Ar(n)HF van der Waals clusters revisited: II. Energetics and HF vibrational frequency shifts from diffusion Monte Carlo calculations on additive and nonadditive potential-energy surfaces for n=1-12

The ground-state energies and HF vibrational frequency shifts of Ar(n)HF clusters have been calculated on the nonadditive potential-energy surfaces (PESs) for n=2-7 and on the pairwise-additive PESs for the clusters with n=1-12, using the diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) method. For n>3, the calculations have been performed for the lowest-energy isomer and several higher-lying isomers which are the closest in energy. They provide information about the isomer dependence of the HF redshift, and enable direct comparison with the experimental data recently obtained in helium nanodroplets. The agreement between theory and experiment is excellent, in particular, for the nonadditive DMC redshifts. The relative, incremental redshifts are reproduced accurately even at the lower level of theory, i.e., the DMC and quantum five-dimensional (rigid Ar(n)) calculations on the pairwise-additive PESs. The nonadditive interactions make a significant contribution to the frequency shift, on the order of 10%-12%, and have to be included in the PESs in order for the theory to yield accurate magnitude of the HF redshift. The energy gaps between the DMC ground states of the cluster isomers are very different from the energy separation of their respective minima on the PES, due to the considerable variations in the intermolecular zero-point energy of different Ar(n)HF isomers.     

Orientation dependence in collision induced electronic relaxation studied through van der Waals complexes with isomeric structures

Weakly bound molecular complexes with more than one well-defined structures provide us with an unique opportunity to investigate dynamic processes induced by intermolecular interactions with specific orientations. The relative orientation of the two interacting molecules or atoms is defined by the complex structure. The effect of the orientation in the spin changing collisions glyoxal(S₁)+Ar → glyoxal(T₁)+Ar and acetylene (S₁)+Ar → acetylene(T)+Ar have been studied by measuring the intersystem crossing (ISC) rates of the glyoxal(S₁)·Ar and acetylene(S₁)·Ar complexes with different isomeric structures. Results show that there is a strong orientation dependence in the ISC of glyoxal(S₁) induced by interaction with the Ar atom: the Ar atom positioned in the molecular plane is much more effective than in the out-of-plane position in inducing the S₁ → T₁ transition of glyoxal. On the other hand, studies of acetylene(S₁)·Ar complexes indicate that the Ar-induced ISC rates are nearly identical for the in-plane and out-of-plane positions. Orientation dependence in the collision induced vibrational relaxation process C₂H₂(S₁,v _i )+Ar → C₂H₂(S₁,v _f <v _i )+Ar is also studied by measuring the vibrational predissociation rates of the acetylene(S₁)·Ar complex isomers. The results indicate that collisions of C₂H₂(S₁,v ₃=3, 4) with Ar at two orthogonal orientations are equally effective in causing vibrational relaxation of C₂H₂.     

Infrared spectroscopy of Li(+)(CH4)1Ar(n), n = 1-6, clusters

Infrared predissociation (IRPD) spectra of Li(+)(CH(4))(1)Ar(n), n = 1-6, clusters are reported in the C-H stretching region from 2800 to 3100 cm(-1). The Li(+) electric field perturbs CH(4) lifting its tetrahedral symmetry and gives rise to multiple IR active modes. The observed bands arise from the totally symmetric vibrational mode, v(1), and the triple degenerate vibrational mode, v(3). Each band is shifted to lower frequency relative to the unperturbed CH(4) values. As the number of argon atoms is increased, the C-H red shift becomes less pronounced until the bands are essentially unchanged from n = 5 to n = 6. For n = 6, additional vibrational features were observed which suggested the presence of an additional conformer. By monitoring different photodissociation loss channels (loss of three Ar or loss of CH(4)), one conformer was uniquely associated with the CH(4) loss channel, with two bands at 2914 and 3017 cm(-1), values nearly identical to the neutral CH(4) gas-phase v(1) and v(3) frequencies. With supporting ab initio calculations, the two conformers were identified, both with a first solvent shell size of six. The major conformer had CH(4) in the first shell, while the conformer exclusively present in the CH(4) loss channel had six argons in the first shell and CH(4) in the second shell. This conformer is +11.89 kJ/mol higher in energy than the minimum energy conformer at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level. B3LYP/6-31+G* level vibrational frequencies and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level single-point binding energies, D(e) (kJ/mol), are reported to support the interpretation of the experimental data.     

