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Prosmiti R, González-Lezana T. Computational Modeling: Up-to-Date Approaches and Cutting-Edge Applications from Clusters, Nanostructures to Bulk Systems. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202400207. [PMID: 38837591 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202400207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The contributions in this special theme collection, in honor to Prof. P. Villarreal, cover a broad variety of computational methodologies and experimental techniques, containing studies on gas phase, clusters and condensed phase systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Prosmiti
- Instituto de Fìsica Fundamental, IFF-CSIC, Serrano 123, 28006, Madrid, Spain
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Mitrushchenkov AO, Pilar de Lara-Castells M. High-level ab initio evidence of bipyramidal Cu 5 clusters as fluxional Jahn-Teller molecules. Chemphyschem 2023; 24:e202300317. [PMID: 37442814 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300317] [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: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Novel highly selective synthesis techniques have enable the production of atomically precise monodisperse metal clusters (AMCs) of subnanometer size. These AMCs exhibit 'molecule-like' structures that have distinct physical and chemical properties, significantly different from those of nanoparticles and bulk material. In this work, we study copper pentamer Cu5 clusters as model AMCs by applying both density functional theory (DFT) and high-level (wave-function-based) ab initio methods, including those which are capable of accounting for the multi-state multi-reference character of the wavefunction at the conical intersection (CI) between different electronic states and augmenting the electronic basis set till achieving well-converged energy values and structures. After assessing the accuracy of a high-level multi-multireference ab initio protocol for the well-known Cu3 case, we apply it to demonstrate that bypiramidal Cu5 clusters are distorted Jahn-Teller (JT) molecules. The method is further used to evaluate the accuracy of single-reference approaches, finding that the coupled cluster singles and doubles and perturbative triples CCSD(T) method delivers the results closer to our ab initio predictions and that dispersion-corrected DFT can outperform the CCSD method. Finally, we discuss how JT effects and, more generally, conical intersections, are intimately connected to the fluxionality of AMCs, giving them a 'floppy' character that ultimately facilitates their interaction with environmental molecules and thus enhances their functioning as catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander O Mitrushchenkov
- Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire de Modélisation et Simulation Multi Echelle UMR 8208 CNRS, Univ Gustave Eiffel, 5 Bd Descartes, 77454, Marne la Vallée, Cedex 2, France
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Fernández B, Pi M, de Lara-Castells MP. Superfluid helium droplet-mediated surface-deposition of neutral and charged silver atomic species. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023. [PMID: 37317779 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp01303k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Experimental and theoretical work has delivered evidence of the helium nanodroplet-mediated synthesis and soft-landing of metal nanoparticles, nanowires, clusters, and single atoms on solid supports. Recent experimental advances have allowed the formation of charged metal clusters into multiply charged helium nanodroplets. The impact of the charge of immersed metal species in helium nanodroplet-mediated surface deposition is proved by considering silver atoms and cations at zero-temperature graphene as the support. By combining high-level ab initio intermolecular interaction theory with a full quantum description of the superfluid helium nanodroplet motion, evidence is presented that the fundamental mechanism of soft-deposition is preserved in spite of the much stronger interaction of charged species with surfaces, with high-density fluctuations in the helium droplet playing an essential role in braking them. Corroboration is also presented that the soft-landing becomes favored as the helium nanodroplet size increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Fernández
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Martí Pi
- Departament FQA, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Vilà A, González M. Quantum dynamics of the Br 2 (B-excited state) photodissociation in superfluid helium nanodroplets: importance of the recombination process. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:24353-24361. [PMID: 36178095 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp02984g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We have studied the Br2 photodissociation dynamics (B ← X electronic transition) of Br2(v = 0, X)@(4He)N doped nanodroplets (T = 0.37 K) at zero angular momentum, with N in the 100-1000 interval. To do this, we have used a quantum mechanical hybrid strategy proposed by us and, as far as we know, this is the second quantum dynamics study available on the photodissociation of molecules in superfluid helium nanodroplets. While the results obtained for some properties are qualitatively similar to those reported previously by us for the Cl2(B ← X) related case (in particular, the oscillating Br final velocity distribution which also arises from quantum interferences), large differences are evident in three key properties: the photodissociation mechanism and probability and the time scale of the process. This can be interpreted on the basis of the significantly lower excitation energy achieved by the Br2(B ← X) transition and the higher reduced mass of Br-Br in comparison to the chlorine case. The Br2(B) photodissociation dynamics is significantly more complex than that of Cl2(B) and leads to the fragmentation of the initial wave packet. Thus, the probability of non-dissociation is equal to 17, 18, 51, 85 and 100% for N = 100, 200, 300, 500 and 1000, respectively, while for chlorine this probability is equal to zero. In spite of the very large experimental difficulties that exist for obtaining nanodroplets with a well defined size, we hope that these results will encourage experimentalists to investigate these interesting systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnau Vilà
- Departament de Ciència dels Materials i Química Física and IQTC, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Miguel González
- Departament de Ciència dels Materials i Química Física and IQTC, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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García-Alfonso E, Barranco M, Bonhommeau DA, Halberstadt N, Pi M, Calvo F. Clustering, collision, and relaxation dynamics in pure and doped helium nanoclusters: Density- vs particle-based approaches. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:014106. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0091942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The clustering, collision, and relaxation dynamics of pristine and doped helium nanodroplets is theoretically investigated in cases of pickup and clustering of heliophilic argon, collision of heliophobic cesium atoms, and coalescence of two droplets brought into contact by their mutual long-range van der Waals interaction. Three approaches are used and compared with each other. The He time-dependent density functional theory method considers the droplet as a continuous medium and accounts for its superfluid character. The ring-polymer molecular dynamics method uses a path-integral description of nuclear motion and incorporates zero-point delocalization while bosonic exchange effects are ignored. Finally, the zero-point averaged dynamics approach is a mixed quantum–classical method in which quantum delocalization is described by attaching a frozen wavefunction to each He atom, equivalent to classical dynamics with effective interaction potentials. All three methods predict that the growth of argon clusters is significantly hindered by the helium host droplet due to the impeding shell structure around the dopants and kinematic effects freezing the growing cluster in metastable configurations. The effects of superfluidity are qualitatively manifested by different collision dynamics of the heliophilic atom at high velocities, as well as quadrupole oscillations that are not seen with particle-based methods, for droplets experiencing a collision with cesium atoms or merging with each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto García-Alfonso
