Experimental and theoretical study of the reactions between neutral vanadium oxide clusters and ethane, ethylene, and acetylene

Reactions of neutral vanadium oxide clusters with small hydrocarbons, namely C2H6, C2H4, and C2H2, are investigated by experiment and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Single photon ionization through extreme ultraviolet (EUV, 46.9 nm, 26.5 eV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, 118 nm, 10.5 eV) lasers is used to detect neutral cluster distributions and reaction products. The most stable vanadium oxide clusters VO2, V2O5, V3O7, V4O10, etc. tend to associate with C2H4 generating products V(m)O(n)C2H4. Oxygen-rich clusters VO3(V2O5)(n=0,1,2...), (e.g., VO3, V3O8, and V5O13) react with C2H4 molecules to cause a cleavage of the C=C bond of C2H4 to produce (V2O5)(n)VO2CH2 clusters. For the reactions of vanadium oxide clusters (V(m)O(n)) with C2H2 molecules, V(m)O(n)C2H2 are assigned as the major products of the association reactions. Additionally, a dehydration reaction for VO3 + C2H2 to produce VO2C2 is also identified. C2H6 molecules are quite stable toward reaction with neutral vanadium oxide clusters. Density functional theory calculations are employed to investigate association reactions for V2O5 + C2H(x). The observed relative reactivity of C2 hydrocarbons toward neutral vanadium oxide clusters is well interpreted by using the DFT calculated binding energies. DFT calculations of the pathways for VO3+C2H4 and VO3+C2H2 reaction systems indicate that the reactions VO3+C2H4 --> VO2CH2 + H2CO and VO3+C2H2 --> VO2C2 + H2O are thermodynamically favorable and overall barrierless at room temperature, in good agreement with the experimental observations.     

Density functional study of the interaction of carbon monoxide with small neutral and charged silver clusters

CO adsorption on small neutral, anionic, and cationic silver clusters Ag(n) (n = 1-7) has been studied with use of the PW91PW91 density functional theory (DFT) method. The adsorption of CO on-top site, among various possible sites, is energetically preferred irrespective of the charge state of the silver cluster. The cationic silver clusters generally have a greater tendency to adsorb CO than the anionic and neutral silver ones, except for n = 3 and 4, and the binding energies reach a local minimum at n = 5. The binding energies on the neutral clusters, instead, reach a local maximum at n = 3, which is about 0.87 eV, probably large enough to be captured in the experiments. Binding of CO to the silver clusters is generally weaker than that to the copper and gold counterparts at the same size and charge state. This is due to the weaker orbital interaction between silver and CO, which is caused by the larger atomic radius of the silver atom. In contrast, Au atoms with a larger nuclear charge but a similar atomic radius to silver owing to the lanthanide contraction are able to have a stronger interaction with CO.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of reactions of neutral vanadium and tantalum oxide clusters with NO and NH3

Reactions of neutral vanadium and tantalum oxide clusters with NO, NH(3), and an NO/NH(3) mixture in a fast flow reactor are investigated by time of flight mass spectrometry and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Single photon ionization through a 46.9 nm (26.5 eV) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) laser is employed to detect both neutral cluster distributions and reaction products. Association products VO(3)NO and V(2)O(5)NO are detected for V(m)O(n) clusters reacting with pure NO, and reaction products, TaO(3,4)(NO)(1,2), Ta(2)O(5)NO, Ta(2)O(6)(NO)(1-3), and Ta(3)O(8)(NO)(1,2) are generated for Ta(m)O(n) clusters reacting with NO. In both instances, oxygen-rich clusters are the active metal oxide species for the reaction M(m)O(n)+NO→M(m)O(n)(NO)(x). Both V(m)O(n) and Ta(m)O(n) cluster systems are very active with NH(3). The main products of the reactions with NH(3) result from the adsorption of one or two NH(3) molecules on the respective clusters. A gas mixture of NO:NH(3) (9:1) is also added into the fast flow reactor: the V(m)O(n) cluster system forms stable, observable clusters with only NH(3) and no V(m)O(n)(NO)(x)(NH(3))(y) species are detected; the Ta(m)O(n) cluster system forms stable, observable mixed clusters, Ta(m)O(n)(NO)(x)(NH(3))(y), as well as Ta(m)O(n)(NO)(x) and Ta(m)O(n)(NH(3))(y) individual clusters, under similar conditions. The mechanisms for the reactions of neutral V(m)O(n) and Ta(m)O(n) clusters with NO/NH(3) are explored via DFT calculations. Ta(m)O(n) clusters form stable complexes based on the coadsorption of NO and NH(3). V(m)O(n) clusters form weakly bound complexes following the reaction pathway toward end products N(2)+H(2)O without barrier. The calculations give an interpretation of the experimental data that is consistent with the condensed phase reactivity of V(m)O(n) catalyst and suggest the formation of intermediates in the catalytic chemistry.     

