1
|
Li HF, Wang HQ, Zhang YK. Exploring the Structural and Electronic Properties of Niobium Carbide Clusters: A Density Functional Theory Study. Molecules 2024; 29:3238. [PMID: 38999190 PMCID: PMC11243446 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29133238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper systematically investigates the structure, stability, and electronic properties of niobium carbide clusters, NbmCn (m = 5, 6; n = 1-7), using density functional theory. Nb5C2 and Nb5C6 possess higher dissociation energies and second-order difference energies, indicating that they have higher thermodynamic stability. Moreover, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations are used to demonstrate the thermal stability of these structures. The analysis of the density of states indicates that the molecular orbitals of NbmCn (m = 5, 6; n = 1-7) are primarily contributed by niobium atoms, with carbon atoms having a smaller contribution. The composition of the frontier molecular orbitals reveals that niobium atoms contribute approximately 73.1% to 99.8% to NbmCn clusters, while carbon atoms contribute about 0.2% to 26.9%.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Fang Li
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
| | - Huai-Qian Wang
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yu-Kun Zhang
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang JM, Wang HQ, Li HF, Mei XJ, Zeng JK, Qin LX, Zheng H, Zhang YH, Jiang KL, Zhang B, Wu WH. Aromatic and magnetic properties in a series of heavy rare earth-doped Ge 6 cluster anions. J Comput Chem 2024; 45:1087-1097. [PMID: 38243618 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.27317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
A series of pentagonal bipyramidal anionic germanium clusters doped with heavy rare earth elements,REGe 6 - (RE = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu), have been identified at the PBE0/def2-TZVP level using density functional theory (DFT). Our findings reveal that the centrally doped pentagonal ring structure demonstrates enhanced stability and heightened aromaticity due to its uniform bonding characteristics and a larger charge transfer region. Through natural population analysis and spin density diagrams, we observed a monotonic decrease in the magnetic moment from Gd to Yb. This is attributed to the decreasing number of unpaired electrons in the 4f orbitals of the heavy rare earth atoms. Interestingly, the system doped with Er atoms showed lower stability and anti-aromaticity, likely due to the involvement of the 4f orbitals in bonding. Conversely, the systems doped with Gd and Tb atoms stood out for their high magnetism and stability, making them potential building blocks for rare earth-doped semiconductor materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Ming Zhang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
| | - Huai-Qian Wang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
- College of engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Hui-Fang Li
- College of engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Xun-Jie Mei
- College of engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Jin-Kun Zeng
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
| | - Lan-Xin Qin
- College of engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yong-Hang Zhang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
| | - Kai-Le Jiang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wen-Hai Wu
- College of engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li HF, Wang HQ, Zhang JM, Qin LX, Zheng H, Zhang YH. Investigation of Structures, Stabilities, and Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Niobium Carbon Clusters Nb 7C n (n = 1-7). Molecules 2024; 29:1692. [PMID: 38675512 PMCID: PMC11051814 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29081692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The geometrical structures, relative stabilities, and electronic and magnetic properties of niobium carbon clusters, Nb7Cn (n = 1-7), are investigated in this study. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, coupled with the Saunders Kick global search, are conducted to explore the structural properties of Nb7Cn (n = 1-7). The results regarding the average binding energy, second-order difference energy, dissociation energy, HOMO-LUMO gap, and chemical hardness highlight the robust stability of Nb7C3. Analysis of the density of states suggests that the molecular orbitals of Nb7Cn primarily consist of orbitals from the transition metal Nb, with minimal involvement of C atoms. Spin density and natural population analysis reveal that the total magnetic moment of Nb7Cn predominantly resides on the Nb atoms. The contribution of Nb atoms to the total magnetic moment stems mainly from the 4d orbital, followed by the 5p, 5s, and 6s orbitals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Fang Li
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
| | - Huai-Qian Wang
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jia-Ming Zhang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Lan-Xin Qin
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yong-Hang Zhang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xie B, Wang HQ, Li HF, Zhang JM, Zeng JK, Mei XJ, Zhang YH, Zheng H, Qin LX. Making Sense of the Growth Behavior of Ultra-High Magnetic Gd 2-Doped Silicon Clusters. Molecules 2023; 28:5071. [PMID: 37446733 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The growth behavior, stability, electronic and magnetic properties of the Gd2Sin- (n = 3-12) clusters are reported, which are investigated using density functional theory calculations combined with the Saunders 'Kick' and the Artificial Bee Colony algorithm. The lowest-lying structures of Gd2Sin- (n = 3-12) are all exohedral structures with two Gd atoms face-capping the Sin frameworks. Results show that the pentagonal bipyramid (PB) shape is the basic framework for the nascent growth process of the present clusters, and forming the PB structure begins with n = 5. The Gd2Si5- is the potential magic cluster due to significantly higher average binding energies and second order difference energies, which can also be further verified by localized orbital locator and adaptive natural density partitioning methods. Moreover, the localized f-electron can be observed by natural atomic orbital analysis, implying that these electrons are not affected by the pure silicon atoms and scarcely participate in bonding. Hence, the implantation of these elements into a silicon substrate could present a potential alternative strategy for designing and synthesizing rare earth magnetic silicon-based materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Biao Xie
