Size-selected Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopy Research Articles

Solvation of magnesium chloride dimer in water: The case of anionic and neutral clusters.

The structures of magnesium chloride dimer-water clusters, (MgCl2)2(H2O)n-/0, were investigated with size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations to understand the dissolution of magnesium chloride in water. The most stable structures were confirmed by comparing vertical detachment energies (VDEs) with the experimental measurements. A dramatic drop of VDE at n = 3 has been observed in the experiment, which is in accordance with the structural change of (MgCl2)2(H2O)n-. Compared to the neutral clusters, the excess electron induces two significant phenomena in (MgCl2)2(H2O)n-. First, the planar D2h geometry can be converted into a C3v structure at n = 0, making the Mg-Cl bonds easier to be broken by water molecules. More importantly, a negative charge-transfer-to-solvent process occurs after adding three water molecules (i.e., at n = 3), which leads to an obvious deviation in the evolution of the clusters. Such electron transfer behavior was noticed at n = 1 in monomer MgCl2(H2O)n-, indicating that the dimerization between two MgCl2 molecules can make the cluster more capable of binding electron. In neutral (MgCl2)2(H2O)n, this dimerization provides more sites for the added water molecules, which can stabilize the entire cluster and maintain its initial structure. Specifically, filling the coordination number to be 6 for Mg atoms can be seen as a link between structural preferences in the dissolution of the monomers, dimers, and extended bulk-state of MgCl2. This work represents an important step forward into fully understanding the solvation of MgCl2 crystals and other multivalent salt oligomers.

Structures and bonding properties of lithium polysulfide clusters LiSn-/0 (n = 3-5) and Li2S4-/0: size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

The structures and bonding properties of several lithium polysulfide clusters LiSn-/0 (n = 3-5) and Li2S4-/0 were investigated by size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy coupled with quantum chemistry calculations. The vertical detachment energies of LiS3-, LiS4-, and LiS5- were estimated to be 2.17 ± 0.08, 3.30 ± 0.08 and 3.66 ± 0.08 eV, respectively, and that of Li2S4- was estimated to be 3.21 ± 0.08 eV. It is found that LiS3- and LiS3 have planar quadrilateral structures, and LiS4- and LiS4 have distorted five-membered ring structures. LiS5- has a distorted six-membered ring structure while neutral LiS5 has a book-shaped structure. The lowest-lying structure of Li2S4- can be viewed as a S2 unit connecting to the Li-Li edge of a Li2S2 tetrahedron. The lowest-lying structure of neutral Li2S4 can be viewed as a S2 unit connecting to the S atoms of a Li2S2 quadrilateral. The natural population analysis (NPA) and electron localization function (ELF) analyses show that the excess electron of LiSn- is mainly localized over the sulfur chains, especially on the S atoms interacting with Li, thus, the most stable structures of LiSn- can be regarded as a Li+ cation interacting with a Sn2- dianion. The results may be useful for understanding the formation of lithium polysulfides in lithium sulfur batteries.

Structures of (NaSCN)2(H2O)n -/0 (n = 0-7) and solvation induced ion pair separation: Gas phase anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

We studied (NaSCN)2(H2O)n - clusters in the gas phase using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. The photoelectron spectra and vertical detachment energies of (NaSCN)2(H2O)n - (n = 0-5) were obtained in the experiment. The structures of (NaSCN)2(H2O)n -/0 up to n = 7 were investigated with density functional theory calculations. Two series of peaks are observed in the spectra, indicating that two types of structures coexist, the high electron binding energy peaks correspond to the chain style structures, and the low electron binding energy peaks correspond to the Na-N-Na-N rhombic structures or their derivatives. For the (NaSCN)2(H2O)n - clusters at n = 3-5, the Na-N-Na-N rhombic structures are the dominant structures, the rhombic four-membered rings start to open at n = 4, and the solvent separated ion pair (SSIP) type of structures start to appear at n = 6. For the neutral (NaSCN)2(H2O)n clusters, the Na-N-Na-N rhombic isomers become the dominant starting at n = 3, and the SSIP type of structures start to appear at n = 5 and become dominant at n = 6. The structural evolution of (NaSCN)2(H2O)n -/0 (n = 0-7) confirms the possible existence of ionic clusters such as Na(SCN)2 - and Na2(SCN)+ in NaSCN aqueous solutions.

