The Structure of Water Clusters Interacting with Gaseous Acetylene

The interaction of water clusters with acetylene molecules at T = 230 K was studied by the molecular dynamics method. The structure of clusters was analyzed by constructing Voronoi polyhedra. Water clusters interacting with C₂H₂ molecules are characterized by a diversity of H-bond orientations, a more uniform distribution of H-bonds over the cluster volume, a larger number of bonds per atom, and smaller bond lengths. The spectrum of bond lengths broadens as the number of acetylene molecules interacting with the water cluster increases. C₂H₂ molecules have a pressing action on water clusters.     

Enhancement of H2 adsorption on a boron-doped carbon system for hydrogen storage

We study the adsorption of the molecular hydrogen on boron-doped polypyrrole ((–C₄BH₃)_n) using first-principles density functional calculations. We find that the binding energy of H₂ molecules is slightly reduced to 0.39 eV/H₂ from 0.51 eV/H₂ as the number of adsorbed H₂ molecules increases. This is in sharp contrast to the case of boron-doped fullerenes where the binding energy is drastically reduced as the number of adsorbed H₂ molecules increases. We find that the enhancement of H₂ adsorption is due to a local charge transfer by H₂ adsorption in the B-doped polypyrrole as opposed to a delocalized charge transfer in the B-doped fullerenes. Our finding shows that B-doped carbon systems could be utilized for room temperature hydrogen storage.     

Ethylene adsorption on the Pt-Cu bimetallic catalysts. Density functional theory cluster study

The adsorption of ethylene on Cu₁₂Pt₂ clusters has been studied within the density functional theory (DFT) approach to understand the high ethylene selectivity of Cu-rich Pt-Cu catalyst particles in the reaction of hydrogen-assisted 1,2-dichloroethane dechlorination. The structural parameters for Cu₁₂Pt₂ clusters with D_4h, D_2d, and C_3v symmetry have been calculated. The relative stability of the isomeric Cu₁₂Pt₂ clusters follows the order: C_3v > D_2d > D_4h. Each isomer has an active site for ethylene adsorption that consists of a single Pt atom surrounded by Cu atoms. The interaction of ethylene with the active site yields a π-C₂H₄ adsorption complex. The strongest π-C₂H₄ complex forms with the cluster of C_3v symmetry; the bonding energy, ΔE_π(C₂H₄), is −15.6 kcal mol⁻¹. The bonding energies for the π-C₂H₄ complex with Cu₁₄ and Pt₁₄ clusters are −6.5 and −18.8 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively.The addition of Pt to Cu modifies the valence spd-band of the cluster as compared to a Cu₁₄ cluster. The DOS near the Fermi level increases when C₂H₄ adsorbs on the Cu₁₂Pt₂ cluster. As well, the center of the d-band shifts toward lower binding energies. Ethylene adsorption also induces a number of states below the d-band. These states correspond to those of gas-phase C₂H₄.The vibrational frequencies of C₂H₄ adsorbed on the clusters of D_4h and C_3v symmetry have been calculated. The phonon vibrations occur below 250 cm⁻¹. The intense bands around 200 cm⁻¹ are attributed to stretching vibrations of the Pt-Cu bonds normal to the cluster surface. The stretching vibrations of the Pt-C bonds depend on the local structure of the active site: ν_s(Pt-C) = 268 cm⁻¹ and ν_as(Pt-C) = 357 cm⁻¹ for the cluster of the D_4h symmetry; ν_s(Pt-C) = 335 cm⁻¹ and ν_as(Pt-C) = 397 cm⁻¹ for the cluster of the C_3v symmetry. Bands in the range of 800-3100 cm⁻¹ are attributed to vibrations of the adsorbed C₂H₄ molecule. The signature frequencies of the π-C₂H₄ adsorption complex are the δ_s(CH₂) deformation vibration at ∼1200 cm⁻¹ and the ν(C-C) stretching vibration at ∼1500 cm⁻¹. These vibration are absent for di-σ-C₂H₄ adsorption complexes.     

