Study on the electronic structure of Al12N12 and Al12P12 fullerene-like nano-clusters upon adsorption of CH3F and CH3Cl

ABSTRACT

We study the interaction of two mono-halomethanes (CH₃F and CH₃Cl) on Al₁₂N₁₂ and Al₁₂P₁₂ fullerene-like nano-clusters based on density functional theory (DFT). We search on fully optimised adsorbed systems by theoretical investigation considering binding energies, total density of states, natural bond orbital (NBO) charges, and molecular electrostatic potential. We found that the direction of electron transfer is from halomethane to nano-cluster for all systems, indicating p-type semiconductor property of the mentioned nano-clusters. The interaction energy of halomethanes on nano-clusters is evaluated with dispersion corrected (wB97XD) and non-corrected (B3LYP) methods in order to estimate the dispersion effects. The binding energies are found in order of Al₁₂N₁₂–CH₃F > Al₁₂N₁₂–CH₃Cl > Al₁₂P₁₂–CH₃F > Al₁₂P₁₂–CH₃Cl with the values of ?102.7, ?83.7, ?64.2, and ?48.9 kJ mol^?1 based on wB97XD, respectively. We found significant changes in the location of HOMO as well as LUMO of nano-clusters upon adsorption of the above-mentioned molecules. As a result, we suggest the suitability of Al₁₂N₁₂ nano-cluster as a strong adsorbent for practical applications.     

NQR, NMR and Crystal Structure Studies of [C(NH2)3]2HgX4 (X = Br, I)

The crystal structure of [C(NH₂)₃]₂HgBr₄ has been determined at room temperature: monoclinic, space group C2/c, with a = 10.035(2), b = 11.164(2), c = 13.358(3) Å, β = 111.67(3)°, and Z = 4. The crystal consists of planar [C(NH₂)₃]⁺ and distorted tetrahedral [HgBr₄]^2? ions. The Hg atom is located on a two-fold axis such that two sets of inequivalent Br atoms exist in an [HgBr₄]^2? ion. In accordance with the crystal structure, two ⁸¹Br NQR lines widely separated in frequency were observed between 77 and ca. 380 K. [C(NH₂)₃]₂HgI₄ yielded four ¹²⁷I NQR lines ascribable to m = ±1/2 ? ±3/2 transitions, indicating that its crystal structure is different from the bromide complex. The ¹H NMR T ₁ measurements showed a single minimum for the bromide but two minima for the iodide. The analyses based on the C₃ reorientations of the planar [C(NH₂)₃]⁺ ions gave the activation energies of 29.8 kJ mol^?1 for the bromide, and 30.2 and 40.0 kJ mol^?1 for the iodide.     

A computational characterization of N2@C60

Recent observations of N₂@C₆₀ are supported computationally. The geometry is optimized at the B3LYP/3-21G and PW91/3-21G levels. The lowest-energy structure has the N₂ unit oriented towards a pair of parallel pentagons so that the complex exhibits D_5d symmetry. Single-point energy calculations are further carried out at the B3LYP/6-31G*, PW91/6-31G* and MP2?=?FC/6-31G* levels and corrected for the basis set superposition error (BSSE). The MP2?=?FC/6-31G* treatment with the BSSE correction gives a stabilization energy of -9.3?kcal?mol^?1, whereas DFT approaches mostly fail to produce a stabilization. The entropy term for the encapsulation is also evaluated and leads to a standard Gibbs energy change upon encapsulation at room temperature of -3.3?kcal?mol^?1. The computed structural and vibrational characteristics are also reported.     

On the thermochemical stability of the sextet CO2 anion: results from density functional theory

A variety of density functional theory (DFT) methods were used to characterize the stability of stationary points along the CO^? ₂ (⁶A₁ state) potential energy surface. Large differences were found between the previously reported ROHF/CCSD structures of this molecule and those generated by DFT. The SVWN, B1LYP, B3LYP, B3P86, B3PW91, methods were coupled to a very large 6–311++G (3df, 3pd) basis set, to evaluate the vibrational frequencies, electron affinities and the lowest dissociation pathways for the two isomers of the anionic and neutral parent species. In addition to these pure and hybrid methods both the CBS-QB3 (uses the B3LYP/CBSB7 method for the geometrical optimization) and G3B3 (uses the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method for the geometrical optimization) methods were used to further evaluate the dissociation energies of the sextet anionic CO₂.     