Comparison of the Microsolvation of CaX2 (X = F, Cl, Br, I) in Water: Size-Selected Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations.

To understand the microsolvation of alkaline-earth dihalides in water and provide information about the dependence of solvation processes on different halides, we investigated CaBr2(H2O)n-, CaI2(H2O)n-, and CaF2(H2O)n- (n = 0-6) clusters using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and conducted theoretical calculations on these clusters and their neutrals. The results are compared with those of CaCl2(H2O)n-/0 clusters reported previously. It is found that the vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of CaCl2(H2O)n-, CaBr2(H2O)n-, and CaI2(H2O)n- show a similar trend with increasing cluster size, while the VDEs of CaF2(H2O)n- show a different trend. The VDEs of CaF2(H2O)n- are much lower than those of CaCl2(H2O)n-, CaBr2(H2O)n-, and CaI2(H2O)n-. A detailed probing of the structures shows that a significant increase of the Ca-X distance (separation of Ca2+-X- ion pair) in CaCl2(H2O)n-/0, CaBr2(H2O)n-/0, and CaI2(H2O)n-/0 clusters occurred at about n = 5. However, for CaF2(H2O)n-/0, no abrupt change of the Ca-F distance with the increasing cluster size has been observed. In CaCl2(H2O)6-/0, CaBr2(H2O)6-/0, and CaI2(H2O)6-/0, the Ca atom coordinates directly with 5 H2O molecules. However, in CaF2(H2O)n-/0, the Ca atom coordinates directly with only 2 or 3 H2O molecules. The similarity or differences in the structures and coordination numbers are consistent with the fact that CaCl2, CaBr2, and CaI2 have similar solubility, while CaF2 has much lower solubility.

Structural and bonding properties of AlnC4−/0 (n = 2–4) clusters: Anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations

We measured the photoelectron spectra of AlnC4− (n=2-4) clusters by using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. The structures of AlnC4−/0 (n = 2–4) clusters were explored with quantum chemistry calculations and were determined by comparing the theoretical results with the experimental spectra. It is found that the most stable structure of Al2C4− anion is a C2v symmetry planar structure with two Al atoms interacting with two C2 units. In addition, Al2C4− anion also has a D∞h symmetry linear structure with two Al atoms located at the two ends of a C4 chain, which is slightly higher in energy than the planar structure. The most stable structure of neutral Al2C4 has a D∞h symmetry linear structure. The most stable structure of Al3C4− anion is a planar structure with three Al atoms interacting with two C2 units. Whereas neutral Al3C4 cluster has a C2v symmetric V-shaped bent structure. The global minima structures of both Al4C4− and neutral Al4C4 are C2h symmetry planar structures with four Al atoms interacting with the ends of two C2 units. Adaptive natural density partitioning analyses of AlnC4− (n=2−4) clusters show that the interactions between the Al atoms and C2 units have both σ and π characters.

Hydration processes of barium chloride: Size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations of BaCl2-water clusters.