Size-dependent carbon monoxide adsorption on neutral gold clusters

We report on experiments probing the reactivity of neutral Au(n) clusters, n = 9-68, with carbon monoxide. The gold clusters are produced in a pulsed laser vaporization cluster source, operated at room temperature (RT) or at liquid-nitrogen temperature (LNT), pass through a low-pressure reaction cell containing CO gas, and are subsequently laser ionized. The reaction probabilities are determined by recording mass abundance spectra with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The main observations are a strong temperature dependence and a remarkable size dependence. Upon cooling of the cluster source to LNT, the reactivity increases substantially. At LNT, the reaction probabilities for Au(n) with the first CO molecule are about a factor 10 higher than at RT. Moreover, adsorption of two, three, and even four CO molecules is observed, in contrast to RT clusters which at most adsorb one CO molecule. This temperature dependence is related to the lifetime of the cluster-molecule complexes, being much longer for cold clusters. The observed striking size dependence is similar at both temperatures and is discussed in terms of the electronic structure effects.     

Density functional study of carbon monoxide adsorption on small cationic,neutral, and anionic aluminum nitride clusters

CO adsorption on small cationic, neutral, and anionic (AlN)_n (n = 1–6) clusters has been investigated using density functional theory in the generalized gradient approximation. Among various possible CO adsorption sites, an N on‐top (onefold coordinated) site is found to be the most favorable one, irrespective of the charge state of the clusters. The adsorption energies of CO on the anionic (AlN)_nCO (n = 2–4) clusters are greater than those on the neutral and cationic complexes. The adsorption energies on the cationic and neutral complexes reflect the odd–even oscillations, and the adsorption energies of CO on the cationic (AlN)_nCO (n = 5, 6) clusters are greater than those on the neutral and anionic complexes. The adsorption energies for the different charge states decrease with increasing cluster size. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Experimental and theoretical study of the reactions between vanadium oxide cluster cations and water

Vanadium oxide cluster cations V(x)O(y)(+) (x = 2-6) are prepared by laser ablation and are reacted with D(2)O in a fast flow reactor under room temperature conditions. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used to detect the cluster distribution before and after the reactions. Observation of the products (V(2)O(5))(1-3)D(+) indicates the deuterium atom abstraction reaction (V(2)O(5))(1-3)(+) + D(2)O → (V(2)O(5))(1-3)D(+) + OD. In addition, significant association products (V(2)O(5))(1-3)D(2)O(+) are also observed in the experiments. Density functional theory calculations are performed to study the reaction mechanisms of V(4)O(10)(+) with H(2)O. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental observations and indicate that H(2)O is dissociatively rather than molecularly adsorbed in V(4)O(10)H(2)O(+) complex.     

Complexes of small neutral gold clusters and hydrogen sulphide: A theoretical study

Binding energies, geometries, charge transfers and vibrational frequencies of complexes of neutral gold clusters Au_n (n = 1–4) and H₂S are computed using density functional theory. The geometries of Au_n and H₂S are little changed upon complex formation but, for the Au₄SH₂ complex, one of the two low-lying Au₄ isomers is more stabilized by H₂S due to intracomplex hydrogen bonding and may be the lowest-energy Au₄SH₂ structure. For the complexes, computed infrared and Raman spectra are discussed with a focus on distinguishing between the two candidates for the lowest-energy Au₄SH₂ structure.     