- Laboratoire Collisions, Agrégats, Réactivité (LCAR), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Manuel Barranco
- Laboratoire Collisions, Agrégats, Réactivité (LCAR), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
- Department FQA, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David A. Bonhommeau
- Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, CNRS, GSMA UMR 7331, 51100 Reims, France
| | - Nadine Halberstadt
- Laboratoire Collisions, Agrégats, Réactivité (LCAR), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Martí Pi
- Department FQA, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Florent Calvo
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPHY, F38000 Grenoble, France
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Ellis AM, Davies JA, Yurtsever E, Calvo F. Dimerization dynamics of carboxylic acids in helium nanodroplets. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:174304. [PMID: 35525638 DOI: 10.1063/5.0087957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The dimerization of molecules in helium nanodroplets is known to preferentially yield structures of higher energy than the global energy minimum structure for a number of quite different monomers. Here, we explore dimerization in this environment using an atomistic model within statistically converged molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories, treating the solvent implicitly through the use of a thermostat, or more explicitly by embedding one monomer in a He100 cluster. The focus is on the two simplest carboxylic acids, formic and acetic, both of which have been studied experimentally. While the global minimum structure, which comprises two CO⋯HO hydrogen bonds, is predicted to be the most abundant dimer in the absence of the helium solvent, this is no longer the case once helium atoms are included. The simulations confirm the importance of kinetic trapping effects and also shed light on the occurrence of specific dynamical effects, leading to the occasional formation of high-energy structures away from minima, such as saddle configurations. Theoretically predicted infrared spectra, based on the MD statistics, are in good agreement with the experimental spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Ellis
- School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Julia A Davies
- School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Ersin Yurtsever
- Department of Chemistry, Koç University, Rumelifeneri Yolu, Sariyer, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Florent Calvo
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LiPhy, F38000 Grenoble, France
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de Lara-Castells MP. First-principles modelling of the new generation of subnanometric metal clusters: Recent case studies. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 612:737-759. [PMID: 35033919 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.12.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The very recent development of highly selective techniques making possible the synthesis and experimental characterization of subnanometric (subnanometer-sized) metal clusters (even single atoms) is pushing our understanding far beyond the present knowledge in materials science, driving these clusters as a new generation of quantum materials at the lower bounds of nanotechnology. When the size of the metal cluster is reduced to a small number of atoms, the d-band of the metal splits into a subnanometric d-type molecular orbitals network in which all metal atoms are inter-connected, with the inter-connections having the length of a chemical bond (1-2 Å). These molecular characteristics are at the very core of the high stability and novel properties of the smallest metal clusters, with their integration into colloidal materials interacting with the environment having the potential to further boost their performance in applications such as luminescence, sensing, bioimaging, theranostics, energy conversion, catalysis, and photocatalysis. Through the presentation of very recent case studies, this Feature Article is aimed to illustrate how first-principles modelling, including methods beyond the state-of-the-art and an interplay with cutting-edge experiments, is helping to understand the special properties of these clusters at the most fundamental level. Moreover, it will be discussed how superfluid helium droplets can act both as nano-reactors and carriers to achieve the synthesis and surface deposition of metal clusters. This concept will be illustrated with the quantum simulation of the helium droplet-assisted soft-landing of a single Au atom onto a titanium dioxide (TiO2) surface. Next, it will be shown how the application of first-principles methods have disclosed the fundamental reasons why subnanometric Cu5 clusters are resistant to irreversible oxidation, and capable of increasing and extending into the visible region the solar absorption of TiO2, of augmenting its efficiency for photo-catalysis beyond a factor of four, also considering the decomposition and photo-activation of CO2 as a prototypical (photo-) catalytic reaction. Finally, I will discuss how the modification of the same material with subnanometric Ag5 clusters has converted it into a "reporter" of a surface polaron property as well as a novel two-dimensional polaronic material.
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Efficient Formation of Size-Selected Clusters upon Pickup of Dopants into Multiply Charged Helium Droplets. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073613. [PMID: 35408968 PMCID: PMC8998201 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Properties of clusters often depend critically on the exact number of atomic or molecular building blocks, however, most methods of cluster formation lead to a broad, size distribution and cluster intensity anomalies that are often designated as magic numbers. Here we present a novel approach of breeding size-selected clusters via pickup of dopants into multiply charged helium nanodroplets. The size and charge state of the initially undoped droplets and the vapor pressure of the dopant in the pickup region, determines the size of the dopant cluster ions that are extracted from the host droplets, via evaporation of the helium matrix in a collision cell filled with room temperature helium or via surface collisions. Size distributions of the selected dopant cluster ions are determined utilizing a high-resolution time of flight mass spectrometer. The comparison of the experimental data, with simulations taking into consideration the pickup probability into a shrinking He droplet due to evaporation during the pickup process, provides a simple explanation for the emergence of size distributions that are narrower than Poisson.
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