In order to understand the hydration processes of BaCl2, we investigated BaCl2(H2O)n - (n = 0-5) clusters using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The structures of neutral BaCl2(H2O)n clusters up to n = 8 were also investigated by theoretical calculations. It is found that in BaCl2(H2O)n -/0, the Ba-Cl distances increase very slowly with the cluster size. The hydration process is not able to induce the breaking of a Ba-Cl bond in the cluster size range (n = 0-8) studied in this work. In small BaCl2(H2O)n clusters with n ≤ 5, the Ba atom has a coordination number of n + 2; however, in BaCl2(H2O)6-8 clusters, the Ba atom coordinates with two Cl atoms and (n - 1) water molecules, and it has a coordination number of n + 1. Unlike the previously studied MgCl2(H2O)n - and CaCl2(H2O)n -, negative charge-transfer-to-solvent behavior has not been observed for BaCl2(H2O)n -, and the excess electron of BaCl2(H2O)n - is mainly localized on the Ba atom rather on the water molecules. No observation of Ba2+-Cl- separation in current work is consistent with the lower solubility of BaCl2 compared to MgCl2 and CaCl2. Considering the BaCl2/H2O mole ratio in the saturated solution, one would expect that about 20-30 H2O molecules are needed to break the first Ba-Cl bond in BaCl2.

Microsolvation of Sodium Thiocyanate in Water: Gas Phase Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations.

We studied NaSCN(H2O)n- clusters in the gas phase using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. Vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of NaSCN(H2O)n- (n = 0-6) clusters were obtained in the experiment. Structures of NaSCN(H2O)n- (n = 0-6) clusters and their corresponding neutral counterparts were investigated by theoretical calculations. Our studies show that the Na-NCS type of structures rather than the Na-SCN type of structures are dominant in the gas phase for both anionic and neutral NaSCN(H2O)n clusters. For NaSCN(H2O)n- anions, the contact ion pair (CIP) and solvent-separated ion pair (SSIP) type of structures coexist at n = 2 and 3, the SSIP type of structures become dominant at n ≥ 4. For neutral NaSCN(H2O)n, the CIP type of structures are dominant from n = 1 to 6 and the SSIP type of structures start to appear at n = 6. The gas phase structures in this work support the existence of ion clustering in concentrated NaSCN aqueous solutions.

Structural evolution and electronic properties of Au2Gen−/0 (n=1−8) clusters: Anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations

Investigating the structures and properties of Au-Ge mixed clusters can give insight into the microscopic mechanisms in gold-catalyzed Ge films and can also provide valuable information for the production of germanium-based functional materials. In this work, size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations were used to explore the structural evolution and electronic properties of Au2Gen−/0 (n=1–8) clusters. It is found that the two Au atoms in Au2Gen−/0 (n=1–8) showed high coordination numbers and weak aurophilic interactions. The global minima of Au2Gen− anions and Au2Gen neutrals are in spin doublet and singlet states, respectively. Au2Gen− anions and Au2Gen neutrals showed similar structural features, except for Au2Ge4−/0 and Au2Ge5−/0. The C2v symmetric V-shaped structure is observed for Au2Ge1−/0, while Au2Ge2−/0 has a C2v symmetric dibridged structure. Au2Ge3−/0 can be viewed as the two Au atoms attached to different Ge–Ge bonds of Ge3 triangle. Au2Ge4− has two Au atoms edge-capping Ge4 tetrahedron, while Au2Ge4 neutral adopts a C2v symmetric double Au atoms face-capping Ge4 rhombus. Au2Ge5−8−/0 show triangular, tetragonal, and pentagonal prism-based geometries. Au2Ge6 adopts a C2v symmetric tetragonal prism structure and exhibits σ plus π double bonding characters.

Size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory study of MnCn -/0 (n = 3-10): Odd-even alternation and linear-cyclic structure competition.

