Stochastic search of the quantum conformational space of small lithium and bimetallic lithium-sodium clusters

Perez, JF; Florez E.; Hadad, CZ; Fuentealba P.; Restrepo, A

Abstract

In this paper we report the results obtained by an implementation and application of the simulated annealing optimization procedure to the exploration of the conformational space of small neutral and charged lithium clusters (Lin q, n = 5, 6, 7; q = 0, ± 1) and of the bimetallic lithium/sodium clusters (Li5Na) in their lowest spin states. Our methodology eliminates the structure guessing procedure in the process of generating cluster configurations. We evaluate the quantum energy, typically with the Hartree - Fock Hamiltonian, of randomly generated points in the conformational space and use a modified Metropolis test in the annealing algorithm to generate candidate structures for atomic clusters. The structures are further optimized by analytical methods (gradient following) at the Møller-Plesset second order perturbation theory level (MP2), in conjunction with basis sets including polarization functions with and without diffuse functions. High accuracy ab initio energies at the coupled clusters level, with single, double, and triple substitutions from the Hartree-Fock determinant (CCSD(T)), on the MP2 geometries were calculated and used to establish the relative stability of the isomers within each potential energy surface. Various cluster properties were computed and compared to existing values in order to validate our methods. Our results show excellent agreement with previous experimental and theoretical reports. Even at these small sizes, evidence for 10 new structures never reported before for the lithium clusters and four new structures for the bimetallic clusters is presented. © 2008 American Chemical Society.

Más información

Título según WOS: Stochastic search of the quantum conformational space of small lithium and bimetallic lithium-sodium clusters
Título según SCOPUS: Stochastic search of the quantum conformational space of small lithium and bimetallic lithium-sodium clusters
Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
Volumen: 112
Número: 25
Editorial: AMER CHEMICAL SOC
Fecha de publicación: 2008
Página de inicio: 5749
Página final: 5755
Idioma: English
URL: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp802176w
DOI:

10.1021/jp802176w

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS