Structural and Electronic Properties of Reduced Transition Metal Oxide Clusters, M 3 O 8 and M 3 O 8 - (M = Cr, W), from Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Calculations
We report a comparative study of reduced transition metal oxide clusters, M₃O₈⁻ (M = Cr, W) anions and their neutrals, via anion photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and density functional theory (DFT) and molecular orbital theory (CCSD(T)) calculations. Well-resolved PES spectra are obtained for M₃O₈⁻ (M = Cr, W) at 193 and 157 nm photon energies. Different PES spectra are observed for M = Cr versus M = W. ExtensiveDFT and CCSD(T) calculations are performed to locate the ground and low-lying excited states for the neutrals and anions. The ground states of Cr₃O₈ and Cr₃O₈⁻ are predicted to be the ³B₂ and ⁴B₂ states of a C₂v structure, respectively, revealing ferromagnetic spin coupling for Cr 3d electrons. In contrast, the ground states of W₃O₈ and W₃O₈⁻ are predicted to be the ¹A' state (Cs symmetry) and the ²A₁ state (C₂v symmetry), respectively, showing metal-metal d-d bonding in the anion. The current cluster geometries are in qualitative agreement with prior DFT studies at the PBE level for M = Cr and the B3LYP level for M = W. The BP86 and PW91 functionals significantly outperform the B3LYP functional for the Cr species, in terms of relative energies, electron detachment energies, and electronic excitation energies, whereas the B3LYP functional is better for the W species. Accurate heats of formation for the ground states of M₃O₈ are calculated from the clustering energies and the heats of formation of MO₂ and MO₃. The energetics have been used to predict redox reaction thermochemistry.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1001530
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory, Vol. 113, Issue 42; ISSN 1089-5639
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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