Structure and properties of the anions MF4−, MCl4− and MBr4− (M = C,Si, Ge)

Density functional theory (DFT), Møller–Plesset (MP2) and coupled cluster with single and double substitutions including non-iterative triple excitations (CCSD(T)) calculations on the anions MX₄^?, with M = C, Si, Ge and X = F, Cl, Br, show that GeF₄^?, SiCl₄^?, GeCl₄^? and SiBr₄^? prefer a C_2v conformation, but CCl₄^? is an elongated C_3v structure. CBr₄^? has T_d symmetry in MP2, but is slightly more stable in elongated C_3v form with DFT and CCSD(T). GeBr₄^? has T_d symmetry. CF₄^? and SiF₄^? are unstable with respect to loss of an electron. Vertical electron affinities (EAs) are negative also for CCl₄ and SiCl₄, and close to zero for GeF₄ and SiBr₄. Adiabatic EAs range from 0.47 eV for SiCl₄ to 1.78 eV for GeBr₄. The lowest excited states at T_d symmetry are ²T₂ resonances with energies of 2.1–3.5 eV, resulting from excitation of the a₁ singly occupied molecular orbital to vacant t₂ orbitals. Vertical excitation energies (VEEs) and vibrational frequencies are given for the most stable anionic geometries. Comparison with experimental VEEs for CCl₄^? is made. From dissociation energies of MX₄, MX₄^?, MX₃ and MX₃^?, appearance energies of X^?, MX₃^?, X₂^? and MX₂^? were calculated. Most were found to be in reasonable agreement with experimental values. Theoretical spin densities and g-factors have been compared with experimental results available for CCl₄^?, SiCl₄^? and GeCl₄^?.     

Normal Coordinate Analysis of the Tricyanomethanide ion C(CN)− 3 (D3h)

Abstract

A complete normal coordinate analysis has been performed for the tricyanomethanide ion C(CN)^? ₃ for which a planar structure of symmetry D_3h was assumed. The symmetric Fand internal f valence force constant matrices were derived in the general case by using a GVFF and the results are applied to C(CN)^? ₃.     

Additivity and non-additivity of dissociation energies in intermolecular interactions. Theoretical studies on (H2)n,n = 2-8, (CO2)n,n = 2-6 and (HF)n,n = 2-8

CCSD(T) and MP2 results using the aug-cc-pV5Z basis set are reported for chain, cyclic and other structures of the clusters (H₂)_n, n?=?2-8, (CO₂)_n, n?=?2-6 and (HF)_n, n?=?2-8. In chain-like structures of (H₂)_n and (CO₂)_n, with the bonding type of the dimer maintained, the dissociation energy D_e of the dimer doubles for the trimer, triples for the tetramer, and so on. Due to these systems being dominated by short-range forces, interactions are essentially restricted to neighbouring monomers. For other types of (H₂)_n and (CO₂)_n structures, the multipliers relative to the dimerisation energy can be much higher. Dissociation energies for the hexamers in S₆ symmetry of both H₂ (379?cm^?1) and CO₂ (4925?cm^?1) are over ten times the respective dimerisation energies. For the chain-like trimer of HF, however, D_e is in excess of double the dimer value. Mainly due to longer-range dipolar forces, the interactions reach beyond the neighbouring monomers. The interaction energy between HF monomers in chains follows an approximate R^?2 (R being the F–F distance) relationship, The calculated dissociation energies of the HF octamer are 15,985?cm^?1 (factor of 10.4) for the chain, and 21,003?cm^?1 (factor of 13.7) for the C_6h cyclic structure.     

