Ab-initio study of structural and optical properties of nonstoichiometric alkalimetal- oxides

Structural and optical properties of nonstoichiometric Li_nO and Na_nO (n = 3, 4) clusters containing one and two excess electrons are studied using ab-initio methods accounting for electron correlation. We show that calculated absorption patterns are excellent fingerprints of structural and bonding properties. The optical response of Li₄O and Na₄O clusters with the most stable tetrahedral type structures is characterized by a common feature, that is the appearance of a dominant intense transition in infrared regime although excess of electrons are not localized, as it is the case for small alkali-halide clusters, with cuboid corner vacancy (surface F-center in finite systems).     

Ground and excited states properties of Na4F m=1−3, Li4H and Li4H2 clusters

Stable ground state structures for neutral and charged Li _n H, Li _n H₂ and Na _n F _m (n?m) have been determined usingab —initio methods accounting for electronic correlation effects. The consequences of replacing alkali-atom by foreign-atom or -atoms have been studied. The similarities and differences with respect to topologies of the most stable Li _n and Na _n clusters will be pointed out. The ionization potentials and spectroscopic patterns are compared with available experimental data. This allows for the geometrical and spectroscopic assignments as well as for a study of the influence of localized versus non localized bonding on the ground and excited state properties of mixed clusters.     

Ab-initio study of Na n F n and Na n F n−1 clusters: atypical structures

Alkali halide clusters Na _n F _n have most frequently cuboid structures and Na _n F _n?1 clusters are derived from Na _n F _n by removing a F^? centre. An excess electron localises on the site of the removed F^? ion. In this paper, other kind of clusters are studied at the SCF level: i) The non-cubic structures. ii) The cubic Na _n F _n?1 for which the excess electron has no defined site. Due to very large size of these species (at least 27 atoms!) some equivalent fictive linear and planar geometries are studied.     

Doubly charged sodium clusters: plasmon response and photoproduction

The optical response of doubly charged sodium clusters Na _n+2 ⁺⁺ was measured for n = 20, 40, and 58 valence electrons, for which the jellium model predicts spherical clusters. A new experimental scheme was developed which allows to separate doubly charged clusters of even mass from the singly charged with half the mass. The optical spectra are dominated by a plasmon-like resonance which is blue shifted and narrower than that of the singly charged clusters. The smallest doubly charged cluster observed was Na ₉ ⁺⁺ . The photo ionization cross section for singly charged clusters was found to be typically 2.6·10^-19cm² per Na atom for photon energies of around 6 eV, which is a factor of 400 smaller than the maximum in the plasmon absorption in the region of hω=2.6 eV.     

Threshold photoionization behaviour of (Li2O)Lin clusters produced by a laser vaporization source

We report on the production of small and medium size lithium and lithium oxide clusters by a laser vaporization cluster source. The isotopomeric distribution of natural lithium allowed to identify Li_kO clusters as the most abundant components in the mass spectrum. Photoionization efficiency curves of Li_kO clusters with photon energies from 3.4 to 4.7 eV were measured for 8 ≤ k ≤ 27. Using linear extrapolation of the increase in photoionization efficiency with photon energy, ionization potentials were extracted. With the chemical bond of the O^2- anion to two Li atoms, leaving n = k-2 valence electrons in the (Li₂O)Li_n clusters, clear shell closure effects are present at n = 8 and n = 20.     

Comparative analysis of the state of lithium and sodium atoms in water clusters

Structures and energetic characteristics of Li(H₂O) _n and Li⁺(H₂O) _n clusters with n = 1–6, 19, and 27 determined in the second order of the Møller-Plesset perturbation theory with 6–31++G(d,p) basis set are analyzed. The electron density redistribution, which takes place upon the electron addition to a Li⁺(H₂O) _n cluster, is found to be provided by hydrogen-bonded water molecules: initially almost neutral molecules, which are most distant from lithium, become negatively charged. The calculated energies of the electron capture by Li⁺(H₂O) _n clusters are approximated with the appropriate electrostatic model, and estimates of the lithium ionization energy in water clusters of various sizes are found. Similar estimates obtained earlier for sodium are made more accurate.     

