Argon tagging of doubly transition metal doped aluminum clusters: The importance of electronic shielding.

The interaction of argon with doubly transition metal doped aluminum clusters, AlnTM2 + (n = 1-18, TM = V, Nb, Co, Rh), is studied experimentally in the gas phase via mass spectrometry. Density functional theory calculations on selected sizes are used to understand the argon affinity of the clusters, which differ depending on the transition metal dopant. The analysis is focused on two pairs of consecutive sizes: Al6,7V2 + and Al4,5Rh2 +, the largest of each pair showing a low affinity toward Ar. Another remarkable observation is a pronounced drop in reactivity at n = 14, independent of the dopant element. Analysis of the cluster orbitals shows that this feature is not a consequence of cage formation but is electronic in nature. The mass spectra demonstrate a high similarity between the size-dependent reactivity of the clusters with Ar and H2. Orbital interactions provide an intuitive link between the two and further establish the importance of precursor states in the reactions of the clusters with hydrogen.

Structures and magnetic properties of small [Formula: see text] and Co n-1Cr+ (n = 3-5) clusters.

Small cobalt clusters [Formula: see text] and their single chromium atom doped counterparts Co n-1Cr+ (n = 3-5) were studied mass spectrometrically by measuring the infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectra of the corresponding argon tagged complexes. The geometric and electronic structures of the [Formula: see text] and Co n-1Cr+ (n = 3-5) clusters as well as their Ar complexes were optimized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The obtained lowest energy structures were confirmed by comparing the IRMPD spectra of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (n = 3-5, m = 3 and 4) with the corresponding calculated IR spectra. The calculations reveal that the doped Co n-1Cr+ clusters retain the geometric structures of the most stable [Formula: see text] clusters. However, the coupling of the local magnetic moments within the clusters is altered in a size-dependent way: the Cr atom is ferromagnetically coupled in Co2Cr+ and Co3Cr+, while it is antiferromagnetically coupled in Co4Cr+.

A theoretical study of weak interactions in phenylenediamine homodimer clusters.

Weak intermolecular interactions in phenylenediamine dimer (pdd) clusters are studied by dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Along with the optimization of geometric structures and the calculation of interaction energies, we employ molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) mapping, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and quantum theory of atoms in molecule (AIM) to analyze the origin and relative energetic contributions of the weak interactions in these pdd systems. It is revealed that the most stable o-phenylenediamine dimer (opdd) cluster is dominated by N-HN hydrogen bonds, the p-phenylenediamine dimer (ppdd) cluster is largely stabilized by N-Hπ and ππ stacking interactions, while the m-phenylenediamine dimer (mpdd) cluster is mainly held by a combination of n → π*, C-Hπ and C-HN interactions. Energy decomposition analysis (EDA) of the total interaction energies of these clusters further demonstrates that the weak intermolecular interactions are associated with electrostatic and dispersion contributions. Structural spectroscopic analysis is also addressed depicting the coexistence of multiple intermolecular interactions which give rise to the spectral variation in wavenumbers of the infrared and Raman activities. Insights into the weak interactions of pdds help us to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in biochemistry and self-assembly materials.

All-solid-state deep ultraviolet laser for single-photon ionization mass spectrometry.

We report here the development of a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer utilizing single-photon ionization based on an all-solid-state deep ultraviolet (DUV) laser system. The DUV laser was achieved from the second harmonic generation using a novel nonlinear optical crystal KBe2BO3F2 under the condition of high-purity N2 purging. The unique property of this laser system (177.3-nm wavelength, 15.5-ps pulse duration, and small pulse energy at ∼15 µJ) bears a transient low power density but a high single-photon energy up to 7 eV, allowing for ionization of chemicals, especially organic compounds free of fragmentation. Taking this advantage, we have designed both pulsed nanospray and thermal evaporation sources to form supersonic expansion molecular beams for DUV single-photon ionization mass spectrometry (DUV-SPI-MS). Several aromatic amine compounds have been tested revealing the fragmentation-free performance of the DUV-SPI-MS instrument, enabling applications to identify chemicals from an unknown mixture.

Charge-transfer interactions between TCNQ and silver clusters Ag20 and Ag13.

Interactions between tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and two typical silver clusters Ag13 and Ag20 are studied by first-principles DFT calculations. Charge transfer (CT) from silver clusters to TCNQ molecules initiates the Ag-N bond formation at selective sites resulting in the formation of different isomers of Ag13-TCNQ and Ag20-TCNQ complexes. We show here a comprehensive spectroscopic analysis for the two CT complexes on the basis of Raman and infrared activities. Furthermore, frontier molecular orbital (FMO) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of the complexes provides a vivid illustration of electron cloud overlap and interactions. The behavior of TCNQ adsorbed on the tetrahedral Ag20 cluster was even found in good agreement with the experimental measurement of TCNQ molecules on a single-crystal Ag(111) surface. This study not only endeavors to clarify the charge-transfer interactions of TCNQ with silver, but also presents a finding of enhanced charge transfer between Ag13 and TCNQ indicating potential for candidate building blocks of granular materials.

What determines if a ligand activates or passivates a superatom cluster?