The ro-vibrational analysis of the v4 fundamental band of CF3Br from jet-cooled diode laser and FTIR spectra in the 8.3-μm region

The v₄ fundamental band of CF₃⁷⁹Br and CF₃⁸¹Br, present in natural isotopic abundance, was investigated in the 8.3-μm region by high-resolution infrared spectroscopic techniques. Tuneable diode laser spectra were recorded in the ranges 1202.5–1205.0 cm^?1, 1208.0–1210.1 cm^?1 and 1212.5–1214.5 cm^?1. The tuneable diode laser spectra were obtained at the reduced temperature of 200 K and in a free-jet expansion. The latter technique was used to reduce spectral congestion, achieving a rotational temperature of about 50 K, with a resolution up to 0.0008 cm^?1. A Fourier transform infrared spectrum covering the entire spectral region of the v₄ band, between 1190 and 1220 cm^?1, was recorded at 298 K with a resolution of 0.004 cm^?1. The experimental wavenumbers from the different spectroscopic techniques were combined to accomplish the complete ro-vibrational analysis of v₄. In total, 4651 transitions were assigned to CF₃⁷⁹Br, 4047 to CF₃⁸¹Br, with J″_max? = K″_max?=80; of these, 3171 for CF₃⁷⁹Br and 2755 for CF₃⁸¹Br are from diode laser measurements. The data of each isotopologue were analysed using the model Hamiltonian for a degenerate vibrational state of a molecule of C_3v symmetry. The v₄ band of both the isotopologues resulted essentially unperturbed, but the Δl = Δk = ±2 l-resonance was found to be active within the v₄ = 1 state. Precise values of the vibrational energy and of the ro-vibrational parameters of v₄ = 1 for CF₃⁷⁹Br and CF₃⁸¹Br were obtained. The bromine isotopic splitting amounts to 6.9 × 10^?3 cm^?1. In addition, the equilibrium geometry and the harmonic force field were calculated ab initio using the large-size basis set def2-QZVP in conjunction to the PBE0 functional.     

The keto-enol equilibrium in substituted acetaldehydes: focal-point analysis and ab initio limit

High-level ab initio electronic structure calculations up to the CCSD(T) theory level, including extrapolations to the complete basis set (CBS) limit, resulted in high precision energetics of the tautomeric equilibrium in 2-substituted acetaldehydes (XH₂C-CHO). The CCSD(T)/CBS relative energies of the tautomers were estimated using CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ, MP3/aug-cc-pVQZ, and MP2/aug-cc-pV5Z calculations with MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ geometries. The relative enol (XHC?=?CHOH) stabilities (ΔE _{e,CCSD(T)/CBS}) were found to be 5.98?±?0.17, ?1.67?±?0.82, 7.64?±?0.21, 8.39?±?0.31, 2.82?±?0.52, 10.27?±?0.39, 9.12?±?0.18, 5.47?±?0.53, 7.50?±?0.43, 10.12?±?0.51, 8.49?±?0.33, and 6.19?±?0.18?kcal?mol^?1 for X?=?BeH, BH₂, CH₃, Cl, CN, F, H, NC, NH₂, OCH₃, OH, and SH, respectively. Inconsistencies between the results of complex/composite energy computations methods Gn/CBS (G2, G3, CBS-4M, and CBS-QB3) and high-level ab initio methods (CCSD(T)/CBS and MP2/CBS) were found. DFT/aug-cc-pVTZ results with B3LYP, PBE0 (PBE1PBE), TPSS, and BMK density functionals were close to the CCSD(T)/CBS levels (MAD?=?1.04?kcal?mol^?1).     

Interaction Between Pr3☎ Pairs and Excitons in CsCdBr3

CsCdBr₃ consists of linear chains of [CdBr₆]^4- octahedra separated by Cs^? ions. The excited states of the covalently bound [CdBr₆]^4- octahedra form the lowest excitonic states of the crystal lattice. The trivalent Pr ions substitute for the divalent Cd ions. For reasons of charge compensation in the linear Cd^2? chains, pair centers of the form Pr^3?-(Cd vacancy)-Pr^3? are predominantly formed. In CsCdBr₃ the optical band gap is wider than the electronic one. This allows to study the interaction between Pr^3? ions and excitons by means of optical spectroscopy. The interaction leads to quantum up- and down-conversion generating one photon from two lower ones in energy and vice versa. Related experiments are discussed.     