An ab initio study of van der Waals potential energy parameters for silver clusters

We employ ab initio calculations of van der Waals complexes to study the potential energy parameters (C(6) coefficients) of van der Waals interactions for modeling of the adsorption of silver clusters on the graphite surface. Electronic structure calculations of the (Ag(2))(2), Ag(2)-H(2), and Ag(2)-C(6)H(6) complexes are performed using a coupled-cluster approach that includes single, double, and perturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T)), M?ller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2), and spin-component-scaled MP2 (SCS-MP2) methods. Using the atom pair approximation, the C(6) coefficients for silver-silver, silver-hydrogen, and silver-carbon atom systems are obtained after subtracting the energies of quadrupole-quadrupole interactions from the total electronic energy.     

Two-dimensional laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of van der Waals complexes: fluorobenzene-Ar(n) (n = 1,2)

The technique of two-dimensional laser induced fluorescence (2D-LIF) spectroscopy has been used to observe the van der Waals complexes fluorobenzene-Ar and fluorobenzene-Ar(2) in the region of their S(1)-S(0) electronic origins. The 2D-LIF spectral images reveal a number of features assigned to the van der Waals vibrations in S(0) and S(1). An advantage of 2D-LIF spectroscopy is that the LIF spectrum associated with a particular species may be extracted from an image. This is illustrated for fluorobenzene-Ar. The S(1) van der Waals modes observed in this spectrum are consistent with previous observations using mass resolved resonance enhanced multiphoton ionisation techniques. For S(0), the two bending modes previously observed using a Raman technique were observed along with three new levels. These agree exceptionally well with ab initio calculations. The Fermi resonance between the stretch and bend overtone has been analysed in both the S(0) and S(1) states, revealing that the coupling is stronger in S(0) than in S(1). For fluorobenzene-Ar(2) the 2D-LIF spectral image reveals the S(0) symmetric stretch van der Waals vibration to be 35.0 cm(-1), closely matching the value predicted based on the fluorobenzene-Ar van der Waals stretch frequency. Rotational band contour analysis has been performed on the fluorobenzene-Ar 0(0)(0) transition to yield a set of S(1) rotational constants A' = 0.05871 ± 0.00014 cm(-1), B' = 0.03803 ± 0.00010 cm(-1), and C' = 0.03103 ± 0.00003 cm(-1). The rotational constants imply that in the S(1) 0(0) level the Ar is on average 3.488 ? from the fluorobenzene centre of mass and displaced from it towards the centre of the ring at an angle of ~6° to the normal. The rotational contour for fluorobenzene-Ar(2) was predicted using rotational constants calculated on the basis of the fluorobenzene-Ar geometry and compared with the experimental contour. The comparison is poor which, while due in part to expected saturation effects, suggests the presence of another band lying beneath the contour.     

Molecular-beam mass spectrometry of van der Waals clusters. Mass spectrum of hydrogen sulfide dimer

Hydrogen sulfide clusters generated by ultrasonic expansion of an H₂S-Ar mixture into a vacuum were detected by electron impact mass spectrometry. The mass spectrum of the dimer, (H₂S)₂, was obtained under conditions of predominant dimerization. A mechanism of the formation of ions that involves intracluster reactions between the fragment ions of the monomer and the monomer molecule has been suggested.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 839–844, May, 1995.The work was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project No. 93-03-4933). The authors are also grateful to the European Environmental Research Organisation (EERO) for support.     

