The First-principles Study of Hydrogen Adsorption and Diffusion on the Biaxial Strained Fe(110) Surface

Hydrogen is known to play a negative role in mechanical properties of steel due to hydrogen embrittlement. Surface strain modifies the surface reactivity. In this paper, we employed spin-polarized periodic density functional to study the atomic H adsorption and diffusion on the biaxial strained Fe(110) surface. The result shows that the adsorption of H at the Tf site is the most stable on compressive surface and tensile surface. And H atom on the top site relaxes to Tf site on the strained surface. The adsorbed hydrogen atom at all calculated adsorption sites relaxes towards the surface due to the tensile strain. Lattice compression makes the bonding strength weaker between H atom and the surface. The analysis of the partial density of states shows that H 1 s orbital hybridizes with the Fe 4 s orbital. The result of charge density difference shows electrons are transferred from Fe to H atom. Compressive strain reduces the transferred electrons and decreases the Mulliken electrons of Fe 4 s orbital, which weaken the bonding interaction between H and Fe atoms. H atom diffuses into subsurface through a distorted tetrahedron. Surface strain does not change diffusion path but affects the diffusion barrier energy. Tetrahedron gap volume in the transition state of compressive system decreases to increase the diffusion barrier. This suggests compressive strain impedes H penetrating into the Fe subsurface. The present results indicate that it is a way to control adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen on the Fe surface by surface strain.     

Altering the spin state of transition metal centers in metal-organic frameworks by molecular hydrogen adsorption: a first-principles study

Our first-principles calculation shows that molecular hydrogen (H(2)) adsorption at an exposed Fe(II) site in metal-organic frameworks could induce a spin flip in the Fe(II) center resulting in a spin-state transition from a triplet high-spin (HS) to a singlet low-spin (LS) state. The Kubas-type Fe-H(2) interaction, where H(2) coordinates onto the Fe(II) center as a σ-ligand, is found commensurate in strength with the exchange interaction of Fe 3d electrons, which is responsible for the occurrence of the spin-state transition in this system. The H(2) binding energies are 0.08 and 0.35 eV per H(2) at the HS and LS states, respectively. This effect is expected to find applications in spin-control in molecular magnets, hydrogen sensing and storage.     

Hydrogen adsorption on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotube

The adsorption of atomic and molecular hydrogen on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotubes is investigated within the ab initio density functional theory. The binding energy of adsorbed hydrogen on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotube is substantially increased when compared with hydrogen on nondoped nanotube. These results are in agreement with experimental results for boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) where dangling bonds are present. The atomic hydrogen makes a chemical covalent bond with carbon substitution, while a physisorption occurs for the molecular hydrogen. For the H(2) molecule adsorbed on the top of a carbon atom in a boron site (BNNT + C(B)-H(2)), a donor defect level is present, while for the H(2) molecule adsorbed on the top of a carbon atom in a nitrogen site (BNNT + C(N)-H(2)), an acceptor defect level is present. The binding energies of H(2) molecules absorbed on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotubes are in the optimal range to work as a hydrogen storage medium.     

Extension of the experimental electron density analysis to metastable states: a case example of the spin crossover complex Fe(btr)2(NCS)2.H2O

An experimental electron density (ED) analysis of the spin crossover coordination complex Fe(btr)(2)(NCS)(2).H(2)O has been performed in the ground low-spin (LS) state and in the metastable thermally quenched high-spin (HS) state at 15 K by fitting a multipolar model to high-resolution X-ray diffraction measurements. The ED has been quantitatively analyzed using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules. This is the first time the ED distribution of a molecular metastable state has been experimentally investigated. The electron deformation densities and derived Fe 3d orbital populations are characteristic of LS (t(2g)(6) e(g)(0)) and HS (t(2g)(4) e(g)(2)) electron configurations and indicate significant sigma donation to the Fe d(x)2(-)(y)2 and d(z)2 atomic orbitals. The Fe-N(NCS) and Fe-N(btr) coordination interactions are characterized using the laplacian distribution of the ED, the molecular electrostatic potential, and the fragment charges obtained by integration over the topological atomic basins. A combination of electrostatic and covalent contributions to these interactions is pointed out. Interlayer interactions are evidenced by the presence of bond critical points in N...H hydrogen bonds involving the non-coordinated water molecule. Systematic differences in the atomic displacement parameters between the LS and HS states have been described and rationalized in terms of modifications of bond force constants.     