SrB4O7:Sm2+: an optical sensor reflecting non-hydrostatic pressure at high-temperature and/or high pressure in a diamond anvil cell

A systematic investigation on the fluorescent spectra of SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺ was performed in detail at high-temperature up to 623?K and/or high pressure up to 23.2?GPa with different pressure-transmitting media (PTMs), respectively. Combined with experiment data of previous research, the change of the ⁷D₀–⁵F₀ line (0–0 line) full width at half maximum (FWHM) of SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺ under different pressure environments was specifically discussed. The results indicate that the FWHM of 0–0 line is sensitive to the non-hydrostatic pressure environment in 2-propanol, and methanol and ethanol mixture (ME) PTMs at ambient temperature. The first-order and the second-order derivation of the temperature dependence of 0–0 line FWHM at ambient pressure are 1.48(±0.21)?×?10^?4?nm/K and 9.63(±0.63)?×?10^?7?nm²/K² below 623?K. The 0–0 line FWHM is also sensitive to the non-hydrostatic pressure environment in ME at high-temperature and high pressure simultaneous, the non-hydrostatic transition pressures are 9.6?GPa at 323?K, 11.0?GPa at 373?K, 14.4?GPa at 423?K, respectively. SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺ is recommended as an optical sensor to reflect the change of pressure environment in liquid media at high-temperature and/or high pressure.     

DFT calculations for Au adsorption onto a reduced TiO2 (110) surface with the coexistence of Cl

Residual chlorines, which originate from HAuCl₄, enhance the aggregation of gold (Au) nanoparticles and clusters, preventing the generation of highly active supported Au catalysts. However, the detailed mechanism of residual-chlorine-promoted aggregation of Au is unknown. Herein to investigate this mechanism, density functional theory (DFT) calculations of Au and Cl adsorption onto a reduced rutile TiO₂ (110) surface were performed using a generalised gradient approximation Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof formula (GGA–PBE) functional and plane-wave basis. Although both Au and Cl atoms prefer to mono-absorb onto oxygen defect sites, Cl atoms have a stronger absorption onto a reduced TiO₂ (110) surface, abbreviated as rTiO₂ (110) in the following, than Au atoms. Additionally, co-adsorption of a Cl atom and a Au atom or Au nanorod onto a rTiO₂ surface was investigated; Cl adsorption onto an oxygen defect site weakens the interaction between a Au atom or Au nanorod and rTiO₂ (110) surface. The calculation results suggest that the depletion of interaction between Au and rTiO₂ surface is due to strong interaction between Cl atoms at oxygen defect sites and neighbouring bridging oxygen (O^B) atoms.     

Explicitly correlated benchmark calculations on C8H8 isomer energy separations: how accurate are DFT,double-hybrid,and composite ab initio procedures?

Accurate isomerization energies are obtained for a set of 45 C₈H₈ isomers by means of the high-level, ab initio W1-F12 thermochemical protocol. The 45 isomers involve a range of hydrocarbon functional groups, including (linear and cyclic) polyacetylene, polyyne, and cumulene moieties, as well as aromatic, anti-aromatic, and highly-strained rings. Performance of a variety of DFT functionals for the isomerization energies is evaluated. This proves to be a challenging test: only six of the 56 tested functionals attain root mean square deviations (RMSDs) below 3?kcal?mol^?1 (the performance of MP2), namely: 2.9 (B972-D), 2.8 (PW6B95), 2.7 (B3PW91-D), 2.2 (PWPB95-D3), 2.1 (ωB97X-D), and 1.2 (DSD-PBEP86) kcal?mol^?1. Isomers involving highly-strained fused rings or long cumulenic chains provide a ‘torture test’ for most functionals. Finally, we evaluate the performance of composite procedures (e.g. G4, G4(MP2), CBS-QB3, and CBS-APNO), as well as that of standard ab initio procedures (e.g. MP2, SCS-MP2, MP4, CCSD, and SCS-CCSD). Both connected triples and post-MP4 singles and doubles are important for accurate results. SCS-MP2 actually outperforms MP4(SDQ) for this problem, while SCS-MP3 yields similar performance as CCSD and slightly bests MP4. All the tested empirical composite procedures show excellent performance with RMSDs below 1?kcal?mol^?1.     

