Theoretical investigation of the electronically excited states of chlorine hydrate

As a step toward a first principles characterization of the optical properties of chlorine hydrate, we have calculated the electronic absorption spectrum of a chlorine molecule trapped in dodecahedral (H2O)20 and hexakaidodecahedral (H2O)24 cages. For comparison, spectra were also calculated for an isolated Cl2 molecule as well as for selected Cl2(H2O)n, n < or =8, clusters cut out of the Cl2(H2O)20 cluster, allowing us to follow the evolution of the low-lying excited states with increasing number of surrounding water molecules. Although encapsulation of a chlorine molecule within the water cages has relatively little effect on its low-lying valence transitions, it does result in a large number of solvent-to-solute charge-transfer transitions at energies starting near 48,000 cm(-1).     

Theoretical methods of investigation of excited states of organic molecules

A brief review of quantum-chemical methods applied to describe excited states of organic molecules is presented. The main emphasis is put on advantages and disadvantages of widely used computational techniques. A brief summary of the performance of such methods and practical recommendations on their use is included.     

Theoretical investigation of excited states of C(3)

In this work, we present ab initio calculations for the potential energy surfaces of C(3) in different electronic configurations, including the singlet ground state [X (1)Sigma(g) (+),((1)A(1))], the triplet ground state [a (3)Pi(u),((3)B(1), (3)A(1))], and some higher excited states. The geometries studied include triangular shapes with two identical bond lengths, but different bond angles between them. For the singlet and triplet ground states in the linear geometry, the total energies resulting from the mixed density functional--Hartree-Fock and quadratic configuration interaction methods reproduce the experimental values, i.e., the triplet occurs 2.1 eV above the singlet. In the geometry of an equilateral triangle, we find a low-lying triplet state with an energy of only 0.8 eV above the energy of the singlet in the linear configuration, so that the triangular geometry yields the lowest excited state of C(3). For the higher excited states up to about 8 eV above the ground state, we apply time-dependent density functional theory. Even though the systematic error produced by this approach is of the order of 0.4 eV, the results give different prospective to insight into the potential energy landscape for higher excitation energies.     

Theoretical investigation of the excited states of coumarin dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), configuration interaction single (CIS) method, and approximate coupled cluster singles and doubles (CC2) method, we investigated the absorption spectra of coumarin derivative dyes (C343, NKX-2388, NKX-2311, NKX-2586, and NKX-2677), which have been synthesized for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. The CC2 calculations are found in good agreement with the experimental results except for the smallest coumarin dye (C343). TD-DFT underestimates the vertical excitation energy of the larger coumarin dyes (NKX-2586 and -2677). Solvents (methanol) are found to induce a red shift of the vertical excitation energies, and their effects on the molecular geometry and the electronic structure are examined in detail. The deprotonated form of coumarin is also investigated, where a blue shift of the vertical excitation energies is observed.     

Theoretical investigation of excited states of molecules. An application on the nitrogen molecule

Diverse existing lines for the calculation of excited states are exposed, with an emphasis on those methods that consider both types of correlation energy: the dynamic and the non-dynamic one. We analyze the possibility of to calculate the dynamic correlation energy using a correlation energy density functional applied to a multi-determinantal wavefunction, which would include the non-dynamic correlation energy, versus the use of mono-determinantal wavefunctions, which are not able to include the long-range correlation energy, and versus the use of variational or perturbative calculations from multi-determinantal wavefunctions, with their excessive computational cost. The results obtained with several methods are compared. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

Theoretical investigation of the ground and low-lying excited states of nickel carbide, NiC

The electronic structure and bonding of 19 states of the diatomic nickel carbide (NiC) has been studied by multireference methods. Potential energy curves have been constructed for all states, whereas for the three lowest states of symmetries X (1)Sigma(+), a (3)Pi, and A (1)Pi well separated from the rest of the states, special attention was paid through the use of very large basis sets and the calculation of core-valence correlation and scalar relativistic effects. The recommended binding energies for these states are 91, 67, and 54 kcal/mol with respect to the ground state atoms. Our results in general can be considered in fair agreement with the limited experimental findings.     

Singlet excited states of silicon-containing anions relevant to interstellar chemistry

As the number of anions detected in the interstellar medium (ISM) increases, knowledge of their chemical properties is crucial in expanding our understanding of the chemistry of space. In this work we build on a previous study done in our group to examine the excited-state properties of five anions likely to exist in the ISM: SiCCN(-), CSiCN(-), CCSiN(-), SiCN(-), and SiNC(-). Our coupled cluster results indicate that SiCCN(-) and SiNC(-) possess dipole-bound singlet excited states while SiCCN(-) also has one valence state and CCSiN(-) potentially has two. Nearly all of the associated transition energies fall within the visible to near-IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum, making them applicable to the study of phenomena such as the diffuse interstellar bands.     

