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The technique of H(D) atom photofragment translational spectroscopy has been applied to the photodissociation of HCN(DCN) at 121.6 nm. Analyses of the H(D) atom time-of-flight spectra reveal the partner CN fragment to be formed predominantly in its A 2Π excited electronic state. Branching into the H/D+CN(B 2∑+) product channel accounts for a few percent of the total fragment yield, but we discern no evidence for any contribution from the product channel yielding H/D atoms in conjunction with ground state CN(X 2∑+) fragments. The majority of the CN (A) fragments are formed in their v’=0 level but with a markedly bimodal rotational state population distribution. This bimodality has been rationalized in the light of the available information regarding the form of the potential energy surface of the excited 1Π state of HCN(DCN) populated following photoexcitation at 121.6 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calculations of the total and partial decay widths are presented for the vibrational predissociation of H2HF. The calculation is done for the total angular momentum J=0 of the molecule and for the dissociation process H2HF(v=1)→H2(v=0)+HF(v=0). A time-dependent golden rule wave packet method is employed in the numerical calculation for the decay widths. The lifetime of the complex is determined from our calculation to be about 600 ns for para- and 1600 ns for ortho-H2HF. These values are much larger than the experimentally measured value of 27 ns for ortho-H2HF. The large discrepancy in lifetime for H2HF is in sharp contrast to the excellent agreement in lifetime for D2HF between theory and experiment, though the same potential energy surface is used in both calculations. We also present the rotational state distribution of the fragments H2 and HF following the vibrational predissociation of H2HF. It is found that about 58% of the final rotational population is in j=4 states of H2 for para-H2HF and about 48% is in j=5 states of H2 for ortho-H2HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resonances in the quasistable A 1A‘ state of trans HONO are probed through photodissociation experiments. The OH fragment ejected by HONO excited to specific –N[larger_closed_square]O stretching vibrational levels of the A state is probed by high-resolution sub-Doppler spectroscopy of the R2(1) (1,0) A 2Σ+–X 2Π transition. The Doppler profiles provide information on the vibrational state dependence of HONO’s subpicosecond fragmentation time and OH fragment’s kinetic energy. The latter is used to deduce NO sister fragment’s translational and vibrational energy content. These provide quantitative probes for (a) V→T ‘‘energy transfer’’ from the photoselected N[larger_closed_square]O vibrational coordinate to the recoil O–N coordinate and (b) N[larger_closed_square]O ‘‘vibrational relaxation’’ during dissociation. The present results and our previous measurements on the HONO A–X linewidths are discussed in terms of an excited-state potential energy surface in which (a) the –N[larger_closed_square]O coordinate is coupled to the reaction coordinate (O–N) and (b) there is a bottleneck in the exit channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential energy surface for H(1 2S)+SO2 has been investigated computationally in order to study the catalytic removal of atomic hydrogen in flames by sulfur dioxide. HF/3–21G(*) and MP2/3–21G(*) levels of theory were employed to locate stationary points, which were then characterized by calculation of the vibrational frequencies. Some geometries were also optimized with the 6–31G* basis set. Two adducts HOSO and HSO2, with H bonded to O or S, respectively, were studied. Energies were estimated at the optimized geometries using spin-projected MP4/6–31G* calculations, which show that planar cis HOSO is more stable than Cs HSO2. An H–OSO bond energy of 109 kJ mol-1 is predicted. By contrast HSO2 is predicted to be 25 kJ mol-1 endothermic with respect to H+SO2, and is insufficiently stable to be significant in combustion chemistry. Transition states were located and the information used to derive the kinetics of H+SO2+Ar⇄HOSO+Ar from 298 to 2000 K. An unusually large energy barrier to recombination, of about 95 kJ mol-1 relative to H+SO2, is proposed. The results are compared with available kinetic measurements. Other potential decomposition channels for HOSO, to SO+OH and isomerization to HSO2, were also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have measured rotational distributions for H2 and D2 thermally desorbed from Si(100) surfaces using resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) for detection. These distributions are described by average rotational energies that are significantly lower than kTs (Ts=surface temperature) and exhibit slight, if any, isotopic dependence, i.e, =368±67 K and =348±65 K. The low average rotational energy clearly rules out recombination from a highly asymmetric transition state or recombination from high-impact-parameter collisions. The rotational distributions indicate that some dynamical constraint causes very little torque to be applied to molecular hydrogen during recombination. Our data may be interpreted as resulting from an exaggerated preference for reactive trajectories that are characterized by low-impact parameters and/or a high degree of symmetry of the bond axis relative to the potential energy surface, followed by prompt desorption of the newly formed molecular hydrogen from Si(100). