1
|
Li ZY, Liu QY, He SG. Spectroscopic Characterization of Thermal Methane Activation by Lewis-Acid-Base Pair in a Gas-Phase Metal Nitride Anion Ta 2N 3. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202400116. [PMID: 38380870 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202400116] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Activation and transformation of methane is one of the "holy grails" in catalysis. Understanding the nature of active sites and mechanistic details via spectroscopic characterization of the reactive sites and key intermediates is of great challenge but crucial for the development of novel strategies for methane transformation. Herein, by employing photoelectron velocity-map imaging (PEVMI) spectroscopy in conjunction with quantum chemistry calculations, the Lewis acid-base pair (LABP) of [Taδ+-Nδ-] unit in Ta2N3 - acting as an active center to accomplish the heterolytic cleavage of C-H bond in CH4 has been confirmed by direct characterization of the reactant ion Ta2N3 - and the CH4-adduct intermediate Ta2N3CH4 -. Two active vibrational modes for the reactant (Ta2N3 -) and four active vibrational modes for the intermediate (Ta2N3CH4 -) were observed from the vibrationally resolved PEVMI spectra, which unequivocally determined the structure of Ta2N3 - and Ta2N3CH4 -. Upon heating, the LABP intermediate (Ta2N3CH4 -) containing the NH and Ta-CH3 unit can undergo the processes of C-N coupling and dehydrogenation to form the product with an adsorbed HCN molecule.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Yu Li
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institution of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 1, 00190, P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS, Research/Education Center of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Qing-Yu Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institution of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 1, 00190, P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS, Research/Education Center of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Sheng-Gui He
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institution of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 1, 00190, P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS, Research/Education Center of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, 100049, (P. R. China)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gao HW, Hui J, Wang LS. Observation of an electron-precise metal boryne complex: [BiBH] . Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:12431-12434. [PMID: 37768059 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc04235a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Metal-boron triple bonds are rare due to the electron deficiency of boron. This study uncovers a simple electron-precise metal boryne complex, [BiBH]-, which is produced within an ion trap through chemical reactions of the open-shell BiB- anion with H2. Photoelectron imaging is used to investigate the electronic structure and chemical bonding of the BiBH- complex. The B atom in the linear closed-shell BiBH- is found to undergo sp hybridization, forming a B-H single bond and a BiB triple bond. Photoelectron imaging reveals three detachment transitions from the BiBH- (1Σ+) anion to the neutral BiBH, including the ground state (2Π3/2) and two excited states (2Σ+ and 2Π1/2). Strong vibronic coupling is observed between the 2Π3/2 and 2Σ+ states, evidenced by the appearance of bending vibrations and their unique photoelectron angular distributions. The BiBH- complex not only stands as the simplest metal boryne complex, but also serves as an ideal molecular system to investigate both spin-orbit and vibronic couplings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han-Wen Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| | - Jie Hui
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| | - Lai-Sheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gao HW, Choi HW, Hui J, Chen WJ, Kocheril GS, Wang LS. On the electronic structure and spin-orbit coupling of BiB from photoelectron imaging of cryogenically-cooled BiB- anion. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:114301. [PMID: 37712786 DOI: 10.1063/5.0170325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
We report a study on the electronic structure and chemical bonding of the BiB molecule using high-resolution photoelectron imaging of cryogenically cooled BiB- anion. By eliminating all the vibrational hot bands, we can resolve the complicated detachment transitions due to the open-shell nature of BiB and the strong spin-orbit coupling. The electron affinity of BiB is measured to be 2.010(1) eV. The ground state of BiB- is determined to be 2Π(3/2) with a σ2π3 valence electron configuration, while the ground state of BiB is found to be 3Σ-(0+) with a σ2π2 electron configuration. Eight low-lying spin-orbit excited states [3Σ-(1), 1Δ(2), 1Σ+(0+), 3Π(2), 3Π(1), 1Π(1)], including two forbidden transitions, [3Π(0-) and 3Π(0+)], are observed for BiB as a result of electron detachment from the σ and π orbitals of BiB-. The angular distribution information from the photoelectron imaging is found to be critical to distinguish detachment transitions from the σ or π orbital for the spectral assignment. This study provides a wealth of information about the low-lying electronic states and spin-orbit coupling of BiB, demonstrating the importance of cryogenic cooling for obtaining well-resolved photoelectron spectra for size-selected clusters produced from a laser vaporization cluster source.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han-Wen Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Hyun Wook Choi
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Jie Hui
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Wei-Jia Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - G Stephen Kocheril
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Lai-Sheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chen TT, Cheung LF, Wang LS. Probing the Nature of the Transition-Metal-Boron Bonds and Novel Aromaticity in Small Metal-Doped Boron Clusters Using Photoelectron Spectroscopy. Annu Rev Phys Chem 2022; 73:233-253. [PMID: 35044792 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physchem-082820-113041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Photoelectron spectroscopy combined with quantum chemistry has been a powerful approach to elucidate the structures and bonding of size-selected boron clusters (Bn-), 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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Teng Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; .,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ling Fung Cheung
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; .,Hitachi Ltd., Research and Development Group, Center for Technology Innovation-Decarbonized Energy, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan
| | - Lai-Sheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Barroso J, Pan S, Merino G. Structural transformations in boron clusters induced by metal doping. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:1098-1123. [PMID: 35029622 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00747e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Barroso
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Unidad Mérida, km 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73, Cordemex 97310, Mérida, Yuc., Mexico.
| | - Sudip Pan
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Unidad Mérida, km 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73, Cordemex 97310, Mérida, Yuc., Mexico.
| | - Gabriel Merino
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Unidad Mérida, km 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73, Cordemex 97310, Mérida, Yuc., Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chen WJ, Kulichenko M, Choi HW, Cavanagh J, Yuan DF, Boldyrev AI, Wang LS. Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Size-Selected Bismuth-Boron Clusters: BiB n- ( n = 6-8). J Phys Chem A 2021; 125:6751-6760. [PMID: 34333984 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c05846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Because of its low toxicity, bismuth is considered to be a "green metal" and has received increasing attention in chemistry and materials science. To understand the chemical bonding of bismuth, here we report a joint experimental and theoretical study on a series of bismuth-doped boron clusters, BiBn- (n = 6-8). Well-resolved photoelectron spectra are obtained and are used to understand the structures and bonding of BiBn- in conjunction with theoretical calculations. Global minimum searches find that all three BiBn- clusters have planar structures with the Bi atom bonded to the edge of the planar Bn moiety via two Bi-B σ bonds as well as π bonding by the 6pz orbital. BiB6- is found to consist of a double-chain B6 with a terminal Bi atom. Both BiB7- and BiB8- are composed of a Bi atom bonded to the planar global minima of the B7- and B8- clusters. Chemical bonding analyses reveal that BiB6- is doubly antiaromatic, whereas BiB7- and BiB8- are doubly aromatic. In the neutral BiBn (n = 6-8) clusters, except BiB6 which has a planar structure similar to the anion, the global minima of both BiB7 and BiB8 are found to be half-sandwich-type structures due to the high stability of the doubly aromatic B73- and B82- molecular wheel ligands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Jia Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Maksim Kulichenko
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322, United States
| | - Hyun Wook Choi
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Joseph Cavanagh
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Dao-Fu Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Alexander I Boldyrev
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322, United States
| | - Lai-Sheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Shi H, Kuang X, Lu C. LiB 13: A New Member of Tetrahedral-Typed B 13 Ligand Half-Surround Cluster. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1642. [PMID: 32015360 PMCID: PMC6997382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57769-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
It will get entirely unusual derivatives with gratifying chemical bonding schemes for boron clusters by doping with lithium, the lightest alkalis. The geometric structures and electronic properties of the LiBn0/- (n = 10-20) clusters have been studied through Crystal structure AnaLYsis by Particle Swarm Optimization (CALYPSO) structural search approach along with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The low-lying candidates of LiBn0/- (n = 10-20) are reoptimized at the B3LYP functional in conjunction with 6-311 + G(d) basis set. Three forms of geometric configurations are identified for the ground-state structures of LiBn0/- clusters: half-sandwich-type, quasi-planar and drum-type structures. The photoelectron spectra (PES) of the LiBn- clusters have been calculated through time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). A promising LiB13 with tetrahedral-typed B13 ligand half-surround cluster and robust stability is uncovered. The molecular orbital and adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP) analysis show that B-B bonds in the B13 moiety combined with the interaction between the B13 shell and Li atom stabilize the C2v LiB13 cluster. Our results advance the fundamental understanding about the alkali metal doped boron clusters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiao Shi
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Xiaoyu Kuang
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
| | - Cheng Lu
- School of Mathematics and Physics, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430074, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jian T, Chen X, Li SD, Boldyrev AI, Li J, Wang LS. Probing the structures and bonding of size-selected boron and doped-boron clusters. Chem Soc Rev 2019; 48:3550-3591. [PMID: 31120469 DOI: 10.1039/c9cs00233b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Jian
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Dick B. MELEXIR: maximum entropy Legendre expanded image reconstruction. A fast and efficient method for the analysis of velocity map imaging or photoelectron imaging data. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:19499-19512. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03353j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The MELEXIR program obtains a Legendre expansion of the 3D velocity distribution from 2D images of ions or photoelectrons. The maximum entropy algorithm avoids inverse Abel transforms, is fast and applicable to low-intensity images.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Dick
- Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie
- Universität Regensburg
- 93053 Regensburg
- Germany
| |
Collapse
|