Evolution of geometrical structures,stabilities and electronic properties of neutral and anionic Li n Cu λ (n = 1–9, λ = 0, −1) clusters: compare with pure lithium clusters

The structural evolution, stabilities, and electronic properties of copper-doped lithium Li _n Cu^λ (n?=?1–9, λ?=?0, ?1) clusters have been systematically investigated using a density functional method at PW91PW91 level. Extensive searches for ground-state structures were carried out, and the results showed the copper tends to occupy the most highly coordinated position and form the largest probable number of bonds with lithium atoms. By calculating the binding energies per atom, fragmentation energies and the HOMO-LOMO gaps, we found LiCu, Li₇Cu, LiCu^?, Li₂Cu^? and Li₈Cu^? clusters have the stronger relative stability and enhanced chemical stability. The content and pattern of frontier MOs for the most stable doped isomers were analysed to investigate the bond nature of interaction among Li and Cu atoms. The results show some σ-type and π-type bonds are formed among them, and with small admixture of the Cu d characters. To achieve a deep insight into the electron localization and reliable electronic structure information, the natural population analysis and electron localization function were performed and discussed.     

The structural,electronic and magnetic properties of Ag4M and Ag4MCO (M = Sc–Zn) clusters

The structures, spectra and electronic and magnetic properties of Ag₄M and Ag₄MCO (M?=?Sc–Zn) clusters have been studied using density functional theory and CALYPSO structure searching method. Structural searches show that M atoms except Zn tend to occupy the highest coordination position in the ground state Ag₄M and Ag₄MCO clusters. Carbon monoxide is most easily adsorbed on Ag atom of Ag₄Zn and M atom of other Ag₄M. Infrared and Raman spectra, photoabsorption spectra and photoelectron spectra of Ag₄M and Ag₄MCO clusters are forecasted and can be used to identify these clusters from experiment. Analysis of electronic properties indicates that the adsorption of CO on Ag₄M clusters changes the zero vibrational energy (ZPVE) and increases stability of the host clusters. Dopant atoms except for Zn improve the stability of silver cluster. The Ag₄Ni cluster shows high chemical activity and maximum adsorption energy for carbon monoxide. Magnetism calculations reveal that the magnetic moment of Ag₄M (M?=?Mn–Ni) cluster adsorbed by carbon monoxide is decreased by 2 μ_B. The change of magnetic moment makes it possible to be used as a nanomaterial for carbon monoxide detection. Simultaneously, it is found that the adsorption of CO on Ag₄Cu cluster is a physical adsorption.     

Shift of proton magnetic shielding in ClH ··· Y dimers (Y = N2, CO,BF)

The change in the proton magnetic shielding constant of ClH on the formation of the linear hydrogen-bonded ClH?·?·?·?Y (Y?=?N₂,?CO,?BF) complexes was determined by GIAO ab initio computations at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVQZ level of theory. The characteristic downfield shift of the isotropic proton magnetic resonance in the vibrationally red-shifted complexes (ClH?·?·?·?N₂, ClH?·?·?·?CO and ClH?·?·?·?BF) is significantly larger than in the blue-shifted complexes (ClH?·?·?·?OC and ClH?·?·?·?FB). These results are rationalized by considering the changes in the magnetic and electric contributions to the proton shielding in ClH.     

Revisiting lithium K and iron M₂,₃ edge superimposition: the case of lithium battery material LiFePO₄

Experimental electron energy-loss spectra are presented for FePO₄, LiFePO₄ and NaFePO₄ from 0 to 80 eV. With the help of the NaFePO₄ spectrum in the 50-80 eV range, the double peak observed in LiFePO₄ could be ascribed to the presence of Fe^II and not to the Li K edge, contrary to what was thought previously. Crystal field multiplet calculations confirm this attribution. Using VASP programme based on density functional theory, dielectric response calculations including local field effects in the Hartree approximation are then proven to properly simulate the fine structures due to the lithium K edge. By comparing absolute spectrum intensities, it is shown that the lithium K edge cannot be used to quantify lithium in such compounds. This detailed comparison between theoretical calculations and experimental spectra helps defining the relevant parameters governing intensities in the 50-80 energy range.     

