Wang H, Dong C, Yang J. Theoretical Insights into the Geometrical Evolution, Photoelectron Spectra, and Vibrational Properties of YGe
n - (
n = 6-20) Anions: From Y-Linked to Y-Encapsulated Structures.
ACS OMEGA 2022;
7:36330-36342. [PMID:
36278055 PMCID:
PMC9583326 DOI:
10.1021/acsomega.2c03983]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The structural evolution behavior of germanium anionic clusters doped with the rare-earth metal yttrium, YGe n - (n = 6-20), has been investigated using a mPW2PLYP density functional scheme and an ABCluster structure searching technique. The results reveal that with increasing cluster size n, the structure evolution pattern is from the Y-linked framework (n = 10-14), where Y serves as a linker (the Y atom bridges two germanium subclusters), to the Y-encapsulated framework (n = 15-20), where the Y atom is located in the center of the Ge cage. The simulated PES spectra show satisfying agreement with the experimental PES spectra for n = 12-20, which reveals that the global minimum structures reported here are reliable. In particular, the anionic YGe16 - nanocluster is found to be the most stable structure in the size range of n = 6-20 through analyzes of the relative stability, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gap, spherical jellium model, and isochemical shielding surface. Moreover, spectral properties such as infrared and Raman spectra were reported. In addition, the UV-vis spectra of the YGe16 - nanocluster are in good agreement with solar energy distribution, showing that such substances serve as multifunctional building blocks to be potentially used in optoelectronic devices or solar energy converters.
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