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Journal ArticleDOI

Electronic Structure and Stability of [B12X12]2- (X = F-At): A Combined Photoelectron Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study.

TL;DR: The unusual intrinsic electronic structure of the [B12X12]2- MCAs provides the basis for a molecular level understanding of their observed unique physical and chemical properties and a new paradigm for understanding the properties of these MCAs with not well-separated charges that departs from the prevailing model used for spatially separated charges.
Abstract: The stability and electron loss process of numerous multiply charged anions (MCAs) have been traditionally explained in terms of the classical Coulomb interaction between spatially separated charged groups. An understanding of these processes in MCAs with not well-separated excess charges is still lacking. We report the surprising properties and physical behavior of [B12X12]2–, X = F, Cl, Br, I, At, which are MCAs with not well-separated excess charges and cannot be described by the prevailing classical picture. In this series of MCAs, comprising a “boron core” surrounded by a “halogen shell”, the sign of the total charge in these two regions changes along the halogen series from X = F–At. With the aid of experimental photoelectron spectroscopy and highly correlated ab initio electronic structure calculations, we demonstrate that the trend in the electronic stability of these MCAs is determined by the interplay between the Coulomb (de)stabilization originating from the “boron core” and “halogen shell” and...
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This Review summarizes recent advances in the study of boron compounds for energy‐related processes and applications with a focus on weakly coordinating anions.
Abstract: Boron's unique position in the Periodic Table, that is, at the apex of the line separating metals and nonmetals, makes it highly versatile in chemical reactions and applications. Contemporary demand for renewable and clean energy as well as energy‐efficient products has seen boron playing key roles in energy‐related research, such as 1) activating and synthesizing energy‐rich small molecules, 2) storing chemical and electrical energy, and 3) converting electrical energy into light. These applications are fundamentally associated with boron's unique characteristics, such as its electron‐deficiency and the availability of an unoccupied p orbital, which allow the formation of a myriad of compounds with a wide range of chemical and physical properties. For example, boron's ability to achieve a full octet of electrons with four covalent bonds and a negative charge has led to the synthesis of a wide variety of borate anions of high chemical and electrochemical stability—in particular, weakly coordinating anions. This Review summarizes recent advances in the study of boron compounds for energy‐related processes and applications.

148 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A concept for the rational design of anionic superelectrophiles that are composed of a strong electrophilic center firmly embedded in a negatively charged framework of exceptional stability is reported.
Abstract: Chemically binding to argon (Ar) at room temperature has remained the privilege of the most reactive electrophiles, all of which are cationic (or even dicationic) in nature. Herein, we report a concept for the rational design of anionic superelectrophiles that are composed of a strong electrophilic center firmly embedded in a negatively charged framework of exceptional stability. To validate our concept, we synthesized the percyano-dodecoborate [B 12 (CN) 12 ] 2− , the electronically most stable dianion ever investigated experimentally. It serves as a precursor for the generation of the monoanion [B 12 (CN) 11 ] − , which indeed spontaneously binds Ar at 298 K. Our mass spectrometric and spectroscopic studies are accompanied by high-level computational investigations including a bonding analysis of the exceptional B-Ar bond. The detection and characterization of this highly reactive, structurally stable anionic superelectrophile starts another chapter in the metal-free activation of particularly inert compounds and elements.

53 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A previously unreported phenomenon by which macroscopic liquid-like thin layers with tunable self-organization properties form through accumulation of stable complex ions of one polarity on surfaces is described.
Abstract: The formation of traditional ionic materials occurs principally via joint accumulation of both anions and cations. Herein, we describe a previously unreported phenomenon by which macroscopic liquid-like thin layers with tunable self-organization properties form through accumulation of stable complex ions of one polarity on surfaces. Using a series of highly stable molecular anions we demonstrate a strong influence of the internal charge distribution of the molecular ions, which is usually shielded by counterions, on the properties of the layers. Detailed characterization reveals that the intrinsically unstable layers of anions on surfaces are stabilized by simultaneous accumulation of neutral molecules from the background environment. Different phases, self-organization mechanisms and optical properties are observed depending on the molecular properties of the deposited anions, the underlying surface and the coadsorbed neutral molecules. This demonstrates rational control of the macroscopic properties (morphology and size of the formed structures) of the newly discovered anion-based layers. Using ions of one polarity to form functional layers on surfaces is usually challenging because of counter ions which are inevitably present in the condensed phase. Here the authors demonstrate accumulation of mass-selected anions and neutral molecules from the gas phase to form a self-organizing liquid-like layer on a surface.

33 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report the thermodynamic stabilities and the intrinsic strengths of three-center-two-electron B−B−B and B−Hb−B bonds, which can be used to determine the decisive role of the intermediates of the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions of borohydride.
Abstract: We report the thermodynamic stabilities and the intrinsic strengths of three‐center‐two‐electron B−B−B and B−Hb−B bonds (urn:x-wiley:14394235:media:cphc201900364:cphc201900364-math-0001 : bridging hydrogen), and two‐center‐two‐electron B−Ht bonds (urn:x-wiley:14394235:media:cphc201900364:cphc201900364-math-0002 : terminal hydrogen) which can be served as a new, effective tool to determine the decisive role of the intermediates of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions of borohydride. The calculated heats of formation were obtained with the G4 composite method and the intrinsic strengths of B−B−B, B−Hb−B, and B−Ht bonds were derived from local stretching force constants obtained at the B3LYP‐D2/cc‐pVTZ level of theory for 21 boron‐hydrogen compounds, including 19 intermediates. The Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) was used to deepen the inside into the nature of B−B−B, B−Hb−B, and B−Ht bonds. We found that all of the experimentally identified intermediates hindering the reversibility of the decomposition reactions are thermodynamically stable and possess strong B−B−B, B−Hb−B, and B−Ht bonds. This proves that thermodynamic data and intrinsic B−B−B, B−Hb−B, and B−Ht bond strengths form a new, effective tool to characterize new (potential) intermediates and to predict their role for the reversibility of the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions.

