Vertical Detachment Energy Values Research Articles

Probing the geometric and electronic structures of the transition metal oxides RhOn–1/0 (n = 1–4) clusters

The photoelectron spectroscopies of RhOn– (n = 1–2) were obtained via using the photoelectron velocity-map imaging (PE-VMI) approach. The experimental values of the adiabatic detachment energy (ADE) and vertical detachment energy (VDE) for RhO– were reported to be 1.58 ± 0.02 eV. The experimental AED and VDE values of RhO2– were reported to be 2.70 ± 0.02 eV and 2.79 ± 0.02 eV, respectively. The vibrational frequencies of RhO– and RhO2– measured from photoelectron spectra (PES) were 817(76) cm−1 and 932(55) cm−1, respectively. Based on the density functional theory (DFT), the RhOn–1/0 (n = 1–4) clusters were investigated. The optimized configurations of corresponding ground states and low-lying clusters were discovered. Meanwhile, the simulated photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) of RhOn– (n = 1–4) and the theoretical ADE and VDE values of RhOn– (n = 1–4) clusters were unveiled to assist future experimental studies of Rhodium oxide clusters. Moreover, the associated molecular orbitals (MOs), natural population analysis (NPA) and bond order analysis have been utilized to investigate the chemical bonding in these groups.

Calculating Vertical Ionization Energies of Hydrated Biological Chromophores Based on Multiconfigurational Perturbation Theory

Here we introduce a methodology for calculating vertical detachment energies (VDE) and vertical ionization energies (VIE) of anionic and neutral chromophores in aqueous environment. The proposed method is based on the extended multiconfigurational quasidegenerate perturbation theory coupled to the explicit treatment of solvent effects in the frame of the effective fragment potential method. We show that the solvent polarization contribution must be considered for getting accurate quantitative estimations of VDEs and VIEs. The calculated values of VDE for phenolate (7.3 eV) and VIE for phenol (7.9 eV) in aqueous environment are in good agreement with the experimental results obtained using X-ray and multiphoton UV photoelectron spectroscopy. Our approach will be useful for studying processes of photoinduced electron transfer from anionic as well as neutral biological chromophores in aqueous solution.

Calculating Vertical Ionization Energies of Hydrated Biological Chromophores Based on Multiconfigurational Perturbation Theory

Here we introduce a methodology for calculating vertical detachment energies (VDE) and vertical ionization energies (VIE) of anionic and neutral chromophores in aqueous environment. The proposed method is based on the extended multiconfigurational quasidegenerate perturbation theory coupled to the explicit treatment of solvent effects in the frame of the effective fragment potential method. We show that the solvent polarization contribution must be considered for getting accurate quantitative estimations of VDEs and VIEs. The calculated values of VDE for phenolate (7.3 eV) and VIE for phenol (7.9 eV) in aqueous environment are in good agreement with the experimental results obtained using X-ray and multiphoton UV photoelectron spectroscopy. Our approach will be useful for studying processes of photoinduced electron transfer from anionic as well as neutral biological chromophores in aqueous solution.

Excess-electron attachment and ionization of aqueous uridine monophosphate anion

We applied quantum mechanics/classical mechanics simulations to study excess-electron attachment and ionization of uridine monophosphate anion (dUMP−) in explicit aqueous solutions. We calculated vertical electron affinities (VEAs), adiabatic electron affinities (AEAs), vertical detachment energies (VDEs), vertical ionization energies (VIEs), and adiabatic ionization energies (AIEs) of the 40 structures obtained from molecular dynamic trajectory. The excess-electron and hole distributions were analyzed in electron attachment and ionization of aqueous dUMP−. The converged mean VEA (−0.31 eV) and AEA (2.13 eV) suggest that excess-electron can easily attach to dUMP−. The mean vertical (−0.50 e) and adiabatic (−0.62 e) excess-electron on uracil reveal that main excess-electrons are localized on nucleobases at the most snapshots. The distributions at several special snapshots demonstrate the excess-electron delocalization over nucleobases/ribose or ribose/phosphate group after the structural relaxations of dUMP2− dianion. The VDE value (2.78 eV) indicates that dUMP2− dianion could be very stable. Moreover, the mean VIE is 8.13 eV which is in agreement with the previous calculation using solvation model. The hole distributions on uracil suggest that the nucleobases are easily ionized after the irradiation of high-energy rays. In vertical ionizations, the holes would be delocalized over uracil and ribose at several snapshots. Observing the adiabatic hole distributions, it can be found that electrons on phosphate group and holes on nucleobases can be transferred to ribose at the special snapshots in the structural relaxation of neutral species.