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a quasiclassical trajectory study of the OH+CO reaction using a potential surface that has been derived from ab initio calculations. Among quantities that have been studied are cross sections for reaction and for HOCO complex formation, cross sections associated with reaction from excited vibrational and rotational states, product energy partitioning and CO2 vibrational-state distributions, HOCO lifetime distributions, and thermal and state-resolved rate constants. We also present the results of Rice–Ramsberger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) calculations, using the same potential-energy surface, of HOCO lifetimes and of reactive and complex formation rate constants. The trajectory results indicate that the dominant mechanism for reaction involves complex formation at low energies. However, a direct reaction mechanism is responsible for half the reactive cross section at higher energies. This leads to a rate constant that is weakly temperature dependent at low temperatures, and becomes strongly temperature dependent at high temperature. Our trajectory results agree with measured rates over a wide range of temperatures, but the trajectory results at low temperatures are dominated by classical ‘‘leak’’ through zero-point barriers, so this agreement may be somewhat fortuitous.Rate constants for nonreactive processes such as OH(v=1) deactivation by CO that are controlled by the HOCO formation step are well above experiment (factor of 6), while rate constants for processes such as CO(v=1) reaction with OH that are controlled by decay of HOCO into H+CO2 are much closer (factor of 2). This suggests that the entrance channel barrier on our surface is too loose while the exit barrier is accurate. The error in the entrance channel barrier is studied using RRKM, and it is found to be due to an incorrect out-of-plane bend potential in the analytical surface used. Modifying the potential so that it is more consistent with ab... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential-energy surface for the inorganic free-radical, HIF, known only from molecular-beam studies, is investigated using fourth-order many-body perturbation theory [MBPT(4)]. All-electron calculations with three different basis sets are compared with results using relativistic and nonrelativistic effective potentials on I. Two local minima are found with an H–I–F angle α equal to 137.5° and 82°, with the energy difference ranging from 2.3 to 5.1 kcal/mol depending upon the calculation. The barrier to internal conversion is 1.1 kcal/mol. From the lowest minimum our MBPT(4) calculations predict HIF to be bound to dissociation (De) to IF+H by 27.0 to 32.6 kcal/mol, and to HI+F dissociation by 22.1 to 30.9 kcal/mol, in good agreement with experiment. However, very large superposition errors are shown to be possible in all-electron calculations because of inevitable basis-set deficiencies for the I atom. Explanations for the double minima in HIF are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the influence of molecular rotation on the direct subsurface absorption of H[sub 2] on palladium(111). Definition of direct subsurface; Use of three-dimensional potential energy surface in quantum mechanical wave packet calculations; Inclusion of an angular degree of freedom for a molecule interacting with the surface.

Calculates a three-dimensional potential energy surface for hydrogen on palladium based on density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation. Two hydrogen molecular degrees of freedom and one palladium surface degree of freedom; Wave packet calculations to determine the effect of the surface motion on the direct subsurface absorption.

Reports on quasiclassical trajectory studies for the reaction between a hydrogen (H) atom incident from the gas phase and an H atom adsorbed on a copper surface. Construction of detailed potential energy surface containing all six nuclear degrees of freedom; Importance of the adsorbate-mediated trapping mechanisms; Final-state distributions of the products.

