Photoelectron spectroscopy of negatively charged bismuth clusters: Bi−2, Bi−3, and Bi−4

The bismuth tetramer Bi4: the ν3 key to experimental observation

The spectroscopic identification of Bi₄ has been very elusive. Two constitutional Bi₄ isomers of T_d and C_2v symmetry are investigated and each is found to be a local energetic minimum.

Low-lying electronic states in bismuth trimer Bi₃ as revealed by laser-induced NIR emission spectroscopy in solid Ne

Laser-induced near-infrared (NIR) emission spectra of neutral bismuth timer, Bi₃, embedded in solid neon matrixes at 3 K were recorded in a range 870-1670 nm. Using photoexcitation with low energy photons at 1064 nm, two emission band systems were newly identified by their origin bands at T₀ = 6600 and 8470 cm⁻¹. Accordingly, spectral assignment for three NIR emission band systems reported recently was partly revised for the one with its origin band at T₀ = 7755 cm⁻¹ and reconfirmed for the others at T₀ = 9625 and 11,395 cm⁻¹. Energy splitting by spin-orbit coupling between the pair of electronic energy levels in the ground state of bismuth trimer, Bi₃, both having a totally symmetric vibrational mode of frequency at ω(e)" = 150 cm⁻¹, was determined to be 1870 ± 1.5 cm⁻¹. Transitions from the pair of electronically excited states, locating at T₀ = 8470 and 9625 cm⁻¹ above the ground state and separated by spin–orbit coupling of 1155 cm⁻¹, have relatively long decay constants of τ ∼0.2 and ∼0.1 ms, respectively.

Photoelectron imaging and density-functional investigation of bismuth and lead anions solvated in ammonia clusters

We present the results of photoelectron velocity-map imaging experiments for the photodetachment of small negatively charged ammonia solvated Bi(n) and Pb(n) (n = 1, 2) clusters at 527 nm. The vertical detachment energies of the observed multiple electronic bands and their respective anisotropy parameters for the solvated Bi and Pb anions and clusters derived from the photoelectron images are reported. The electronic bands of Bi(NH(3))(n=1,2) are distinct from the Bi metal ion in exhibiting a perpendicular distribution whereas the electronic bands in Pb(NH(3))(n=1,2), unlike the Pb anion, show an isotropic distribution with respect to the laser polarization. Density-functional theory calculations with a generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation potential were performed on these clusters to determine their atomic and electronic structures. Calculated geometries show a dramatic change between anionic and neutral ammonia solvated Bi and Pb species. Anionic clusters exhibit van der Waals interactions between the hydrogen atoms of ammonia and the metal core, where it was determined that the negative charge is localized. Neutral clusters, on the other hand, present a covalent bond between the nitrogen atom of ammonia and the metal core. Calculated binding energies show an enhancement in the bonding of the (NH(3))(2) dimer in the presence of the anionic Bi(1,2)(-) and Pb(1,2)(-) metal ions. This is rationalized by the electrostatic interaction between the negative charged metal core and the hydrogen atoms of the ammonia molecule.

The arsenic clusters Asn (n = 1-5) and their anions: Structures, thermochemistry, and electron affinities

The molecular structures, electron affinities, and dissociation energies of the As(n)/As(-) (n) (n = 1-5) species have been examined using six density functional theory (DFT) methods. The basis set used in this work is of double-zeta plus polarization quality with additional diffuse s- and p-type functions, denoted DZP++. These methods have been carefully calibrated (Chem Rev 2002, 102, 231) for the prediction of electron affinities. The geometries are fully optimized with each DFT method independently. Three different types of the neutral-anion energy separations reported in this work are the adiabatic electron affinity (EA(ad)), the vertical electron affinity (EA(vert)), and the vertical detachment energy (VDE). The first dissociation energies D(e)(As(n-1)-As) for the neutral As(n) species, as well as those D(e)(As(-) (n-1)-As) and D(e) (As(n-1)-As(-)) for the anionic As(-) (n) species, have also been reported. The most reliable adiabatic electron affinities, obtained at the DZP++ BLYP level of theory, are 0.90 (As), 0.74 (As(2)), 1.30 (As(3)), 0.49 (As(4)), and 3.03 eV (As(5)), respectively. These EA(ad) values for As, As(2), and As(4) are in good agreement with experiment (average absolute error 0.09 eV), but that for As(3) is a bit smaller than the experimental value (1.45 +/- 0.03 eV). The first dissociation energies for the neutral arsenic clusters predicted by the B3LYP method are 3.93 eV (As(2)), 2.04 eV (As(3)), 3.88 eV (As(4)), and 1.49 eV (As(5)). Compared with the available experimental dissociation energies for the neutral clusters, the theoretical predictions are excellent. Two dissociation limits are possible for the arsenic cluster anions. The atomic arsenic results are 3.91 eV (As(-) (2) --> As(-) + As), 2.46 eV (As(-) (3) --> As(-) (2) + As), 3.14 eV (As(-) (4) --> As(-) (3) + As), and 4.01 eV (As(-) (5) --> As(-) (4) + As). For dissociation to neutral arsenic clusters, the predicted dissociation energies are 2.43 eV (As(-) (3) --> As(2) + As(-)), 3.53 eV (As(-) (4) --> As(3) + As(-)), and 3.67 eV (As(-) (5) --> As(4) + As(-)). For the vibrational frequencies of the As(n) series, the BP86 and B3LYP methods produce good results compared with the limited experiments, so the other predictions with these methods should be reliable.