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Huai-Qian Wang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
| | - Hui-Fang Li
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
| | - Jia-Ming Zhang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jin-Kun Zeng
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Xun-Jie Mei
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
| | - Yong-Hang Zhang
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Lan-Xin Qin
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yan ST, Long ZC, Xu XL, Xu HG, Zheng WJ. Anion photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations of bimetallic niobium-aluminum clusters NbAl n-/0 ( n = 3-12): identification of a half-encapsulated symmetric structure for NbAl 12. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:6498-6509. [PMID: 36786014 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp04978c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Bimetallic niobium-doped aluminum clusters, NbAln-/0 (n = 3-12), are investigated through a synergetic combination of size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. It is found that the dominant structures of NbAln- anions with n = 3-8 can be described by gradually adding Al atoms to the NbAl3- core. Starting from n = 9, the lowest-energy geometric structures of NbAl9-12- transform into bilayer structures. In particular, NbAl12- has a C3v symmetric structure, which can be viewed as a NbAl6 regular hexagon over a bowl-shaped Al6 structure. More detailed analyses indicate that NbAl9 and NbAl12- possess unusual stability, which may be attributed to their closed-shell electron configurations with superatomic features.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuai-Ting Yan
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhen-Chao Long
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xi-Ling Xu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong-Guang Xu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei-Jun Zheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Probing the structural, electronic, and adsorptive properties of Au 16O 2- clusters. J Mol Model 2020; 26:337. [PMID: 33169289 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-020-04589-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Great progress has been made in O2 adsorption on gold clusters. However, systematic investigations of O2 adsorption on [Formula: see text] clusters have not been reported. Here, we present a systematic study of the structural, electronic, and adsorptive properties of [Formula: see text] clusters by density functional theory (DFT) calculations coupled with stochastic kicking method. Global minimum searches for [Formula: see text] reveal that exohedral derivatives are more favored. Furthermore, the obtained ground-state structure exhibits significant stability, as judged by its larger adsorption energy (1.16 eV) and a larger HOMO-LUMO gap (0.57 eV). The simulated photoelectron spectra (PES) of [Formula: see text] isomers will be instructive to identify the structures in future experiments. There are three interesting discoveries in the present paper: (1) O2 undergoes chemical adsorption onto the parent [Formula: see text] clusters, but the amount of the adsorption energy is related to the parent [Formula: see text] clusters; (2) the process that O2 undergoes dissociative adsorption onto the parent [Formula: see text] clusters is exothermic; (3) [Formula: see text] isomers show smaller X-A energy gaps than those of parent [Formula: see text] clusters, reflecting that their geometric and electronic structures are distorted remarkably due to dissociative adsorption of O2.
Collapse
|
7
|
Pansini F, de Campos M, Neto A, Sergio C. Theoretical study of the electronic structure and electrical properties of Al-doped niobium clusters. Chem Phys 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2020.110778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
8
|
Fan YW, Wang HQ, Li HF. The stability, electronic, and magnetic properties of rare-earth doped silicon-based clusters. J Mol Model 2019; 25:221. [PMID: 31302782 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-019-4111-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The rare-earth doped silicon-based clusters exhibit remarkable structural, physical, and chemical properties, which make them attractive candidates as building units in designing of cluster-based materials with special optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. The structural, stability, electronic, and magnetic properties of pure silicon Sin + 1 (n = 1-9) and rare-earth doped clusters SinEu (n = 1-9) are investigated using the "stochastic kicking" (SK) global search technique combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. It was found that: 1) the ground state structures of pure silicon clusters tend to form compact structures rather than cages with the increase of cluster size; 2) the ground state structures for doped species were found to be additional or substitutional sites, and the rare-earth atoms tend to locate on the surface of the silicon clusters; 3) the average binding energy of the doped clusters increased gradually and exhibited the final phenomenon of saturation with the increase of clusters size. The average binding energy of doped clusters was slightly higher than that of pure silicon clusters of the same size, which indicated that the rare-earth atom encapsulated by silicon enhanced the stability of the silicon clusters to some degree; 4) the doped clusters have strong total magnetic moments, which mainly originated from the contribution of rare-earth atoms, whereas the contribution of silicon atoms were almost negligible. As the cluster size increased, the total magnetic moments of binary mixed clusters tended to be stable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Wei Fan
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Huai-Qian Wang
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, 362021, China.