Ce(C_8H_8)_2和Ce(C_8H_8)_2~-的化学键性质

结合改进的重叠模型Xa-SW法和Ziegler过渡态法,通过将中心原子与配体的作用选成离子聚集、中心原子只有s和p轨道参与成键、中心原子只有d轨道参与成键、中心原子只有f轨道参与成键、中心原子的s、p、d和f轨道同时参与成键5种类型,从能量角度分析了Ce(C_8H_8)_2和Ce(C_8H_8)~-_2的化学键性质。     

甲醇在FeS2(100)完整表面的吸附和分解

采用基于第一性原理的密度泛函理论结合周期平板模型方法, 研究了甲醇分子在FeS₂(100)完整表面的吸附与解离. 通过比较不同吸附位置的吸附能和构型参数发现: 表面Fe位为有利吸附位, 甲醇分子通过氧原子吸附在表面Fe位, 吸附后甲醇分子中的C―O键和O―H键都有伸长, 振动频率发生红移; 甲醇分子易于解离成甲氧基CH3O和H, 表面Fe位仍然是二者有利吸附位. 通过计算得出甲醇在FeS₂(100)表面解离吸附的可能机理: 甲醇分子首先发生O―H键的断裂, 生成甲氧基中间体, 继而甲氧基C―H键断裂, 得到最后产物HCHO和H₂.     

Electronic structure of 3d[M(H2O)6](3+) ions from Sc(III) to Fe(III): a quantum mechanical study based on DFT computations and natural bond orbital analyses

The metal-donor atom bonding along the series of 3d[M(H2O)6](3+) ions from Sc(3+) to Fe(3+) has been investigated by density-functional calculations combined with natural localized bond orbital analyses. The M-OH(2) bonds were considered as donor-acceptor bonds, and the contributions coming from the metal ion's 3d sigma-, 3d pi-, and 4s sigma-interactions were treated individually. In this way, the total amount of charge transferred from the water oxygen-donor atoms toward the appropriate metal orbitals could be analyzed in a straightforward manner. One result obtained along these lines is that the overall extent of ligand-to-metal charge transfer shows a strong correlation to the hydration enthalpies of the aqua metal ions. If the contributions to the total ligand-to-metal ion charge transfer are divided into sigma- and pi-contributions, it turns out that Cr(3+) is the best sigma-acceptor, but its pi-accepting abilities are the weakest along the series. Fe(3+) is found to be the best pi-acceptor among the 3d hexaaqua ions studied. Its aptitude to accept sigma-electron density is the second weakest along the series and only slightly higher than that of Sc(3+) (the least sigma-acceptor of all ions) because of the larger involvement of the Fe(3+) 4s orbital in sigma-bonding. The strengths of the three types of bonding interactions have been correlated with the electron affinities of the different metal orbitals. Deviations from the regular trends of electron affinities along the series were found for those [M(H2O)6](3+) ions that are subject to Jahn-Teller distortions. In these cases (d(1) = [Ti(H2O)6](3+), d(2) = [V(H2O)6](3+), and d(4) = [Mn(H2O)6](3+)), ligand-to-metal charge transfer is prevented to go into those metal orbitals that contain unpaired d electrons. A lowering of the complex symmetry is observed and coupled with the following variations: The Ti(3+)- and V(3+)-hexaaqua ions switch from T(h)() to C(i)() symmetry while the Mn(3+)-hexaaqua ion moves to D(2)(h)() symmetry. The loss of orbital overlap leading to a diminished ligand-to-metal charge transfer toward the single occupied metal orbitals is compensated by amplified bonding interactions of the ligand orbitals with the unoccupied metal orbitals to some extent.     