Reports on a distributed approximating functional (DAF) fit of the ab initio potential-energy surface data. Basis of the DAF-fit procedure on a variational principle; Occurrence of adjustable parameters in the DAF leading to a fit which is both accurate and smooth; Demonstrations of the exercise.

Results are reported of a four-dimensional dynamics study on the dissociation of H2 on Cu(100). The potential-energy surface was taken from density functional calculations, which employed the generalized gradient approximation and a slab representation for the surface. Reaction occurs preferentially in impacts near the bridge and hollow sites. Collisions near top sites promote vibrational excitation. The conclusion that vibrationally inelastic scattering and reaction occur preferentially on different sites can be generalized to other low index Cu surfaces. Resonances affect the reaction in the 4D model through a mechanism in which the molecule, trapped by excitation of the molecular bond which is weakened at the surface near top sites, is allowed more time to tunnel through the barrier to reaction. The calculated dependence of the diffraction probabilities on incidence energy suggests that a measurement of low-order diffraction would be able to determine whether the minimum barrier to reaction occurs for impacts on the bridge sites (as theory predicts) or on the hollow or top sites. The calculated reaction probabilities are in good agreement with experiment, further improvement being expected from including the rotational degrees of freedom in the model. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissociative adsorption of H2 on both perfect and imperfect Cu(100) surfaces is studied by using a mixed quantum-classical method. The six-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) is obtained via a simplified embedded-atom method (EAM). The effects of the surface vacancy and surface impurity (here a substitutional Ni atom is considered) on the dissociation of H2 are taken into account. The variation of activation barriers for H2 dissociation near a surface defect with different pathways and different molecular orientations is investigated. Dissociation probability Pd is computed as a function of incident translational energy Ei for different vibrational and rotational states. It is found that the presence of both vacancy and impurity atom Ni enhances the dissociation of hydrogen molecule on Cu(100) surface. Meanwhile, the general variation trend of Pd with the rotational quantum number J is unchanged, i.e., Pd first decreases and then increases as J is increased. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a quantal model for studying four-center reactions, A2+B2→2AB, and collision induced dissociation A2+B2→A+B2+A. The method involves using hyperspherical coordinates to describe vibrations of the A2 and B2 bonds and a global vibration and rotation of the exchange products. Application to the H4 system is presented, using a realistic potential energy surface. The reaction goes through a four-center linear transition state located just above the dissociation threshold. In the energy range studied (5–5.5 eV), collision induced dissociation competes with the four-center reaction and is the dominant process. It is found that vibrational energy, originally deposited in one of the diatomic partners, is much more efficient than translational energy in promoting reaction. Vibrational and rotational final distributions show that the products are internally hot. This simple quantal model, yet very demanding computationally, illustrates in detail many features of the H4 dynamics above the dissociation threshold, and could serve to study other four center reactions with trapezoidal or linear transition states. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quasiclassical trajectory calculations on the Muckerman V potential energy surface were carried out for the reaction F+HD(υ=0, J)→FH+D or FD+H. The reactive cross sections for the two product channels as well as the isotope effect were calculated for J=0 over the relative collision energy range 0.8–900 kcal/mol and also for 0≤J≤10 at a collision energy of 2 kcal/mol. The results are compared to those for F+H2→FH+H. The goal of this work was to understand the remarkable isotope effect behavior in both sets of calculations. It proved useful to decompose the reactive cross sections QR(FH) and QR(FD) into the product of three factors; the cross sections for F hitting the H end and the D end of HD, Qhit(FHD) and Qhit(FDH); the probabilities of reacting to give either FH or FD once the H end or D end is hit, PR(FHD) and PR(FDH); and the corrections for knockout collisions at both ends of the molecule, CKO(FHD) and CKO(FDH). (A knockout collision is one where the F atom initially hits the H end but reacts to form FD or vice versa.) All three factors make important