Ionization potential measurements of hydrogenated lithium clusters

Ionization Potentials of Li_nH_m clusters have been measured by photoionization. As in Li_n, odd-even alternations and shell closing effects are observed. In a first approximation, we find that Li_nH clusters behave like Li_n–1 and Li_nH₂ like Li_n–2. The results may be interpreted by assuming that the bonding of one hydrogen localizes one electron and that the other electrons remain delocalized.     

Theoretical investigation of structure and stability of oligomers of LiH,NaH, LiF,and NaF

The molecules Li_nH_n, Na_nH_n, Li_nF_n, n=1,..., 4, and NaF and Na₂F₂ are investigated by means of extended basis set SCF and CEPA-PNO computations. In analogy to the D _2h structure of dimers, it is found that trimers have a planar cyclic D _3h equilibrium geometry. For the tetramer of LiH and NaH, the D _4h structure has about the same energy as the 3-dimensional T _d structure, whereas the latter is definitely favoured for Li₄F₄. Correlation effects are investigated for the oligomerization of LiH and the dimerization of LiF. The effect of electron correlation on corresponding E turns out to be small (<4 kJ/mol), except for the case that the T _d tetramer is involved which has a rather large correlation energy.     

Production of hyperlithiated Li2F by a laser ablation of LiF–Li3N mixture

Lithium-excess binary clusters Li_nF_n−1 (n=2–9) were detected by photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in a supersonic cluster beam generated by a laser ablation of a solid mixture of lithium fluoride and nitride. Laser power dependence of the Li₂F⁺ signal intensity has indicated that the ionization energy of the hyperlithiated Li₂F molecule is lower than 4.66 eV. The theoretical vertical ionization energy obtained by the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(d)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d) calculations are 4.47 eV. No nitrogen-containing clusters were detected. The absence of Li₄N is ascribed to the exothermicity of the reaction, 2Li₃N→N₂+Li₆.     

Synthesis of phosphate-type fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon hybrid surfactants and their adsorption onto calcium hydroxyapatite

Five novel phosphate-type hybrid surfactants, C_mF_2m+1C₆H₄CH[OPO₂(OC₆H₅)Na]C_nH_2n+1 (FmPHnPPhNa: m = 4, 6, 8; n = 3, 5), have been synthesized. When compared with sulfate-type hybrid surfactants, C_mF_2m+1C₆H₄CH(OSO₃Na)C_nH_2n+1 (C₆H₄ = p-phenylene), the new hybrid surfactants were found to have comparable abilities to lower the surface tension of water. The critical micelle concentrations of FmPHnPPhNa followed Klevens’ rule and their occupied areas per molecule increased with increasing m and n. Calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHAp) pellets modified with FmPH3PPhNa gave high hydro and lipophobic surfaces. The hybrid surfactants are expected to be useful as new dental reagents for oral hygiene.     

ChemInform Abstract: Structure,Ionization, and Fragmentation of Hydrogenated Aluminoboron Clusters: Al2B2H2n (n = 0—6).

Energetic and structural stability of Al₂B₂H_2n (n = 0—6) clusters is investigated by DFT calculations and a stochastic search algorithm.     

A comparison study of the H + CH4 and H + SiH4 reactions with eight-dimensional quantum dynamics: normal mode versus local mode in the reactant molecule vibration

The hydration of NaCl has been widely studied and believed to be important for understanding the mechanisms of salt dissolution in water and the formation of ice nucleus, cloud, and atmospheric aerosols. However, understanding on the poly-NaCl ion pair interacting with water is very limited. Here, we investigated the adsorption of water molecules on (NaCl)₃, using both theoretical calculations and anion photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The calculated vertical detachment energies and the experimental ones agree well with each other. Furthermore, we found that, for neutral (NaCl)₃(H₂O) _n (n = 2–7) clusters, the water-doped cuboid and structures formed by adding water molecules on the Na–Cl edges of the cuboid are energetically favored; water molecules preferentially bind to the Na–Cl edge if the NaCl ion pair has larger partial charges than others. We also found the anionic structures are more various compared with neutral ones, and the Na⁺ and Cl^? ions are hydrated more easily in the anionic clusters than in the corresponding neutrals.     