Ru修饰前后Pd(111)面的性质及对糠醛吸附的比较研究

采用密度泛函理论研究了Pd(111)面和Ru-Pd(111)面的性质及对糠醛的吸附.原子尺寸因素、相对键长、形成能及d带中心等计算结果表明,Ru-Pd(111)面比Pd(111)面稳定且活性强,Ru的修饰优化了Pd(111)面的几何构型.糠醛在Pd(111)面及Ru-Pd(111)面的初始吸附位分别为P(top-bridge)位及P(Pd-fcc-Ru-fcc)位时,吸附能最大,吸附构型最稳定.由电荷布局和差分电荷密度可得,糠醛在Ru-Pd(111)面上电荷转移数更多,相互作用更强烈,因此吸附能更大.分析态密度可知,产生吸附的主要原因是位于-7.34 eV处至费米能级处的p,d轨道杂化.吸附于Ru-Pd(111)面后糠醛分子的p轨道向低能级偏移程度更明显,使Ru改性后的Pd催化剂具有更好的催化活性.     

洁净和氧吸附的Cu(100)表面重构的理论研究

The interaction of atomic oxygen with the clean Cu(100) surface has been studied by means of cluster and periodic slab models density functional theory in the present paper. The Cu(4,9,4) cluster and a three-layer slab with c(2×2) structure are used to model the perfect Cu(100) surface. Three possible adsorption sites,top, bridge and hollow site, were considered in the calculations. The predicted results show that the hollow site is the prefer site for atomic oxygen adsorbed on Cu(100) surface energetically. This is in good agreement with the experiment. The calculated binding energies are respective 2.014, 3.154 and 3.942 eV for top, bridge and hollow sites at mPW1PW91/LanL2dz level for the cluster model. The geometry of Cu(100) surface has also been optimized theoretically with various density functional methods and the results show that the prediction from the B3PW91/LanL2dz and mPW1PW91/LanL2dz reproduce the experimental observation.The frontier molecular orbitals and partial density of states analysis show that the electron transfer from the d orbital of substrate to the p orbital of the surface oxygen atom.     

Proton-coupled electron transfer versus hydrogen atom transfer in benzyl/toluene,methoxyl/methanol,and phenoxyl/phenol self-exchange reactions

Degenerate hydrogen atom exchange reactions have been studied using calculations, based on density functional theory (DFT), for (i) benzyl radical plus toluene, (ii) phenoxyl radical plus phenol, and (iii) methoxyl radical plus methanol. The first and third reactions occur via hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanisms. The transition structure (TS) for benzyl/toluene hydrogen exchange has C(2)(h)() symmetry and corresponds to the approach of the 2p-pi orbital on the benzylic carbon of the radical to a benzylic hydrogen of toluene. In this TS, and in the similar C(2) TS for methoxyl/methanol hydrogen exchange, the SOMO has significant density in atomic orbitals that lie along the C-H vectors in the former reaction and nearly along the O-H vectors in the latter. In contrast, the SOMO at the phenoxyl/phenol TS is a pi symmetry orbital within each of the C(6)H(5)O units, involving 2p atomic orbitals on the oxygen atoms that are essentially orthogonal to the O.H.O vector. The transferring hydrogen in this reaction is a proton that is part of a typical hydrogen bond, involving a sigma lone pair on the oxygen of the phenoxyl radical and the O-H bond of phenol. Because the proton is transferred between oxygen sigma orbitals, and the electron is transferred between oxygen pi orbitals, this reaction should be described as a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). The PCET mechanism requires the formation of a hydrogen bond, and so is not available for benzyl/toluene exchange. The preference for phenoxyl/phenol to occur by PCET while methoxyl/methanol exchange occurs by HAT is traced to the greater pi donating ability of phenyl over methyl. This results in greater electron density on the oxygens in the PCET transition structure for phenoxyl/phenol, as compared to the PCET hilltop for methoxyl/methanol, and the greater electron density on the oxygens selectively stabilizes the phenoxyl/phenol TS by providing a larger binding energy of the transferring proton.     

Reduced Pd density of states in Pd/SAM/Au junctions: the role of adsorbed hydrogen atoms

Experiments have shown that a Pd monolayer deposited electrochemically on a Au-supported self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 4-mercaptopyridine (Mpy) exhibits a strongly reduced Pd local density of states (LDOS) at the Fermi energy (E(f)). Understanding the origin of this modified electronic structure is crucial for the use of the sandwich design as a platform for future nanoelectronics. Here we suggest that hydrogen adsorption might be the origin of the modified electronic properties. We performed periodic density functional theory calculation to explore the influence of hydrogen adsorption on the geometric and electronic structure of a Pd/Mpy/Au(111) complex. Dissociative adsorption of H(2) on a Pd monolayer on top of a Mpy SAM is a strongly exothermic process leading to atomic hydrogen atoms preferentially located at the hollow sites. Due to the formation of a strong Pd-H bond the Pd-SAM interaction realized via one-fold N-Pd bonds is substantially weakened. Upon hydrogen adsorption, the Pd LDOS becomes significantly modified exhibiting a drastic reduction of the density of states at E(f). The calculated spectra are in a good agreement with the experiment for a hydrogen coverage corresponding to two monolayers which is still thermodynamically allowed.     