Quantum confinement in small metal clusters leads to a bunching of states into electronic shells reminiscent of shells in atoms, enabling the classification of clusters as superatoms. The addition of ligands tunes the valence electron count of metal clusters and appears to serve as protecting groups preventing the etching of the metallic cores. Through a joint experimental and theoretical study of the reactivity of methanol with aluminum clusters ligated with iodine, we find that ligands enhance the stability of some clusters, however in some cases the electronegative ligand may perturb the charge density of the metallic core generating active sites that can lead to the etching of the cluster. The reactivity is driven by Lewis acid and Lewis base active sites that form through the selective positioning of the iodine and the structure of the aluminum core. This study enriches the general knowledge on clusters including offering insight into the stability of ligand protected clusters synthesized via wet chemistry.

Reactivity of silver clusters anions with ethanethiol.

We have investigated the gas-phase reactivity of silver clusters with ethanethiol in a fast-flow tube reactor. The primary cluster products observed in this reaction are AgnSH(-) and AgnSH2(-), indicating C-S bond activation, together with interesting byproducts H3S(-) and (H3S)2(-). Agn(-) clusters with an odd number of valence electrons (n = even) were observed to be more reactive than those with an even number of electrons-a feature previously only observed in the reactivity of Agn(-) with triplet oxygen, indicating that radical active sites play a role in their reactivity. Furthermore, the reactivity dramatically increases with large flow rate of ethanethiol being introduced in the flow tube. Theoretical investigations on the reactivity of Ag13(-) and Ag8(-) with ethanethiol indicate that both Ag13(-) and Ag8(-) face significant barriers to reactivity with a single ethanethiol molecule. However, Ag8(-) reacts readily in a cooperative reaction with two ethanethiol molecules, consistent with the dramatic increase in reactivity with a large flow rate. Further hydrogen-transfer reactions may then release an ethylene molecule or an ethyl radical resulting in the observed AgnSH(-) species.

Oxygen-sulfur exchange and the gas-phase reactivity of cobalt sulfide cluster anions with molecular oxygen.

We present here a study of gas-phase reactivity of cobalt sulfide cluster anions Co(m)S(n)(-) with molecular oxygen. Nascent Co(m)S(n)(-) clusters were prepared via a laser ablation source and reacted with oxygen in a fast flow reactor under thermal collision conditions. We chose (18)O2 in place of (16)O2 to avoid mass degeneration with sulfur, and a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer was used to detect the cluster distributions in the absence and presence of the reactant. It was found that oxygen-sulfur exchange occurs in the reactions for those with specific compositions (CoS)(n)(-) and (CoS)(n)S(-) (n = 2-5) according to a consistent pathway, "Co(m)S(n)(-) + (18)O2 → Co(m)S(n-1)(18)O(-) + S(18)O". Typically, for "Co2S2(-) + (18)O2" we have calculated the reaction coordinates by employing the density functional theory (DFT), where both the oxygen-sulfur exchange and SO molecule release are thermodynamically and kinetically favorable. It is noteworthy that the reaction with molecular oxygen (triplet ground state) needs to overcome a spin excitation as well as a large O-O activation energy. This study sheds light on the activation of molecular oxygen by cobalt sulfides on one hand and also provides insight into the regeneration mechanism of cobalt oxides from the counterpart sulfides in the presence of oxygen gas on the other hand.

Consecutive oxygen-for-sulfur exchange reactions between vanadium oxide cluster anions and hydrogen sulfide.

Vanadium oxide cluster anions Vm(16)On(-) and Vm(18)On(-) were prepared by laser ablation and reacted with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in a fast flow reactor under thermal collision conditions. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer was used to detect the cluster distributions before and after the interactions with H2S. The experiments suggest that the oxygen-for-sulfur (O/S) exchange reaction to release water was evidenced in the reactor for most of the cluster anions: VmOn(-) + H2S → VmOn-1S(-) + H2O. For reactions of clusters VO3(-) and VO4(-) with H2S, consecutive O/S exchange reactions led to the generation of sulfur containing vanadium oxide cluster anions VO3-kSk(-) (k = 1-3) and VO4-kSk(-) (k = 1-4). Density functional theory calculations were performed for the reactions of VO3-4(-) with H2S, and the results indicate that the O/S exchange reactions are both thermodynamically and kinetically favorable, which supports the experimental observations. The reactions of VmOn(+) cluster cations with H2S have been reported previously (Jia, M.-Y.; Xu, B.; Ding, X.-L.; Zhao, Y.-X.; He, S.-G.; Ge, M.-F. J. Phys. Chem. C 2012, 116, 9043), and this study of cluster anions provides further new insights into the transformations of H2S over vanadium oxides at the molecular level.

Experimental and theoretical study of the reactions between MO2- (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) cluster anions and hydrogen sulfide.

Transition metal oxide cluster anions M(m)(18)O(n)(-) (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) were prepared by laser ablation and reacted with H2S in a fast flow reactor under thermal collision conditions. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer was used to detect the cluster distributions before and after the interactions with H2S. The experiments reveal a suite of oxygen/sulfur (O/S) exchange and oxygen/sulfydryl (O/SH) exchange reactions. The O/S exchange reaction to release water was evidenced for all of the MO2(-) cluster anions: MO2(-) + H2S → MOS(-) + H2O, whereas the O/SH exchange reaction to derive MOSH(-) and OH species was only observed for reactions of NiO2(-), CuO2(-), and ZnO2(-). Density functional theory calculations were performed for reaction mechanisms of MO2(-) + H2S (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn). The computational results are generally in good agreement with the experimental results. This gas-phase study provides an insight into the metal dependent reactivity in the removal of H2S over metal oxides.