Ionization potentials and bond lengths for CO,N2, and F2 using the SCF-Xα-SW method: A study of the effect of overlapping spheres

Using a simple, arbitrary, but fixed procedure for the choice of sphere sizes in the overlapping sphere version of the SCF-Xα-SW method, results for the ionization potentials of CO, N₂, F₂, and H₂O are in considerably better agreement with experiment than those of the muffin-tin version. The agreement is as good as those of the SCF-Hartree-Fock, Discrete Variational-Xα, and LCAO-Xα methods. For the first time the overlapping sphere modification has been used to calculate binding curves and results in equilibrium bond lengths for CO, N₂, and F₂ all within 0·3 a ₀ (0·16 Å) of the experimental values, a dramatic improvement over the muffin-tin results. The variation of the calculated ionization potentials under a moderate change in the amount of sphere overlap is found to be rather small, being of the order of the differences between the DV-Xα and LCAO-Xα methods, both of which completely avoid the muffin-tin approximation.     

Calculation of photoelectron spectra of the trihalides of group v elements

The SCF-Xα-SW method is applied to calculate the ionization energies of the trihalides of all of the Group V elements. The calculated orbital energies agree very well with reported experimental ionization energies. The molecular-orbital orderings obtained coincide with recent experimental orbital assignments. The results are also compared with previous ab initio, semiempirical and Xα calculations for NF₃, PF₃, PCl₃ and PBr₃. The comparison indicates that the present results show improved agreement with experiment and clarify certain ambiguities in the earlier molecular-orbital assignments.     

Electronic states of lanthanide in the ternary thiogallate CaGa2S4

The electronic states of lanthanide (Ln) doped CaGa₂S₄ are investigated by the molecular orbital calculations for a spherical cluster of LnCa₈Ga₁₂S₂₄ using the FORTRAN program DVSCAT on the basis of the Discrete Variational method with Xα potentials (DV-Xα). In view of the SCF convergence, the Ln-doped lattice should contract to 85-90% of the mother crystal around the Ln atom for the lightweight lanthanides from Ce to Sm. On the other hand, the lattice contraction is very small for the heavyweight lanthanides, especially for Er, Tm and Yb in contrast to the generally known lanthanide contraction for Ln³⁺ ions. This is probably attributed to the effective charges of Ln atoms calculated here to be less than +1 for all lanthanides contrary to the chemically accepted value of +3. The energy level scheme of 4f and 5d related molecular orbitals is proposed for each Ln substituting Ca in CaGa₂S₄, showing that the optical processes relating to the 5d→4f transition must be complicated especially for the lightweight Ln-doped CaGa₂S₄.     

Non-empirical versus empirical choices for overlapping-sphere radii ratios in SCF-Xα-SW calculations on ClO4 - and SO2

Two non-empirical schemes for establishing ratios of atomic sphere radii for Xα-SW calculations are proposed and compared with known methods of partitioning molecules into atomic fragments along paths of maximum change in electrostatic potential or charge density. In the initial Xα-SW molecular charge distribution, the radius of a sphere around each atom containing the atomic number of electrons is shown to be constant within a few per cent no matter what atomic charges are assumed in constructing the charge distribution. This contrasts with the radius of a sphere containing the number of electrons put in for the atom in calculating its atomic charge density, which shows a significant inverse variation with the assumed charge. Ionization energies for ClO₄ ^- and SO₂ are calculated using ratios of sphere radii established both from the atomic number sphere sizes and from Slater's empirical atomic radii. The results are compared with experiment and with HF-LCAO calculations. The Xα-SW calculations using atomic number radii ratios are in the best overall agreement with experiment.     

Valence electronic structure of uranyl nitrate UO2(NO3)2·2H2O

Experimental and theoretical studies on the electronic structure of a uranyl nitrate hydrate, UO₂(NO₃)₂·2H₂O, have been performed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and with relativistic DV-Xα molecular orbital methods. The XPS spectra are measured within five minutes of X-ray irradiation, which causes negligible damage to the sample. Taking into consideration the calculated results, each peak of the experimental spectrum is assigned. The theoretical spectrum of the uranyl nitrate is in good agreement with the present experimental spectrum.     