Adsorption of water and ammonia on TiO2-anatase cluster models

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations performed at B3LYP/6-31G^∗∗ level are employed to study water and ammonia adsorption and dissociation on (1 0 1) and (0 0 1) TiO₂ anatase surfaces both represented by totally fixed and partially relaxed Ti₂O₉H₁₀ cluster models. PM3 semiempirical calculations were also conducted both on Ti₂O₉H₁₀ and Ti₉O₃₃H₃₀ clusters in order to assess the effect of cluster size. Following dissociation, the adsorption of H₂O and NH₃ by H-bonding on previously H₂O and NH₃ dissociated systems, respectively are also considered. It is found that the adsorption energies and geometries of water and ammonia molecules on (1 0 1) and (0 0 1) anatase cluster models depend on surface relaxation. The vibration frequency values are also calculated for the optimized geometries. The adsorption energies and vibration frequency values computed are compared with the available theoretical and experimental literature.     

Two-dimensional condensation of water and alcohols on NaF

On the surface of NaF the adsorption isotherms of H₂O, D₂O, CH₃OH, C₃H₃OH and 1-C₃H₇OH as well as the infrared spectra of H₃O, D₂O, dilute HDO, CH₃OH and CH₃OD were measured. The adsorption temperatures of H₃O (253–308 K) were within the phase transition region where two phases of low and high density coexist, while those of CH₃OH, C₂H₅OH and 1-C₃H₃OH were yet within a super-critical region. The entropy of the 2D condensed H₂O on NaF was found to be 14.0 cal K^?1 mol^?1, which suggests that the condensed phase of water on NaF is liquid-like. The OD stretching band of dilute HDO in the 2D condensed water gives a maximum adsorption at ca. 2530 cm^?1 with a half width of ca. 150 cm^?1, being in good agreement with that in liquid water. Comparison of the integrated absorbance of the D₂O bending mode with that of the OD stretching mode suggests that the cluster size of the 2D condensed water on NaF decreases with increasing temperature. The 2D critical temperature and the occupied areas of these adsorbates enable us to conclude that the compatibility of the molecular size with the surface lattice is not important in the occurrence of the 2D condensation of the hydrogen-bonding molecules on NaF and that adsorbed molecules are randomly oriented on the surface to the extent similar to that in 3D liquid state.     

Reactions of small gold cluster cations with propylene, methane, and hydrogen: permissive and competitive coadsorption effects

Coadsorption effects of molecular hydrogen and small hydrocarbons, CH₄ and C₃H₆, on free Au₃ ⁺ and Au₅ ⁺ were investigated in an octopole ion trap under multi-collision conditions. For hydrogen and methane the observations indicate that both molecules coadsorb on the same adsorption site, i.e., the same atom of the cluster. This type of molecular adsorption on free clusters is termed permissive coadsorption, in contrast to competitive coadsorption, in which two molecules compete for the same adsorption site. The latter case was observed for hydrogen and propylene: already trace amounts of propylene were able to completely saturate the clusters preventing the coadsorption of H₂. The size dependent adsorbate coverage is discussed and implications on the cluster structure are deduced from time and temperature dependent reaction measurements.     

Using polyatomic primary ions to probe an amino acid and a nucleic base in water ice

In this study on pure water ice, we show that protonated water species [H₂O]_nH⁺ are more prevalent than (H₂O)_n⁺ ions after bombardment by Au⁺ monoatomic and Au₃⁺ and C₆₀⁺ polyatomic projectiles. This data also reveals significant differences in water cluster yields under bombardment by these three projectiles. The amino acid alanine and the nucleic base adenine in solution have been studied and have been shown to have an effect on the water cluster ion yields observed using an Au₃⁺ ion beam.     