The structural and electronic properties of MnCn - (n = 3-10) clusters have been investigated using size-selected photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. The vertical detachment energies of MnCn - exhibit a strong odd-even alternation with increasing number of carbon atoms: the vertical detachment energies of MnCn - containing even number of carbon atoms are higher than those of adjacent ones containing odd number of carbon atoms. The theoretical analyses indicate that the spin multiplicities and relative stabilities of MnCn -/0 also exhibit odd-even alternations. It is found that MnC3 - has three degenerate isomers with two linear structures in different electronic states and one fanlike structure. For n = 4-6, 8, and 10, the ground state structures are all linear with the Mn atom at one end. MnC7 - and MnC9 - have cyclic structures. As for the neutral species, MnC3 and MnC4 adopt fan-shaped structures, MnC5 has a linear structure, and MnC6-10 have cyclic configurations. The atomic dipole moment corrected Hirshfeld population analysis shows that the electrons transfer from the Mn atom to the Cn units. The total spin magnetic moments of MnCn -/0 (n = 3-10) clusters are mainly contributed by the local magnetic moments on the Mn atom.

Dynamical fluxionality, multiplicity of structural forms, and electronic properties of the B3Si11 cluster: anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

The geometrical structures and electronic properties of anionic, neutral, and cationic B3Si11 clusters were investigated by performing ab initio calculations combined with size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. The experimental photoelectron spectrum of the B3Si11- anion is reasonably reproduced by theoretical simulations of two competing isomers. The global minimum of the B3Si11- anion is formed by the fusion of a B3Si7 bicapped tetragonal antiprism to a B3Si4 pentagonal bipyramid by sharing a B3 triangle, while that of neutral B3Si11 has a B3-endohedral sandwich structure composed of a Si5 five-membered ring and a Si6 six-membered ring, and that of the B3Si11+ cation adopts a Si11 tricapped tetragonal antiprism with three face-capping B atoms. It is interesting that a Si5 five-membered ring and a Si6 six-membered ring are stabilized by three B atoms in B3Si11. The three B atoms tend to bond with each other to form a B3 triangle with stronger B-B bonds than B-Si bonds. Moreover, neutral B3Si11 exhibits σ + π double delocalized bonding patterns. Anionic, neutral, and cationic B3Si11 clusters have multiplicity of structural forms and their low-lying isomers show dynamical fluxionality. The bond lengths, bond orders, MO, constant electronic charge density surfaces, and PDOS analyses showed that the three B atoms in B3Si11 have strong bonding interactions.

Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Study of Cr nSi15- n- ( n = 1-3): Effects of Doping Cr Atoms on the Structural and Magnetic Properties.

Cr nSi15- n- ( n = 1-3) clusters were investigated by using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy combined with density functional theory calculations. The results show that the most stable structure of CrSi14- is of C2 v symmetry with the Cr atom encapsulated in a Si14 cage which can be viewed as a boat-shaped Si10 unit capped by four additional silicon atoms. A large HOMO-LUMO gap of neutral CrSi14 is confirmed based on the photoelectron spectrum of CrSi14- anion. Cr2Si13- has two isomers nearly degenerate in energy: one can be characterized as one Si atom interacting with a Cr2Si12 hexagonal prism while the other can be viewed as one Si atom capping a distorted Cr2Si12 hexagonal antiprism. Cr3Si12- has a D6 d symmetric wheel structure in which three Cr atoms form an axle surrounded by 12 Si atoms. The magnetic moments of CrSi14-, Cr2Si13-, and Cr3Si12- increase from 1 to 3 μB and then to 7 μB with the increasing number of Cr atoms in the clusters. The magnetic moments of Cr2Si13- and Cr3Si12- are mainly contributed by the surface Cr atoms.

Structural evolution and bonding properties of (n = 4-12) clusters: Size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

Size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations were used to investigate the structural evolution and bonding properties of BSin -/0 (n = 4-12) clusters. The results showed that the B atom in BSi4-12 -/0 prefers to occupy the high coordination sites to form more B-Si bonds. The lowest-lying isomers of BSi4-7 -/0 primarily adopt bowl-shaped based geometries, while those of BSi8-12 -/0 are mainly dominated by prismatic based geometries. For anionic clusters, BSi11 - is the critical size of the endohedral structure, whereas BSin neutrals form the B-endohedral structure at n = 9. Interestingly, both anionic and neutral BSi11 have a D 3h symmetric tricapped tetragonal antiprism structure with the B atom at the center and exhibit 3D aromaticity. The BSi11 - anion possesses σ plus π doubly delocalized bonding characters. The natural population analysis charge distributions on the B atom are related with the structural evolution of BSin - and the B-Si interactions.