Electronic structures of chemisorption systems on Si(111) surface I. Si(111)7 × 7/H,Cl

Electronic structures of chemisorption on Si(111)/H,C1 are investigated by the first principle DV-Xα cluster method. The calculations are carried out for chemisorption on different sites, based on the Si₁₃H₁₅ cluster, and the effect of surface vacancy and buckling on the electronic structure is examined in detail. The present calculation shows that the Si₁₃H₁₅ surface cluster reproduces very well the more sophisticated band calculation for the Si(111) surface. It is concluded that the vacancy model with chemisorbed atoms at appropriate sites is reasonable to interpret the observed UPS of Si(111) 7 × 7/H,C1. The charge transfer between the substrate atom and the adatom depends strongly both on the chemisorption sites and on the electronegativitv difference.     

Electronic structure of propene and 3,3,3-trifluoro-propene and implications for chemisorption behavior

The electronic structures of propene and 3,3,3-trifluoropropene are investigated by core and valence level photoelectron spectroscopies, Hartree-Fock Self-Consistent Field (SCF) calculations and discrete-variational Hartee-Fock-Slater (DV-Xα) calculations. Ionization energies calculated by the DV-Xα method are in good agreement with measured He(I) photoelectron spectra. Orbital eigenvalues obtained from the SCF calculations show an ordering consistent with that exhibited by the DV-Xα ionization energies. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of trifluoropropene was stabilized relative to propene, so that electron accepting ability was enhanced upon fluorination. The spectral assignment and electron accepting properties of 3,3,3-trifluoropropene are discussed in relation to chemisorption interactions on solid surfaces.     

DFT study of size-dependent geometries,stabilities and electronic properties of Si2Agn clusters: comparison with pure silver clusters

The equilibrium geometric structures, stabilities and electronic properties of Si₂Ag_n (n = 1–8) and pure silver Ag_n (n ≤ 10) clusters have been systematically investigated by using meta-generalised gradient approximation. Due to sp³ hybridisation, the lowest energy structures of Si₂Ag_n clusters for n > 2 favour the three-dimensional structure. The silicon atoms prefer to be located at the surface of the host silver clusters. By analysing the relative stabilities, it is found that the di-bridged structure Si₂Ag₂ isomer is the most stable structure for Si₂Ag_n (n = 1–8) clusters. The highest occupied–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps, exhibiting a pronounced even–odd alternation, indicate that the doped clusters with even number of atoms have enhanced chemical stability than those with odd number of atoms. The results of Wiberg bond indices and electronic localisation function show that the stronger Si–Si and Si–Ag interaction may be the main driving force for the higher stability of Si₂Ag_n clusters.     

Molecular orbital interpretation of X-ray emission and esca spectral shifts in silicates

An approximate molecular orbital theory is presented, tested, and applied to silicon and aluminum oxyanions. The orbital structure of SiO₄^?4 is calculated and is used to assign the X-ray emission spectra. Calculations are performed at several internuclear distances and semiquantitative agreement is found with experimentally observed trends in A1Kα and SiKβ spectra. Calculations on Si₂O₇^?6 and AlSiO₇^?7 yield fair agreement with experimental trends relating to degree of SiO₄ polymerization and to Al/Si ratio. Charges for bridging and non-bridging oxygens in Si₂O₇^?6, combined with point charge potentials from metal ions in the orthopyroxene structure yield Ols binding energies in agreement with ESCA results.     

Calculation of vibrational spectra for dioxouranium monochloride monomer and dimers

Structural models were built and spectral characteristics were calculated based on ab initio calculations for the monomer and dimers of dioxouranium monochoride UO₂Cl. The calculations were carried out in the effective core potential LANL2DZ approximation for the uranium atom and all-electron basis sets using DFT methods for oxygen and chlorine atoms (B3LYP/cc-pVDZ). The monomer UO₂Cl was found to possess an equilibrium planar (close to T-shaped) configuration with C_2v symmetry. The obtained spectral characteristics were analyzed and compared with experimental data. The adequacy of the proposed models and the qualitative agreement between calculation and experiment were demonstrated.     