Catalytic reactions on neutral Rh oxide clusters more efficient than on neutral Rh clusters

Gas phase catalytic reactions involving the reduction of N(2)O and oxidation of CO were observed at the molecular level on isolated neutral rhodium clusters, Rh(n) (n = 10-28), using mass spectrometry. Sequential oxygen transfer reactions, Rh(n)O(m-1) + N(2)O → Rh(n)O(m) + N(2) (m = 1, 2, 3,…), were monitored and the rate constant for each reaction step was determined as a function of the cluster size. Oxygen extraction reactions by a CO molecule, Rh(n)O(m) + CO → Rh(n)O(m-1) + CO(2) (m = 1, 2, 3,…), were also observed when a small amount of CO was mixed with the reactant N(2)O gas. The rate constants of the oxygen extraction reactions by CO for m ≥ 4 were found to be two or three orders of magnitude higher than the rate constants for m ≤ 3, which indicates that the catalytic reaction proceeds more efficiently when the reaction cycles turn over around Rh(n)O(m) (m ≥ 4) than around bare Rh(n). Rhodium clusters operate as more efficient catalysts when they are oxidized than non- or less-oxidized rhodium clusters, which is consistent with theoretical and experimental studies on the catalytic CO oxidation reaction on a rhodium surface.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of neutral MgmCnHx and BemCnHx clusters

Neutral Mg(m)C(n)H(x) and Be(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are investigated both experimentally and theoretically for the first time. Single photon ionization at 193 nm is used to detect neutral cluster distributions through time of flight mass spectrometry. Mg(m)C(n)H(x) and Be(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are generated through laser ablation of Mg or Be foil into CH(4)/He expansion gas. A number of members of each cluster series are identified through isotopic substitution experiments employing (13)CH(4) and CD(4) instead of CH(4) in the expansion gas. An oscillation of the vertical ionization energies (VIEs) of Mg(m)C(n)H(x) clusters is observed in the experiments. The VIEs of Mg(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are observed to vary as a function of the number of H atoms in the clusters. Density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio (MP2) calculations are carried out to explore the structures and ionization energies of Mg(m)C(n)H(x) clusters. Many Be(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are also generated and detected in the experiments. The structures and VIEs of Be(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are also studied by theoretical calculations. Calculational results provide a good and consistent explanation for the experimental observations, and are in general agreement with them for both series of clusters.     

The oxidation of carbon monoxide on iron oxide

The oxidation of CO on α-Fe₂O₃ was studied in a flow reactor. The conversion was complete at 650–660 K. The catalytic activity of iron oxide was higher than that of the ferrite-containing xMgOyFe₂O₃ catalyst. The adsorption of CO on iron oxide and the kinetics of interaction of carbon monoxide with oxygen atomically adsorbed on the surface of α-Fe₂O₃ were studied. The kinetic parameters of the oxidation of CO are evidence of the participation of adsorbed oxygen atoms, whose binding energy on the surface of α-Fe₂O₃ is lower than that on the surface of the magnesium ferrite-containing catalyst.     

Reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen on neutral Nb8 clusters in the gas phase

Reactions of neutral V(n), Nb(n), and Ta(n) metal clusters (n< or =11) with CO+H(2) mixed gases and CH(3)OH in a flow tube reactor (1-50 Torr) are studied by time of flight mass spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. Metal clusters are generated by laser ablation, and reactants and products are ionized by low fluence (approximately 200 microJ/cm(2)) 193 nm excimer laser light. Nb(n) clusters exhibit strong size dependent reactivity in reactions both with CO+H(2) and CH(3)OH compared with V(n) and Ta(n) clusters. A "magic number" (relatively intense) mass peak at Nb(8)COH(4) is observed in the reaction of Nb(n) clusters with CO+H(2), and CH(3)OH is suggested to be formed. This feature at Nb(8)COH(4) remains the most intense peak independent of the relative concentrations of CO and H(2) in the flow tube reactor. No other Nb(n), Ta(n), or V(n) feature behaves in this manner. In reactions of CH(3)OH with metal clusters M(n) (M=V, Nb, and Ta, n=3-11), nondehydrogenated products M(n)COH(4)/M(n)CH(3)OH are only observed on Nb(8) and Nb(10), whereas dehydrogenated products M(n)CO/CM(n)O are observed for all other clusters. These observations support the suggestion that CH(3)OH can be formed on Nb(8) in the reaction of Nb(n) with CO+H(2). A reaction mechanism is suggested based on the experimental results and theoretical calculations of this work and of those in the literature. Methanol formation from CO+H(2) on Nb(8) is overall barrierless and thermodynamically and kinetically favorable.     

