Excited electronic states of Au3

Vibrational anharmonicity of small gold and silver clusters using the VSCF method

We study the vibrational spectra of small neutral gold (Au₂–Au₁₀) and silver (Ag₂–Au₅) clusters using the vibrational self-consistent field method (VSCF) in order to account for anharmonicity.

Structural, electronic, bonding, magnetic, and optical properties of bimetallic [Ru(n)Au(m)](0/+) (n + m ≤ 3) clusters

The structural, electronic, bonding, magnetic, and optical properties of bimetallic [Ru(n)Au(m)](0/+) (n + m ≤ 3; n, m = 0-3) clusters were computed in the framework of the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) using the full-range PBE0 non local hybrid GGA functional combined with the Def2-QZVPP basis sets. Several low-lying states have been investigated and the stability of the ground state spinomers was estimated with respect to all possible fragmentation schemes. Molecular orbital and population analysis schemes along with computed electronic parameters illustrated the details of the bonding mechanisms in the [Ru(n)Au(m)](0/+) clusters. The TD-DFT computed UV-visible absorption spectra of the bimetallic clusters have been fully analyzed and compared to those of pure gold and ruthenium clusters. Assignments of all principal electronic transitions are given and interpreted in terms of contribution from specific molecular orbital excitations.

Jahn-Teller and related effects in the silver trimer. I. The ab initio calculation of spectroscopically observable parameters for the X̃E′2 and ÃE″2 electronic states

Extensive ab initio calculations were performed for the X2E' and A2E" states of Ag3, using a newly constructed basis set for Ag. An important goal of these calculations is to guide the analysis of the experimentally observed A 2E"-X2E' electronic spectrum. Vibrational frequencies of Ag(3) for both the X and A states are reported. Spectroscopically obtainable parameters describing the Jahn-Teller effect are calculated for the X and A states. The magnitude of the spin-orbit effects for this relativistic system was also calculated for the X2E' and A 2E" states. Using all this information, the X-A electronic spectrum is predicted for Ag(3). Additionally, the geometries and symmetries of the global minima and saddle points as well as the barrier to pseudorotation around the moat of the potential energy surface are determined for both states.

Density Functional Theory Study of the Jahn−Teller Effect and Spin−Orbit Coupling for Copper and Gold Trimers

The Born-Oppenheimer potential energy hypersurfaces of copper and gold trimers were calculated using density functional theory with an analytic potential. The calculated Jahn-Teller distortion energies, pseudorotation barriers, dissociation, and isomerization energies for the two trimers are discussed. Global minima from the surfaces were optimized using the density functional theory method as well as the coupled cluster-singles-doubles-with-triples energies technique. The agreement of the optimized structures with the analytic potential was very good. The Mulliken population analysis compared favorably with the experimental electron spin resonance results. Spin-orbit coupling was subsequently included and the effect was significant for gold, but negligible for copper. The spin-orbit effect suppressed the Jahn-Teller distortion of the gold trimer, and the potential surface with the spin-orbit effect included was also obtained. The spin-orbit splitting for the D(3h) geometry of the gold trimer was in excellent agreement with the most recent infrared spectroscopic results.