Aluminum Avoids the Central Position in AlB9– and AlB10–: Photoelectron Spectroscopy and ab Initio Study

Nanoclusters and nanoalloys of group 13 elements (B, Al, and Ga): benchmarking of methods and analysis of their structures and energies

We investigated the structural and energetic properties of nanoclusters and nanoalloys composed of group 13 elements (B, Al, and Ga) up to a cluster size of 12. We conducted a comprehensive benchmark analysis of density functional and post-Hartree-Fock methods to identify efficient and accurate approaches for studying these systems using our benchmark dataset (BAlGa16) consisting of sixteen dimers and trimers. We compared different density functionals and post-Hartree-Fock methods using bond length and binding energy as parameters. B2PLYP closely follows CCSD(T) for geometry optimization, while REVPBE, BPBE, and PBE show cost-accuracy balanced performances. MRACPF was used as the reference for benchmarking energies, with NEVPT2 being the most accurate method, followed by CCSD(T) and DLPNO-CCSD(T). M06 and range-separated hybrid functionals perform well. Based on a cost-accuracy analysis, we recommend M06/def2-SVP as the preferred method. Additionally, we explored the structural evolution of pure, binary, and ternary clusters of group 13 elements up to 12 atoms, uncovering global and local minima. Ga clusters exhibited more rectangular faces compared to the predominantly trigonal faces of B and Al clusters. Binary clusters showed B in center positions, while Ga preferred outer positions, confirming the higher cohesion of B. The most favorable size of binary clusters (12) exhibited similar compositions of Al and Ga atoms. Compositions with 16.67-40% B, 16.67-60% Al, and 20-50% Ga were estimated to have negative mixing energies, indicating their relative stability.

Electron Propagator Theory of Vertical Electron Detachment Energies of Anions: Benchmarks and Applications to Nucleotides

A new generation of ab initio electron-propagator self-energy approximations that are free of adjustable parameters is tested on a benchmark set of 55 vertical electron detachment energies of closed-shell anions. Comparisons with older self-energy approximations indicate that several new methods that make the diagonal self-energy approximation in the canonical Hartree-Fock orbital basis provide superior accuracy and computational efficiency. These methods and their acronyms, mean absolute errors (in eV), and arithmetic bottlenecks expressed in terms of occupied (O) and virtual (V) orbitals are the opposite-spin, non-Dyson, diagonal second-order method (os-nD-D2, 0.2, OV²), the approximately renormalized quasiparticle third-order method (Q3+, 0.15, O²V³) and the approximately renormalized, non-Dyson, linear, third-order method (nD-L3+, 0.1, OV⁴). The Brueckner doubles with triple field operators (BD-T1) nondiagonal electron-propagator method provides such close agreement with coupled-cluster single, double, and perturbative triple replacement total energy differences that it may be used as an alternative means of obtaining standard data. The new methods with diagonal self-energy matrices are the foundation of a composite procedure for estimating basis-set effects. This model produces accurate predictions and clear interpretations based on Dyson orbitals for the photoelectron spectra of the nucleotides found in DNA.

Probing the Nature of the Transition-Metal-Boron Bonds and Novel Aromaticity in Small Metal-Doped Boron Clusters Using Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Photoelectron spectroscopy combined with quantum chemistry has been a powerful approach to elucidate the structures and bonding of size-selected boron clusters (B_n^-), revealing a prevalent planar world that laid the foundation for borophenes. Investigations of metal-doped boron clusters not only lead to novel structures but also provide important information about the metal-boron bonds that are critical to understanding the properties of boride materials. The current review focuses on recent advances in transition-metal-doped boron clusters, including the discoveries of metal-boron multiple bonds and metal-doped novel aromatic boron clusters. The study of the RhB^- and RhB₂O^- clusters led to the discovery of the first quadruple bond between boron and a transition-metal atom, whereas a metal-boron triple bond was found in ReB₂O^- and IrB₂O^-. The ReB₄^- cluster was shown to be the first metallaborocycle with Möbius aromaticity, and the planar ReB₆^- cluster was found to exhibit aromaticity analogous to metallabenzenes. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, Volume 73 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Structural transformations in boron clusters induced by metal doping