Molecular dynamics simulation, ab initio calculation, and size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy study of initial hydration processes of calcium chloride.

To understand the initial hydration processes of CaCl2, we performed molecular simulations employing the force field based on the theory of electronic continuum correction with rescaling. Integrated tempering sampling molecular dynamics were combined with ab initio calculations to overcome the sampling challenge in cluster structure search and refinement. The calculated vertical detachment energies of CaCl2(H2O)n- (n = 0-8) were compared with the values obtained from photoelectron spectra, and consistency was found between the experiment and computation. Separation of the Cl-Ca ion pair is investigated in CaCl2(H2O)n- anions, where the first Ca-Cl ionic bond required 4 water molecules, and both Ca-Cl bonds are broken when the number of water molecules is larger than 7. For neutral CaCl2(H2O)n clusters, breaking of the first Ca-Cl bond starts at n = 5, and 8 water molecules are not enough to separate the two ion pairs. Comparing with the observations on magnesium chloride, it shows that separating one ion pair in CaCl2(H2O)n requires fewer water molecules than those for MgCl2(H2O)n. Coincidentally, the solubility of calcium chloride is higher than that of magnesium chloride in bulk solutions.

Structural and bonding properties of BS−/0 and BS3−/0

The structures of BS− and BS3− were determined by the combination of size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

Nonconventional Hydrogen Bonds between Silver Anion and Nucleobases: Size-Selected Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Density Functional Calculations.

We conducted combined gas-phase anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory studies on nucleobase-silver complexes. The most probable structures of the nucleobase-Ag- complexes were determined by comparing the theoretical calculations with the experimental measurements. The vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of uracil-Ag-, thymine-Ag-, cytosine-Ag-, and guanine-Ag- were estimated to be 2.18 ± 0.08, 2.11 ± 0.08, 2.04 ± 0.08, and 2.20 ± 0.08 eV, respectively, based on their photoelectron spectra. Adenine-Ag- has two isomers coexisting in the experiment; the experimental VDEs of the two isomers are 2.18 and 2.53 eV, respectively. In the most probable isomers of nucleobases-Ag-, uracil, thymine, and cytosine interact with Ag- anion via N-H···Ag and C-H···Ag hydrogen bonds, while adenine and guanine interact with Ag- anion through two N-H···Ag hydrogen bonds. The N-H···Ag hydrogen bonds can be characterized as medium or strong hydrogen bonds. It is found that binding sites of the Ag anion to the nucleobases are affected by the deprotonation energies and the steric effects of two adjacent X-H groups.

Transition-Metal-Centered Monocyclic Boron Wheel Clusters (M©Bn): A New Class of Aromatic Borometallic Compounds