Experimental measurement of the van der Waals binding energy of X-O2 clusters (X=Xe, CH3I, C3H6, C6H12)

Van der Waals binding energies for the X-O(2) complexes (X=Xe, CH(3)I, C(3)H(6), C(6)H(12)) are determined by analysis of experimental velocity map imaging data for O((3)P(2)) atoms arising from UV-photodissociation of the complex [A. V. Baklanov et al., J. Chem. Phys. 126, 124316 (2007)]. Several dissociation pathways have been observed, we focus on the channel corresponding to prompt dissociation of X-O(2) into X+2O((3)P) fragments, which is present for complexes of O(2) with all partners X. Our method is based on analysis of the kinetic energy of all three photofragments, where the O atom kinetic energy was directly measured in the experiment and the kinetic energy of the X partner was calculated using momentum conservation, along with the measured angular anisotropy for O atom recoil. We exploit the fact that the clusters are all T-shaped or nearly T-shaped, which we also confirm by ab initio calculations, along with knowledge of the transition dipole governing radiative absorption by the complex. The effect of partitioning the kinetic energy between translation along the X-O(2) and O-O coordinates on the angular anisotropy of the O atom recoil direction is discussed. Van der Waals binding energies of 110±20 cm(-1), 280±20 cm(-1), 135±30 cm(-1), and 585±20 cm(-1) are determined for Xe-O(2), CH(3)I-O(2), C(3)H(6)-O(2), and C(6)H(12)-O(2) clusters, respectively.     

Size- and charge-dependent geometric and electronic structures of Bi n (Bi(-)n) clusters (n=2-13) by first-principles simulations

Neutral and negatively charged bismuth clusters, Bi n and Bi(-)n (n=2-13), are investigated by first-principles simulations with the scalar-relativistic projector-augmented wave potential and the spin-polarized generalized gradient approximation. Both types of clusters show size-dependent odd-even oscillations in stability, density of states, and vertical and adiabatic electron affinities, in close agreement with experiment. The negative charge thoroughly reverses the oscillations and considerably influences the geometric structures, particularly of the odd-sized clusters. We note that most atoms in the ground states and the low-lying isomers are three coordinated with a quasilayerlike growth mode based on pentagon units, due to a weak s-p hybridization. The Bi12 cluster is found to prefer a small elongated tubelike structure with the surface consists of six curved-pentagon rings and two triangular facets, which may be the basis for the formation of bismuth nanotubes experimentally reported.     

TinC2n(n=1-6)分子簇的量子化学从头算研究

用量子化学从头计算方法研究了TinC2n(n=1-6)分子簇的几何构型和电子结构。这些TinC2n分子簇以TiC2为结构单元, 通过C-C或Ti-C键进一步连接而逐渐长大。研究结果可以较好地解释实验现象, 并说明Metcars的形成机理。     

Hydrogen-bonded and van der Waals complexes studied by a Gaussian density functional method. The case of (HF)2, ArHCl and Ar2HCl systems

Summary Linear combination of Gaussian-type orbitals local spin density calculations (LCGTO-LSD) have been performed to further test the applicability to the method of hydrogen-bonded and van der Waals systems. The calculated minimum energy structures and binding energies for the (HF)₂, ArHCl and Ar₂HCl complexes are presented. In addition, the harmonic vibrational frequencies are reported for (HF)₂. The results show that by using nonlocal corrections and increasing the number of radial points in the grid, the calculated parameters are close to experimental ones and provide some encouraging evidence for the reliable use of density functional theory for these complex systems.     

Upper and lower bounds to polarizabilities and van der Waals forces I. General theory

Upper and lower bounds to polarizabilities, and long-range interactions of atoms and molecules are derived using operator inequalities. The formulae for the dispersion and the three-body non-additive forces are given in terms of the S(k), related by sum rules to properties of the separated systems. Some known approximations are obtained but with additional information about their nature, as well as several new inequalities. Their interest is that they give explicit and rigorous bounds involving quantities available from experimental data.     

Structure and stability of Al13H(n) (n=1-13) clusters: exceptional stability of Al13H13

We have performed density functional calculations for the structure and stability of Al(13)H(n) (n=1-13) clusters. Population analysis has shown significant charge transfer occurring from the Al cluster to the H atoms. The population for Al(13) varies from 0.24 (Al(13)H) to 2.83 (Al(13)H(13)). The shape of Al(13) moieties in the Al(13)H(n) (n>/=8) clusters is significantly distorted from the icosahedral structure of Al(13) and is a "cagelike" form. Al(13)H(13) has a capped icosahedron as the ground-state structure, similar to B(13)H(13), while the shape of B(13) (planar) is different from Al(13) (icosahedral). The Al(13)H(13) cluster is predicted to be exceptionally stable on the basis of the high stabilization energy and the negative nucleus independent chemical shift value.     