In the last decades, experimental techniques in conjunction with theoretical analyses have revealed the surprising structural diversity of boron clusters. Although the 2D to 3D transition thresholds are well-established, there is no certainty about the factors that determine the geometry adopted by these systems. The structural transformation induced by doping usually yields a minimum energy structure with a boron skeleton entirely different from that of the bare cluster. This review summarizes those clusters no larger than 40 boron atoms where one or two dopants show a radical transformation of the structure. Although the structures of these systems are not easy to predict, they often adopt familiar shapes such as umbrella-like, wheel, tubular, and cages in various cases.

Overlap of Radial Dangling Orbitals Controls the Relative Stabilities of Polyhedral B nH n- x Isomers ( n = 5-12, x = 0 to n - 1)

The removal of H atoms from polyhedral boranes results in the formation of dangling radial orbitals with one electron each. If there is a requirement of electrons for skeletal bonding to meet the Wade's rule, these are provided from the exohedral orbitals. Additional electrons occupy a linear combination of the dangling orbitals. Stabilization of these molecular orbitals depends on their overlap. The lateral (sideways) overlap of dangling orbitals decreases with the decreasing cluster size from 12 to 5 boron atoms as the orbitals become more and more splayed out. Thus, as the number of dangling orbitals increases, the destabilization of their combinations increases at a higher rate for smaller polyhedral boranes, leading to flat structures with the removal of a fewer number of hydrogens. Though exohedral orbitals form better overlap in larger polyhedral clusters, the increase of electrons with the removal of H atoms results in occupancy of antibonding skeletal orbitals (beyond Wade's rules) and leads to flat structures. The reverse happens when hydrogens are added to a flat cluster. Substitution of BH by Si does not change structural patterns.

Probing the structures and bonding of size-selected boron and doped-boron clusters

Because of their interesting structures and bonding and potentials as motifs for new nanomaterials, size-selected boron clusters have received tremendous interest in recent years. In particular, boron cluster anions (Bn-) have allowed systematic joint photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical studies, revealing predominantly two-dimensional structures. The discovery of the planar B36 cluster with a central hexagonal vacancy provided the first experimental evidence of the viability of 2D borons, giving rise to the concept of borophene. The finding of the B40 cage cluster unveiled the existence of fullerene-like boron clusters (borospherenes). Metal-doping can significantly extend the structural and bonding repertoire of boron clusters. Main-group metals interact with boron through s/p orbitals, resulting in either half-sandwich-type structures or substitutional structures. Transition metals are more versatile in bonding with boron, forming a variety of structures including half-sandwich structures, metal-centered boron rings, and metal-centered boron drums. Transition metal atoms have also been found to be able to be doped into the plane of 2D boron clusters, suggesting the possibility of metalloborophenes. Early studies of di-metal-doped boron clusters focused on gold, revealing ladder-like boron structures with terminal gold atoms. Recent observations of highly symmetric Ta2B6- and Ln2Bn- (n = 7-9) clusters have established a family of inverse sandwich structures with monocyclic boron rings stabilized by two metal atoms. The study of size-selected boron and doped-boron clusters is a burgeoning field of research. Further investigations will continue to reveal more interesting structures and novel chemical bonding, paving the foundation for new boron-based chemical compounds and nanomaterials.