Mössbauer study of iron-doped lithium niobate

From Mössbauer spectra of LiNbO₃⁵⁷Fe(III) single crystals under external fields of 4.92 and 6.2 T, the crystal field and hyperfine parameters are determined. Transmission integral fits indicate a Boltzmann population of the Fe(III) electronic levels with a spin temperature equal to the sample temperature. Spectra at external fields of 0 T and 19 mT can be satisfactorily simulated using an effective spin 1/2,g-factors calculated from spin-expectation values and an internal averaged dipole field of 5.5 mT inclined 20 to thec-axis. The simulations indicate cross-relaxation between Nb and Li nuclear spins and the Fe(III) electronic spin.     

Structural and Thermodynamic Properties of M3W3N （M=Fe,Co, Ni）

Ternary transition metal nitrides, Fe3 W3N, Coa W3N, and Nia WaN~ are studied by the use of interatomic potentials acquired from lattice inversion. The study indicates that Fe3 WaN would be more stable than the other compounds in the family of intermetallic tungsten nitrides. The investigation of phonon density of states indi- cates that the lower frequency modes are mostly excited by the metal atoms, and the higher frequency modes are mostly excited by the nitrogen atoms. A qualitative analysis is carried out with the relevant potentials for the phase stability and vibrational modes.     

Preparation,characterization, and conductivity of YLnTiZrO7 (Ln = La,Nd, Sm,and Eu)

The pyrochlore oxide of composition YLnTiZrO₇ (Ln?=?La, Nd, Sm, and Eu) was prepared by sol–gel method. All the samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffused reflectance spectroscopy, and impedance spectroscopy. The powder XRD and Raman studies reveal that these samples were crystallized in cubic lattice with pyrochlore structure. The Rietveld analysis of the samples was carried out to obtain the unit cell parameters and reliability factors. The broad Raman bands observed for all the samples are due to cation/anion disorder in the lattice and nanosize. The XPS analysis of the samples shows the characteristic peaks belonging to Y³⁺, Ln³⁺ (Ln?=?La, Nd, Sm, and Eu), Ti⁴⁺, and Zr⁴⁺. Electrical conductivity of YLaTiZrO₇ (YLTZ) and YEuTiZrO₇ (YETZ) samples was calculated from the impedance as a function of frequency and temperature. These samples have shown conductivity of the order of 10^?5 scm^?1 at 500 °C.     

A computational study of N2···HHeF: comparison with N2···HArF and N2···HKrF

A weakly bound linear complex of N₂ and HHeF was found to be stable with respect to the constituent monomers by ab initio calculations at various levels of theory (MP2, MP3, MP4(SDQ) and QCISD) using a 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The complex N₂···HHeF was found to have a zero-point vibrational energy corrected binding energy of 14.5?kJ mol^?1 (QCISD) and exhibits a large harmonic vibrational frequency blue shift of 375?cm^?1 for the He–H stretching vibration mode, with a diminished infrared intensity for this mode on formation of the complex. The frequency shift for this mode was also found to be very sensitive to the level of theory employed for the calculation, and is rationalized by considering intermolecular electrostatic and charge-transfer effects. The results for N₂···HHeF are compared with corresponding results for the related complexes N₂···HArF and N₂···HKrF, both of which contain the same proton acceptor molecule.     