Anion photoelectron spectroscopic and relativistic coupled-cluster studies of uranyl dichloride anion, UO[formula omitted]Cl[formula omitted

A joint relativistic coupled-cluster and experimental photoelectron (PE) spectroscopic study of the uranyl dichloride anion, UO2Cl2−, is reported. Sophisticated electronic-structure calculations predict the photodetachment of UO2Cl2− to involve a U 5f electron and to be followed by significant geometry relaxation. Therefore, the adiabatic electron affinity (EAa) of the uranyl dichloride neutral molecule, UO2Cl2, and the vertical detachment energy (VDE) of its anion, UO2Cl2−, provide valuable information about its uranium 5f orbital energies. The EAa value was computed to be 3.15 eV. The VDE value was calculated to be 3.55 eV by augmenting the computed EAa with a shift derived from a Franck–Condon simulation using coupled-cluster potential energy surfaces. The VDE, which corresponds to the highest intensity peak in the PE spectrum, was measured to be 3.69 ± 0.20 eV, in good agreement with the computed value. The origin transition in the PE spectrum, whose electron binding energy corresponds to the EAa, was assigned to the feature at 3.2 ± 0.20 eV, consistent with the computed EAa.

Superatomic Signature and Reactivity of Silver Clusters with Oxygen: Double Magic Ag 17 – with Geometric and Electronic Shell Closure

Understanding the stability and reactivity of silver clusters toward oxygen provides insights to design new materials of coinage metals with atomic precision. Herein, we report a systematic study o...

Electron-induced proton transfer (EIPT) in 2-hydroxypyridine/2-pyridone tautomeric dimer anions: A photoelectron spectroscopic and density functional theory study

Anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory computations were conducted on the 2-hydroxypyridine/2-pyridone tautomeric dimer anion system. Their experimentally-measured, composite vertical detachment energy (VDE) of 1.21 ± 0.05 eV compares well with their theoretically-determined VDE values of 1.15 eV and 1.20 eV, supporting our conclusion that intermolecular electron-induced proton transfer (EIPT) has taken place in these dimer anions.

Communication: Water activation and splitting by single metal-atom anions.

We report experimental and computational results pertaining to the activation and splitting of single water molecules by single atomic platinum anions. The anion photoelectron spectra of [Pt(H2O)]-, formed under different conditions, exhibit spectral features that are due to the anion-molecule complex, Pt-(H2O), and to the reaction intermediates, HPtOH- and H2PtO-, in which one and two O-H bonds have been broken, respectively. Additionally, the observations of PtO- and H2 + in mass spectra strongly imply that water splitting via the reaction Pt- + H2O → PtO- + H2 has occurred. Extending these studies to nickel and palladium shows that they too are able to activate single water molecules, as evidenced by the formation of the reaction intermediates, HNiOH- and HPdOH-. Computations at the coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbatively connected triples level of theory provide structures and vertical detachment energies (VDEs) for both HMOH- and H2MO- intermediates. The calculated and measured VDE values are in good agreement and thus support their identification.

Photoelectron velocity map imaging spectroscopic and theoretical study of heteronuclear vanadium-nickel carbonyl anions VNi(CO) n - (n = 2-6).