Theoretical Designs for Organoaluminum C2Al4R4 with Well-Separated Al(I) and Al(III)

It is well-known that the chemistry of aluminum is dominated by Al(III) in the +3 oxidation state. Only during the past 2 decades has the chemistry of Al(I) and Al(II) been rapidly developed. However, if Al(I) and Al(III) are combined, the inherently high reactivities of Al(I) and Al(III) mostly result in their coupling with each other or interacting with surrounding elements, which easily results in significant deactivation or quenching of the desired oxidation states, as in the case of reported mixed valent Al-compounds. In this article, we report an unprecedented type of organoaluminum system, C₂Al₄R₄ (R = H, SiH₃, Si(C₆H₅)₃, SiiPrDis₂, SiMe(SitBu₃)₂), whose lowest-energy structure, C₂Al₄R₄-01, contains two Al(I) and two Al(III) atoms. The global nature and bonding motif of the parent C₂Al₄R₄-01 (R = H) were supported by an extensive global isomeric search, CBS-QB3 energy calculations, adaptive natural density partitioning, and bond order analysis. Interestingly and in sharp contrast to most organoaluminum species, C₂Al₄R₄-01 is associated with little multicenter bonding. C₂Al₄R₄-01 has a high feasibility of being observed either in the gas or condensed phases (with suitable substitutents). With well-separated Al(I) and Al(III), C₂Al₄R₄-01 (with suitable substitutents) could serve as the first Al/Al frustrated Lewis pair.

A detailed investigation into the geometric and electronic structures of CoBQn (n = 2–10, Q = 0, −1) clusters

The size dependence of HOMO–LUMO energy gaps of Co doped boron clusters.

Beyond organic chemistry: aromaticity in atomic clusters

We describe joint experimental and theoretical studies carried out collaboratively in the authors' labs for understanding the structures and chemical bonding of novel atomic clusters, which exhibit aromaticity.

Boron substitution in aluminum cluster anions: magic clusters and reactivity with oxygen

We have studied the size-selective reactivity of AlnBm(-) clusters m = 1,2 with O2 to investigate the effect of congener substitution in energetic aluminum clusters. Mixed-metal clusters offer an additional strategy for tuning the electronic and geometric structure of clusters and by substituting an atom with a congener; we may investigate the effect of structural changes in clusters with similar electronic structures. Using a fast-flow tube mass spectrometer, we formed aluminum boride cluster anions and exposed them to molecular oxygen. We found multiple stable species with Al12B(-) and Al11B2(-) being highly resistant to reactivity with oxygen. These clusters behave in a similar manner as Al13(-), which has previously been found to be stable in oxygen because of its icosahedral geometry and its filled electronic shell. Al13(-) and Al12B(-) have icosahedral structures, while Al11B2(-) forms a distorted icosahedron. All three of these clusters have filled electronic shells, and Al12B(-) has a larger HOMO-LUMO gap due to its compact geometry. Other cluster sizes are investigated, and the structures of the AlnB(-) series are found to have endohedrally doped B atoms, as do many of the AlnB2(-) clusters. The primary etching products are found to be a loss of two Al2O molecules, with boron likely to remain in the cluster.

Pi and sigma double conjugations in boronyl polyboroene nanoribbons: B(n)(BO)2- and B(n)(BO)2 (n = 5-12)

A series of boron dioxide clusters, B(x)O2(-) (x = 7-14), have been produced and investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The dioxide clusters are shown to possess elongated ladder-like structures with two terminal boronyl (BO) groups, forming an extensive series of boron nanoribbons, B(n)(BO)2(-) (n = 5-12). The electron affinities of B(n)(BO)2 exhibit a 4n periodicity, indicating that the rhombic B4 unit is the fundamental building block in the nanoribbons. Both π and σ conjugations are found to be important in the unique bonding patterns of the boron nanoribbons. The π conjugation in these clusters is analogous to the polyenes (aka polyboroenes), while the σ conjugation plays an equally important role in rendering the stability of the nanoribbons. The concept of σ conjugation established here has no analogues in hydrocarbons. Calculations suggest the viability of even larger boronyl polyboroenes, B16(BO)2 and B20(BO)2, extending the boron nanoribbons to ~1.5 nm in length or possibly even longer. The nanoribbons form a new class of nanowires and may serve as precursors for a variety of boron nanostructures.