Hydrogen adsorption on Ce/SWCNT systems: a DFT study

The adsorption of H(2) on Ce doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and graphene are investigated by using density functional theory. For both systems, it is found that Ce preferentially occupies the hollow site on the outside. The results indicate that Ce/SWCNT system is a good candidate for hydrogen storage where six H(2) per Ce can be adsorbed and 5.14 wt% H(2) can be stored in the Ce(3)/SWCNT system. Among metal-doped SWCNTs, Ce exhibits the most favorable hydrogen adsorption characteristics in terms of the adsorption energy and the uptake capacity. The hybridization of the Ce-4f and Ce-5d orbitals with the H orbital contributes to the H(2) binding where Ce-4f electrons participate in the hybridization due to the instability of the 4f state. The interaction between H(2) and Ce/SWCNT is balanced by the electronic hybridization and electrostatic interactions. Curvature of SWCNT changes the size of the binding energy of Ce and C and the adsorption energy of H(2) on Ce.     

氢原子吸附的Cu(100)表面原子结构和电子态

用密度泛函理论的总能计算研究了金属铜(100)面的表面原子结构以及在不同覆盖度时氢原子的吸附状态. 研究结果表明, 在Cu(100)c(2×2)/H表面体系中, 氢原子吸附的位置是在空洞位置, 距最外层Cu原子层的距离为0.052 nm, 相应的Cu—H键长为0.189 nm, 并通过计算结构参数优化否定了其它的吸附位置模型. 总能计算得出Cu(100)c(2×2)/H表面的功函数为4.47 eV, 氢原子在这一体系的吸附能为2.37 eV(以孤立氢原子为能量参考点). 通过与衬底原子的杂化, 氢原子形成了具有二维特征的氢能带结构, 在费米能级以下约0.8 eV处出现的表面局域态是Cu(S)-H-Cu(S-1)型杂化的结果. 采用Cu(100)表面p(1×1)、p(2×2)和p(3×3)的三种氢吸附结构分别模拟1, 1/4, 1/9的原子单层覆盖度, 计算结果表明, 随着覆盖度的增加, 被吸附的氢原子之间的距离变短, 使得它们之间的静电排斥和静电能增大, 从而导致表面吸附能和吸附H原子与最外层Cu原子间垂直距离(ZH-Cu)逐渐减小. 在较低的覆盖度下, 氢原子对Cu(100)表面的影响主要表现为单个原子吸附作用的形式. 通过总能计算还排除了Cu(100)表面(根号2×2根号2)R45°-2H缺列再构吸附模型的可能性.     

Enzymatic mechanism of Fe-only hydrogenase: density functional study on H-H making/breaking at the diiron cluster with concerted proton and electron transfers

The mechanism of the enzymatic hydrogen bond forming/breaking (2H(+) + 2e<==>H(2)) and the plausible charge and spin states of the catalytic diiron subcluster [FeFe](H) of the H cluster in Fe-only hydrogenases are probed computationally by the density functional theory. It is found that the active center [FeFe](H) can be rationally simulated as [[H](CH(3)S)(CO)(CN(-))Fe(p)(CO(b))(mu-SRS)Fe(d)(CO)(CN(-))L], where the monovalence [H] stands for the [4Fe4S](H)(2+) subcluster bridged to the [FeFe](H) moiety, (CH(3)S) represents a Cys-S, and (CO(b)) represents a bridging CO. L could be a CO, H(2)O, H(-), H(2), or a vacant coordination site on Fe(d). Model structures of possible redox states are optimized and compared with the X-ray crystallographic structures and FTIR experimental data. On the basis of the optimal structures, we study the most favorable path of concerted proton transfer and electron transfer in H(2)-forming/breaking reactions at [FeFe](H). Previous mechanisms derived from quantum chemical computations of Fe-only hydrogenases (Cao, Z.; Hall, M. B. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 3734; Fan, H.; Hall, M. B. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 3828) involved an unidentified bridging residue (mu-SRS), which is either a propanedithiolate or dithiomethylamine. Our proposed mechanism, however, does not require such a ligand but makes use of a shuttle of oxidation states of the iron atoms and a reaction site between the two iron atoms. Therefore, the hydride H(b)(-) (bridged to Fe(p) and Fe(d)) and eta(2)-H(2) at Fe(p) or Fe(d) most possibly play key roles in the dihydrogen reversible oxidation at the [FeFe](H) active center. This suggested way of H(2) formation/splitting is reminiscent of the mechanism of [NiFe] hydrogenases and therefore would unify the mechanisms of the two related enzymes.     

