Density functional study of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and its hydrogen derivatives

A Computational Study on Closed-Shell Molecular Hexafluorides MF6 (M=S, Se, Te, Po, Xe, Rn, Cr, Mo, W, U) - Molecular Structure, Anharmonic Frequency Calculations, and Prediction of the NdF6 Molecule

Quantum chemical methods were used to study the molecular structure and anharmonic IR spectra of the experimentally known closed-shell molecular hexafluorides MF₆ (M=S, Se, Te, Xe, Mo, W, U). First, the molecular structures and harmonic frequencies were investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT) with all-electron basis sets and explicitly considering the influence of spin-orbit coupling. Second, anharmonic frequencies and IR intensities were calculated with the CCSD(T) coupled cluster method and compared, where available, with IR spectra recorded by us. These comparisons showed satisfactory results. The anharmonic IR spectra provide means for identifying experimentally too little studied or unknown MF₆ molecules with M=Cr, Po, Rn. To the best of our knowledge, we predict the NdF₆ molecule for the first time and show it to be a true local minimum on the potential energy surface. We used intrinsic bond orbital (IBO) analyses to characterize the bonding situation in comparison with the UF₆ molecule.

Prediction on dielectric strength and boiling point of gaseous molecules for replacement of SF6

Developing the environment-friendly insulation gases to replace sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆ ) has attracted considerable experimental and theoretical attentions but without success. A computational methodology was presented herein for prediction on dielectric strength and boiling point of arbitrary gaseous molecules in the purpose of molecular design and screening. New structure-activity relationship (SAR) models have been established by combining the density-dependent properties of the electrostatic potential surface, including surface area and the statistical variance of the surface potentials, with the molecular properties including polarizability, electronegativity, and hardness. All the descriptors in the SAR models were calculated using density functional theory. The substitution effect of SF₆ by various functional groups was studied systematically. It was found that CF₃ is the most effective functional group to improve the dielectric strength due to the large surface area and polarizability. However, all the substitutes exhibit higher boiling points than SF₆ because the molecular hardness decreases. The balance between E_r and T_b could be achieved by minimizing the local polarity of the molecules. SF₅ CN and SF₅ CFO were found to be the potent candidates to replace SF₆ in view of their large dielectric strengths and low boiling points. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Nonlinear normal mode interactions in the SF(6) molecule studied with the aid of density functional theory

Some exact interactions between vibrational modes in systems with discrete symmetry can be described by the theory of the bushes of nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) [G. M. Chechin and V. P. Sakhnenko, Phys. D (Amsterdam, Neth.) 117, 43 (1998)]. Each bush represents a dynamical object conserving the energy of the initial excitation. The existence of bushes of NNMs is ensured by some group-theoretical selection rules. In G. M. Chechin et al. [Int. J. Nonlinear Mech. 38, 1451 (2003)], existence and stability of the bushes of vibrational modes in the simple octahedral model of mass points interacting via Lennard-Jones potential were investigated. In the present paper, we study these dynamical objects by the density functional theory in the SF(6) molecule, which possesses the same symmetry and structure. We have fully confirmed the results previously obtained in the framework of the group-theoretical approach and have found some properties of the bushes of NNMs.

Assessment of theoretical methods for the study of hydrogen abstraction kinetics of global warming gas species during their degradation and byproduct formation (IUPAC Technical Report)

Global climate change is a major concern as it leads to an increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. The existence and persistence of some gaseous species in the atmosphere contribute to global warming. Experimental techniques are used to study the kinetics and degradation of global warming gases. However, quantum mechanical methods are also useful for the kinetic and radiative forcing study of global warming species and can precede experimental investigations. Research has also been targeted to develop more adapted procedures using ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods. This report provides a global perspective, in simplified manner, of the theoretical studies of the degradation of gas species in the atmosphere with an emphasis on the hydrogen abstraction kinetics of global warming gas species during their degradation and byproduct formation. En route, the results obtained from these studies are analysed and compared with experimental data where available. Our analyses indicate that the theoretical predictions are in agreement with experimental findings but the predicted parameters are dependent on the method being used. Theoretical methods are used to predict the thermodynamic parameters of reactions, and, with relevance to this report, the global warming potential (GWP) index can also be calculated. This report can be useful for future investigations involving global warming gaseous species while providing suggestions on how computations can fill in data gaps when experimental data are unavailable.

Bonding in SCln (n = 1-6): a quantum chemical study

Following a previous study of bonding and isomerism in the SF(n) and singly chloro-substituted SF(n-1)Cl (n = 1-6) series, we describe bonding in the ground and low-lying excited states of the completely substituted series, SCl(n) (n = 1-6). All structures were characterized at least at the RCCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV(Q+d)Z level of theory. Both differences and similarities were observed between SCl(n) and our previous results on SF(n-1)Cl and SF(n). Several minimum structures that exist in SF(n) and SF(n-1)Cl are absent in SCl(n). For example, the optimized structure of SCl(2)((3)A(2)) is a transition state in C(s) symmetry, whereas the analogous states are minima in SF(n) and SF(n-1)Cl. Second, we found a continuation of a trend discovered in the SF(n-1)Cl series, where Cl substitution has a destabilizing effect that weakens bonds with respect to SF(n). This effect is much stronger in the SCl(n) series than it is in the SF(n-1)Cl series, which is why SCl(2) is the most stable observed species in the family and why SCl(4), SCl(5), and SCl(6) are unstable (SCl(n-2) + Cl(2) additions are endothermic for n = 4-6).