Mass-selected heteronuclear vanadium-nickel carbonyl anions VNi(CO) n - (n = 2-6) were investigated by photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations to obtain their chemical bonding and intrinsic electronic structure in the gas phase. The calculated energies (adiabatic detachment energies)/vertical detachment energies (VDEs) match well with experimental values: 1.30/1.49, 1.66/1.95, 2.22/2.48, 2.70/2.89, and 2.95/3.15 eV. The VDE value of VNi(CO) n - increases with an increase of cluster size, implying that the negative electron is stabilized upon the bonding of CO molecules. VNi(CO)2 - consists of one bridging carbonyl and one terminal carbonyl, whose feature is different from MNi(CO)2 - (M = Sc, Y, La, and Ce) with the involvement of one side-on-bonded carbonyl and one terminal CO carbonyl. The building block composed of three bridging carbonyls is favored for VNi(CO)3 -, the structure of which persists up to n = 6. The additional CO ligands are preferentially coordinated in the terminal mode to the Ni atom at n = 4 and then to the V atom at n = 5 and 6. The results obtained in this work would provide a molecular-level understanding about chemisorbed CO molecules on alloy surfaces/interfaces, which is important to understand CO molecule activation processes.

Anionic water pentamer and hexamer clusters: An extensive study of structures and energetics.

An extensive study of structures and energetics for anionic pentamer and hexamer clusters is performed employing high level ab initio quantum chemical methods, such as the density-fitted orbital-optimized linearized coupled-cluster doubles (DF-OLCCD), coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD), and coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] methods. In this study, sixteen anionic pentamer clusters and eighteen anionic hexamer clusters are reported. Relative, binding, and vertical detachment energies (VDE) are presented at the complete basis set limit (CBS), extrapolating energies of aug4-cc-pVTZ and aug4-cc-pVQZ custom basis sets. The largest VDE values obtained at the CCSD(T)/CBS level are 9.9 and 11.2 kcal mol-1 for pentamers and hexamers, respectively, which are in very good agreement with the experimental values of 9.5 and 11.1 kcal mol-1. Our binding energy results, at the CCSD(T)/CBS level, indicate strong bindings in anionic clusters due to hydrogen bond interactions. The average binding energy per water molecules is -5.0 and -5.3 kcal mol-1 for pentamers and hexamers, respectively. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the DF-OLCCD method approaches to the CCSD(T) quality for anionic clusters. The inexpensive analytic gradients of DF-OLCCD compared to CCSD or CCSD(T) make it very attractive for high-accuracy studies.

Dipole-Bound Anions of Intramolecular Complexes.

Dipole-bound molecular anions are often envisioned as unperturbed neutral, polar molecules with single excess electrons. We report the observation of intramolecular structural distortions within silatrane molecules due to the formation of their dipole-bound anions. The combination of Rydberg electron transfer-anion photoelectron spectroscopy (RET-PES) and ab initio computational methodologies (CCSD and MP2) was used to study 1-hydro- (HS) and 1-fluoro- (FS) silatranes and their dipole bound anions, HS- and FS-. The vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of HS- and FS- were measured to be 48 and 93 meV, respectively. Ab initio calculations accurately reproduced these VDE values as well as their photoelectron spectral profiles. This work revealed significant shortening (by ∼0.1 Å) of dative Si ← N bond lengths when HS and FS formed dipole-bound anions, HS- and FS-. Detailed computational (Franck-Condon) analyses explained the absence of vibrational features in the photoelectron spectra of HS- and FS-.

Fe-V sulfur clusters studied through photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory.