Study of water clusters in the n = 2–34 size regime, based on the ABEEM/MM model

Various properties of water clusters in the n = 2–34 size regime with the change of cluster size have been systemically explored based on the newly developed flexible-body and charge-fluctuating ABEEM/MM water potential model. The ABEEM/MM water model is to take ABEEM charges of all atoms, bonds, and lone-pairs of water molecules into the intermolecular electrostatic interaction term in molecular mechanics. The computed correlating properties characterizing water clusters (H₂O) _n (n = 2–34) include optimal structures, structural parameters, ABEEM charge distributions, binding energies, hydrogen bonds, dipole moments, and so on. The study of optimal structures shows that the ABEEM/MM model can correctly predict the following important structural features, such as the transition from two-dimensional (from dimer to pentamer) to three-dimensional (for clusters larger than the hexamer) structures at hexamer region, the transition from cubes to cages at dodecamer (H₂O)₁₂, the transition from all-surface (all water molecules on the surface of the cluster) to one water-centered (one water molecule at the center of the cluster, fully solvated) structures at (H₂O)₁₇, the transition from one to two internal molecules in the cage at (H₂O)₃₃, and so on. The first three structural transitions are in good agreement with those obtained from previous work, while the fourth transition is different from that identified by Hartke. Subsequently, a systematic investigation of structural parameters, ABEEM charges, energetic properties, and dipole moments of water clusters with increasing cluster size can provide important reference for describing the objective trait of hydrogen bonds in water cluster system, and also provide a strong impetus toward understanding how the water clusters approach the bulk limit.     

Synthesis and solution properties of sulfate-type hybrid surfactants with a benzene ring

Nine novel sulfate-type hybrid surfactants, C_mF_2m+1C₆H₄CH(OSO₃Na)C_nH_2n+1 (FmPHnOS: m=4, 6, 8; n=3, 5, 7; C₆H₄: p-phenylene), with a benzene ring in their molecules were synthesized. Alkanoyl chlorides were allowed to react with iodobenzene in the presence of aluminum chloride to give the corresponding aromatic ketones. The reaction of the ketones with perfluoroalkyl iodides yielded 1-[4-(perfluoroalkyl)phenyl]-1-alkanones as intermediates. The intermediates were allowed to react with methanol in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of sodium borohydride to yield 1-[4-(perfluoroalkyl)phenyl]-1-alkanols. The desired hybrid surfactants were obtained by the reaction of 1-[4-(perfluoroalkyl)phenyl-1-alkanols with sulfur trioxide/pyridine complex in pyridine and by the subsequent neutralization of the products with sodium hydroxide solution. When compared with the conventional hybrid surfactants, C_mF_2m+1C₆H₄COCH(SO₃Na)C_nH_2n+1 (FmHnS: m=4, 6; n=2, 4, 6; C₆H₄: p-phenylene), the new hybrid surfactants thus synthesized were found to have a comparable ability to lower the surface tension of water and a high hydrophilicity. The cmc of FmPHnOS obeyed Kleven’s rule and their occupied areas per molecule increased with increasing m and n with the values between 0.66 and 1.05 nm². The aggregation number for FmPHnOS micelles ranged from 6 to 45 and the hydrodynamic radius of the micelles was in the range of 1.4-3.1 nm.     

二聚体C2H4-nFn···LiH (n=0, 1, 2)中π锂键的性质和弱方向性

采用二级微扰理论(MP2)量子化学研究方法, 对C₂H_4-nF_n···LiH (n=0, 1, 2)二聚体的结构和π锂键性质进行了分析. 结果表明氟原子的取代改变了乙烯分子的π电子云形状, 从而使二聚体体系中的π锂键发生偏移、伸长和弯曲. 通过与类似的π氢键体系C₂H_4-nF_n···HF (n=0, 1, 2)比较, 发现π锂键在二级弱相互作用的影响下, 发生了明显的弯曲, 表现出弱的方向性. 在CCSD(T)/6-311++G(3df, 3pd)理论水平下, 二聚体的相互作用能强弱顺序为: 33.85 kJ·mol^-1 (C₂H₄-LiH)>27.32 kJ·mol^-1 (C₂H₃F-LiH)>21.34 kJ·mol^-1 (cis-C₂H₂F₂-LiH)>20.25 kJ·mol^-1 (g-C₂H₂F₂-LiH), 说明氟取代削减了乙烯分子与LiH之间的相互作用.     

Spectroscopy of non-stoichiometric sodium-fluoride clusters Na n F n -1; infrared spectral signature and classification

We report in this paper resonant two-photon spectroscopy from 290nm to 1000nm of Na _n F _n -1 clusters. Spectral signature are shown to be correlated with the structure and allows us to sort these clusters according to a classification which supplements that of Whetten et al.     