Preparation and luminescent properties of cubic Eu:Y2O3 nanocrystals and comparison to bulk Eu:Y2O3

Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals were prepared by combustion synthesis. The particle size estimated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was about 10 nm. A blue-shift of the charge-transfer (CT) band in excitation spectra was observed in Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals compared with bulk Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺. The electronic structure of Y₂O₃ is calculated by density functional method and exchange and correlation have been treated by the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) within the scheme due to Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE). The calculated results show that the energy centroid of 5d orbital in nanocrystal has increasing trend compared with that in the bulk material. The bond length and bond covalency are calculated by chemical bond theory. The bond lengths of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystal are shorter than those of the bulk counterpart and the bond covalency of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystal also has an increasing trend. By combining centroid shift and crystal-field splitting, the blue-shift of the CT band is interpreted.     

An investigation of paddle wheel Cu2(μ2-O2CCH3)4 for gas molecule adsorptions

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been well-known and extensively researched due to the high storage /good selectivity for gas molecules. Herein, the structures and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra for dicopper paddle wheel MOF compound (Cu₂(µ₂-O₂CCH₃)₄ with various gas molecule are theoretically investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The adsorption energies and isotherms (including pure gas molecules and the mixed ones) are calculated for the gas molecules interacting with the unsaturated Cu₂(µ₂-O₂CCH₃)₄. Both quantities exhibit the roughly consistent orders (e.g. H₂S?>?NH₃?>?CO₂?>?CO?>?H₂O?>?N₂?>?NO?>?H₂ for isotherms and H₂S?>?NH₃?>?N₂?>?CO₂?>?NO?>?H₂O?>?H₂?>?CO for adsorption energies), possibly suggesting that this material may act as a potential adsorbent of these gas molecules. The catalytic property of Cu₂(µ₂-O₂CCH₃)₄ for oxidation of CO and NO into non-toxic molecules and splitting of H₂O into H₂ and O₂ in the solvent condition are uniformly discussed. Simulation of Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) in MS 8.0 and calculations in Langmuir model reveal that Cu₂(µ₂-O₂CCH₃)₄ has good selectivity for CH₄ in natural gas (CH₄/CO₂/N₂) and SO₂ in fog (SO₂/NO/NO₂/H₂O/O₂), which would exhibit potential environmentally friendly applications.     

Deuterium Nuclear Spin–Lattice Relaxation Times and Quadrupolar Coupling Constants in Isotopically Labeled Saccharides

¹³C and ²H spin–lattice relaxation times have been determined by inversion recovery in a range of site-specific ¹³C- and ²H-labeled saccharides under identical solution conditions, and the data were used to calculate deuterium nuclear quadrupolar coupling constants (²H NQCC) at specific sites within cyclic and acyclic forms in solution. ¹³C T₁ values ranged from 0.6 to 8.2 s, and ²H T₁ values ranged from 79 to 450 ms, depending on molecular structure (0.4 M sugar in 5 mM EDTA (disodium salt) in ²H₂O-depleted H₂O, pH 4.8, 30°C). In addition to providing new information on ¹³C and ²H relaxation behavior of saccharides in solution, the resulting ²H1 NQCC values reveal a dependency on anomeric configuration within aldopyranose rings, whereas ²H NQCC values at other ring sites appear less sensitive to configuration at C1. In contrast, ²H NQCC values at both anomeric and nonanomeric sites within aldofuranose rings appear to be influenced by anomeric configuration. These experimental observations were confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations of ²H NQCC values in model aldopyranosyl and aldofuranosyl rings.     