Iron-vanadium sulfur cluster anions are studied by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) at 3.492 eV (355 nm) and 4.661 eV (266 nm) photon energies, and by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The structural properties, relative energies of different structural isomers, and the calculated first vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of different structural isomers for cluster anions FeVS1-3- and FemVnSm+n- (m + n = 3, 4; m > 0, n > 0) are investigated at a BPW91/TZVP theory level. The experimental first VDEs for these Fe-V sulfur clusters are reported. The most probable ground state structures and spin multiplicities for these clusters are tentatively assigned by comparing their theoretical and experiment first VDE values. For FeVS1-3- clusters, their first VDEs are generally observed to increase with the number of sulfur atoms from 1.45 eV to 2.86 eV. The NBO/HOMOs of the ground state of FeVS1-3- clusters are localized in a p orbital on a S atom; the partial charge distribution on the NBO/HOMO localized site of each cluster anion is responsible for the trend of their first VDEs. A less negative localized charge distribution is correlated with a higher first VDE. Structure and steric effect differences for FemVnSm+n- (m + n = 3, m > 0, n > 0) clusters are suggested to be responsible for their different first VDEs and properties. Two types of structural isomers are identified for FemVnSm+n- (m + n = 4, m > 0, n > 0) clusters: a tower structure isomer and a cubic structure isomer. The first VDEs for tower like isomers are generally higher than those for cubic like isomers of FemVnSm+n- (m + n = 4, m > 0, n > 0) clusters. Their first VDEs are can be understood through: (1) NBO/HOMO distributions, (2) structures (steric effects), and (3) partial charge numbers on the NBO/HOMO's localized sites. EBEs for excited state transitions for all Fe-V sulfur clusters are calculated employing OVGF and TDDFT approaches at the TZVP level. The OVGF approach for these Fe/V/S cluster anions is better for the higher transition energies than the TDDTF approach. The experimental and theoretical results for these Fe/V/S cluster anions are compared with their related pure iron sulfur cluster anions. Properties of the NBO/HOMO are essential for understanding and estimating the different first VDEs for Fe/V/S, and comparing them to those of the pure Fe/S cluster anions.

Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory Studies of Iron Sulfur (FeS)m– (m = 2–8) Cluster Anions: Coexisting Multiple Spin States

Iron sulfur cluster anions (FeS)m- (m = 2-8) are studied by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) at 3.492 eV (355 nm) and 4.661 eV (266 nm) photon energies, and by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The most probable structures and ground state spin multiplicities for (FeS)m- (m = 2-8) clusters are tentatively assigned through a comparison of their theoretical and experiment first vertical detachment energy (VDE) values. Many spin states lie within 0.5 eV of the ground spin state for the larger (FeS)m- (m ≥ 4) clusters. Theoretical VDEs of these low lying spin states are in good agreement with the experimental VDE values. Therefore, multiple spin states of each of these iron sulfur cluster anions probably coexist under the current experimental conditions. Such available multiple spin states must be considered when evaluating the properties and behavior of these iron sulfur clusters in real chemical and biological systems. The experimental first VDEs of (FeS)m- (m = 1-8) clusters are observed to change with the cluster size (number m). The first VDE trends noted can be related to the different properties of the highest singly occupied molecular orbitals (NBO, HSOMOs) of each cluster anion. The changing nature of the NBO/HSOMO of these (FeS)m- (m = 1-8) clusters from a p orbital on S, to a d orbital on Fe, and to an Fe-Fe bonding orbital is probably responsible for the observed increasing trend for their first VDEs with respect to m.

Carbon dioxide is tightly bound in the [Co(Pyridine)(CO2)](-) anionic complex.

The [Co(Pyridine)(CO2)](-) anionic complex was studied through the combination of photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. This complex was envisioned as a primitive model system for studying CO2 binding to negatively charged sites in metal organic frameworks. The vertical detachment energy (VDE) measured via the photoelectron spectrum is 2.7 eV. Our calculations imply a structure for [Co(Pyridine)(CO2)](-) in which a central cobalt atom is bound to pyridine and CO2 moieties on either sides. This structure was validated by acceptable agreement between the calculated and measured VDE values. Based on our calculations, we found CO2 to be bound within the anionic complex by 1.4 eV.

Structures and electron affinity of XO30,−, XOF40,− and XO2F20,− (X = P, As, Sb, Bi): a theoretical study of novel superhalogen formulae and exceptions of superhalogen formulae

