Shenggang Li

Molecular Structures and Energetics of the (TiO2)n (n = 1−4) Clusters and Their Anions

The (TiO2)n clusters and their anions for n = 1-4 have been studied with coupled cluster theory [CCSD(T)] and density functional theory (DFT). For n > 1, numerous conformations are located for both the neutral and anionic clusters, and their relative energies are calculated at both the DFT and CCSD(T) levels. The CCSD(T) energies are extrapolated to the complete basis set limit for the monomer and dimer and calculated up to the triple-zeta level for the trimer and tetramer. The adiabatic and vertical electron detachment energies of the anionic clusters to the ground and first excited states of the neutral clusters are calculated at both levels and compared with the experimental results. The comparison allows for the definitive assignment of the ground-state structures of the anionic clusters. Anions of the dimer and tetramer are found to have very closely lying conformations within 2 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T) level, whereas that of the trimer does not. In addition, accurate clustering energies and heats of formation are calculated for the neutral clusters and compared with the available experimental data. Estimates of the titanium-oxygen bond energies show that they are stronger than the group VIB transition metal-oxygen bonds except for tungsten. The atomization energies of these clusters display much stronger basis set dependence than the clustering energies. This allows the calculation of more accurate heats of formation for larger clusters on the basis of calculated clustering energies.

Accurate Thermochemistry for Transition Metal Oxide Clusters

Total atomization energies (TAEs) and normalized clustering energies (NCEs) of group IVB (MO(2))(n) (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) and VIB (MO(3))(n) (M = Cr, Mo, W) transition metal oxide clusters up to n = 4 were calculated at the coupled cluster [CCSD(T)] and density functional theory (DFT) levels. For all the clusters studied, the TAEs calculated at the CCSD(T) level were found to be strongly basis set dependent, whereas the NCEs were significantly less basis set dependent. Here we further develop an efficient strategy for calculating accurate thermodynamic properties of large clusters based on those of the cluster unit and the NCEs. The calculated TAEs, NCEs, and heats of formations for these clusters were compared with available experimental data. We also benchmarked the performance of popular DFT exchange-correlation functionals for the calculations of the TAEs and NCEs. The performance of many DFT functionals for the calculation of the TAEs strongly depends on the choice of the electronic state for the transition metal atom. Hybrid functionals were found to generally outperform pure functionals in the calculation of NCEs, and the PBE1PBE functional has the best performance with average deviations of approximately 1 kcal/mol for the dimers and approximately 2 kcal/mol for the trimers and tetramers. The benchmarked functionals all display gradual degradation in performance with increasing cluster size.

Probing the Electronic and Structural Properties of Chromium Oxide Clusters (CrO3)n-and (CrO3)n (n = 1-5) : Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Density Functional Calculations

Photoelectron spectroscopy has been conducted for a series of (CrO3)n(-) (n = 1-5) clusters and compared with density functional calculations. Well-resolved photoelectron spectra were obtained for (CrO3)n(-) (n = 1-5) at 193 nm (6.424 eV) and 157 nm (7.866 eV) photon energies, allowing for accurate measurements of the electron binding energies, low-lying electronic excitations for n = 1 and 2, and the energy gaps. Density functional and molecular orbital theory (CCSD(T)) calculations were performed to locate the ground and low-lying excited states for the neutral clusters and to calculate the electron binding energies of the anionic species. The experimental and computational studies firmly establish the unique low-spin, nonplanar, cyclic ring structures for (CrO3)n and (CrO3)n(-) for n > or = 3. The structural parameters of (CrO3)n are shown to converge rapidly to those of the bulk CrO3 crystal. The extra electron in (CrO3)n(-) (n > or = 2) is shown to be largely delocalized over all Cr centers, in accord with the relatively sharp ground-state photoelectron bands. The measured energy gaps of (CrO3)n exhibit a sharp increase from n = 1 to n = 3 and approach to the bulk value of 2.25 eV at n = 4 and 5, consistent with the convergence of the structural parameters.