Vibrational Spectroscopic and Theoretical Studies of Urea Derivatives with Biochemical Interest: N,N′-Dimethylurea,N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylurea,and N,N′-Dimethylpropyleneurea

Abstract

Mid-infrared, far-infrared, and Raman vibrational spectroscopic studies were combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations and normal coordinate force field analyses for N,N′-dimethylurea (DMU), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylurea (TMU), and N,N′-dimethylpropyleneurea (DMPU: IUPAC name 1,3-dimethyltetrahydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one). The equilibrium molecular geometry of DMU (all three conformers), TMU, and DMPU and the frequencies, intensities, and depolarization ratios of their fundamental infrared (IR) and Raman vibrational transitions were obtained by DFT calculations. The vibrational spectra were fully analyzed by normal coordinate methods as well. A starting force field for DMPU was obtained by adapting corresponding force constants for DMU and TMU, resulting after refinements in the stretching force constants C=O (7.69, 7.30, 7.68 N·cm^?1), C–N (5.16, 5.55, 5.05 N·cm^?1), and C-Me (5.93, 4.00, 4.22 N·cm^?1) for DMU, TMU, and DMPU, respectively. The dominating conformer of liquid DMU was identified as trans-trans, strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding was verified in solid DMU, and weak dipole–dipole association was found in liquid TMU and in DMPU. Special attention was paid to analyzing the methyl group frequencies, which revealed deviations from local C_3v symmetry. A linear correlation was found between the CH stretching force constants and the inverse of the CH bond lengths (1/r ²). The averaged NH stretching frequencies of gaseous, dissolved, and solid urea and of DMU, with variations for hydrogen bonding of different strength, are linearly correlated to the NH stretching force constants. Characteristic skeletal vibrations were assigned for a broad variety of urea derivatives and also for pyrimidine derivatives, which all contain the N₂C=O entity. The very strong IR bands of C=O stretching (1,676 ± 40 cm^?1) and asymmetric CN₂ stretching (1,478 ± 60 cm^?1), and the very intense Raman feature of symmetric CN₂ stretching or ring breathing (757 ± 80 cm^?1), can be recognized as fingerprint bands also for the pyrimidine derivatives cytosine, thymine, and uracil, which all are nucleobases in DNA and RNA nucleotides.     

Ab Initio Study on Structures and Vibrational Spectra of M+(H2O)Ar2 (M = Cu,Au)

Previous investigations have shown that it is difficult to acquire the infrared (IR) spectra of M⁺(H₂O) (M?=?Cu, Au) using a single IR photon by attaching an Ar atom to M⁺(H₂O). To explore whether the IR spectra can be obtained using the two Ar atoms tagging method, the geometrical structures, IR spectra and interaction energies are investigated in detail by ab initio electronic structure calculations for M⁺(H₂O)Ar₂ (M?=?Cu, Au) complexes. Two conceivable isomeric structures are found, which result from different binding sites for two Ar atoms. CCSD(T) calculations predict that two Ar atoms are most likely to attach to Cu⁺ for the Cu⁺(H₂O)Ar₂ complex, while the Au⁺(H₂O)Ar₂ complex prefers the isomer in which one Ar atom attaches to an H atom of the H₂O molecule and the other one is bound to Au⁺. Moreover, the calculated binding energies of the second Ar atom are smaller than the IR photon energy, and so it is possible to obtain the IR spectra for both Cu and Au species. The changes in the spectra caused by the attachment of Ar atoms to M⁺(H₂O) are discussed.     

The strengthening effect of a hydrogen or lithium bond on the Z···N aerogen bond (Z = Ar,Kr and Xe): a comparative study

An ab initio study is performed on O₃Z···NCM···NCX (Z = Ar, Kr and Xe; M = H and Li; X = H, F and CH₃) complexes to investigate cooperativity effects between aerogen and hydrogen or lithium bonding interactions in these systems. To understand the cooperative effects, a detailed analysis of the binding distances, interaction energies and bonding properties is performed on these complexes. The results indicate that all Z···N and H/Li···N binding distances in the ternary complexes are shorter than those of corresponding binary systems. For a given M or X, cooperative energies increase as Z = Xe > Kr > Ar. Moreover, O₃Z···NCLi···NCX complexes exhibit a larger cooperative energy than O₃Z···NCH···NCX ones. The non-covalent interaction (NCI) index analysis indicates that the formation of an H/Li···N interaction in the ternary complexes shifts the location of the spike associated with the Z···N interaction towards the negative λ₂ρ values. This indicates that NCI analysis can be regarded as a useful tool for the study of cooperative effects between two different non-covalent interactions. Also, cooperative effects in O₃Z···NCM···NCX complexes make a decrease in ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of NCH or NCLi molecule.     

