈NO and Cu₇KNO clusters. Finally, electron transfer and Mayer bond order analysis of Cu₈NO and Cu₇KNO clusters reveal that the N O bond order decreases due to electron transfer when Cu/Cu-K clusters adsorb NO. In this process, the N atom is the electron donor and the Cu atom is the electron acceptor. Fundamental insights obtained in this study can be useful in the design of Cu/Cu-K catalysts.     

Synthesis and spectral studies ofN-2-pyridinylcarbonyl-2-pyridinecarxoximidate copper(II) complexes

Summary Dimeric and polymeric copper(II) complexes containing BPCA (N-2-pyridinylcarbonyl-2-pyridinecarboximidate), having general formulae Cu(BPCA)X·nH₂O (X=Cl, Br, NCS, NCO, N₃, or CN) and Cu₂(BPCA)₂-X·nH₂O [X=oxalate anion (OX), chloranilate anion (CA) or the dianion of 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DHBQ)] have been synthesized by the copper(II)-assisted hydrolysis of 2, 4, 6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine. Spectroscopic results indicate five-coordinate, approximately square-pyramidal, geometry around the copper(II) ion. Half-field absorption in the M _s=±2 region of the X-band e.p.r. powder spectra has been observed for the dimeric species.     

Electronic and Structural Properties of Neutral, Anionic, and Cationic Rh x Cu4−x (x = 0–4) Small Clusters: A DFT Study

In this study, electronic structure, stability, and tendency to exchange electron of neutral, anionic, and cationic Rh _x Cu_4?x (x = 0–4) small clusters were investigated by density functional theory calculations. For neutral small clusters, it was found that the most stable structures of Rh₄, Rh₃Cu and Rh₂Cu₂ have distorted tetrahedral shape while the most stable structures of RhCu₃ and Cu₄ have quasi-planer shape. Adding charges to the clusters, caused shapes of the most stable structures undergo variations. Stabilities of the neutral, anionic, and cationic clusters decrease linearly with increasing the copper content. In addition, calculated chemical harnesses indicated that the small cluster with 75 % copper content has the least chemical hardness. Interestingly, prevailing number of electronegative (Rh) and electropositive (Cu) atoms in the anionic and cationic clusters coincides with high dipole moment in these species that occur at 25 and 75 % copper respectively.     

Nonconventional C–H···Cu Interaction Between Copper Cun Clusters (n = 3–20) and Aromatic Compounds

The present study examines bonding patterns between copper Cu_n clusters (n?=?3–20) and aromatic compounds (benzene, phenol, and benzaldehyde) using a density-functional theory (DFT) approach. Hirshfeld population, natural bond orbital (NBO), molecular orbitals, and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses suggested the formation of two types of interactions Cu–arene and C–H···Cu, in the complexation of copper clusters by an aromatic compound.

     

Theoretical study of the stability of X N n (n=−1, 0, +1, +2; X=Ag,Cu;N≤25) clusters as a function of size using a non-local density functional formalism

The spherical jellium model and self-consistent Weighted Density Approximation (WDA) to density functional theory have been used to study the stability of X _N ⁿ (n=?1, 0, +1, +2; X=Ag, Cu;N≤25) clusters. The calculated magic numbers coincide with the observed ones. The first (IP1) and second (IP2) ionization potentials of Ag _N and Cu _N as a function of size show the typical oscillations induced by the electronic shell-filling effect. IP1 of Cu _N is about 0.5 eV higher than IP1 of Ag _N in the range studied (N≤25). For both Cu _N and Ag _N , IP1 appears to converge well towards the respective experimental values of the work function. The use of WDA allows us to obtain bound negative clusters of small size or with a nearly empty external shell, which is not possible using the Local Density Approximation (LDA) [1, 2]. However the electron affinity of X _N clusters obtained as the difference of energies of the neutral and the negatively charged clusters, becomes negative forN=2, 3 and 8 (very close to zero forN=8), revealing that WDA needs further refinements.     

The first di‐μ‐hydro­xo‐bridged binuclear copper complex containing a bis‐guanidine ligand

The present structure determination of di‐μ‐hydroxo‐bis{[N,N′‐bis­(dipiperidino­methyl­ene)­propane‐1,3‐di­amine‐κ²N,N′]copper(II)} bis­(hexa­fluoro­phosphate), [Cu₂(OH)₂(C₂₅H₄₆N₆)₂](PF₆)₂, is the first to crystallographically characterize a Cu₂(μ‐OH)₂ complex with a bidentate guanidine ligand. The cation lies on a crystallographic inversion centre and shows planar fourfold coordination of the copper centres. The Cu₂(μ‐OH)₂ species can be distinguished from Cu₂(μ‐O)₂ by the Cu—O bond lengths. The packing is determined by strong intermolecular anion–cation hydrogen bonds.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Thermal, Spectroscopic and Magnetic Properties of a 2D Grid‐like Copper(II) μ‐1,1 Isocyanato Coordination Polymer with Pyrazine Bridges

Reaction of copper(II) cyanate with pyrazine leads to the formation of [Cu(NCO)₂(pyrazine)]_n ( 1 ), in which the Cu²⁺ cations are coordinated by two nitrogen atoms of the pyrazine ligands, as well as by four nitrogen atoms of the cyanate anions within a slightly distorted octahedral coordination. In the crystal structure the Cu²⁺ cations are connected by the pyrazine ligands into chains which are further linked by the cyanate anions through asymmetric μ‐1,1‐NCO coordination into layers. On heating compound 1 transforms quantitatively to copper(II) cyanate which decompose to elemental copper on further heating. No ligand deficent intermediates are observed. Magnetic measurements reval an antiferromagnetic ordering at lower temperatures mediated by the π‐system of the aromatic pyrazine ligand as well as net ferromagnetic interactions mediated by the μ‐1,1‐NCO bridging cyanato anions. A search in the Cambridge Crystal Structure Database shows that the terminal coordination mode in cyanato complexes as well as their azido and thiocyanato analogs is obviously energetically favored. In addition, a comparison of their symmetric and asymmetric end‐on (μ‐1,1) as well as end‐to‐end (μ‐1,3) bridging modes reveal interesting correlations.