Direct conversion of CO2 into liquid fuels with high selectivity over a bifunctional catalyst

Although considerable progress has been made in carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation to various C1 chemicals, it is still a great challenge to synthesize value-added products with two or more carbons, such as gasoline, directly from CO2 because of the extreme inertness of CO2 and a high C–C coupling barrier. Here we present a bifunctional catalyst composed of reducible indium oxides (In2O3) and zeolites that yields a high selectivity to gasoline-range hydrocarbons (78.6%) with a very low methane selectivity (1%). The oxygen vacancies on the In2O3 surfaces activate CO2 and hydrogen to form methanol, and C−C coupling subsequently occurs inside zeolite pores to produce gasoline-range hydrocarbons with a high octane number. The proximity of these two components plays a crucial role in suppressing the undesired reverse water gas shift reaction and giving a high selectivity for gasoline-range hydrocarbons. Moreover, the pellet catalyst exhibits a much better performance during an industry-relevant test, which suggests promising prospects for industrial applications. It is still a great challenge to synthesize value-added products with two or more carbons directly from CO2. Now, a bifunctional catalyst composed of reducible metal oxides (In2O3) and zeolites (HZSM-5) is prepared and yields high selectivity to gasoline-range hydrocarbons (78.6%) with a high octane number directly from CO2 hydrogenation.

Hydrolysis of TiCl4: Initial Steps in the Production of TiO2

The hydrolysis of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl(4)) to produce titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanoparticles has been studied to provide insight into the mechanism for forming these nanoparticles. We provide calculations of the potential energy surfaces, the thermochemistry of the intermediates, and the reaction paths for the initial steps in the hydrolysis of TiCl(4). We assess the role of the titanium oxychlorides (Ti(x)O(y)Cl(z); x = 2-4, y = 1, 3-6, and z = 2, 4, 6) and their viable reaction paths. Using transition-state theory and RRKM theory, we predicted rate constants including the effect of tunneling. Heats of formation at 0 and 298 K are predicted for TiCl(4), TiCl(3)OH, TiOCl(2), TiOClOH, TiCl(2)(OH)(2), TiCl(OH)(3), Ti(OH)(4), and TiO(2) using the CCSD(T) method with correlation consistent basis sets extrapolated to the complete basis set limit and compared with the available experimental data. Clustering energies and heats of formation are calculated for neutral clusters. The calculated heats of formation were used to study condensation reactions that eliminate HCl or H(2)O. The reaction energy is substantially endothermic if more than two HCl molecules are eliminated. The results show that the mechanisms leading to formation of TiO(2) nanoparticles and larger ones are complicated and will have a strong dependence on the experimental conditions.

Molecular Structures and Energetics of the (ZrO2)n and (HfO2)n (n = 1-4) Clusters and Their Anions

The group IVB transition-metal dioxide clusters and their anions, (MO(2))(n) and (MO(2))(n)(-) (M = Zr, Hf; n = 1-4), are studied with coupled cluster (CCSD(T)) theory and density functional theory (DFT). Similar to the results for M = Ti, these oxide clusters have a number of low-lying isomeric structures, which can make it difficult to predict the ground electronic state especially for the anion. Electron affinities for the low-lying structures are calculated and compared with those for M = Ti. Electron affinities of these clusters depend strongly on the cluster structures. Anion photoelectron spectra are calculated for the monomer and dimer and demonstrate the possibility for structural identification at a spectral line width of <or=0.05 eV. Electron excitation energies from the low-lying states to the singlet and triplet excited states are calculated self-consistently, as well as by the time-dependent DFT and equation-of-motion coupled cluster (EOM-CCSD) methods. The calculated excitation energies are compared to the band energies of bulk oxides, indicating that the excitation energy is not yet converged for n = 4 for these clusters. The excitation energies of the low-lying isomeric clusters are less than the bulk metal oxide band gaps and suggest that these clusters could be useful photocatalysts with a visible light source.