Interaction of Hg Atom with Bare Si（111） Surface

1INTRODUCTION In the past decades,mercury has been a very use-ful electrode material in the fabrication and electrical measurement of molecule modified metal-metal and metal-semiconductor junctions.Majda et al.[1,2]constructed a symmetric Hg-SCn-CnS-Hg junction to study the electron tunneling properties of alkanethio-late bilayers.Whitesides et al.[3～5]fabricated Hg-SAM/SAM-Metal(Ag,Au,Cu)junctions to investi-gate the electrical breakdown voltage of self-assem-bled monolayers(SAMs…     

Density Functional Theory Study of C2Hx（x=4～6） Adsorption on the Fe（110） Surface

The density functional theory(DFT) and self-consistent periodic calculation were used to investigate the C2Hx(x = 4～6) species adsorption on the Fe(110) surface. The adsorption energy and equilibrium geometry of the species C2Hx(x = 4～6) on four possible sites(top,hcp,SB and LB) on the Fe(110) surface were predicted and compared. Mulliken charges and density of states analysis of the most stable site have been discussed. It is found that the species of C2H6 and C2H5 are adsorbed strongly on the Fe(110) surface with calculated adsorption energy of -80.24 and -178.89 kJ·mol-1 at the Fe-LB(long-bridge) ,respectively. However,the C2H4 is adsorbed strongly on the Fe(110) surface with calculated adsorption energies of -114.96 kJ·mol-1 at the top. The results indicate that the charge transferring process can be completed by chemisorption between Fe(110) surface and the species. Moreover,the chemical bands can be formed by chemisorptions between the Fe(110) surface and the species,too.     

The Surface Chemistry of Water on Fe(100): A Density Functional Theory Study

The formation of water by hydrogenation of atomic oxygen is studied using density functional theory. Atomic oxygen preferentially adsorbs at the four‐fold hollow site, the hydroxyl group prefers the bridge site in a tilted configuration, and water is most stable when adsorbed at the top site with the two O? H bonds parallel to the Fe surface. Water formation by the hydrogenation of oxygen is a highly activated process on the Fe(100) surface, with similar activation energies, in the order of 1.1 eV, for the first and second hydrogen additions. A more favourable route for the addition of the second hydrogen atom involves the disproportionation of hydroxyl groups to form water and adsorbed oxygen. Dissociation of the OH is also likely since the activation energy is similar to that for disproportionation of 0.65 eV. Furthermore, the results show that the dissociation of water on Fe(100) is a non‐activated process: 0.16 eV for the zero‐coverage limit and 0.03 eV when surface oxygen is present. Herein, adsorption energies, structures and vibrational frequencies are presented for several adsorption states at 0.25 ML coverage, as well as the potential energy surface for water formation on Fe(100).     

Cluster and periodic DFT calculations: the adsorption of atomic nitrogen on M(111) (M = Cu, Ag, Au) surfaces