Ab-initio study of localization of an excess electron in sodium halide clusters

The equilibrium geometries of Na _n F _n and Na _n F _n?1 are optimized forn=2, 3, 4 at the SCF level. The Na _n F _n molecules appear as formed by Na⁺ and F^? ions. The paper studies the localization of the excess electron in the Na _n F _n?1 molecules. Na _n F _n?1 is obtained by removing from Na _n F _n a fluorine atom, and the excess electron takes the place of this lacking center, and allows a weak bond between the neighbouring Na atoms. Secondary minimum geometries, for which the excess electron has no defined place, are also studied.     

The effect of the substituents in the malonate anion and the solvent molecules on the structures of novel coordination polymers [Li2VO(R2mal)2]n

Reactions of vanadyl sulfate (VOSO₄?3H₂O) with dimethylmalonic (H₂Me₂mal = = C₃H₆(CO₂H)₂), cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylic (H₂cbdc = C₄H₆(CO₂H)₂), or butylmalonic acid (H₂Bumal = C₄H₁₀(CO₂H)₂) and Li₂CO₃ in a ratio of 1: 2: 2 afforded novel coordination polymers of similar compositions ([Li₂(VO)(Me₂mal)₂]_n (1), [Li₂(VO)(Me₂mal)₂(EtOH)-(H₂O)]_n (2), [Li₄(VO)₂(cbdc)₄(H₂O)₇]_n (3), and [Li₂(VO)(Bumal)₂(H₂O)_5.5]_n (4)) but different structures. The crystal structures of the compounds containing the Me₂mal^2– and Bumal^2– anions depend on the solvent nature.     

Cluster self-organization of silicate and germanate systems: Suprapolyhedral precursor nanoclusters and self-assembly of tetrahedral structures of the family A2T2O5 (A = Li, Na; T = Si, Ge): Li2T2O5, Li4Ge3SiO10, Li2Si2O5, and A2Si2O5

Modeling of atomic species (An clusters in the form of atoms or Kn polyhedra, where n is the number of atoms or polyhedra) corresponding to the initial stage of evolution of a chemical system has been carried out. Three series of K4 clusters built of different T tetrahedra (L and T) have been recognized. For L₂T₂ clusters, six geometrically and symmetrically different types of suprapolyhedral clusters have been discovered. The model has been used to identify precursor clusters in A₂T₂O₅ (A = Li, Na; T = Si, Ge) framework structures: A-type Li₂T₂O₅ with space group Cc, B-type Li₄Ge₃SiO₁₀ with space group Abm2, C-type Li₂Si₂O₅ with space group Ccc2, and D-type A₂Si₂O₅ with space group Pbcn. Three (of the six possible) types of suprapolyhedral precursor nanoclusters K4 in the four structures have been identified. The full 3D reconstruction of the self-assembly scenario of crystal structures is as follows: precursor nanocluster ?? primary chain ?? microlayer ?? microframework ?? ?? framework. The bifurcation of structural evolution pathways (structural branching points) at the suprapolyhedral level for type A and B structures is found to occur only when a microframework is formed of equivalent microlayers.     

Ab initio investigation of water clusters (H2O)n (n = 2–34)

Various properties of typical structures of water clusters in the n = 2–34 size regime with the change of cluster size have been systematically explored. Full optimizations are carried out for the structures presented in this article at the Hartree–Fock (HF) level using the 6‐31G(d) basis set by taking into account the positions of all atoms within the cluster. The influence of the HF level on the results has been reflected by the comparison between the binding energies of (H₂O)_n (n = 2–6, 8, 11, 13, 20) calculated at the HF level and those obtained from high‐level ab initio calculations at the second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2) perturbation theory and the coupled cluster method including singles and doubles with perturbative triples (CCSD(T)) levels. HF is inaccurate when compared with MP2 and CCSD(T), but it is more practical and allows us to study larger systems. The computed properties characterizing water clusters (H₂O)_n (n = 2–34) include optimal structures, structural parameters, binding energies, hydrogen bonds, charge distributions, dipole moments, and so on. When the cluster size increases, trends of the above various properties have been presented to provide important reference for understanding and describing the nature of the hydrogen bond. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010