Unusual magnetic properties of mixed-valence system: Multiconfigurational method theoretical study on Mn2+ cation

Abstract

The geometry structure, dissociation energy, vibrational frequencies, and low-lying spin-state energy spectrum of Mn2+ are investigated by using ab initio CASSCF/ECP10MDF, complete active space self-consistent field/atomic natural orbital basis sets (CASSCF/ANO-s), CASPT2/ECP10MDF, and second-order perturbation theory with CASSCF reference function/atomic natural orbital basis sets (CASPT2/ANO-s) levels of theory. For the ground state the dissociation energy of 1.397 eV calculated at the CASPT2/ANO-s level supports Jarrlod's experimental value of 1.39 eV. The equilibrium bond length and vibrational frequency are 2.940 A calculated at the CASPT2/ANO-s level of theory and 214.4 cm-1 calculated at the CASSCF/ANO-s level of theory, respectively. On the basis of the mixed-valence model, the Heisenberg exchange constant J(-71.2 cm-1) and the double-exchange constant B(647.7 cm-1) are extracted explicitly from the low-lying energy spectrum calculated at the higher levels of theory. The magnetic competition between the weaker Heisenberg exchange interactions and the stronger double-exchange interactions makes the ground state a 12Sigmag+ state, consistent with electron paramagnetic resonance experimental observation, which explains unusual magnetic properties of Mn2+, quite different from the antiferromagnetic ground state of Mn2 and Cr2. On the other hand, the results calculated at the higher levels of theory show the consistent antiferromagnetic Heisenberg exchange interactions between 3d-3d for Cr2, Mn2+, and Mn2.