Anna L. Garden

Calculation of Vibrational Transition Frequencies and Intensities in Water Dimer: Comparison of Different Vibrational Approaches

We have calculated frequencies and intensities of fundamental and overtone vibrational transitions in water and water dimer with use of different vibrational methods. We have compared results obtained with correlation-corrected vibrational self-consistent-field theory and vibrational second-order perturbation theory both using normal modes and finally with a harmonically coupled anharmonic oscillator local mode model including OH-stretching and HOH-bending local modes. The coupled cluster with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples ab initio method with augmented correlation-consistent triple-zeta Dunning and atomic natural orbital basis sets has been used to obtain the necessary potential energy and dipole moment surfaces. We identify the strengths and weaknesses of these different vibrational approaches and compare our results to the available experimental results.

Calculation of the O−H Stretching Vibrational Overtone Spectrum of the Water Dimer

The O-H stretching vibrational overtone spectrum of the water dimer has been calculated with the dimer modeled as two individually vibrating monomer units. Vibrational term values and absorption intensities have been obtained variationally with a computed dipole moment surface and an internal coordinate Hamiltonian, which consists of exact kinetic energy operators within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation of the monomer units. Three-dimensional ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces have been calculated using the internal coordinates of the monomer units using the coupled cluster method including single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] with the augmented correlation consistent valence triple zeta basis set (aug-cc-pVTZ). The augmented correlation consistent valence quadruple zeta basis set (aug-cc-pVQZ), counterpoise correction, basis set extrapolation to the complete basis set limit, relativistic corrections, and core and valence electron correlations effects have been included in one-dimensional potential energy surface cuts. The aim is both to investigate the level of ab initio and vibrational calculations necessary to produce accurate results when compared with experiment and to aid the detection of the water dimer under atmospheric conditions.

Counterpoise corrected geometries of hydrated complexes

We have calculated the equilibrium geometries of the hydrated complexes, H2O.CO2, H2O.CS2,H2O.OCS, H2O.SO2, and H2O.SO3, in the electronic ground state. We have used the coupled cluster with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples ab initio method with a correlation consistent augmented triple-zeta basis set. We find that a counterpoise corrected optimization scheme is important for an accurate description of the geometries. These high level ab initio calculated geometries are of comparable quality to those obtained experimentally.

Calculated Band Profiles of the OH-Stretching Transitions in Water Dimer

We have calculated the band profiles of the OH-stretching fundamental and overtone transitions in the proton donor unit of the water dimer complex. We have used a local mode Hamiltonian that includes both OH-stretching and OO-stretching motion but separates these adiabatically. The variation of OH-stretching frequency and anharmonicity with OO displacement from equilibrium contributes to the effective OO-stretching potentials for each OH-stretching state. The resulting OO-stretching energy levels and wave functions are used to simulate the vibrational profile of each OH-stretching transition. The coupled cluster with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples ab initio method with an augmented triple-zeta correlation consistent basis set has been used to obtain the necessary parameters, potentials, and dipole moment functions. We find that the OO-stretching transitions associated with a given hydrogen bonded OH-stretching transition are spread significantly and this spread increases with overtone. The spread is minor for the free OH-stretching transition. The inclusion of the OO-stretching mode has a limited effect on the overall OH-stretching band intensity.

Chapter 8 – Atmospheric Photolysis of Sulfuric Acid

Abstract We describe theoretical methods for the calculation of vibrational and electronic transitions in sulfuric acid, from which absorption cross sections can be obtained in the infrared through to the vacuum ultraviolet region. In the absence of experimental cross sections these calculations provide invaluable input for the assessment of the atmospheric photolysis of sulfuric acid. The vibrational model is based on a local mode model that includes the OH-stretching and SOH-bending vibrations, while the electronic transitions are calculated with coupled cluster response theory. These approaches are sufficient to describe the dominant vibrational transitions in the near infrared and visible regions, the lowest lying electronic transitions in the ultraviolet region and the higher energy electronic transitions in the region of Lyman- α radiation. We highlight the influence quantum mechanical calculations have had in the recent discussion of the atmospheric photolysis of sulfuric acid, and show that theoretical calculations can provide absorption cross sections of an accuracy that is useful in atmospheric science.

A Simple Method of Predicting Spin State in Solution

A simple method, using density functional theory (DFT), of predicting spin-state in advance of synthesis is reported. Specifically, an excellent correlation is observed between the switching temperatures (T1/2) in CDCl3 solution of five spin-crossover (SCO)-active [FeII(Lazine)2(NCBH3)2] complexes and the DFT-calculated (and observed) 15N NMR chemical shift (δNA) of the five different azine-substituted 1,2,4-triazole ligands employed, Lazine = 4-(4-methylphenyl)-3-phenyl-5-(azine)-1,2,4-triazole, where azine = pyridine, pyridazine, 4-pyrimidine, pyrazine, and 2-pyrimidine. To test the generality of this finding, DFT was also employed to readily predict the δNA values for a family of 16 literature ligands, known as bppX,Y [X,Y-substituted 2,6-(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridines], which have produced 16 SCO-active [FeII(bppX,Y)2](Z)2 complexes (Z = BF4 or in one case PF6) in (CD3)2CO solution: again an excellent correlation was found between the computed δNA and the observed T1/2. These correlations represent a key advance in the field, as they allow a simple DFT calculation on a modified ligand to be used to reliably predict, before synthesis of the ligand or complex, the T1/2 that would result from that modification. Achieving such easily predictable tuning of T1/2, and hence of spin-state, is a significant step forward in the field of SCO and also has big implications in many other fields in which spin-state is key, including catalysis, metallo-enzyme modeling studies, and host-guest chemistry.

Towards a tunable microemulsion method for nanoparticle synthesis

We present a new twist on a conventional nanoparticle preparation method, which allows the one-pot synthesis of two fractions of size-controlled, spherical, monodisperse silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), one fraction of which can be suspended in organic solvent, and the other can be suspended in aqueous or other polar solvents, with no significant change to the core diameter of the suspended particles. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the careful selection of capping agents enables the tailoring of the NP surface and optical properties and controls the extent of partitioning between the organic and aqueous phases. This study can serve as a guide for the preparation of NPs with independent control over particle size, composition, surface coating and dispersing medium, thus allowing the contributions of each of these factors to the NP properties to be isolated and investigated individually.