C2H4在清洁和有Cs覆盖的Ru(0001)表面吸附的TDS研究

用热脱附谱(TDS)方法研究了乙烯(C₂H₄)在Ru(0001)表面上的吸附.在低温下(200K以下)乙烯可以在清洁及有Cs的Ru(0001)表面上以分子状态稳定吸附,在衬底温度升高至200K以上时,乙烯发生了脱氢分解反应,乙烯分解后的主要产物为乙炔(C₂H₂).在清洁的Ru(0001)表面,乙烯有两种吸附状态,脱附温度分别为275K和360K.而乙炔的脱附温度为350K.在Ru(0001)表面有Cs的存在时,乙烯分解 关键词： 乙烯 钌(0001)表面 铯钌(0001)表面乙烯 钌(0001)表面 铯钌(0001)表面     

Theoretical studies of the structure of C2H2 adsorbed on Si(0 0 1)

The carbon 1s near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra of the acetylene (C₂H₂) at 1 ML coverage adsorbed on the Si(0 0 1)-(2 × 1) surface at room temperature have been investigated by multiple-scattering cluster (MSC). The MSC result shows that the correct adsorption model of C₂H₂/Si(0 0 1)-(2 × 1) is unique, i.e. the dimerized structure with two domains, (2 × 1) and (1 × 2).     

Fragmentation of D- and L-enantiomers of amino acids through interaction with 3He2+ ions

The relative cross section of processes attendant on the capture of an electron by 12-keV ³He²⁺ ions are measured by time-of-flight mass spectrometry for leucine (C₆H₁₃NO₂), methionine (C₅H₁₁NO₂S), and glutmic acid (C₅H₉NO₄) molecules. No differences between the formation relative cross sections of different fragment ions for the D- and L-enantiomeric forms of the amino acids are revealed. The spectrum of glutamic acid fragments taken at temperatures above 110°C is explained by decomposition of the acid with the formation of pyroglutamic acid (C₅H₇NO₃) and water. The results are compared with published data on fragmentation of the same molecules via electron-impact ionization.     

A density functional theory study on the H2S molecule adsorption onto small gold clusters

An all-electron scalar relativistic calculation on Au_nH₂S (n = 1-13) clusters has been performed by using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation at PW91 level. The small gold cluster would like to bond with sulfur in the same plane and the H₂S molecule prefers to occupy the on-top and single fold coordination site in the cluster. The Au_n structures and H₂S molecule in all Au_nH₂S clusters are only slightly perturbed and still maintain their structural integrity. After adsorption, the S-H, H-H bond-lengths and most Au-Au bond-lengths are elongated, only a few Au-Au bond-lengths far from H₂S molecule are shortened. The reactivity enhancement of H₂S molecule is obvious and the strong gold-sulfur bond is observed expectedly. The most favorable adsorption takes place in the case that the H₂S molecule is adsorbed by an even-numbered Au_n cluster and becomes Au_nH₂S cluster with even number of valence electrons. It is believed that the strong scalar relativistic effect is favorable to H₂S molecule adsorption onto small gold clusters and is also one of the important reasons for the strong gold-sulfur bond.     

Quantitative C2H2 measurements in sooty flames using mid-infrared polarization spectroscopy