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.     

Hydrogenation reactions of ethylene on neutral vanadium sulfide clusters: experimental and theoretical studies

The reactions of C(2)H(4) with H(2) on neutral vanadium sulfide clusters in a fast flow reactor are investigated by time-of-flight mass spectrometry employing 118 nm (10.5 eV) single photon ionization. The experimental products of these reactions are V(m)S(n)C(2)H(x) (m=1, n=1-3; m=2, n=1-5, and x=4-6). Observation of these products indicates that these V(m)S(n) clusters have high catalytic activity for hydrogenation reactions of C(2)H(4). Density functional theory calculations at the BPW91/TZVP level are carried out to explore the geometric and electronic structures of the V(m)S(n) clusters and to determine reaction intermediates and transition states, as well as reaction mechanisms. All reactions are estimated as overall barrierless or with only a small barrier (0.1 eV), and are thermodynamically favorable processes at room temperature. The ethylene molecule is predicted to connect with active V atoms through its π-orbital or form a σ-bond with active V atoms of catalytic V(m)S(n) clusters. The S atoms bonding with active V atoms play an important role in the dissociation of the H(2) molecule; H atoms transfer to the C(2)H(4) (one after another) following breaking of the H-H bond. A catalytic cycle for C(2)H(4) hydrogenation reactions on a vanadium sulfide catalyst surface is suggested based on our experimental and theoretical investigations.     

Infrared spectroscopic and theoretical studies on the reactions of copper atoms with carbon monoxide and nitric oxide molecules in rare-gas matrices

Reactions of laser-ablated Cu atoms with CO and NO mixtures in solid argon and neon have been investigated using matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy. Copper carbonyls and copper nitrosyls have been observed, whereas copper carbonyl nitrosyl complexes are absent from the present experiments. New products, (CuCO)2, [NO]Cu[NO], Cu2(mu2-NO), and Cu(NO)2Cu, have been formed in the copper experiments and characterized using infrared spectroscopy on the basis of the results of the isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, the change of reagent concentration and laser energy, and comparison with theoretical predictions. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these copper carbonyls and copper nitrosyls, which support the identification of these products from the matrix infrared spectrum. A plausible reaction mechanism has been proposed to account for the formation of copper carbonyls and copper nitrosyls. Similar matrix experiments with Ag and Au produce no new species.     

The reaction between nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide over magnesium oxide

The title reaction was carried out with the help of the transient response method over MgO. It was concluded that no catalyst reduction occurred over this catalyst and the reaction proceeded through the reaction between adsorbed nitrous oxide and adsorbed carbon monoxide without participation of MgO oxygen.

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A theoretical study of the reactivity of carbon monoxide with cyclobutadiene

GRINDOL molecular orbital calculations have been performed for the cyclobutadiene-carbonmonoxide (CB-CO) complex. Starting from the rectangular structure of CB with the CO molecule along the C₂-axis perpendicular to the ring, geometry optimization leads to a stable C_4u-structure with the square geometry of CB moiety as the distance (CB-CO) decreases. A hill top in the potential energy curve corresponds to transition of CB from rectangular to square geometry. Bader’s population analysis carried out for different optimized geometries clearly reveals that the stability of the CB-CO complex arises due to ππ* back donation from CB to the CO molecule. The cause of the ‘hill top’ in the potential energy curve is also explained in the light of Bader’s population analysis. Results of trapping of products arising from photochemical reactions with CB is also discussed.     