Photoelectron spectroscopy of boron-gold alloy clusters and boron boronyl clusters: B3Au(n)(-) and B3(BO)n(-) (n = 1, 2)

Photoelectron spectroscopy and density-functional theory are combined to study the structures and chemical bonding in boron-gold alloy clusters and boron boronyl clusters: B3Au(n)(-) and B3(BO)n(-) (n = 1, 2). Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra are obtained for all four species and the B-Au and B-BO clusters exhibit similar spectral patterns, with the latter species having higher electron binding energies. The electron affinities of B3Au, B3Au2, B3(BO), and B3(BO)2 are determined to be 2.29 ± 0.02, 3.17 ± 0.03, 2.71 ± 0.02, and 4.44 ± 0.02 eV, respectively. The anion and neutral clusters turn out to be isostructural and isovalent to the B3H(n)(-)∕B3H(n) (n = 1, 2) species, which are similar in bonding owing to the fact that Au, BO, and H are monovalent σ ligands. All B3Au(n)(-) and B3(BO)n(-) (n = 1, 2) clusters are aromatic with 2π electrons. The current results provide new examples for the Au∕H and BO∕H isolobal analogy and enrich the chemistry of boronyl and gold.

Transition-metal-centered monocyclic boron wheel clusters (M©Bn): a new class of aromatic borometallic compounds

Atomic clusters have intermediate properties between that of individual atoms and bulk solids, which provide fertile ground for the discovery of new molecules and novel chemical bonding. In addition, the study of small clusters can help researchers design better nanosystems with specific physical and chemical properties. From recent experimental and computational studies, we know that small boron clusters possess planar structures stabilized by electron delocalization both in the σ and π frameworks. An interesting boron cluster is B(9)(-), which has a D(8h) molecular wheel structure with a single boron atom in the center of a B(8) ring. This ring in the D(8h)-B(9)(-) cluster is connected by eight classical two-center, two-electron bonds. In contrast, the cluster's central boron atom is bonded to the peripheral ring through three delocalized σ and three delocalized π bonds. This bonding structure gives the molecular wheel double aromaticity and high electronic stability. The unprecedented structure and bonding pattern in B(9)(-) and other planar boron clusters have inspired the designs of similar molecular wheel-type structures. But these mimics instead substitute a heteroatom for the central boron. Through recent experiments in cluster beams, chemists have demonstrated that transition metals can be doped into the center of the planar boron clusters. These new metal-centered monocyclic boron rings have variable ring sizes, M©B(n) and M©B(n)(-) with n = 8-10. Using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, researchers have characterized these novel borometallic molecules. Chemists have proposed a design principle based on σ and π double aromaticity for electronically stable borometallic cluster compounds, featuring a highly coordinated transition metal atom centered inside monocyclic boron rings. The central metal atom is coordinatively unsaturated in the direction perpendicular to the molecular plane. Thus, chemists may design appropriate ligands to synthesize the molecular wheels in the bulk. In this Account, we discuss these recent experimental and theoretical advances of this new class of aromatic borometallic compounds, which contain a highly coordinated central transition metal atom inside a monocyclic boron ring. Through these examples, we show that atomic clusters can facilitate the discovery of new structures, new chemical bonding, and possibly new nanostructures with specific, advantageous properties.

Theoretical study of the Si(5-n)(BH)n2- and Na(Si(5-n)(BH)n)- (n = 0-5) systems

The potential energy surfaces of the Na(Si(5-n)(BH)(n))(-) and Si(5-n)(BH)(n)(2-) (n = 0-5) systems have been explored in detail. We established that all the global minimum structures of anionic and dianionic systems can be obtained by substitution of one or more silicon atoms of the global minima of NaSi(5)(-) and Si(5)(2-) for B-H units. The conservation of the overall structure upon isoelectronic substitution was shown to be due to the preservation of the chemical bonding pattern. Theoretical VDEs were calculated for all of the sodiated Na(Si(5-n)(BH)(n))(-) (n = 0-5) systems to facilitate their experimental detection.