Quantitative measurements of acetylene (C₂H₂) molecules as a combustion intermediate species in a series of rich premixed C₂H₄/air flames were non-intrusively performed, spatially resolved, using mid-infrared polarization spectroscopy (IRPS), by probing its fundamental ro-vibrational transitions. The flat sooty C₂H₄/air premixed flames with different equivalence ratios varying from 1.25 to 2.50 were produced on a 6 cm diameter porous-plug McKenna type burner at atmospheric pressure, and all measurements were performed at a height of 8.5 mm above the burner surface. IRPS excitation scans in different flame conditions were performed and rotational line-resolved spectra were recorded. Spectral features of acetylene molecules were readily recognized in the spectral ranges selected, with special attention to avoid the spectral interference from the large amount of coexisting hot water and other hydrocarbon molecules. On-line calibration of the optical system was performed in a laminar C₂H₂/N₂ gas flow at ambient conditions. Using the flame temperatures measured by coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy in a previous work, C₂H₂ mole fractions in different flames were evaluated with collision effects and spectral overlap between molecular line and laser source being analyzed and taken into account. C₂H₂ IRPS signals in two different buffering gases, N₂ and CO₂, had been investigated in a tube furnace in order to estimate the spectral overlap coefficients and collision effects at different temperatures. The soot-volume fractions (SVF) in the studied flames were measured using a He–Ne laser-extinction method, and no obvious degrading of the IRPS technique due to the sooty environment has been observed in the flame with SVF up to ～2×10^?7. With the increase of flame equivalence ratios not only the SVF but also the C₂H₂ mole fractions increased.     

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Atom Abstraction from C2H6 and C4H10 by Zirconium Oxide Clusters Anions

使用配有团簇产生和化学反应源的飞行时间质谱装置,研究了锆氧阴离子团簇Zr_xOy^-与乙烷和丁烷的反应. 在反应中发现了Zr₂O₅H^-和Zr₃O₇H^-产物. 用密度泛函理论研究了乙烷在Zr₂O₅^-上的反应通道,发现乙烷脱氢反应可以发生,从而证明观察到的产物是源于脱氢反应. 该工作揭示了锆氧负离子团簇与烷烃反应中的新通道.     

Bay capping via acetylene addition to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Mechanism and kinetics

The bay-capping mechanism on PAH armchair edges and the kinetics of acetylene addition to 6–6–5 and 5–6–5 bays have been explored by ab initio/RRKM-ME calculations. The bays on the edges were modeled by C₂₁H₁₁ and C₂₀H₉ radicals produced by H abstractions from 7H-benzo[c]cyclopenta[e]pyrene and dicyclopenta[cf]pyrene. The C₂₀H₉ + C₂H₂ reaction is shown to have a low entrance barrier and to rapidly form the capped product, indaceno[2,1,8,7-cdefg]pyrene, along with ethynyl substituted dicyclopenta[cf]pyrene at temperatures above 1400 K. The reactivity of C₂₁H₁₁ is shown to be governed by the location of the unpaired electron; the π radical R1 formed by H abstraction from the CH₂ group in 7H-benzo[c]cyclopenta[e]pyrene reacts with C₂H₂ very slowly owing to a high entrance barrier, with the bay-capping rate constant approaching 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ only at temperatures above 2000 K. This result reaffirms that the growth of π aryl radicals via acetylene addition is inefficient and reflects the generally low reactivity of such radicals where the spin density is highly delocalized over the entire polyaromatic system. Alternatively, the σ C₂₁H₁₁ radical R2 produced by H abstraction from the five-membered ring at the bay rapidly reacts with C₂H₂ forming the bay-capped product, with the rate constant on the order of 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at T ≥ 1500 K. Rate constants for the capping reactions at the 6–6–5 and 5–6–5 bays are compared with those at the 6–0–6, 6–6–6, and 6–5–6 bays. The site-specific bay-capping rate constants have been utilized in kMC simulations of the PAH growth and the results showed measurable differences when the 6–6–5 and 5–6–5 bay-capping reactions are taken into account, including an increase of the growth rate and the formation of closed-shell PAH and a rise of the number of embedded five-membered rings accompanied with a slight decrease of their overall amount.     

Growth of multiwalled carbon nanotubes from acetylene over in situ formed Co nanoparticles on MgO support

The performance of Co catalysts supported on MgO at different Co loading (10%-75%) for the formation of carbon nanotubes through acetylene decomposition at 600 ^°C with H₂/C₂H₂ mixture for 1 h is investigated. The yield of MWNTs increases with an increase in Co loading (up to 50%). Starting from 1 g of catalyst precursor, about 8 g of MWNTs was obtained. The XRD patterns of catalyst precursor indicate the presence of cobalt in oxidic phase that eventually transformed into the catalytically active Co nanoparticles (12-18 nm) under the influence of acetylene and was responsible for the growth of coiled-like multi-walled CNTs as revealed by SEM and HRTEM images. It is suggested that bending in coil shaped MWNTs has the potential for functionalization for its biomedical applications.     