29 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A simple derivation of a simple GGA is presented, in which all parameters (other than those in LSD) are fundamental constants, and only general features of the detailed construction underlying the Perdew-Wang 1991 (PW91) GGA are invoked.
Abstract: Generalized gradient approximations (GGA’s) for the exchange-correlation energy improve upon the local spin density (LSD) description of atoms, molecules, and solids. We present a simple derivation of a simple GGA, in which all parameters (other than those in LSD) are fundamental constants. Only general features of the detailed construction underlying the Perdew-Wang 1991 (PW91) GGA are invoked. Improvements over PW91 include an accurate description of the linear response of the uniform electron gas, correct behavior under uniform scaling, and a smoother potential. [S0031-9007(96)01479-2] PACS numbers: 71.15.Mb, 71.45.Gm Kohn-Sham density functional theory [1,2] is widely used for self-consistent-field electronic structure calculations of the ground-state properties of atoms, molecules, and solids. In this theory, only the exchange-correlation energy EXC › EX 1 EC as a functional of the electron spin densities n"srd and n#srd must be approximated. The most popular functionals have a form appropriate for slowly varying densities: the local spin density (LSD) approximation Z d 3 rn e unif

146,533 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed study of correlation effects in the oxygen atom was conducted, and it was shown that primitive basis sets of primitive Gaussian functions effectively and efficiently describe correlation effects.
Abstract: In the past, basis sets for use in correlated molecular calculations have largely been taken from single configuration calculations. Recently, Almlof, Taylor, and co‐workers have found that basis sets of natural orbitals derived from correlated atomic calculations (ANOs) provide an excellent description of molecular correlation effects. We report here a careful study of correlation effects in the oxygen atom, establishing that compact sets of primitive Gaussian functions effectively and efficiently describe correlation effects i f the exponents of the functions are optimized in atomic correlated calculations, although the primitive (s p) functions for describing correlation effects can be taken from atomic Hartree–Fock calculations i f the appropriate primitive set is used. Test calculations on oxygen‐containing molecules indicate that these primitive basis sets describe molecular correlation effects as well as the ANO sets of Almlof and Taylor. Guided by the calculations on oxygen, basis sets for use in correlated atomic and molecular calculations were developed for all of the first row atoms from boron through neon and for hydrogen. As in the oxygen atom calculations, it was found that the incremental energy lowerings due to the addition of correlating functions fall into distinct groups. This leads to the concept of c o r r e l a t i o n c o n s i s t e n t b a s i s s e t s, i.e., sets which include all functions in a given group as well as all functions in any higher groups. Correlation consistent sets are given for all of the atoms considered. The most accurate sets determined in this way, [5s4p3d2f1g], consistently yield 99% of the correlation energy obtained with the corresponding ANO sets, even though the latter contains 50% more primitive functions and twice as many primitive polarization functions. It is estimated that this set yields 94%–97% of the total (HF+1+2) correlation energy for the atoms neon through boron.

26,705 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A large set of more than 300 molecules representing all elements-except lanthanides-in their common oxidation states was used to assess the quality of the bases all across the periodic table, and recommendations are given which type of basis set is used best for a certain level of theory and a desired quality of results.
Abstract: Gaussian basis sets of quadruple zeta valence quality for Rb-Rn are presented, as well as bases of split valence and triple zeta valence quality for H-Rn. The latter were obtained by (partly) modifying bases developed previously. A large set of more than 300 molecules representing (nearly) all elements-except lanthanides-in their common oxidation states was used to assess the quality of the bases all across the periodic table. Quantities investigated were atomization energies, dipole moments and structure parameters for Hartree-Fock, density functional theory and correlated methods, for which we had chosen Moller-Plesset perturbation theory as an example. Finally recommendations are given which type of basis set is used best for a certain level of theory and a desired quality of results.

17,964 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, an analysis of the performances of a parameter free density functional model (PBE0) obtained combining the so-called PBE generalized gradient functional with a predefined amount of exact exchange is presented.
Abstract: We present an analysis of the performances of a parameter free density functional model (PBE0) obtained combining the so called PBE generalized gradient functional with a predefined amount of exact exchange. The results obtained for structural, thermodynamic, kinetic and spectroscopic (magnetic, infrared and electronic) properties are satisfactory and not far from those delivered by the most reliable functionals including heavy parameterization. The way in which the functional is derived and the lack of empirical parameters fitted to specific properties make the PBE0 model a widely applicable method for both quantum chemistry and condensed matter physics.

13,411 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a perturbation theory for treating a system of n electrons in which the Hartree-Fock solution appears as the zero-order approximation was developed, and it was shown by this development that the first order correction for the energy and the charge density of the system is zero.
Abstract: A perturbation theory is developed for treating a system of n electrons in which the Hartree-Fock solution appears as the zero-order approximation. It is shown by this development that the first order correction for the energy and the charge density of the system is zero. The expression for the second-order correction for the energy greatly simplifies because of the special property of the zero-order solution. It is pointed out that the development of the higher approximation involves only calculations based on a definite one-body problem.

12,067 citations