Ab initio prediction of Boron compounds arising from Borozene: Structural and electronic properties

Structure and electronic properties of two unusual boron clusters obtained by fusion of borozene rings has been studied by means of first principles calculations, based on the generalized-gradient approximation of the density functional theory, and the semiempirical tight-binding method was used for the transport calculations. The role of disorder has also been considered with single vacancies and substitutional atoms. Results show that the pure boron clusters are topologically planar and characterized by (3c-2e) bonds, which can explain, together with the aromaticity (estimated by means of NICS), the remarkable cohesive energy values obtained. Such feature makes these systems competitive with the most stable boron clusters to date. On the contrary, the introduction of impurities compromises stability and planarity in both cases. The energy gap values indicate that these clusters possess a semiconducting character, while when the larger system is considered, zero-values of the density of states are found exclusively within the HOMO-LUMO gap. Electron transport calculations within the Landauer formalism confirm these indications, showing semiconductor-like low bias differential conductance for these stuctures. Differences and similarities with Carbon clusters are highlighted in the discussion.Comment: 10 pages, 2 tables, 5 figure

First observation of the 3³Π<inf>g</inf> state of C<inf>2</inf>: Born-Oppenheimer breakdown

The 33Πg state of the dicarbon molecule, C2, has been identified for the first time by a combination of resonant ionization spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and high-level ab initio quantum chemical calculations. This marks the discovery of the final valence triplet state of C2 spectroscopically accessible from the lowest triplet state. It is found to be vibronically coupled to the recently discovered 43Πg state, necessitating vibronic calculations beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation to reconcile calculated rotational constants with observations. The 33Πg state of C2 is observed to have a much shorter fluorescence lifetime than expected, possibly pointing to predissociation by coupling to the unbound d3Πg state

The e Π g 3 state of C<inf>2</inf>: A pathway to dissociation

The lowest 13 vibrational levels, v = 0-12, of the eΠg3 state of the C2 molecule have been measured by laser-induced fluorescence of new bands of the Fox-Herzberg system. The newly observed levels, v = 5-12, which span the eΠg3 electronic state up to and beyond the first dissociation threshold of C2, were analyzed to afford highly accurate molecular constants, including band origins, and rotational and spin-orbit constants. The spin-orbit coupling constants of the previously published lowest five levels are revised in sign and magnitude, requiring an overhaul of previously published molecular constants. The analysis is supported by high level ab initio calculations. Lifetimes of all observed levels were recorded and found to be in excellent agreement with ab initio predicted values up to v = 11. v = 12 was found to exhibit a much reduced lifetime and fluorescence quantum yield, which is attributed to the onset of predissociation. This brackets the dissociation energy of ground state XΣg+1 C2 between 6.1803 and 6.2553 eV, in agreement with the Active Thermochemical Tables

The ionization energy of C<inf>2</inf>

Resonant two-photon threshold ionization spectroscopy is employed to determine the ionization energy of C2 to 5 meV precision, about two orders of magnitude more precise than the previously accepted value. Through exploration of the ionization threshold after pumping the 0-3 band of the newly discovered 43Πg←a3Πu band system of C2, the ionization energy of the lowest rovibronic level of the a3Πu state was determined to be 11.791(5) eV. Accounting for spin-orbit and rotational effects, we calculate that the ionization energy of the forbidden origin of the a3Πu state is 11.790(5) eV, in excellent agreement with quantum thermochemical calculations which give 11.788(10) eV. The experimentally derived ionization energy of X1Σg+ state C2 is 11.866(5) eV

Laser-induced fluorescence spectrum of 3-vinyl-1H-indene.

The laser-induced fluorescence spectrum of 3-vinyl-1H-indene was recorded between 33,000 and 33,800 cm(-1). An origin band was observed at 33,455 cm(-1) along with several low-frequency modes. With the aid of density functional theory and configuration interaction calculations, the electronic transition was assigned as S1 &lt;-- S0 and the short progression in an 80 cm(-1) mode was identified as a vinyl group torsion. Theoretical, spectroscopic, and thermochemical considerations suggest that the 3-vinyl-1H-indene spectrum results from excitation from both conformational isomers with the vinyl and indene double bonds in trans and cis arrangements. The results are discussed in the context of the identification of species arising from the discharge of benzene in argon

Resonance-Enhanced 2-Photon Ionization Scheme for C<inf>2</inf> through a Newly Identified Band System: 4³∏∏<inf>g</inf>-a³∏∏<inf>u</inf>

We report the observation of a new band system of C2, namely, the 43∏∏g-a3∏∏u system. The bands, observed by resonant 2-photon ionization spectroscopy and time-of-flight mass spectrometry, were identified through a synergy of high-level ab initio computation and double-resonance spectroscopy. Two bands are firmly identified, 1-3 and 0-2, allowing the 43∏∏g origin to be placed at 51496.44 cm-1. The 43∏∏g state is characterized as having a single bond, with a vibrational frequency of about 1268 cm-1, and an equilibrium bond length of 1.57 Å. The state is predicted to exhibit a barrier to dissociation, with a rotational constant that unusually increases with vibrational excitation up to a maximum before decreasing at higher vibrational excitation. The new band system allows us to probe the a3∏∏u state of C2 through a straightforward 1 + 1 REMPI scheme