Mid-infrared polarization spectroscopy of C2H2: Non-intrusive spatial-resolved measurements of polyatomic hydrocarbon molecules for combustion diagnostics

Polarization spectroscopy in the mid-infrared (IRPS) has been applied to the detection of acetylene molecules making use of the asymmetric C-H stretching vibration at around 3 μm. The infrared laser pulses were produced through difference frequency generation in a LiNbO₃ crystal pumped by a Nd:YAG and dye laser system. By directly probing the ro-vibrational transitions with IRPS, sensitive detection of molecules with otherwise inaccessible electronic states was realized with high temporal and spatial resolution by using a pulsed laser and a cross-beam geometry. Detection sensitivities of 2 × 10¹³ molecules/cm³ (10 ppm in 70 mbar gas mixture) of C₂H₂ were achieved using the P(1 1) line of the (0 1 0(1 1)⁰)-(0 0 0 0⁰ 0⁰) band. The dependence of the IRPS signal on the pump laser fluence, acetylene mole fraction, and buffer gas pressure of Ar, N₂, H₂, and CO₂ has been studied experimentally. The investigation demonstrates the quantitative nature of IRPS for sensitive detection of polyatomic IR active molecules. In order to fully demonstrate the technique for combustion applications, nascent acetylene molecules were measured in a low pressure methane/oxygen flame.     

Competitive solvation of K+ by C6H6 and H2O in the K+-(C6H6)n-(H2O)m (n = 1–4; m = 1–6) aggregates

The competitive solvation of the potassium ion by benzene and water is investigated at molecular level by means of Molecular Dynamics simulations on the K⁺-(C₆H₆) _n -(H₂O) _m (n = 1–4; m = 1–6) ionic aggregates. The preference of K⁺ to bind C₆H₆ or H₂O is investigated in the range of temperatures in which isomerisation processes are likely by adding water and benzene to the K⁺-(C₆H₆) _n and K⁺-(H₂O) _m aggregates, respectively. Hydrogen bonds and the π-hydrogen bond, in spite of their weakness with respect to the K⁺-π and K⁺-H₂O interactions, play an important role in stabilising different isomers, thus favouring isomerisation processes. Accordingly with experimental information it has been found that K⁺ bind preferably C₆H₆ rather than H₂O and that the fragmentation of C₆H₆ is only observed for aggregates containing four molecules of benzene.     