Calculations with the CNDO method on clusters of silver atoms

An attempt has been made to explore the applicability of the complete neglect of differential overlap (CNDO) method for investigating clusters of silver atoms. A new parametrization for silver has been obtained by comparing charge distributions, as well as local and total density of states, from CNDO calculations with those from the X_α scattered wave (X_αSW) method for an Ag₇ cluster which represents a fragment of the silver lattice. These parameters have then been used for making CNDO calculations on four further clusters of the same type, namely Ag₆, Ag₁₀, Ag₁₃ and Ag₁₉, and the results are compared with previous X_αSW calculations. These CNDO calculations give d-band widths in broad agreement with those from the X_αSW method. The most significant difference is that the CNDO method gives less localization on central atoms with high coordination numbers than is found from the X_αSW calculations. It is suggested that this apparent deficiency of the CNDO calculations may be less serious when the clusters are being used for modelling part of a solid metal rather than for specifically investigating the properties of small particles.     

Local atomic structure in molten Si3Sb2Te3 phase change material

By means of ab initio molecular dynamics calculations, we have studied the local structures of liquid and amorphous Si₃Sb₂Te₃. The results show that all the constitute elements in liquid Si₃Sb₂Te₃ are octahedrally coordinated. While in amorphous state, Sb and Te atoms are mainly octahedrally coordinated and Si atoms are mainly tetrahedrally coordinated. In both states, Si is mainly homo-bonded by Si. Finally, we proposed a phase separation model for liquid and amorphous Si₃Sb₂Te₃, which is responsible for the good performance of Si₃Sb₂Te₃ alloy as a phase change material.     

激光晶体MgO:Ni2+的DV-Xx研究

本文将我们提出的一种在DV-Xα计算过渡金属络合物电子结构的基础上计算光谱的方法用于激光晶体MgO:Ni2+的研究.首次从第一性原理出发,全面计算了该激光晶体的单电子能谱、总态密度、自旋极化分裂、电荷转移跃迁能量、特别是d-d跃迁多重光谱项能量和自旋一轨道耦合常数,得到了与实验值较一致的结果.     

含杂六角密积结构原子簇Al12M的电子结构

本文用多重散射波(Xα-SW)法对含3d族过渡金属杂质的六角密积(hcp)结构原子簇Al₁₂M(M为Cr,Mn,Fe,Co和Ni)的电子结构作自洽计算。结果表明,杂质的存在对体系的费密能级附近的电子态有重要的影响。体系的一些重要性质,如电离势并非随杂质原子序的变化作单调变化。 关键词：     

Spin fluctuation effects in substituted CeRu2Si2 and YbPd2Si2 alloys

Effects of chemical substitution in CeRu₂Si₂, a well-studied heavy fermion system and YbPd₂Si₂ have been investigated through magnetic susceptibility and x-ray diffraction in the systems CeRu _x Si₂, CeRu_2−x Os _x Si₂, CeRu₂Si_2−x Ge _x and YbPd₂Si_2−x Ge _x . Replacing silicon by germanium generates normal chemical pressure effect, namely, Ce and Yb atoms in CeRu₂Si₂ and YbPd₂Si₂ became more and less magnetic respectively. With increasing Ge concentration, CeRu₂Si_2−x Ge _x exhibits larger susceptibility at low temperature, goes to an antiferromagnetic state and finally becomes ferromagnetic. In YbPd₂Si_2−x Ge _x , increasing Ge concentration drives Yb atoms to more divalent state. Electronic effects are more pronounced in CeRu_2−x Os _x Si₂ though CeRu₂Si₂ and CeOs₂Si₂ have very nearly the same lattice parameters. It is conjectured that CeRu₂Si_2−x Ge _x may be the first Ce-based heavy fermion having a magnetic ground state. The authors felicitate Prof. D S Kothari on his eightieth birthday and dedicate this paper to him on this occasion.     