First-principle density functional calculations with cluster and slab models have been performed to investigate adsorption and thermally activated atomic nitrogen on M(111) (M = Cu, Ag, Au) surfaces. Optimized results indicate that the basis set of the N atom has a distinct effect on the adsorption energy but an indistinct one on the equilibrium distance. For the N/M(111) adsorption systems studied here, the threefold face centered cubic (fcc) hollow site is found to be the most stable adsorption site. The reason for the fcc site is that the perfected adsorption site has been explained by the density of states (DOS) analysis, that is, that N(2p) has the smallest DOS population near the Fermi level on the fcc site as compared with other adsorption sites. The variations of the adsorption energy as a function of adsorption site are similar and in the following order of N-M(111) binding strengths on a given site: Cu(111) > Ag(111) > Au(111). It is found that the N atom forms essentially an ionic bond for the most stable site. Large contributions between the M(ns) and N(2p) orbitals (n = 4, 5, and 6 for Cu, Ag, and Au, respectively) are found for the cluster model at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ-6-31G(d,p) level and also found in the slab DFT-GGA calculation results, which are the main characteristics of M-N bonds. At last, the dissociation of N2 on Cu(111) and Au(111) has also been obtained in this work, and the results showed that the dissociation of N2 on Cu(111) is more active than that on the Au(111) surface.     

Computational study of analogues of the uranyl ion containing the -N=U=N- unit: density functional theory calculations on UO2(2+), UON+, UN2, UO(NPH3)3+, U(NPH3)2(4+), [UCl4[NPR3]2] (R = H, Me), and [UOCl4[NP(C6H5)3]

The electronic and geometric structures of the title species have been studied computationally using quasi-relativistic gradient-corrected density functional theory. The valence molecular orbital ordering of UO2(2+) is found to be pi g < pi u < sigma g < sigma u (highest occupied orbital), in agreement with previous experimental conclusions. The significant energy gap between the sigma g and sigma u orbitals is traced to the "pushing from below" mechanism: a filled-filled interaction between the semi-core uranium 6p atomic orbitals and the sigma u valence level. The U-N bonding in UON+ and UN2 is significantly more covalent than the U-O bonding in UON+ and UO2(2+). UO(NPH3)3+ and U(NPH3)2(4+) are similar to UO2(2+), UON+, and UN2 in having two valence molecular orbitals of metal-ligand sigma character and two of pi character, although they have additional orbitals not present in the triatomic systems, and the U-N sigma levels are more stable than the U-N pi orbitals. The inversion of U-N sigma/pi orbital ordering is traced to significant N-P (and P-H) sigma character in the U-N sigma levels. The pushing from below mechanism is found to destabilize the U-N f sigma molecular orbital with respect to the U-N d sigma level in U(NPH3)2(4+). The uranium f atomic orbitals play a greater role in metal-ligand bonding in UO2(2+), UN2, and U(NPH3)2(4+) than do the d atomic orbitals, although, while the relative roles of the uranium d and f atomic orbitals are similar in UO2(2+) and U(NPH3)2(4+), the metal d atomic orbitals have a more important role in the bonding in UN2. The preferred UNP angle in [UCl4(NPR3)2] (R = H, Me) and [UOCl4(NP(C6H5)3)]- is found to be close to 180 degrees in all cases. This preference for linearity decreases in the order R = Ph > R = Me > R = H and is traced to steric effects which in all cases overcome an electronic preference for bending at the nitrogen atom. Comparison of the present iminato (UNPR3) calculations with previous extended Hückel work on d block imido (MNR) systems reveals that in all cases there is little or no preference for linearity over bending at the nitrogen when R is (a) only sigma-bound to the nitrogen and (b) sterically unhindered. The U/N bond order in iminato complexes is best described as 3.     

Adsorption of Co2B2 and Ni2B2 Clusters on the TiO2 (110) Surface: a Density Functional Study

Based on density functional theory and generalized gradient approximation calculations, the adsorption of Co2B2 and Ni2B2 clusters on the rutile TiO2 (110) surface has been investigated utilizing periodic supercell models. Unambiguously, the results demonstrate that the hollow site turns out to be preferable for Co2B2 cluster while Ti2 site is for Ni2B2 cluster to adsorb. Orbital population analysis indicates a strong interaction between Co2B2 and O atom of TiO2 surface, which can be attributed to the overlap of Co 3d and surface O 2p orbital. Similarly, for Ni2B2 , the bonding interaction occurs mostly through the interaction of Ni 3d/4s and O 2p orbitals. Note that, there is also an interaction within the Co2B2 clusters (Ni2B2) through B 2s/2p and Co 3d orbitals (Ni 3d/4s). Moreover, orbital analysis results shows that the strong bonding between Ni2B2 and Ti2 site is due to the overlap of HOMO of Ni2B2 and d-orbital of five-coordinated titanium atoms.