Janus alkaline earthides with excellent NLO response from sodium and potassium as source of excess electrons; a first principles study

Abstract

Alkaline earthide is a well-known class of the excess electron compounds with potential applications as NLO materials. In this study, all-cis-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexafluor-ocyclohexane C6H6F6 (1), a high polarized complexant having the largest dipole moment (6.2D) among all the known aliphatic hydrocarbons, is selected as a suitable molecule for designing a new series of excess electron molecules, alkaline-earthides. Geometric, thermodynamic and electronic properties of A-1-AE (A = Li, Na, K and AE = Be, Mg, Ca) are studied at M06-2X/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. More specifically, alkaline-earthide nature is confirmed by distribution of densities in HOMOs, VIE values and NBO analysis. The alkaline earthide possess moderate complexation energies (−6.56 to −14.19 kcal/mol), which demonstrate their thermodynamic stability. These alkaline earthides possess very small excitation energies (0.54–1.64 eV) and very large first hyperpolarizabilities (up to 4.14 × 109 au). The higher hyperpolarizabilities values are attributed to the presence of excess electrons on alkaline earth metals which is confirmed through the partial density of states (PDOS) analysis. The hyperpolarizabilities are rationalized through two level model approach. Large hyperpolarizability values illustrate that the alkaline-earthides are a very promising entry into excess electron compounds.