A computational study of the linear and nonlinear complexes of FArCCH···N2

Linear and nonlinear weakly bound complexes of the metastable argon-containing compound FArCCH and N₂ were predicted to be stable from ab initio computations at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory. Both complexes were found to have similar interaction energies and they exhibit red shifts of the C–H stretch, blue shifts of the Ar–C stretch and red shifts of the F–Ar stretch, in the same order as the stabilities. These effects are rationalized by considering changes in orbital occupancies on complexation, which are brought about by a combination of the intermolecular electrostatic interaction and charge density transferred from the N₂ molecule to the argon-containing molecule.     

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of X2YZ (X = Co,Y = Mn,Z = Ge,Sn) type Heusler compounds: a first principle study

We performed the structure optimization followed by the calculation of electronic structure and magnetic properties on Co₂MnGe and Co₂MnSn. The structure optimization was based on generalized gradient approximation exchange correlation and full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. The calculation of electronic structure was based on FP-LAPW method using local spin density approximation. We have studied the electronic structure and magnetic properties. The calculated density of states and band structures shows the half-metallic ferromagnets character of Co₂MnGe and Co₂MnSn.     

FeP(Im)−AB bonding energies evaluated with a large number of density functionals (P = porphine,Im = imidazole,AB = CO,NO, and O2)

Sixty-four density functionals, ranging from GGA, meta-GGA, hybrid GGA to hybrid meta-GGA, were tested to evaluate the FeP(Im)–AB bonding energies (E _bond) in the heme model complexes FeP(Im)(AB) (P?=?porphine, Im?=?imidazole, AB?=?CO, NO, and O₂). The results indicate that an accurate prediction of E _bond for the various ligands to heme is difficult with the DFT methods; usually, a functional successful for one system does not perform equally well for other system(s). Relatively satisfactory results for the various FeP(Im)–AB bonding energies are obtained with the meta-GGA functionals BLAP3 and Bmτ1; they yield E _bond values of ca. 1.1, 1.2, and 0.4?eV for AB?=?CO, NO, and O₂, respectively, which are in reasonable agreement with experimental data (0.78–0.85?eV for CO, 0.99?eV for NO, and 0.44???0.53?eV for O₂). The other functionals show more or less deficiency for one or two of the systems. The performances of the various functionals in describing the spin-state energetics of the five-coordinate FeP(Im) complex were also examined.     

Mössbauer and N.M.R. studies of ErFe2Hx

Hydrides of Intermetallic compounds have been the object of many studies because of their potential applications/1/. Recent papers were devoted to the problem of interstitial site occupation in connection with H-H exclusion rule (d_H–H > 2.1 A). The present work deals with ErFe₂H_X, which has been investigated both by⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer Effect and by¹⁶⁷Er N.M.R. Previous studies were limited to X 2, 3.5, 4.1. Here five values of x (1.45, 1.6, 1.84, 2.6, 3.3) are considered, in order to obtain information on hydrogen location, filling and diffusion as a function of x, and also on hydrogen contribution to the electric field gradient (E.F.G.) and crystalline field at the Rare Earth.     

Fundamental absorption of calcium,magnesium, and lithium fluorides in the range of 8–12 μm

The fundamental absorption of calcium, magnesium, and lithium fluorides in the range of 8–12 μm has been studied experimentally by the spectrophotometric method. The known and experimentally obtained values of the absorption coefficients of these materials have been analyzed. It has been shown that the values experimentally measured in the range of 8–12 μm obey the Uhrbach rule and the multiphoton absorption determines the long-wavelength transmission cutoff of pure optical materials. The results presented make it possible to suggest that plates made of LiF and CaF₂ crystals and of optical ceramics based on MgF₂ can be used to fabricate calibrated radiation attenuators in the spectral range of 8–12 μm.