Matrix Infrared Spectra and Theoretical Studies of Thorium Oxide Species: ThOx and Th2Oy

Infrared spectra of three new thorium oxide species have been obtained in argon and neon matrixes. All of the products are experimentally characterized using isotopic oxygen samples with the aid of electronic structure calculations. Ground state thorium atoms react with O(2) to form the ThO(2) molecules, which can dimerize to give Th(2)O(4) products. Th(2)O(4) is predicted to have nonplanar C(2h) symmetry for its closed shell singlet ground state. The rhombus-shaped Th(2)O(2) molecule in the (1)A(g) (D(2h)) ground state is also observed and its formation is proposed via the reaction of Th(2) with O(2). In addition, electron capture of neutral thorium dioxide results in the formation of the ThO(2)(-) anion. It is predicted to have a doublet ground state with a geometry similar to that of the neutral ThO(2) molecule. Electronic structure calculations on the unobserved Th(2)O and Th(2)O(3) molecules are also provided.

Electronic Structure and Thermochemical Properties of Small Neutral and Cationic Lithium Clusters and Boron-Doped Lithium Clusters: Lin0/+ and LinB0/+ (n = 1―8)

The stability, electronic structure, and thermochemical properties of the pure Li(n) and boron-doped Li(n)B (n = 1-8) clusters in both neutral and cationic states are studied using electronic structure methods. The global equilibrium structures are established, and their heats of formation are evaluated using the G3B3 and CCSD(T)/CBS methods based on the density functional theory geometries. Theoretical adiabatic ionization energies (IE(a)) for the Li(n) clusters are in good agreement with experiment: Li(2) (G3B3, 5.21 eV; CCSD(T), 5.14 eV; expt, 5.1127 ± 0.0003 eV), Li(3) (4.16, 4.11, 4.08 ± 0.10), Li(4) (4.76, 4.68, 4.70 ± 0.05), Li(5) (4.11, 4.06, 4.02 ± 0.10), Li(6) (4.46, 4.32, 4.20 ± 0.10), Li(7) (4.07, 3.99, 3.94 ± 0.10), and Li(8) (4.49, 4.31, 4.16 ± 0.10). The Li(4) experimental IE(a) has been revised on the basis of the Franck-Condon simulations. Species Li(5)B, Li(6)B(+), Li(7)B, and Li(8)B(+) exhibit high stability as compared to their neighbors, which can be understood by considering the magic numbers of the phenomenological shell model (PSM).

Structures and heats of formation of simple alkali metal compounds: hydrides, chlorides, fluorides, hydroxides, and oxides for Li, Na, and K.

Geometry parameters, frequencies, heats of formation, and bond dissociation energies are predicted for simple alkali metal compounds (hydrides, chlorides, fluorides, hydroxides and oxides) of Li, Na, and K from coupled cluster theory [CCSD(T)] calculations including core-valence correlation with the aug-cc-pwCVnZ basis set (n = D, T, Q, and 5). To accurately calculate the heats of formation, the following additional correction were included: scalar relativistic effects, atomic spin-orbit effects, and vibrational zero-point energies. For calibration purposes, the properties of some of the lithium compounds were predicted with iterative triple and quadruple excitations via CCSDT and CCSDTQ. The calculated geometry parameters, frequencies, heats of formation, and bond dissociation energies were compared with all available experimental measurements and are in excellent agreement with high-quality experimental data. High-level calculations are required to correctly predict that K(2)O is linear and that the ground state of KO is (2)Sigma(+), not (2)Pi, as in LiO and NaO. This reliable and consistent set of calculated thermodynamic data is appropriate for use in combustion and atmospheric simulations.

Metal‐Free Nitrogen‐Doped Mesoporous Carbon for Electroreduction of CO2 to Ethanol

CO2 electroreduction is a promising technique for satisfying both renewable energy storage and a negative carbon cycle. However, it remains a challenge to convert CO2 into C2 products with high efficiency and selectivity. Herein, we report a nitrogen-doped ordered cylindrical mesoporous carbon as a robust metal-free catalyst for CO2 electroreduction, enabling the efficient production of ethanol with nearly 100 % selectivity and high faradaic efficiency of 77 % at -0.56 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. Experiments and density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the synergetic effect of the nitrogen heteroatoms and the cylindrical channel configurations facilitate the dimerization of key CO* intermediates and the subsequent proton-electron transfers, resulting in superior electrocatalytic performance for synthesizing ethanol from CO2 .