Radii of atomic ions determined from diatomic ion-He bond lengths

Pairwise Model Potential and DFT Study of Li+Nen Clusters (n = 1-20): The Structural, Electronic, and Thermodynamic Properties

The structural properties, relative stabilities, electronic, and thermodynamic properties, of Li+Nen (n = 1-20) clusters have been studied based on a pairwise model and density functional theory (DFT) methods. In the pairwise method, the potential energy surface considered interactions between Li+Ne, Ne - Ne, and many-body term. For the DFT calculations, the B3LYP functional combined with the 6-311 + + G (2d,2p) basis sets has been employed. In both methods, the Li+Ne6 cluster demonstrated high stability with an octahedral structure, where the Li+ cation was surrounded by Ne atoms. Thus, the octahedral Li+Ne6 structure was considered to be the core for larger cluster sizes. Relative stabilities were assessed based on binding energies, second-order differences of energies, transition dipole moment, and HOMO-LUMO energy gaps. Furthermore, thermodynamic properties were calculated, revealing that the formation process of Li+Nen clusters is endothermic and nonspontaneous.

Interactions of Si+(2PJ) and Ge+ (2PJ) with rare gas atoms (He-Rn): interaction potentials, spectroscopy, and ion transport coefficients

Accurate interatomic potentials were calculated for the interaction of a singly-charged silicon cation, Si⁺, with a single rare gas atom, RG (RG = Kr-Rn), as well as a singly-charged germanium cation, Ge⁺, with a single rare gas atom, RG (RG = He-Rn). The RCCSD(T) method and basis sets of quadruple-ζ and quintuple-ζ quality were employed; each interaction energy is counterpoise corrected and extrapolated to the basis set limit. The lowest electronic term (²P) of each cation was considered, and the interatomic potentials calculated for the diatomic terms that arise from these: ²Π and ²Σ⁺. Additionally, the interatomic potentials for the respective spin-orbit levels were calculated, and the effect on the spectroscopic parameters was examined. Variations in several spectroscopic parameters with the increasing atomic number of RG were examined. The presence of incipient chemical interaction was also examined via Birge-Sponer-like plots and various population analyses across the series. In the cases of heavier RG, these were consistent with a small amount of electron transfer from the heavier RG atom to the cation, rationalizing the spin-orbit splittings. This was also supported by the observed larger-than-expected spin-orbit splittings for the Si⁺-RG complexes. Finally, each set of RCCSD(T) potentials including spin-orbit coupling was employed to calculate transport coefficients for the cation moving through a bath of the RG. The calculated ion mobilities showed significant differences for the two atomic spin-orbit states, arising from subtle changes in the interaction potentials.

Mobility of the Singly-Charged Lanthanide and Actinide Cations: Trends and Perspectives

The current status of gaseous transport studies of the singly-charged lanthanide and actinide ions is reviewed in light of potential applications to superheavy ions. The measurements and calculations for the mobility of lanthanide ions in He and Ar agree well, and they are remarkably sensitive to the electronic configuration of the ion, namely, whether the outer electronic shells are 6s, 5d6s or 6s². The previous theoretical work is extended here to ions of the actinide family with zero electron orbital momentum: Ac⁺ (7s², ¹S), Am⁺ (5f⁷7s ⁹S°), Cm⁺ (5f⁷7s^{2 8}S°), No⁺ (5f¹⁴7s ²S), and Lr⁺ (5f¹⁴7s^{2 1}S). The calculations reveal large systematic differences in the mobilities of the 7s and 7s² groups of ions and other similarities with their lanthanide analogs. The correlation of ion-neutral interaction potentials and mobility variations with spatial parameters of the electron distributions in the bare ions is explored through the ionic radii concept. While the qualitative trends found for interaction potentials and mobilities render them appealing for superheavy ion research, lack of experimental data and limitations of the scalar relativistic ab initio approaches in use make further efforts necessary to bring the transport measurements into the inventory of techniques operating in "one atom at a time" mode.

Halide Influence on Molecular and Supramolecular Arrangements of Iron Complexes with a 3,5-Bis(2-Pyridyl)-1,2,4,6-Thiatriazine Ligand

A series of iron centered complexes, namely, [Fe(Py2TTA)Cl2] (1), [Fe(Py2TTA)Br2] (2), and [Fe(μ-F)(Py2TTAO)F]∞ (3), were isolated via complexation of 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,6-thiatriazine (Py2TTAH) with various ferric halides (e.g., FeF3, FeCl3, and FeBr3). Comparison of the optical and electrochemical spectroscopy, structural analysis, and magnetic studies reveal numerous similarities between the chlorido (1) and bromido (2) derivatives, which crystallize as discrete five-coordinate iron centered complexes with coordination geometries that are intermediate between trigonal bipyramidal and square base pyramid. Conversely, the fluorido derivative (3) results in a completely different structure due to oxidation of the ligand and the formation of a one-dimensional coordination polymer held together through a bridging fluoride ion. Consequently, the spectroscopic and magnetic behavior of 3 differs significantly compared with 1 and 2. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit paramagnetic properties typical for a mononuclear S = 5/2 system with weak intermolecular antiferromagnetic interactions at low temperatures, whereas complex 3 demonstrates significant exchange couplings within the chain and weak antiferromagnetic interchain interactions, which stabilize a canted antiferromagnetic state below 4.2 K.

