Electron distribution in partially reduced mixed metal oxide systems: infrared spectroscopy of CemVnOo(+) gas-phase clusters

Vibrational predissociation spectra of rare-gas-tagged [(CeO(2))(VO(2))(1-2)](+) and [(Ce(2)O(3))(VO(2))](+) clusters are measured in the 400-1200 cm(-1) region. Density functional theory (DFT) is used to determine the geometric and electronic structure of low-energy isomers of the partially reduced clusters. Comparison of experimental and simulated spectra provides evidence for the larger stability of Ce(+3)/V(+5) compared to that of Ce(+4)/V(+4), which confirms that the exceptionally high reducibility of Ce(+4) accounts for the promoting role of ceria in supported vanadium oxide catalysts.     

Structure characterization of metal oxide clusters by vibrational spectroscopy: possibilities and prospects

This article summarizes the methodological progress that has been made in the vibrational spectroscopy of isolated polynuclear metal oxide clusters, with particular emphasis on free electron laser-based infrared action spectroscopy of gas phase clusters, over the last decade. The possibilities, limitations and prospects of the various experimental approaches are discussed using representative examples from pivotal studies in the field.     

Gas phase vibrational spectroscopy of mass-selected vanadium oxide anions

The vibrational spectra of vanadium oxide anions ranging from V(2)O(6)(-) to V(8)O(20)(-) are studied in the region from 555 to 1670 cm(-1) by infrared multiple photon photodissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. The cluster structures are assigned and structural trends identified by comparison of the experimental IRMPD spectra with simulated linear IR absorption spectra derived from density functional calculations, aided by energy calculations at higher levels of theory. Overall, the IR absorption of the V(m)O(n)(-) clusters can be grouped in three spectral regions. The transitions of (i) superoxo, (ii) vanadyl and (iii) V-O-V and V-O single bond modes are found at approximately 1100 cm(-1), 1020 to 870 cm(-1), and 950 to 580 cm(-1), respectively. A structural transition from open structures, including at least one vanadium atom forming two vanadyl bonds, to caged structures, with only one vanadyl bond per vanadium atom, is observed in-between tri- and tetravanadium oxide anions. Both the closed shell (V(2)O(5))(2,3)VO(3)(-) and open shell (V(2)O(5))(2-4)(-) anions prefer cage-like structures. The (V(2)O(5))(3,4)(-) anions have symmetry-broken minimum energy structures (C(s)) connected by low-energy transition structures of C(2v) symmetry. These double well potentials for V-O-V modes lead to IR transitions substantially red-shifted from their harmonic values. For the oxygen rich clusters, the IRMPD spectra prove the presence of a superoxo group in V(2)O(7)(-), but the absence of the expected peroxo group in V(4)O(11)(-). For V(4)O(11)(-), use of a genetic algorithm was necessary for finding a non-intuitive energy minimum structure with sufficient agreement between experiment and theory.     

Electronic spectroscopy of toluene-rare-gas clusters: the external heavy atom effect and vibrational predissociation

Toluene-X van der Waals clusters (where X = Ne, Ne2, Ar, Ar2, Kr, Xe) have been investigated by fluorescence excitation spectroscopy in the region of the S1-S0 transition. With the exception of Xe, for each rare-gas studied, we have assigned cluster transitions in the region of all the strong monomer vibrational bands up to 1000 cm(-1) above the origin band. We have further investigated the S1 relaxation dynamics for each vibrational level of each complex, via their fluorescence decay profiles. Clustering with neon has little appreciable effect on the vibrationless S1 lifetime. By contrast, the clusters with argon and krypton exhibit markedly shorter fluorescence lifetimes compared with the monomer. The effect is so severe in the case of toluene-Xe clusters that no fluorescence signals were observed. We interpret these results in terms of an external heavy atom effect in which the rate of intersystem crossing in toluene is influenced by the cluster partner. For clusters built upon excited S1 vibrational levels, the situation is potentially complicated by intramolecular vibrational redistribution and vibrational predissociation (VP). The majority of the fluorescence decay profiles were satisfactorily modeled using single exponential decays. The emission following pumping of the 37(1) level in the toluene-Kr cluster, however, is an exception. We have modeled the decay of this level with a simple kinetic scheme including VP and determined a predissociation rate of (1.04 +/- 0.54) x 10(7) s(-1).     