Theoretical investigation of molecular excited states in polar organic monolayers via an efficient embedding approach

In this work, we present a theoretical investigation on excitation energies of organic molecules embedded in a periodic monolayer. We use the self-consistent periodic-image-charges embedding approach, which takes into account all the electrostatic effects, to compute the perturbation on molecular orbitals and eigenvalues due to the presence of the surrounding periodic array of polar molecules. We considered vanadyl naphthalocyanine, mercaptobiphenyl, and tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (AlQ₃) at different coverages, and excitation energies computed using the time-dependent density-functional theory. We found a significant (0.1–0.2 eV) red- or blue-shift of the energies for different excited states, due to the different coupling of the molecule with the polarization field of the two-dimensional crystal.     

Theoretical studies on excited states of Ne2

Previously reported potential curves for 0 _g ^? (³ P ₀) and 0 _u ^? (³ P ₀) of Ne₂ obtained from large-scale configuration-interaction calculations supplemented by semiempirical spin-orbit calculations are compared with potential curves deduced from experimental studies by Beyer and Haberland. Although the agreement between curves is very good, the assignment of states is opposite.Ab initio spin-orbit coupling matrix elements were calculated based on large CI wavefunctions for states dissociating to Ne + Ne^*(3s). It was found that they hardly change between 5 and 20a₀.Ab initio spin-orbit corrected potential curves differ little from previous curves relying on the semiempirical treatment of spin-orbit coupling, and all former conclusions remain essentially unchanged.     

Theoretical results for the excited states of ozone

On the basis of ab initio calculations (configuration interaction and generalized valence bond), we find eight excited states of ozone with vertical excitation energies less than 7 eV. Using these results the various experimental transitions are assigned. One state has an equilateral triangle as the minimum energy geometry (1.5 eV above the ground state).     

Theoretical study on the excited states of HCN

In the flash-photolysis of oxazole, iso-oxazole, and thiozole a transient band system was observed in the region 2500-3050 angstroms. This band system was attributed to a meta-stable form of HCN, i.e., either HNC or triplet HCN. Theoretical investigations have been carried out on the ground and excited states of HCN to characterize this and other experimentally observed transitions. The predicted geometries are compared with the experiment and earlier theoretical calculations. The present calculations show that the band system in the region 2500-3050 A corresponds to the transition 4 3-A' <-- 1 3-A' of HCN.     

Spectroscopy of excited states of carbon anions above the photodetachment threshold

Electronic transitions of C3- and C5- to states lying above the electron affinity of the neutral (EA) have been recorded in the gas phase by laser photodetachment spectroscopy. The excited states are identified by comparison with absorption spectra for the mass-selected ions deposited in neon matrices and with ab initio calculations. The C 2 sigma u (+)-X 2 pi g transition and two higher energy band systems are observed for C3-, corresponding to excitation energies more than 1.5 eV above the EA. In the case of C5- the strongest features, at about 0.6 eV above the EA, are attributed to close lying 2 delta g-X 2 pi u and 2 sigma g(-)-X 2 pi u transitions. The dominant configurations in these states identify them as long-lived Feshbach resonances. Lifetimes for these resonances in C3- are estimated to be between 200 fs and 3 ps from the band widths.     

Theoretical description of the low-lying excited states of CuCl

The low-lying excited states of CuCl have been investigated theoretically in the Hartree-Fock approximation. Spin-orbit interactions have been included semi-empirically using an atoms-in-molecules technique. All six excited states that were previously characterized experimentally are found to arise from fine structure sublevels of the Cu⁺(3d⁹4s ^1,3D)Cl⁻(3p⁶¹S) configuration.     

Theoretical evidence for bound electronic excited states of ozone

Extensive configuration interaction calculations (up to 1532 spin eigenfunctions) have been carried out on ozone with both minimal and extended bases. Vertical and adiabatic excitation energies to 14 excited states are reported, including seven states with vertical excitation energies less than 4 eV. Our calculations indicate that in addition to the ground state there are four other states of ozone (³B₂, ³A₂, ¹A₂ and ³B₁) bound with respect to dissociation to ground state O₂ and O (by 0.4, 0.3, 0.1 and 0.0 eV, respectively). With such small bonding energies, the current results cannot be said to show definitively (except perhaps for ³B₂) these four states to be bound with respect to O₂ + O. However, the theoretical evidence is sufficiently strong as to warrant careful experimental studies. Such bound excited electronic states could play important roles in the chemistry of the upper atmosphere and in the chemistry of oxygen discharge systems. One (or more) of these states may be responsible for the short-lived intermediate (‘ozone precursor’) recently observed in oxygen radiolysis.     