Ambivalent binding between a radical-based pincer ligand and iron

An inherently redox active pincer-type ligand, 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,6-thiatriazinyl (Py2TTA˙), was employed to isolate Fe(Py2TTA)Cl2.

On the size and structure of helium snowballs formed around charged atoms and clusters of noble gases

Helium nanodroplets doped with argon, krypton, or xenon are ionized by electrons and analyzed in a mass spectrometer. HenNgx(+) ions containing up to seven noble gas (Ng) atoms and dozens of helium atoms are identified; the high resolution of the mass spectrometer combined with advanced data analysis make it possible to unscramble contributions from isotopologues that have the same nominal mass but different numbers of helium or Ng atoms, such as the magic He20(84)Kr2(+) and the isobaric, nonmagic He41(84)Kr(+). Anomalies in these ion abundances reveal particularly stable ions; several intriguing patterns emerge. Perhaps most astounding are the results for HenAr(+), which show evidence for three distinct, solid-like solvation shells containing 12, 20, and 12 helium atoms. This observation runs counter to the common notion that only the first solvation shell is solid-like but agrees with calculations by Galli et al. for HenNa(+) [J. Phys. Chem. A 2011, 115, 7300] that reveal three shells of icosahedral symmetry. HenArx(+) (2 ≤ x ≤ 7) ions appear to be especially stable if they contain a total of n + x = 19 atoms. A sequence of anomalies in the abundance distribution of HenKrx(+) suggests that rings of six helium atoms are inserted into the solvation shell each time a krypton atom is added to the ionic core, from Kr(+) to Kr3(+). Previously reported strong anomalies at He12Kr2(+) and He12Kr3(+) [Kim , J. H.; et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2006, 124, 214301] are attributed to a contamination. Only minor local anomalies appear in the distributions of HenXex(+) (x ≤ 3). The distributions of HenKr(+) and HenXe(+) show strikingly similar, broad features that are absent from the distribution of HenAr(+); differences are tentatively ascribed to the very different fragmentation dynamics of these ions.

HM⁺ and HM⁺‑He (M = Group 2 metal): chemical or physical interactions?

We investigate the HM(+)‑He complexes (M = Group 2 metal) using quantum chemistry. Equilibrium geometries are linear for M = Be and Mg, and bent for M = Ca-Ra; the explanation for this lies in the differing nature of the highest occupied molecular orbitals in the two sets of complexes. The difference primarily occurs as a result of the formation of the H-M(+) bond, and so the HM(+) diatomics are also studied as part of the present work. The position of the He atom in the complexes is largely determined by the form of the electron density. HM(+)…He binding energies are obtained and are surprisingly high for a helium complex. The HBe(+)…He value is almost 3000 cm(-1), which is high enough to suspect contributions from chemical bonding. This is explored by examining the natural orbital density and by population analyses.

Comparison of the interactions in the rare gas hydride and Group 2 metal hydride anions

We study both the rare gas hydride anions, RG-H(-) (RG = He-Rn) and Group 2 (Group IIa) metal hydride anions, MIIaH(-) (MIIa = Be-Ra), calculating potential energy curves at the CCSD(T) level with augmented quadruple and quintuple basis sets, and extrapolating the results to the basis set limit. We report spectroscopic parameters obtained from these curves; additionally, we study the Be-He complex. While the RG-H(-) and Be-He species are weakly bound, we show that, as with the previously studied BeH(-) and MgH(-) species, the other MIIaH(-) species are strongly bound, despite the interactions nominally also being between two closed shell species: M(ns(2)) and H(-)(1s(2)). We gain insight into the interactions using contour plots of the electron density changes and population analyses. For both series, the calculated dissociation energy is significantly less than the ion/induced-dipole attraction term, confirming that electron repulsion is important in these species; this effect is more dramatic for the MIIaH(-) species than for RG-H(-). Our analyses lead us to conclude that the stronger interaction in the case of the MIIaH(-) species arises from sp and spd hybridization, which allows electron density on the MIIa atom to move away from the incoming H(-).

Interaction potentials of uranium cations with rare gases (RG) and transport of U+ in RG (RG = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe)

We present accurate interaction potentials for uranium cations interacting with the rare gases (RG = He-Rn), using effective core potentials that include a description of the 5f electrons in the case of uranium, and justify this approximation in some detail. From these interaction potentials, spectroscopic parameters are derived for the U(+)-RG complexes. We also employ the potentials to calculate transport coefficients for U(+) moving through a bath of each RG. In the case of U(+) in He, we are able to compare with previous experimentally determined mobility values, and we make some minor corrections to the previously reported data; this revised data is presented.

Review: gas-phase ion chemistry of the noble gases: recent advances and future perspectives

This review article surveys recent experimental and theoretical advances in the gas-phase ion chemistry of the noble gases. Covered issues include the interaction of the noble gases with metal and non-metal cations, the conceivable existence of covalent noble-gas anions, the occurrence of ion-molecule reactions involving singly-charged xenon cations, and the occurrence of bond-forming reactions involving doubly-charged cations. Research themes are also highlighted, that are expected to attract further interest in the future.