Charge inversion of ground-state and metastable-state C2+ cations formed from electroionised C2H2 and C2N2, and a re-evaluation of the carbon dimer's ionisation energy

Disentangling the complex spectrum of the ethynyl cation

The ethynyl cation, C2H+, is of great importance in astrophysical media and in combustion. It is involved in the formation of larger organic compounds and in their decomposition mechanisms. Here, we investigate the low-lying electronic states of this cation using pure ab initio methodologies. The evolution of its potential energy surfaces along the stretching and bending coordinates reveals a high density of electronic states that favours mutual interactions and the mixing of wavefunctions. The ground state is of 3Π space symmetry and the lowest singlet state (1Π) is found to be a quasi-linear-quasi-linear Renner-Teller system. Our work suggests that the (spin-)rovibronic spectrum of such a molecular system is complicated, because of the contributions of multiple couplings, including Renner-Teller, vibronic and spin-orbit. We also deduced the adiabatic ionization energy of the ethynyl radical, in good agreement with recent measurements. In summary, our work shows that the ethynyl cation, in spite of its small size, still represents a challenging molecular problem to be solved.

Dynamics of the reaction of C2 with C6H2: an implication for the formation of interstellar C8H

The reaction C2 + C6H2 → C8H + H was investigated for the first time. Reactant C2 (C6H2) was synthesized from 1% C3F6/He (5% C2H2/He) by pulsed high-voltage discharge. We measured the translational-energy distribution, the angular distribution, and the photoionization spectrum of product C8H in a crossed molecular-beam apparatus using synchrotron vacuum-ultraviolet ionization. This reaction released average translational energy of 8.5 kcal mol(-1) corresponding to a fraction of 0.37 in translation. C8H was identified as octatetranyl based on the maximal translational-energy release 23 ± 2 kcal mol(-1) and the ionization threshold 8.9 ± 0.2 eV. Kinematic constraints can qualitatively account for the nearly isotropic angular distribution. The quantum-chemical calculations indicate that the exothermic reactions C2 (X (1)Σg (+)/a (3)Πu) + HC6H → C8H + H can proceed without entrance and exit barriers, implying the importance in the cold interstellar medium. This work verifies that interstellar C8H can be formed through the C2 + C6H2 reaction.

DFT assessment of the spectroscopic constants and absorption spectra of neutral and charged diatomic species of group 11 and 14 elements

The spectroscopic constants and absorption spectra of neutral and charged diatomic molecules of group 11 and 14 elements formulated as [M(2)](+/0/-) (M = Cu, Ag, Au), and [E(2)](+/0/-) (E = C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) have been calculated at the PBE0/Def2-QZVPP level of theory. The electronic and bonding properties of the diatomics have been analyzed by natural bond orbital analysis approach and topology analysis by the atoms in molecules method. Particular emphasis was given on the absorption spectra of the diatomic species, which were simulated by time-dependent density functional theory calculations employing the hybrid Coulomb-attenuating CAM-B3LYP density functional. The simulated absorption spectra of the [M(2)](+/0/-) (M = Cu, Ag, Au) and [E(2)](+/0/-) (E = C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) species are in close resemblance with the experimentally observed spectra whenever available. The neutral M(2) and E(2) diatomics strongly absorb in the ultraviolet region, given rise to UVC, UVA and in a few cases UVB absorptions. In a few cases, weak absorbion bands also occur in the visible region. The absorption bands have thoroughly been analyzed and assignments of the contributing principal electronic transitions associated to individual excitations have been made.

Field evaporation tailoring of nanotubes and nanowires

We explore here the use of field evaporation in a transmission electron microscope for controlled apex modification, opening, and shortening of various types of individual nanotubes and nanowires. The technique works well for conducting carbon nanotubes but also for large bandgap silicon carbide nanowires and insulating boron nitride nanotubes. Since the length reduction does not affect the diameter of the object, we can thus compare mechanical properties at a given diameter for different lengths or, conversely, precisely tune the mechanical resonance frequencies. Opening the nanotubes also creates perspectives for their use as nano-capillaries.

Quartet states of the acetylene cation: electronic structure calculations and spin-orbit coupling terms

Highly correlated ab initio methods have been used to generate one-dimensional cuts of the six-dimensional potential energy surfaces of the quartet and lowest doublet states for the HCCH(+) ion along the CH, CC, and cis and trans bending coordinates. Transition dipole moments and spin-orbit matrix elements are deduced. For the lowest 1 (4)Sigma(u) (+) state, the calculations predict a possible photon emission through the 1 (4)Pi(g)<--1 (4)Sigma(u) (+) transition competing with internal conversion and predissociation processes. The potential surfaces are used together with spin-orbit matrix elements to discuss the metastability and the predissociation processes forming the C(2)HC(2)H(+)+H(+)H products. Multistep spin-orbit induced predissociation pathways are suggested.