Most superhalogen species are in the form of oxides or halides. To enrich the family of superhalogen species, herein, we investigated the structures and electron affinity (EA) values of higher group 15 elements (X = P, As, Sb, Bi) oxyfluoride species XO30,−, XOF40,− and XO2F20,−, at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ-pp & aug-cc-pVTZ //B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ-pp & aug-cc-pVTZ levels (aug-cc-pVTZ-pp for X = Sb and Bi). Some oxyfluoride species, i.e., PO2F20,−, AsO2F20,−, SbO2F20,−, POF40,−, AsOF40,−, SbOF40,− and BiOF40,−, were found to possess higher EA (VDE: 5.0–6.2 eV; ADE: 4.5–5.5 eV) than halogens (F: 3.4 eV; Cl: 3.6 eV). Thus, we recommended that the oxyfluorides in the form of XO2F20,− and XOF40,− should be considered as potential superhalogens, which have not been considered previously. Surprisingly, we showed that BiO3 and BiO2F2, in superhalogen formulae, possess a high vertical detachment energy (VDE) yet a low adiabatic detachment energy (ADE). This is in marked contrast to the previously reported superhalogens, which generally contain both the high VDE and high ADE values. It is the first report about exceptions of superhalogen formulae. These findings revealed that for the analogous main-group compounds with the same structural formula, the difference in the metallic property of the core element could lead to the significant difference in the ground structures of either the anionic or neutral structures, which would result in the much differed superhalogen features.

Equilibrium geometries, electronic and magnetic properties of small AunNi- (n = 1-9) clusters

Geometrical, electronic and magnetic properties of small Au n Ni - (n = 1-9) clusters have been investigated based on density functional theory (DFT) at PW91P86 level. An extensive structural search shows that the relative stable structures of Au n Ni - (n = 1-9) clusters adopt 2D structure for n = 1-5, 7 and 3D structure for n = 6, 8-9. And the substitution of a Ni atom for an Au atom in the [Formula: see text] cluster obviously changes the structure of the host cluster. Moreover, an odd–even alternation phenomenon has been found for HOMO–LUMO energy gaps, indicating that the relative stable structures of the Au n Ni - clusters with odd-numbered gold atoms have a higher relative stability. Finally, the natural population analysis (NPA) and the vertical detachment energies (VDE) are studied, respectively. The theoretical values of VDE are reported for the first time to our best knowledge.

Alanate Anion, AlH4–: Photoelectron Spectrum and Computations

The alanate anion, AlH4(-), was generated in the gas phase using a pulsed arc cluster ionization source. Its photoelectron spectrum was then measured with 193 nm photons. The spectrum consists of a broad feature, spanning electron binding energies from 3.8 eV to over 5.3 eV. This band reflects the photodetachment transitions between the ground state of the AlH4(-) anion and the ground state of its thermodynamically unstable neutral counterpart, AlH4. The vertical detachment energy (VDE) of AlH4(-) was measured to be 4.4 eV. Additionally, VDE values were also computed in a comprehensive theoretical study and compared both with the previously computed value and with our experimentally determined value.

Bottom-up substitution assembly of AuF4−n0,−+nPO3 (n = 1–4): a theoretical study of novel oxyfluoride hyperhalogen molecules and anions AuF4−n(PO3)n0,−

Compounds with high electron affinity, i.e. superhalogens, have continued to attract chemists’ attention, due to their potential importance in fundamental chemistry and materials science. It has now proven very effective to build up novel superhalogens with multi-positively charged centres, which are usually called ‘hyperhalogens’. Herein, using AuF4− and PO3 as the model building blocks, we made the first attempt to design the Au,P-based hyperhalogen anions AuF4−n(PO3)n− (n = 1–4) at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d)&SDD and CCSD(T)/6-311+G(d)&SDD (single-point) levels (6-311+G(d) for O, F, P and SDD for Au). Notably, for all the considered Au,P systems, the ground state bears a dioxo-bonded structure with n ≤ 3, which is significantly more stable than the usually presumed mono-oxo-bonded one. Moreover, the clustering of the –PO3 moieties becomes energetically favoured for n ≥ 3. The ground states of AuP4O120,− are the first reported cage-like oxide hyperhalogens. Thus, the −PO3 moiety cannot be retained during the ‘bottom-up’ assembly. The vertical detachment energy (VDE) value of the most stable AuF4−n(PO3)n− (n = 1–4) ranges from 7.16 to 8.20 eV, higher than the VDE values of the corresponding building blocks AuF4− (7.08 eV) and PO3− (4.69 eV). The adiabatic detachment energy values of these four hyperhalogens exceed 6.00 eV. Possible generation routes for AuF4−n(PO3)n− (n = 1–4) were discussed. The presently designed oxyfluorides not only enriches the family of hyperhalogens, but also demonstrates the great importance of considering the structural transformation during the superhalogen → hyperhalogen design such as for the present Au–P based systems.