Reactions of carbon monoxide with free palladium oxide clusters: strongly size dependent competition between adsorption and combustion

The gas phase reactions of carbon monoxide with small mass-selected clusters of palladium, Pd(x)(+) (x = 2-7), and their oxides, Pd(x)O(+) (x = 2-7) and Pd(x)O(2)(+) (x = 4-6), have been investigated in a radio frequency ion trap operated under multi-collision conditions. The bare palladium clusters were found to readily adsorb CO yielding a highly size dependent product pattern. Most interestingly, the reactions of the pre-oxidized palladium clusters with CO lead to very similar product distributions of Pd(x)(CO)(z)(+) complexes as in the case of the corresponding pure Pd(x)(+) clusters. Consequently, it has been concluded that the investigated palladium oxide clusters efficiently oxidize CO under formation of the bare clusters, which further adsorb CO molecules yielding the previously observed Pd(x)(CO)(z)(+) product complex distributions. This CO combustion reaction has been observed even at temperatures as low as 100 K. However, for Pd(2)O(+), Pd(6)O(+), Pd(6)O(2)(+), and Pd(7)O(+) a competing reaction channel yielding palladium oxide carbonyls Pd(x)O(CO)(z)(+) could be detected. The latter adsorption reaction may even hamper the CO combustion under certain reaction conditions and indicates enhanced activation barriers involved in the CO oxidation and/or the CO(2) elimination process on these clusters.     

Theoretical study of chemisorption on niobium clusters: carbon monoxide and oxygen

We have studied chemisorption on niobium clusters based on the local spin density approximation in a scheme which uses pseudopotentials and a plane wave expansion of the electronic wave functions. Results are presented for geometries and the electronic structure of Nb₄ and Nb₈, and compared with experimental data of ionization potentials. Key issues concerning atomic and molecular adsorption on metal clusters are the nature of the binding, the preferred configurations, and the changes induced on the cluster properties. We have examined these questions in the case of carbon monoxide and oxygen. For carbon monoxide, we calculate a significant reduction of the stretch vibration frequency and, in the case of oxygen, shifts of the ionization potentials were obtained. Our results for oxygen are in agreement with experimental data, indicating only a minor shift of the ionization potential due to oxidation, also as a function of coverage.     

Density functional theory study of small vanadium oxide clusters

Density functional theory is employed to study structure and stability of small neutral vanadium oxide clusters in the gas phase. BPW91/LANL2DZ level of theory is used to obtain structures of VOy (y=1-5), V2Oy (y=2-7), V3Oy (y=4-9), and V4Oy (y=7-12) clusters. Enthalpies of growth and fragmentation reactions of the lowest energy isomers of vanadium oxide molecules are also obtained to study the stability of neutral vanadium oxide species under oxygen saturated gas-phase conditions. Our results suggest that cyclic and cage-like structures are preferred for the lowest energy isomers of neutral vanadium oxide clusters, and oxygen-oxygen bonds are present for oxygen-rich clusters. Clusters with an odd number of vanadium atoms tend to have low spin ground states, while clusters with even number of vanadium atoms have a variety of spin multiplicities for their ground electronic state. VO2, V2O5, V3O7, and V4O10 are predicted to be the most stable neutral clusters under the oxygen saturated conditions. These results are in agreement with and complement previous gas-phase experimental studies of neutral vanadium oxide clusters.     

Cluster quantum chemical study of the interaction between a carbon monoxide molecule and a zinc oxide surface

This paper gives the results of quantum chemical MINDO/3 calculations of carbon monoxide adsorption on the ZnO polar (0001) surface. The energetically most favorable one-center adsorption of carbon monoxide on the ZnO (0001) surface occurs by the electron density transfer from the lone electron pair of CO carbon to the vacant orbital of the Zn _3C ²⁺ cation. The calculated heat of CO adsorption, dependent on the type of covering, and the stretching frequency υ_CO are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Institute of Catalysis, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 12–16, January–February, 1994. Translated by L. Smolina