NQR, NMR and Crystal Structure Studies of [C(NH2)3]3Sb2Br9

The crystal structure of [C(NH₂)₃]₃Sb₂Br₉ was determined at 143 K: monoclinic, space group C2/c, Z = 4, a = 15.695 (3), b = 9.039(2), c = 18.364(3) Å, β = 96.94(1)°. The structure consists of two crystallographically independent guanidinium ions and two-dimensional corrugated sheets of (Sb₂Br₉ ^3?) _n , in which SbBr₆ octahedra are connected through three bridging Br atoms each other. One of the cations situates in a cavity of the (Sb₂Br₉ ^3?) _n layer with statistical disorder, while the other situates between the layers without disorder. Three ⁸¹Br NQR resonance lines were assignable to terminal Br atoms, while only one line was found for two inequivalent bridging Br atoms. All the ⁸¹Br NQR resonance lines were subjected to fade-out at low temperatures. The temperature dependence curve of ¹H NMR T ₁ showed well defined two minima, which were explained by postulating the C₃ reorientations of two types of cations with very different activation energies. The DTA (DSC) measurement revealed a phase transition of a first-order type at 444 K.     

A high level computational study of the CH4/CF4 dimer: how does it compare with the CH4/CH4 and CF4/CF4 dimers?

The interaction within the methane–methane (CH₄/CH₄), perfluoromethane–perfluoromethane (CF₄/CF₄) methane–perfluoromethane dimers (CH₄/CF₄) was calculated using the Hartree–Fock (HF) method, multiple orders of Møller–Plesset perturbation theory [MP2, MP3, MP4(DQ), MP4(SDQ), MP4(SDTQ)], and coupled cluster theory [CCSD, CCSD(T)], as well as the PW91, B97D, and M06-2X density functional theory (DFT) functionals. The basis sets of Dunning and coworkers (aug-cc-pVxZ, x?=?D, T, Q), Krishnan and coworkers [6-311++G(d,p), 6-311++G(2d,2p)], and Tsuzuki and coworkers [aug(df, pd)-6-311G(d,p)] were used. Basis set superposition error (BSSE) was corrected via the counterpoise method in all cases. Interaction energies obtained with the MP2 method do not fit with the experimental finding that the methane–perfluoromethane system phase separates at 94.5?K. It was not until the CCSD(T) method was considered that the interaction energy of the methane–perfluoromethane dimer (?0.69?kcal?mol^?1) was found to be intermediate between the methane (?0.51?kcal?mol^?1) and perfluoromethane (?0.78?kcal?mol^?1) dimers. This suggests that a perfluoromethane molecule interacts preferentially with another perfluoromethane (by about 0.09?kcal?mol^?1) than with a methane molecule. At temperatures much lower than the CH₄/CF₄ critical solution temperature of 94.5?K, this energy difference becomes significant and leads perfluoromethane molecules to associate with themselves, forming a phase separation. The DFT functionals yielded erratic results for the three dimers. Further development of DFT is needed in order to model dispersion interactions in hydrocarbon/perfluorocarbon systems.     

Exploration of large amplitude motions in the Ca+Ar2 complex

ABSTRACT

We present a theoretical study of the ground electronic state potential of the Ca⁺Ar₂ complex and of its photoabsorption spectra, simulated at temperatures ranging between 20 and 220?K. These calculations exploit a Monte-Carlo (MC) method, based on a one-electron pseudo-potential approach. A pairwise additive potential fitted to coupled cluster ab initio points, is used to model the Ca⁺Ar₂ complex. Our study shows that the most stable form of Ca⁺Ar₂ is a bent C_2v structure, whereas the linear isomer is located at around 90?±?10?cm^?1 above in energy. The analysis of the photoabsorption spectra establishes that a structural transition from bent Ca⁺Ar₂ to linear ArCa⁺Ar occurs at T～100?K. Trends in binding energies of both isomers, bond lengths and bond angles are also discussed. Molecular orbital overlaps provide an explanation for the order of stability between the bent and linear structures.     

关于Al_nC和Al_nC~+(n=1—8)团簇结构和稳定性的研究

通过采用7种密度泛函理论DFT方法对AlnC进行计算,所得结果与实验数据比较,选择了B3lyp方法和6-311G(d)基组对AlnC及AlnC+(n=1—8)团簇进行结构优化和频率分析,得到了AlnC及AlnC+基态以及亚稳态结构.当n从小到大变化时,这些团簇的结构从平面向立体过渡,平面构型以三角形为主,立体构型主要是三棱柱笼状结构;在这些团簇中的高对称性结构中,中性团簇和阳离子只能有其一是稳定构型;在所研究的团簇中,Al2C和Al5C团簇较为稳定.