Adsorption of thiophene on silica-supported Mo clusters

The adsorption/decomposition kinetics/dynamics of thiophene has been studied on silica-supported Mo and MoS_x clusters. Two-dimensional cluster formation at small Mo exposures and three-dimensional cluster growth at larger exposures would be consistent with the Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) data. Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) indicates two reaction pathways. H₄C₄S desorbs molecularly at 190–400 K. Two TDS features were evident and could be assigned to molecularly on Mo sites, and S sites adsorbed thiophene. Assuming a standard preexponential factor (ν = 1 × 10¹³/s) for first-order kinetics, the binding energies for adsorption on Mo (sulfur) sites amount to 90 (65) kJ/mol for 0.4 ML Mo exposure and 76 (63) kJ/mol for 2 ML Mo. Thus, smaller clusters are more reactive than larger clusters for molecular adsorption of H₄C₄S. The second reaction pathway, the decomposition of thiophene, starts at 250 K. Utilizing multimass TDS, H₂, H₂S, and mostly alkynes are detected in the gas phase as decomposition products. H₄C₄S bond activation results in partially sulfided Mo clusters as well as S and C residuals on the surface. S and C poison the catalyst. As a result, with an increasing number of H₄C₄S adsorption/desorption cycles, the uptake of molecular thiophene decreases as well as the H₂ and H₂S production ceases. Thus, silica-supported sulfided Mo clusters are less reactive than metallic clusters. The poisoned catalyst can be partially reactivated by annealing in O₂. However, Mo oxides also appear to form, which passivate the catalyst further. On the other hand, while annealing a used catalyst in H/H₂, it is poisoned even more (i.e., the S AES signal increases). By means of adsorption transients, the initial adsorption probability, S₀, of C₄H₄S has been determined. At thermal impact energies (E_i = 0.04 eV), S₀ for molecular adsorption amounts to 0.43 ± 0.03 for a surface temperature of 200 K. S₀ increases with Mo cluster size, obeying the capture zone model. The temperature dependence of S₀(T_s) consists of two regions consistent with molecular adsorption of thiophene at low temperatures and its decomposition above 250 K. Fitting S₀(T_s) curves allows one to determine the bond activation energy for the first elementary decomposition step of C₄H₄S, which amounts to (79 ± 2) kJ/mol and (52 ± 4) kJ/mol for small and large Mo clusters, respectively. Thus, larger clusters are more active for decomposing C₄H₄S than are smaller clusters.     

Fragmentation of polyatomic ions produced by electron-loss collisions of butane and isobutane molecules with ions of kiloelectronvolt energy

Fragmentation accompanying the loss of electrons by butane and isobutane (C₄H₁₀) molecules in collisions with energy H⁺, He²⁺, and Ar⁶⁺ ions of kiloelectronvolt energies is studied. The electron density functional technique is applied to C _n H_2n+2 alkane molecules and their respective C _n H _2n+2 ⁺ ions to carry out quantum-chemical calculations of the atomic spacing, electron total energy for the initial configuration of the ionizing molecules and ions in the ground state, and atomic bond breaking energy necessary to produce different ion fragments. The fragmentation energy is correlated with the fragmentation probability. It is shown that the relative cross sections of ion fragmentation depend primarily on the related energy consumption. However, the process cross section is also strongly affected by the initial configuration of C₄H₁₀ isomer molecules, as well as by the amount of dangling and arising atomic bonds involved in the formation of each ion fragment.     

On the accuracy of classical, semiclassical and quantum methods in collision line broadening calculations: Comparative analysis for C2H2-Ar, He systems

Accuracies of classical, semiclassical and quantum methods are comprehensively examined in calculations of impact line widths of C₂H₂ molecules perturbed by Ar and He. The field of comparative study covers both infrared absorption and Raman scattering lines of acetylene having rotational quantum number J=0-30 at temperatures 173 and 296 K. Calculations have been made by fully classical method and by three basic least approximate semiclassical methods, namely, Neilsen-Gordon (NG) method, peaking approximation (PA) and Smith-Giraud-Cooper (SGC) method. Most accurate ab initio potential energy surfaces (PES) of Yang et al. (1996) [21] and Mozsynski et al. (1995) [22] have been applied to model C₂H₂-Ar and C₂H₂-He interactions. The comparison has been made also with available experimental data and with the results of rigorous fully quantum-mechanical calculations within close coupling and coupled states approaches in identical conditions. Semiclassical methods are proved to be not so much accurate as it is generally believed since all they gave in the cases considered seriously underestimated results. The fundamental issue of the adequacy of simplified trajectories in collision broadening calculations is finally reasonably solved. In cases of C₂H₂-Ar and C₂H₂-He systems the use of the “exact” isotropic trajectories (i.e. driven only by the isotropic part of PES) is the main reason of failing of NG, PA and SGC methods. Thus the neglecting of back-influence of the RT exchange on the classical path is a principal defect of semiclassical methods. Finally, the application of simplified trajectories is recognized as inadequate and risky in broadening calculations for molecules having relatively small rotational constants when accurate ab initio PES are applied.