A total reflection X‐ray fluorescence method for the determination of chlorine at trace levels in nuclear materials without sample dissolution

A total reflection X‐ray fluorescence (TXRF) method for the determination of chlorine at trace levels in nuclear fuel samples is described. Chlorine present in trace concentrations in nuclear fuel materials such as U₃O₈, (U,Pu)C, PuO₂ and Pu‐alloys was first separated from the solid matrix by pyrohydrolysis as HCl and was collected in 5 mM NaOH solution. This solution was analyzed for chlorine by TXRF spectrometry using Cl Kα analytical line excited by W Lα. Cobalt was used as internal standard. The precision for such chlorine determination was found to be within 27% (n = 4) when the analysis was carried out in air atmosphere. This could be improved to 8% by making TXRF measurement in flowing helium atmosphere. The results obtained from TXRF determinations were also compared with those obtained from ion chromatography (IC) and were in good agreement. The collection of distillate during pyrohydrolysis in NaOH helped in counterchecking loss of chlorine during TXRF sample preparation. The average deviation of TXRF‐determined values in helium‐purged TXRF measurements with IC determined values (as chloride) was 15% at a chlorine concentration level in the range of 1–70 µg/mL. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geometries,stabilities and electronic properties of small-sized Pd2-doped Sin (n = 1–11) clusters

The geometries, growth patterns, relative stabilities and electronic properties of small-sized Pd₂Si_n and Si_n+2 (n = 1–11) clusters are systematically studied using the hybrid density functional theory method B3LYP. The optimised structures revealed that the lowest energy Pd₂Si_n clusters are not similar to those of pure Si_n clusters. When n = 9, one Pd atom in Pd₂Si₉ completely falls into the centre of the Si outer frame, forming metal-encapsulated Si cages. On the basis of the optimised structures, the averaged binding energy, fragmentation energy, second-order energy difference and highest occupied–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gap are calculated. It is found that the Pd₂Si₅ and Pd₂Si₇ clusters have stronger relative stabilities among the Pd₂Si_n clusters. Additionally, the stabilities of Si_n+2 clusters have been reduced by the doping of Pd impurity. The natural population and natural electronic configuration analysis indicated that the Pd atoms possess negative charges for n = 1–11 and there exist the spd hybridisation in the Pd atom. Finally, the chemical hardness, chemical potential, electrostatic potential and polarisability are discussed.     

DasK-Röntgenemissionsspektrum des Chlors in freien Molekülen

TheKα andKβ spectra of chlorine in free molecules were studied using a special fluorescence X-ray tube and a high resolving curved crystal spectrograph with photoelectric registration. It was found that the wavelength shifts of ClKα₁ obtained for various gaseous compounds do not show the regularities observed with solid compounds of other 3rd period elements. — TheKβ spectrum consists of discrete lines the most intense of which result from transitions of the lonely pair electrons of the chlorine atoms. The spectra of HCl, Cl₂ and CH₃Cl can be explained using optical and betaspectroscopical data and MO calculations. The general structure of ClKβ of organic compounds seems to be determined by the hybridisation type of the carbon atoms bound to the chlorine atoms. Evidence is found for a contribution of molecular vibrational energy to the energies of the X-ray transitions.     

Effect of chemical structure on the electron density at the tellurium nucleus

This paper reports results of a study in which the Xα-SW method is employed to deduce estimates of the differences in the electron densities at the Te nucleus in some compounds. On the basis of these estimates some assertions are deduced to the calibration problem of the Mössbauer nuclide¹²⁵Te and to the chemical influence on the IC of the 35.5 keV M1+E2 transition in¹²⁵Te.     

X-Ray spectral and theoretical investigations of the electronic structure of phenylcyclosilanes (SiPh2) n (n = 4–6)

The X-ray emission SiKα_{1, 2} and SiKβ₁ spectra of a series of phenylcyclosilanes (SiPh₂) _n (n = 4–6) have been obtained. Using the results of quantum-chemical calculations in the density functional theory approximation, the fine structure of SiKβ₁ spectra has been interpreted. Distributions of densities of electron states of silicon atoms over the valence band have been constructed and the types of chemical bonds providing the Si-Si and Si-Ph interactions have been established. Based on the theory of natural bond orbitals, the chemical bonding in the studied series of phenylcyclosilanes has been analyzed.