Identification, structure, and spectroscopy of neutral vanadium oxide clusters

Neutral vanadium oxide clusters are studied by photoionization time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Mass spectra of vanadium oxide clusters are observed by photoionization with lasers of three different wavelengths: 118, 193, and 355 nm. Mechanisms of 118 nm single photon ionization and 193 and 355 nm multiphoton ionization/fragmentation of vanadium oxide clusters are discussed on the basis of observed mass spectral patterns and line widths of the mass spectral features. Only the 118 nm laser light can ionize vanadium oxide neutral species by single photon ionization without fragmentation. The stable vanadium oxide neutral clusters under saturated oxygen growth conditions are found to be of the form (VO2)x(V2O5)y. Structures of the first few members of this series of clusters are determined through high level DFT calculations. Fragmentation of this series of clusters through 355 and 193 nm multiphoton ionization processes is discussed in light of these calculated structures. The B(2)B2 <-- X(2)A1 transition is observed for the VO2 neutral species, and nu1 and nu2 vibrations are assigned for both electronic states. From this spectrum, the VO2 rotational and vibrational temperatures are found to be approximately 50 and approximately 700 K, respectively.     

Structural variability in transition metal oxide clusters: gas phase vibrational spectroscopy of V3O(6-8)+

We present gas phase vibrational spectra of the trinuclear vanadium oxide cations V(3)O(6)(+)·He(1-4), V(3)O(7)(+)·Ar(0,1), and V(3)O(8)(+)·Ar(0,2) between 350 and 1200 cm(-1). Cluster structures are assigned based on a comparison of the experimental and simulated IR spectra. The latter are derived from B3LYP/TZVP calculations on energetically low-lying isomers identified in a rigorous search of the respective configurational space, using higher level calculations when necessary. V(3)O(7)(+) has a cage-like structure of C(3v) symmetry. Removal or addition of an O-atom results in a substantial increase in the number of energetically low-lying structural isomers. V(3)O(8)(+) also exhibits the cage motif, but with an O(2) unit replacing one of the vanadyl oxygen atoms. A chain isomer is found to be most stable for V(3)O(6)(+). The binding of the rare gas atoms to V(3)O(6-8)(+) clusters is found to be strong, up to 55 kJ/mol for Ar, and markedly isomer-dependent, resulting in two interesting effects. First, for V(3)O(7)(+)·Ar and V(3)O(8)(+)·Ar an energetic reordering of the isomers compared to the bare ion is observed, making the ring motif the most stable one. Second, different isomers bind different number of rare gas atoms. We demonstrate how both effects can be exploited to isolate and assign the contributions from multiple isomers to the vibrational spectrum. The present results exemplify the structural variability of vanadium oxide clusters, in particular, the sensitivity of their structure on small perturbations in their environment.     

Structures of cerium manganese pivalates

The Ce,Mn mixed-metal polynuclear compounds [Ce ₃Mn₆(O)₅(OH)₃Piv₁₂Cl₂(THF)₃]·2THF, [Ce₃Mn₈(O)₈Piv₁₆Cl₂(HPiv)₂]·C₇H₁₆, [Ce₁₀Mn₄(O)₆(OH)₁₂Piv₁₆Cl₂(THF)₂]·2THF·2H₂O, [CeMn₁₁Cl₃(O)₈Piv₁₅(H₂O)]·CH₂Cl₂, and [CeMn₈(O)₈Piv₁₂(HPiv)₂(THF)₂] were prepared and structurally characterized. The possibility of synthesizing p,d,f-heterospin complexes by replacing coordinated THF molecules by nitroxide molecules was exemplified by the reaction of [Ce₃Mn₆(O)₅(OH)₃Piv₁₂Cl₂(THF)₃]·2THF with nitronyl nitroxides (NIT-R is 2-R-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-24midazoline-l-oxyl 3-oxide; R is Me or 4-Py). The X-ray diffraction study of these complexes showed that [Ce₃Mn₆(O)₅(OH)₃Piv₁₂Cl₂(HPiv)(NIT-Me)₂] and [CeMn₈(O)₈Piv₁₂(NIT4-Py) ₄] · 2C₆H₁₄ have a molecular structure and [Ce₃Mn₆(O)₅(OH)₃-Piv₁₂Cl₂(NIT-Me)(H₂O)] is an infinite chain.     

Anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional study of small aluminum-vanadium oxide clusters

Small aluminum-vanadium oxide clusters, AlVO(y)(-) (y = 1-3) and Al(x)VO(2)(-) (x = 2, 3), were investigated with anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional calculations. The adiabatic detachment energies of AlVO(y)(-) were estimated to be 1.06 ± 0.05, 1.50 ± 0.08, and 2.83 ± 0.08 eV for y = 1, 2, and 3. Those of Al(2)VO(2)(-) and Al(3)VO(2)(-) were estimated to be 1.22 ± 0.08 and 1.25 ± 0.08 eV. Comparison of theoretical calculations with experimental measurement suggests that the most probable structure of AlVO(-) cluster is quasilinear with O atom in the middle. AlVO(2)(-) has an irregular chain structure of Al-O-V-O and a C(2v) cyclic structure very close in energy. The structure of AlVO(3)(-) cluster is evolved from the C(2v) cyclic AlVO(2)(-) structure by adding the third O atom to the V atom. Al(2)VO(2)(-) has a pair of nearly degenerate Al-O-V-O-Al chain structures that can be considered as cis and trans forms. Al(3)VO(2)(-) probably has two low-lying isomers each containing a four-membered ring. The structures of the corresponding neutral clusters are discussed.     

Experimental vibrational spectra of gas-phase tantalum cluster cations

We present gas-phase infrared spectra of tantalum cluster cations containing 6-20 atoms. Infrared multiple photon dissociation of their complexes with argon atoms is used to obtain vibrational spectra in the region between 90 and 305 cm(-1). Many spectra have features in common with the vibrational spectra of the lighter homologs, vanadium and niobium, pointing to a common cluster growth mechanism.     

Structures, energetics and vibrational spectra of CO2 clusters through molecular tailoring and cluster building algorithm

Clusters of CO(2) are a subject of detailed experimental as well as theoretical investigations due to their interesting applications. In the present article, CO(2) clusters (n = 6 to 13) are studied at the MP2 level of theory. The clusters are grown using a cluster building algorithm developed by our group and the larger ones are optimized at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level by employing a Molecular Tailoring Approach (MTA). Vibrational spectra of these clusters are also calculated at this level of theory within MTA. The computed vibrational frequencies for an asymmetric C-O stretch generally exhibit a blue shift with increasing cluster size. This observation is in agreement with the experimental results. MTA-single point energies for each cluster size at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level are also calculated for estimating the interaction energies at the complete basis set limit.     

Theoretical study on gas-phase conformations and vibrational assignment of methylphenidate

The molecular geometry, the normal mode frequencies and corresponding vibrational assignments of methylphenidate in the ground state were performed by DFT/B3LYP level of theory using the 6-311++G(d, p) basis set. Harmonic vibrational frequencies were calculated. The complete assignments were performed on the basis of the total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes, calculated with scaled quantum mechanics (SQM) method. The conformational stabilities and optimized geometrical parameters have been carried out with density functional theory with 6-311++G(d, p) basic set by the DFT/B3LYP method. The frequency calculations have been performed with DFT to study the vibrational properties and their dependence on the molecular conformation.     