| | - Hui-Fang Li
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, 362021, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li HF, Wang HQ. Stabilization of golden cages by encapsulation of a single transition metal atom. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:171019. [PMID: 29410813 PMCID: PMC5792890 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Golden cage-doped nanoclusters have attracted great attention in the past decade due to their remarkable electronic, optical and catalytic properties. However, the structures of large golden cage doped with Mo and Tc are still not well known because of the challenges in global structural searches. Here, we report anionic and neutral golden cage doped with a transition metal atom MAu16 (M = Mo and Tc) using Saunders 'Kick' stochastic automation search method associated with density-functional theory (DFT) calculation (SK-DFT). The geometric structures and electronic properties of the doped clusters, MAu16q (M = Mo and Tc; q = 0 and -1), are investigated by means of DFT theoretical calculations. Our calculations confirm that the 4d transition metals Mo and Tc can be stably encapsulated in the Au16- cage, forming three different configurations, i.e. endohedral cages, planar structures and exohedral derivatives. The ground-state structures of endohedral cages C2v Mo@Au16--(a) and C1 Tc@Au16--(b) exhibit a marked stability, as judged by their high binding energy per atom (greater than 2.46 eV), doping energy (0.29 eV) as well as a large HOMO-LUMO gap (greater than 0.40 eV). The predicted photoelectron spectra should aid in future experimental characterization of MAu16- (M = Mo and Tc).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Huai-Qian Wang
- College of Engineering, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, 362021, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Pansini FNN, Neto AC, de Campos M, de Aquino RM. Effects of All-Electron Basis Sets and the Scalar Relativistic Corrections in the Structure and Electronic Properties of Niobium Clusters. J Phys Chem A 2017; 121:5728-5734. [PMID: 28686436 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b04600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, an augmented all-electron double-ζ basis set is used in calculations of the structure and electronic properties of small niobium clusters. The B3PW91 and M06 DFT functionals with and without second order Douglas-Kroll-Hess (DKH) scalar relativistic corrections are also utilized. Furthermore, an additional d Gaussian type function is introduced in the standard basis sets in order to improve the description of the clusters orbitals in the valence band. Our findings show that the extra d function is important to yield accurate results of electronic properties and, in addition, the DKH corrections can be relevant when the all-electron basis sets are used in the calculations. Our best results are obtained with the M06 functional together with the DKH second order corrections and with the extra d function added to the all-electron basis set.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F N N Pansini
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo , 29075-910 Vitória, Brazil
| | - A C Neto
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo , 29075-910 Vitória, Brazil
| | - M de Campos
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Roraima , 69310-000 Boa Vista, Brazil
| | - R M de Aquino
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Roraima , 69310-000 Boa Vista, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
The endohedral structures of MAu16− (M = Y, Zr and Nb) nanoclusters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huai-Qian Wang
- College of Engineering
- Huaqiao University
- Quanzhou
- China
- Beijing Computational Science Research Center
| | - Hui-Fang Li
- College of Engineering
- Huaqiao University
- Quanzhou
- China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Li HF, Wang HQ. Probing the stability of neutral and anionic transition-metal-doped golden cage nanoclusters: M@Au16(M = Sc, Ti, V). Phys Chem Chem Phys 2014; 16:244-54. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp53292e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
13
|
Wang HQ, Li HF. A combined stochastic search and density functional theory study on the neutral and charged silicon-based clusters MSi6 (M = La, Ce, Yb and Lu). RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra03788j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Structures and simulated photoelectron spectra of MSi6− (M = La, Ce, Yb and Lu).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hui-Fang Li
- College of Engineering
- Huaqiao University
- Quanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bouderbala W, Boudjahem AG, Soltani A. Geometries, stabilities, electronic and magnetic properties of small PdnIr (n = 1–8) clusters from first-principles calculations. Mol Phys 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2013.865089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wissam Bouderbala
- Nanomaterials Chemistry Group, University of Guelma, Guelma, Algeria
| | | | | |
Collapse
|