Ultraviolet photodissociation of the van der Waals dimer (CH3I)2 revisited. II. Pathways giving rise to neutral molecular iodine

The formation of neutral I2 by the photodissociation of the methyl iodide dimer, (CH3I)2, excited within the A band at 249.5 nm is evaluated using velocity map imaging. In previous work [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 204301 (2005)], we showed that the formation of I2+ from photodissociation of the methyl iodide dimer takes place via ionic channels (through the formation of (CH3I)2+). It is thus not possible to detect neutral I2 by monitoring I2+. Neutral I2 is detected in this study by monitoring I atoms arising from the photodissociation of I2. Iodine atoms from I2 photodissociation have a characteristic kinetic energy and angular anisotropy, which is registered using velocity map imaging. We use a two-color probe scheme involving the photodissociation of nascent I2 at 499 nm, which gives rise to I atoms that are ionized by (2+1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization at 304.67 nm. Our estimate of the yield of nascent I2 is based on the comparison with the signal from I2 at a known concentration. Using molecular beams with a small fraction of CH3I (1% in the expanded mixture) where smaller clusters should prevail, the production of I2 was found to be negligible. An upper estimate for the quantum yield of I2 from (CH3I)2 dimers was found to be less than 0.4%. Experiments with a higher fraction of CH3I (4% in the expanded mixture), which favor the formation of larger clusters, revealed an observable formation of I2, with an estimated translational temperature of about 820 K. We suggest that this observed I2 signal arises from the photodissociation of several CH3I molecules in the larger cluster by the same UV pulse, followed by recombination of two nascent iodine atoms is responsible for neutral I2 production.     

Phase changes in Lennard-Jones mixed clusters with composition Ar(n)Xe(6-n) (n=0,1,2)

We have carried out parallel tempering Monte Carlo calculations on the binary six-atom mixed Lennard-Jones clusters, Ar(n)Xe(6-n) (n=0,1,2). We have looked at the classical configurational heat capacity C(V)(T) as a probe of phase behavior. All three clusters show a feature in the heat capacity in the region of 15-20 K. The Ar(2)Xe(4) cluster exhibits a further peak in the heat capacity near 7 K. We have also investigated dynamical properties of the Ar(2)Xe(4) cluster as a function of temperature using molecular dynamics. We report the interbasin isomerization rate and the bond fluctuation parameter obtained from these calculations. At 7 K, the isomerization rate is on the order of 0.01 ns(-1); at 20 K, the isomerization rate is greater than 10 ns(-1). Furthermore, at 7 K, the bond fluctuation parameter is less than 3%; at 20 K, it is in the range of 10-15% (depending on the sampling time used). Using this information, together with Monte Carlo quenching data, we assign the 15-20 K feature in the heat capacity to a solid-liquid phase change and the 7-K peak to a solid-solid phase change. We believe this is the smallest Lennard-Jones cluster system yet shown to exhibit solid-solid phase change behavior.     

Density functional study of CO adsorption on Sc(n) (n=2-13) clusters

The adsorption properties of a single CO molecule on Sc(n) (n=2-13) clusters are studied by means of a density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. Two adsorption patterns are identified. Pattern a (n=3, 4, 6, 8, 11, and 12), CO binds to hollow site while Pattern b (n=5, 7, 9, 10, and 13), CO binds to bridge site accompanied by significantly lengthening of the Sc-Sc bond. The adsorption energy exhibits clear size-dependent variation and odd-even oscillation for n<10 and reach the peak at n=5, 7, and 9, implying their high chemical reactivity. Similar variations are noted in C-O bond length, vibrational frequency, and charge transferred between CO and the clusters. This can be understood in light of the adsorption pattern, the atomic motif, and the relative stability of the bare Sc clusters. Compared with the free Sc clusters, the magnetic nature remains upon adsorption except n=2, 4, 12, and 13. Particularly, the moments of n=13 reduce significantly from 19 to 5 micro(B), implying the adsorption plays an attenuation influence on the magnetism of the cluster.     