Vibrational spectra and vibrational states of simple gas-phase hydrogen-bonded dimers

The article aims to outline the growth of evidence and ideas about infrared band broadening for simple, gaseous, moderately strong, hydrogen bonded dimers B…HA, to draw attention to areas in need of further development and to collect together experimental information available at the present time about vibrational states associated with such dimers. The band associated with the modified HA stretching mode, ν_s, is observed for several dimers not only to be broad, but to have sub-band structure, which is satisfactorily interpreted as arising from combination bands of ν_s with the low frequency stretch-mode ν_σ, giving a progression ν_s ± nν_σ as a result of strong anharmonic coupling. For weaker dimers with lower values of ν_σ the sub-band structure is less evident, and may appear only as shoulders, while for still weaker dimers, the sub-bands may be merged into a featureless broad band. A major factor contributing to the breadth of the individual sub-bands in the band structure is the presence of hot-bands, especially a long series based on successive excited states of the low-frequency bending mode ν_β. A link is indicated with the interpretation of band-broadening for moderately strong hydrogen-bonded complexes in the liquid state. The anharmonic coupling of ν_s and ν_σ is again a central feature but there is a new factor, namely the coupling of ν_σ through a fluctuating potential with the surroundings, which has the result that the ν_s mode rapidly loses phase coherence resulting in a broad structureless band.     

Structures and charging of alpha-alumina (0001)/water interfaces studied by sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy

Sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy in the OH stretch region was employed to study structures of water/alpha-Al2O3 (0001) interfaces at different pH values. Observed spectra indicate that protonation and deprotonation of the alumina surface dominate at low and high pH, respectively, with the interface positively and negatively charged accordingly. The point of zero charge (pzc) appears at pH approximately = 6.3, which is close to the values obtained from streaming potential and second-harmonic generation studies. It is significantly lower than the pzc of alumina powder. The result can be understood from the pK values of protonation and deprotonation at the water/alpha-Al2O3 (0001) interface. The pzc of amorphous alumina was found to be similar to that of powder alumina.     

N-H...pi interactions in pyrroles: systematic trends from the vibrational spectroscopy of clusters

Pyrrole and some of its methylated derivatives are aggregated in a controlled way in pulsed supersonic jet expansions. The cluster N-H stretching dynamics is studied using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Dimers, trimers and tetramers can be differentiated. Systematic trends in the dimer N-H...pi interaction as a function of methyl substitution are identified and explored for predictions. Overtone jet absorption spectroscopy is used to extract anharmonicities for the N-H bond in different environments. The N-H anharmonicity constant increases by 10% upon dimerization. Bulk matrix shifts can be emulated by the formation of Ar-decorated clusters. The experimental results are expected to serve as benchmarks for an accurate ab initio characterization of the N-H...pi hydrogen bond.     

Ab initio and experimental studies on structure and vibrational spectra of some partially reduced benzo[c]phenanthrenes

A systematic study has been conducted on the conformation, electronic structure and vibrational spectra of benzo[c]phenanthrene and some of its partially reduced derivatives by experimental infrared spectroscopic and quantum chemical techniques. Electrostatic potential surfaces have been mapped over the electron density isosurfaces to obtain information about the size, shape, charge density distribution and chemical reactivity of the molecules. Possibility of hydrogen-hydrogen bonding has been explored in all the molecules. Partial reduction of the aromatic rings in benzo[c]phenanthrene leads to considerable molecular distortion with the approximate mean angle between the terminal rings increasing from 27.3 degrees to 46.0 degrees . The distortion is unequally distributed near the aromatic and saturated rings; the latter absorbs most of strain due to flexibility of the rings. A complete vibrational analysis of the experimental infrared spectra has been reported on the basis of frequency and intensity of the vibrational bands and potential energy distribution over the internal coordinates and characteristic bands have been identified.     

Photodissociation spectroscopy of gas-phase ferrocene cation

The optical absorption spectrum of gas-phase ferrocene cation was measured by photodissociation (PO) spectroscopy between 570 nm and 643 nm. The PO process was loss of a cyclopentadienyl ring from the parent cation. Some structure was observed in the PO spectrum, with the highest PO being at 603 nm. The peak spacing did not correspond to a vibrational progression in the expected totally symmetric vibrational mode, and a possible assignment of the three apparent maxima involving electronic transitions from low-lying electronic states is proposed. Information on the dissociation threshold was sought by light intensity dependence measurements at 308 nm, 266 nm, and time-resolved PD measurements at 308 nrn, 266 nrn, and 240 nm. The PD at all of these wavelengths showed two-photon characteristics, indicating that the threshold for observable one-photon PO lies higher than about 5.4 eV.