Atomic clusters have intermediate properties between that of individual atoms and bulk solids, which provide fertile ground for the discovery of new molecules and novel chemical bonding. In addition, the study of small clusters can help researchers design better nanosystems with specific physical and chemical properties. From recent experimental and computational studies, we know that small boron clusters possess planar structures stabilized by electron delocalization both in the σ and π frameworks. An interesting boron cluster is B(9)(-), which has a D(8h) molecular wheel structure with a single boron atom in the center of a B(8) ring. This ring in the D(8h)-B(9)(-) cluster is connected by eight classical two-center, two-electron bonds. In contrast, the cluster's central boron atom is bonded to the peripheral ring through three delocalized σ and three delocalized π bonds. This bonding structure gives the molecular wheel double aromaticity and high electronic stability. The unprecedented structure and bonding pattern in B(9)(-) and other planar boron clusters have inspired the designs of similar molecular wheel-type structures. But these mimics instead substitute a heteroatom for the central boron. Through recent experiments in cluster beams, chemists have demonstrated that transition metals can be doped into the center of the planar boron clusters. These new metal-centered monocyclic boron rings have variable ring sizes, M©B(n) and M©B(n)(-) with n = 8-10. Using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, researchers have characterized these novel borometallic molecules. Chemists have proposed a design principle based on σ and π double aromaticity for electronically stable borometallic cluster compounds, featuring a highly coordinated transition metal atom centered inside monocyclic boron rings. The central metal atom is coordinatively unsaturated in the direction perpendicular to the molecular plane. Thus, chemists may design appropriate ligands to synthesize the molecular wheels in the bulk. In this Account, we discuss these recent experimental and theoretical advances of this new class of aromatic borometallic compounds, which contain a highly coordinated central transition metal atom inside a monocyclic boron ring. Through these examples, we show that atomic clusters can facilitate the discovery of new structures, new chemical bonding, and possibly new nanostructures with specific, advantageous properties.

First-principles study of the electronic structures of icosahedral TiN (N=13,19,43,55) clusters.

We have studied the electronic structures of icosahedral Ti(N) clusters (N=13, 19, 43, and 55) by using a real-space first-principles cluster method with generalized gradient approximation for exchange-correlation potential. The hexagonal close-packed and fcc close-packed clusters have been studied additionally for comparisons. It is found that the icosahedral structures are the most stable ones except for Ti(43), where fcc close-packed structure is favorable in energy. We present and discuss the variation of bond length, the features of the highest occupied molecular orbitals and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, the evolution of density of states, and the magnetic moment in detail. The results are in good agreement with the predictions from the collision-induced dissociation and size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy experiments.

Probing the electronic structure of iron clusters using photoelectron spectroscopy

The electronic structure of small iron clusters, Fe n − ( n=3–34), was investigated using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy at three photon energies: 355, 266, and 193 nm. Temperature-dependent studies were performed for selected clusters at 355 nm. The spectra of cold clusters at 355 nm revealed well-resolved electronic transitions. An unusually sharp threshold peak was observed for a number of clusters, particularly for n=12–15. The electronic structure variations as a function of size were found to correlate well with changes in the cluster chemical reactivity in the same size ranges. The 193-nm photoelectron spectra, which provided a broader range of valence band electronic structures for the clusters, were compared to bulk photoemission spectra. The electronic structure revealed at 193 nm was found to exhibit bulk-like behavior starting at Fe 25. This observation was also consistent with the size dependence of the cluster electron affinities, ionization potentials, and chemical reactivity, which all showed more smooth size variations above Fe 25. It was also shown that the obtained electronic structure information from the well-resolved photoelectron spectra will be valuable to compare with and verify ab initio calculations in order to completely understand the chemical, structural, and magnetic properties of the iron clusters.

Electronic structure of small titanium clusters: Emergence and evolution of the 3d band.

The electronic structure of titanium clusters $({\mathrm{Ti}}_{n},n\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}3--65)$ is probed by size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. It is observed that the 3d band emerges at the eight-atom cluster beyond which the d band broadens and evolves toward that of the bulk. The electronic structure of the titanium clusters is found to become bulklike at relatively small cluster sizes. This is discussed in terms of the delocalization of the titanium 3d orbitals and the implications for the cluster structures.

Probing the electronic structure of small iron clusters

The electronic structure of small iron clusters is probed with size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. The photoelectron spectra for Fe 9 − to Fe 16 − exhibit consistently sharp features near the threshold and their spectral changes correlate well with changes of their chemical reactivity. Extended Hückel calculations, based on body centered cubic structures for Fe 9 to Fe 16, provide a reasonable explanation of the experiment. These calculations also yield insights into the cluster magnetism and allow an interpretation of the cluster chemical reactivity based on their electronic structure.