Combined photoelectron, collision-induced dissociation, and computational studies of parent and fragment anions of N-paranitrophenylsulfonylalanine and N-paranitrophenylalanine

After synthesizing the compounds N-paranitrophenylsulfonylalanine (NPNPSA) and N-paranitrophenylalanine (NPNPA), the photoelectron spectrum of the valence anion of N-paranitrophenylsulfonylalanine (NPNPSA)(-), was measured and the collision-induced dissociation (CID) pathways of deprotonated N-paranitrophenylsulfonylalanine (NPNPSA-H)(-) and deprotonated N-paranitrophenylalanine (NPNPA-H)(-) were determined. Pertinent calculations were conducted to analyze both sets of experimental data. From the valence anion photoelectron spectrum of (NPNPSA)(-), the adiabatic electron affinity (AEA) of NPNPSA was determined to be 1.7 ± 0.1 eV, while the vertical detachment energy (VDE) of (NPNPSA)(-) was found to be 2.3 ± 0.1 eV. Calculations for four low lying conformers of (NPNPSA)(-) gave AEA values in the range of 1.6-2.1 eV and VDE values in the range of 2.0-2.4 eV. These calculations are in very good agreement with the experimental values. While the NPNPA anion (NPNPSA)(-) was not observed experimentally it was studied computationally. The six low lying (NPNPSA)(-) conformers were identified and calculated to have AEA values in the range of 0.7-1.2 eV and VDE values in the range of 0.9-1.6 eV. CID was used to study the fragmentation patterns of deprotonated NPNPA and deprotonated NPNPSA. Based on the CID data and calculations, the excess charge was located on the delocalized π-orbitals of the nitrobenzene moiety. This is made evident by the fact that the dominant fragments all contained the nitrobenzene moiety even though the parent anions used for the CID study were formed via deprotonation of the carboxylic acid. The dipole-bound anions of both molecules are studied theoretically using the results of previous studies on nitrobenzene as a reference.

Heterogeneous Substitution Effects in Chlorocyanomethyl Radical and Chlorocyanocarbene

We report a photoelectron-imaging investigation of the chlorocyanomethyl radical (CHClCN) and the corresponding carbene (CClCN). The results are discussed in comparison with the corresponding dichloro- and dicyano-substituted species, focusing on the divergent effects of the halogen and pseudohalogen (CN) substitutions. A cooperative (captodative) interaction of the π-donor Cl and π-acceptor cyano groups favors the increased stability of the CHClCN radical, but a competition of the two substituents is observed in the singlet-triplet splitting of the carbene. The vertical detachment energy (VDE) of CHClCN(-) is determined to be 2.39 ± 0.04 eV, with the broad photoelectron band consistent with the significant geometry change predicted by theory for the detachment transition. The adiabatic electron affinity of CHClCN, EA = 1.86 ± 0.08 eV, is estimated on the basis of the experimental VDE and the computed difference between the VDE and EA values. This result allows the calculation of the bond dissociation energy of chloroacetonitrile, DH298(H-CHClCN) = 87.0 ± 2.7 kcal/mol. Photoelectron imaging of CClCN(-) reveals two main transitions, assigned to the singlet ((1)A') and triplet ((3)A″) states of the CClCN carbene. The respective VDEs are 2.76 ± 0.05 and 3.25 ± 0.05 eV. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretically predicted singlet-triplet vertical energy gap at the anion geometry, but inconclusive with regard to the adiabatic singlet-triplet splitting in CClCN. Consistent with the experimental findings, ab initio calculations using the spin-flip approach in combination with the coupled-cluster theory, indicate that the (1)A' and (3)A″ states are nearly degenerate, with the singlet state lying adiabatically only ∼0.01 eV below the triplet.