Electron-impact investigation of excited singlet states in 1,3-butadiene

Electron-impact energy-loss spectra of 1,3-butadiene have been obtained at impact energies from 35 eV to 90 eV, at a scattering angle of 0°, and at a     

Theoretical investigation of two-photon absorption allowed excited states in symmetrically substituted diacetylenes by ab initio molecular-orbital method

Symmetrically substituted diacetylene compounds, which shows large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross sections, have been theoretically investigated by the ab initio molecular-orbital method employing several theoretical models including the configuration interaction with single excitation (CIS), random phase approximation (RPA), and time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) methods. The calculated excited energies are overestimated by CIS or RPA, whereas underestimated by TDDFT with the B3LYP parametrization for both one-photon absorption (OPA) and TPA allowed states. The lowest OPA state is well described by the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) transition. On the other hand, lower TPA allowed states can be represented as the superposition of the HOMO-LUMO+1 and HOMO-1-LUMO transitions, giving rise to two TPA allowed states. The absorption intensity for the lower TPA state of the diacetylenes molecules is discussed in terms of the alternancy symmetry and its breaking. The symmetry property is differently manifested for neutral and dicationic diacetylenes. Introduction of charges breaks the alternancy symmetry, which gives rise to an increase in the TPA cross sections at the lower frequency. The upper TPA state is calculated to show huge TPA cross sections, which reproduces the enhancement of the TPA cross section experimentally observed for one of the diacetylenes at the higher-frequency region. The enhancement is discussed employing an index defined as the ratio of the transition polarizability and its static limit, which represents the degree of influence of one-photon resonance on the TPA intensity. The huge TPA cross sections are found to be due to a near-resonance effect. The present theoretical calculation approves the previously proposed assumption based on the four-state (dual three-state) model, which consists of the ground, one OPA allowed, and two TPA allowed states.     

Quantum-chemical investigation of autolocalization of excited states in even-membered polyynes

Within the framework of the semiempirical MNDO method, a quantum-chemical study has been made of autolocalization of excited and charged states in even-membered polyynes. The data indicate that the energy of formation of the soliton is 1 eV, and its size is approximately 12 C atoms.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 97–100, January, 1991.     

Theoretical study of the excited singlet and triplet states of alloxan

The possibility of excited‐state protomeric shifts in the biologically important molecule, alloxan, is investigated. We have focused on the S₁ and T₁ excited states of alloxan and its hydroxy tautomers. Modifications brought in by excitation on the relative stabilities, activation barriers, and optimized geometries, computed at the MNDO, AM1, and PM3 levels of approximation, have been discussed for both excited electronic states. The absorption and fluorescence spectra for the three tautomers are also discussed. Results show significant changes in the geometries on excitation, although the changes are similar for the singlet and triplet excited states. Though the relative stability orders do not change, the 2‐hydroxy tautomer is stabilized, while the 4‐hydroxy tautomer gets destabilized on excitation. The excited states are (n,π*) states, involving the promotion of a nonbonding oxygen lone pair from the CO? CO? CO moiety, which explains why the oxygens of this group become less basic and the 4‐hydroxy tautomer gets destabilized on excitation. However, the activation barriers do not reduce significantly on excitation, and this precludes the possibility of ground‐ or excited‐state proton transfer in the gas phase. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Theoretical analysis of singlet and triplet excited states of nickel porphyrins

Local density and generalized gradient approximation time-dependent density functional methods have been used for calculation of the singlet and triplet excited states of nickel-porphine, Ni-tetraphenyloporphine, and Ni-octaethyloporphyrine. Special attention is paid to metal-ligand transitions and d-d transitions. It is shown that the lowest exited singlet states of the three compounds can be described as a transfer of an electron from the porphine ring to the d(x2-y2) orbital of the nickel atom. On the other hand, the lowest excited triplet state arises from promotion of an electron between two nickel d orbitals, an occupied d(z2) and an empty d(x2-y2). It is proposed that a rapid quenching of the excited singlet states is due to an ultrafast intersystem crossing between 1Eg)and 3Eg or 3B1g states.     

Theoretical investigation of ground and excited states of the methylene amidogene radical (H(2)CN)

The excited states and the absorption spectrum of the methylene amidogene radical are studied by high-level ab initio calculations. The multireference configuration interaction method was used in combination with different basis sets and basis set extrapolation to compute equilibrium geometries, harmonic frequencies, and excitation energies of the four lowest doublet electronic states of the title species. Potential curves and transition dipole moment functions were determined along the normal mode coordinates of the electronic ground state. These functions were employed to determine vibronic absorption spectra. The intensities of dipole forbidden but vibronically allowed transitions were calculated by explicitly evaluating integrals over the vibrational wave functions and the transition dipole functions of the involved electronic states. By this method the oscillator strengths of the dipole allowed (2)A(1)<--(2)B(2) and the dipole forbidden (2)B(1)<--(2)B(2) bands were computed. It turns out that the dipole forbidden transition is two orders of magnitude weaker than the dipole allowed one. The 0-0 excitation energies are found to be 30 256 cm(-1) for the (2)B(1) state and 34,646 cm(-1) for the (2)A(1) state. From the combined results of the excitation energies and oscillator strengths it is concluded that the experimentally observed peaks must be due to the (2)A(1) state, in contradiction to earlier assignments.