Geometries and stabilities of Ag-doped Si n (n=1-13) clusters: a first-principles study

The structures of AgSi(n) (n=1-13) clusters are investigated using first-principles calculations. Our studies suggest that AgSi(n) clusters with n=7 and 10 are relatively stable isomers and that these clusters prefer to be exohedral rather than endohedral. Moreover, doping leaves the inner core structure of the clusters largely intact. Additionally, the plot of fragmentation energies as a function of silicon atoms shows that the AgSi(n) are favored to dissociate into one Ag atom and Si(n) clusters. Alternative pathways exist for n>7 (except n=11) in which the Ag-Si cluster dissociates into a stable Si(7) and a smaller fragment AgSi(n-7). The AgSi(11) cluster dissociates into a stable Si(10) and a small fragment AgSi. Lastly, our analysis indicates that doping of Ag atom significantly decreases the gaps between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital for n>7.     

The structural and electronic properties of In(n)N(n = 1-13) clusters

The structural and electronic properties of In(n)N(n=1-13) clusters have been investigated by density-functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. The results indicate that the equilibrium structures of In(n)N are linear for n=1,2, planar for n=3-5, and three dimensional for n=6-13. Maximum peaks were observed for In(n)N clusters at n=3,7,9 on the size dependence for second-order energy difference. These imply that these clusters possess relatively higher stability, which is consistent with the case of binding energy per atom. Moreover, the results show that the bonding in small In(n)N clusters has a little ionic character by Mulliken population analysis. The energy gap between the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, the vertical ionization potential and electron vertical affinity (VIP and VEA) form an even-odd alternating pattern with increasing cluster size. In general, the VIP tends to lower as the cluster size increases, while the VEA tends to increase as the cluster size increases.     

Stability and structure of singly-charged argon clusters Ar n + ,n=3–27. A Monte-Carlo simulation

Monte-Carlo calculations have been performed for positively charged argon clusters in the temperature range between 10 K and 40 K using two different models (one with a dimer ion core, the other one with a trimer ion). The argon-argon interaction potential stems from empirical data, the ion-neutral atoms potential is determined by ab initio MRD-CI calculations. Special stability is found for clusters sizesn=13, 19, 23 and 25/26 atoms using the ‘trimeric core model’ and for those withn=14,n=17,n=20 using the ‘dimeric core model’. The geometrical structure of the clusters is given and the construction principles are discussed in light of the interactions among neutral argon atoms and the ion-neutral atoms interaction.     

A density-functional study of Al-doped Ti clusters: TinAl (n = 1-13)

Equilibrium geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of TinAl (n = 1-13) clusters have been studied by using density-functional theory with local spin density approximation and generalized gradient approximation. The ground-state structures of TinAl clusters have been obtained. The resulting geometries show that the aluminum atom remains on the surface of clusters for n < 9, but is slowly getting trapped beyond n = 9, meanwhile, the Al atom exhibits a valent transition from monovalent to trivalent. The geometric effects and electronic effects clearly demonstrate the Ti4Al cluster to be endowed with special stability. The studies on the bonds indicate the change from ionic to metalliclike.     

UV photodissociation of the van der Waals dimer (CH3I)2 revisited: pathways giving rise to ionic features

The CH(3)I A-state-assisted photofragmentation of the (CH(3)I)(2) van der Waals dimer at 248 nm and nearby wavelengths has been revisited experimentally using the time-of-flight mass spectrometry with supersonic and effusive molecular beams and the "velocity map imaging" technique. The processes underlying the appearance of two main (CH(3)I)(2) cluster-specific features in the mass spectra, namely, I(2)(+) and translationally "hot" I(+) ions, have been studied. Translationally hot I(+) ions with an average kinetic energy of 0.94+/-0.02 eV appear in the one-quantum photodissociation of vibrationally excited I(2)(+)((2)Pi(32,g)) ions (E(vib)=0.45+/-0.11 eV) via a "parallel" photodissociation process with an anisotropy parameter beta=1.55+/-0.03. Comparison of the images of I(+) arising from the photoexcitation of CH(3)I clusters versus those from neutral I(2) shows that "concerted" photodissociation of the ionized (CH(3)I)(2)(+) dimer appears to be the most likely mechanism for the formation of molecular iodine ion I(2)(+), instead of photoionization of neutral molecular iodine.