contributions to the isotope effect. At low collision energies for J=0 FD is favored over FH because F hits the D end of HD more often and because the overall reactivity is higher at the D end. Both effects become less important at higher energies, but above 30 kcal/mol knockout reactions strongly favor the production of FD. The isotope effect as a function of J is quite remarkable. Although FD is favored for J=0 at E=2 kcal/mol, by J=3 no trajectories hit the D end, and no DF is formed. But at J=7 DF product reappears, coinciding with the onset of knockout reactions and an increase in reactivity at both ends of HD. We attribute all of these effects to the ability of the system at high J to rotate through the barrier separating the reactant valleys at each end of HD. The results obtained in this paper are explained by reference to special features of the potential... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented correlation consistent basis sets of double (aug-cc-pVDZ), triple (aug-cc-pVTZ), and modified quadruple zeta (aug-cc-pVQZ′) quality have been employed to describe the N2–HF potential energy surface at the Hartree–Fock level and with single reference correlated wave functions including Mo\ller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2, MP3, MP4) and coupled cluster methods [CCSD, CCSD(T)]. The most accurate computed equilibrium binding energies De are (with counterpoise correction) 810 cm-1 (MP4/aug-cc-pVQZ′) and 788 cm-1 [CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ′]. Estimated complete basis set limits of 814 cm-1 (MP4) and 793 cm-1 [CCSD(T)] indicate that the large basis set results are essentially converged. Harmonic frequencies and zero-point energies were determined through the aug-cc-pVTZ level. Combining the zero point energies computed at the aug-cc-pVTZ level with the equilibrium binding energies computed at the aug-cc-pVQZ′ level, we predict D0 values of 322 and 296 cm-1, respectively, at the MP4 and CCSD(T) levels of theory. Using experimental anharmonic frequencies, on the other hand, the CCSD(T) value of D0 is increased to 415 cm-1, in good agreement with the experimental value recently reported by Miller and co-workers, 398±2 cm-1. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We summarize and discuss some of the available experimental and theoretical data important for understanding the role played by subsurface sites in dissociative chemisorption calculations for the H2/Pd(111) system. Then we use a semi-empirical potential energy surface (PES) to model the interaction of a H2 molecule impinging on a Pd(111) surface. The London–Eyring–Polanyi–Sato (LEPS) construction has been extended to make direct subsurface absorption possible. A two-dimensional wave packet calculation is used to find qualitative trends in the direct subsurface absorption and to reveal the time scales involved. We suggest that a partial in-plane relaxation occurs for the slowest incoming particles, thus resulting in a higher direct subsurface absorption probability for low energies. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 220 nm photolysis of the hydroperoxyl radical, HO2, is investigated by probing the ejected OH fragments using Doppler and polarization spectroscopy. Analysis of the measured line profiles reveals that the OH fragments are predominately (84%) formed with the partner oxygen atom in its electronically excited 1D state with a smaller component (16%) being associated with oxygen atoms in the 3P ground electronic state. Measurement of OH fragment internal state distribution indicates that the 23 200 cm-1 of available energy is primarily released as electronic excitation of the oxygen atom (fel=0.57) and to a lesser extent as relative translation of the products (ftr=0.41). The internal degrees-of-freedom of the OH fragment receive very little of the available energy and are found to be fairly cold (fvib<0.004 and frot=0.014). For the primary O(1D) dissociation channel the measured 〈μ°v〉 correlation is strongly positive (βμv=0.61) indicating a preference for parallel alignment of the electronic transition moment and the recoil velocity vector in HO2, consistent with the excited state being of A″ symmetry. All other bipolar moments are close to zero for this pathway (βμJ=-0.10, βvJ=-0.04, βμvJ=-0.06) independent of the probed rotational quantum state of the OH fragment. For the minor O(3P) pathway a comparable set of bipolar moments is obtained. An investigation into the source of OH fragment rotation reveals that the combined contributions from out-of-plane rotation, generated by initial parent thermal motion about A-inertial axis, and in-plane rotation, generated by the combination of bending mode zero-point energy and final state interaction on the excited potential energy surface, result in negligible 〈v°J〉 correlation in the photodissociation of a thermally distributed sample of HO2 at 300 K. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first of a series of papers in which we investigate the unimolecular dissociation of hydroperoxyl. Using the DMBE IV potential energy surface [Pastrana et al., J. Phys. Chem. 94, 8073 (1990)], in the present study 726 bound states of HO2(X) up to the H+O2 dissociation threshold are calculated in an attempt to access the extent of the coupling between the modes of the system. The first approach involves an analysis of the nodal structure of the wave functions. While the wave functions for the lowest states are regular and assignable, the degree of mixing and complexity rapidly increases with energy. The wave functions close to the dissociation threshold are mostly irregular without any clear cut nodal structure and fill the entire coordinate space available. Nevertheless, a small number of regular states, that are associated with large excitation in the O2 stretching coordinate and no or only little excitation in the other modes, are found even at high energies. The second approach used to study the degree of intramolecular coupling is an analysis of the energy spectrum. The nearest neighbor level spacing distribution, which probes the short-range correlation, as well as the Σ2 and Δ3 statistics, which are sensitive to the long-range correlations in the spectrum, are investigated and compared to the distributions predicted for regular and irregular spectra. Both of these approaches indicate that the system is almost totally irregular with a Brody parameter of about 92%. In addition, the sum of states at a particular energy, which is extremely important in all statistical models for unimolecular dissociation, is approximately calculated from the volume of classical phase space and found to be in excellent agreement with the exact quantum mechanical result. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A time-dependent (TD) quantum wavepacket calculation of reaction probabilities is reported for the reaction HO + CO → H + CO2 for total angular momentum J=0. The dynamics calculation employs the potential-averaged five-dimensional model (PA5D) and is made possible by using a normalized angular quadrature scheme to minimize the requirement for computer memory. Reaction probabilities are obtained from the ground state as well as rotationally excited state in either one of the reactant diatoms. Strong resonances are found in the present study and calculated reaction probabilities are dominated by many narrow and overlapping resonances. These features are in qualitative agreement with several lower dimensional quantum dynamics studies. However, quantitative comparison of the present result with previously reported quantum calculations, including a recent planar four-dimensional (4D) calculation of Goldfield et al., shows that our calculated reaction probabilities are much smaller than those found in reduced dimensionality calculations. We also found reaction probability to be more sensitive to the rotational motion of CO than of HO. In addition to reaction probabilities, the bound state calculation for the stable intermediate complex HOCO has also been carried out and energies of several low-lying vibrational states are obtained. The potential energy surface (PES) of Schatz–Fitzcharles–Harding (SFH) is used in all the calculates presented in this paper. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converged full-dimensional (6D) quantum mechanical calculation of energy levels of intramolecular stretching excited (HF)2(ν1ν2) is presented for (ν1ν2)=(01), (10), (02), (20), and (11). The bound state calculation for the excited HF dimer employs the SQSBDE potential energy surface of Quack and Suhm and is for total angular momentum J=0. This calculation provides the first rigorous theoretical result of energy levels for HF stretching excited HF dimer in full dimensions. The calculated fundamental transition frequencies are ν1=3940.6 cm-1 and ν2=3896.4 cm-1. These values are somewhat larger than the corresponding experimental measurement of 3930.9 cm-1 for ν1 and 3868.3 cm-1 for ν2. The overtone frequencies are calculated to be 2ν1=7713.5 cm-1, 2ν2=7642.5 cm-1, and ν1+ν2=7841.8 cm-1. The theoretical tunneling splittings of the fundamentals ν2 and ν1 are, respectively, a factor of 5.3 and 3.7 smaller than the ground state splitting, compared to a factor of 3 from the experimental measurement. The splittings of the overtone states 2ν2, 2ν1, and ν1+ν2 are smaller than that of the ground state by factors of 9.6, 48, and 1.8, respectively. Some of the calculated energy levels of excited (HF)2 are spectroscopically characterized and assigned. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lee–DePristo model for the dissociative chemisorption of H2 on Ni(100) has an interesting behavior. The potential energy surface has a minimum corresponding to a molecular, physisorbed state. This minimum is shallow and at 300 K the lifetime of physisorbed H2 is extremely short. One is then justified in treating the kinetics as a direct dissociation and ignoring physisorption. At 100 K physisorbed H2 has a long lifetime and one is forced to consider a two-step kinetics: H2 is first physisorbed and then dissociated. While chemical kinetics describes easily these two limiting cases, it offers little guidance for the intermediate temperature. We show here how the correlation function theory deals with this situation by providing equations which cover all temperature regimes. The theory is general and can be used in all cases when intermediates with shallow wells participate in the reaction mechanism. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We presented a detailed quantum dynamics study for dissociative adsorption of H2 at different sites of Cu(111) surface to investigate the effect of surface corrugation and site specificity. The theoretical study employed a four-dimensional (4-D) ‘‘fixed-site’’ model, in which the lateral coordinates (X,Y) of the center of mass of the diatom are fixed at the impact site, but the remaining four degrees of freedom are explicitly treated in quantum calculations. The inclusion of the azimuthal angle [lowercase_phi_synonym] in the present 4-D model is a significant step forward in theoretical studies beyond the 3-D ‘‘flat surface’’ model. This 4-D ‘‘fixed-site’’ model allows us to investigate explicitly the local corrugation effect that was not possible using the 3-D flat-surface model. We incorporated the latest ab initio data of Hammer et al. in constructing the LEPS potential energy surface, which gives the lowest dissociation barrier over the bridge site. 4-D dynamics calculations are performed in the present study to mimic a normal incidence of H2 at three symmetric sites on Cu(111): bridge, atop, and center sites with the corresponding rotation symmetries. Our results show that a hydrogen impact at a high symmetry site (six-fold atop site) shows little corrugation effect while impact at low symmetry site (two-fold bridge site) shows a large corrugation effect. In particular, our calculation shows that the inclusion of surface corrugation preserves the strong rotational orientation effect observed in flat-surface model calculations. The effect of homonuclear symmetry persists at high symmetry atop site, and to a lesser degree at a low symmetry bridge site. The contour plot of the wavefunction in the current 4-D model shows explicitly that hydrogen atoms following the dissociation of H2 over the bridge site do not settle at the neighboring center site, but migrate to the... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamical resonances in collinear He+H2+ → HeH++H reaction on the McLaughlin–Thompson–Joseph–Sathyamurthy potential energy surface are identified in terms of the transition state spectrum I(E), computed by Fourier transforming the autocorrelation function C(t) for the system. Eigenenergies of quasibound states corresponding to the resonances, starting from the nonreactive regime up to the dissociation threshold are reported. The nature of some of the resonance states is investigated by calculating the eigenfunctions for the corresponding eigenenergies and also their lifetimes. The relation to the corresponding resonant periodic orbits in classical mechanics at those energies is also established. In addition we predict several resonances at higher energies not reported in earlier calculations. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ab initio predictions of the molecular geometry, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and dissociation energies are reported for the germanium hydride cluster ion GeH+7. Seven stationary points were located on the potential energy surface (PES) of GeH+7 using the self-consistent field (SCF), configuration interaction including single and double excitations (CISD), and coupled cluster including single, double, and perturbatively included triple excitations [CCSD(T)] methods in conjunction with a double-ζ plus polarization (DZP) and a triple-ζ plus polarization TZ(3d1f,1p) quality basis set. The most stable structure has a C2 symmetry with the two H2 subunits rotating freely about the symmetry axis of the GeH+3 fragment. Our best estimate of the dissociation energy for GeH+7, taking into account the zero point vibrational energy (ZPVE) is 3.10 kcal/mol compared to 4.6 and 1.2 kcal/mol obtained, respectively, for the SiH+7 and CH+7 cluster ions. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of a direct reaction between a gas phase H atom and an adsorbed H atom, often referred to as an Eley–Rideal mechanism, is explored using a fully three-dimensional flat surface model for Cu(111). The model is based on a flat-surface approximation for a single electronically adiabatic potential energy surface (PES). This reduces the inherently six-dimensional reactive scattering problem (for a rigid surface) to a three-dimensional problem by introducing three constants of motion. The resulting scattering problem is treated quantum mechanically by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, and also by quasiclassical trajectory calculations. We have considered four different model PESs which are all more or less compatible with available knowledge about the interactions between hydrogen atoms and molecules and Cu(111). We have studied the dependence of the reactive cross section and product translational energy and rovibrational state distributions on the kinetic energy and angle of the incident H atom, and the vibrational state of the adsorbed H atom. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have analyzed the quantum dynamics of the collinear D+H2 reaction in the region of the transition state on the DMBE potential energy surface. Using the spectral quantization method, the dynamical features of the transition state are mapped out through a sequence of hypothetical Franck–Condon spectra. These spectra are generated by time-dependent wave packet dynamics. A comprehensive analysis of the spectra has revealed three distinct classes of peaks associated with (1) conventional reactive resonances, (2) threshold anomalies, and (3) barrier resonances. Individual peaks in the spectra are assigned through the use of time-independent wave functions which are obtained by Fourier transformation of the wave packet at the peak energies. The positions, lifetimes, and wave functions are extracted for all 23 conventional and barrier resonances. A new analytic line shape formula is developed to fit the spectral peaks of the barrier resonances. The exact quantum analysis is also supplemented with a semiclassical treatment based on periodic orbits. Most of the resonance states are found to be associated with single quantized periodic orbits in the transition state region. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed comparison of quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) and quantum mechanical (QM) reaction probabilities and differential cross sections for the H+D2→HD+D reaction at the collision energies of 0.54 and 1.29 eV has been carried out using the same potential energy surface. The theoretical simulation of the recently published experimental results is also reported. The comparisons made here demonstrate the level of agreement between QCT and QM approaches, as well as between theory and experiment for this reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two approaches, the outgoing wave variational principle (OWVP) and R-matrix propagation (RMProp), are presented for quantum dynamics calculations of inelastic scattering in systems involving two coupled potential energy surfaces (PES). The two formalisms are applied to Na(3p 2P) collisions with H2 at a total energy of 2.426 eV with zero and unit total angular momentum. This provides a challenging test case because the accessible region of the excited-state potential energy surface intersects the ground-state surface conically and involves H–H internuclear distances that are far larger than their equilibrium values in the ground state. We present the details of the formalisms for treating coupled surfaces, and we present converged results for the quenching probability and final vibrational–rotational quantum state distributions of the quenching agent. Convergence of the transition probabilities is established by convergence checks within each formalism, by obtaining the same results with laboratory-frame and body-frame basis functions in the OWVP formalism, and by obtaining the same results with the OWVP as with RMProp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a procedure for partitioning the Hartree–Fock self-consistent-field (SCF) interaction energy into electrostatic, charge transfer, and deformation components. The natural bond orbital (NBO) approach of Weinhold and co-workers is employed to construct intermediate supermolecule and fragment wave functions that satisfy the Pauli exclusion principle, thereby avoiding the principal deficiency of the popular Kitaura–Morokuma energy decomposition scheme. The function counterpoise method of Boys and Bernardi enters the procedure naturally, providing an estimate of basis set superposition error (BSSE). We find that the energy components exhibit little basis set dependence when BSSE is small. Applications are presented for several representative molecular and ion complexes: the weak hydrogen bond of the water dimer, the strong ionic interaction of the alkali metal hydrides, and the moderate donor–acceptor interactions of BH3NH3 and BH3CO. Electrostatic interaction dominates the long-range region of the potential energy surface and charge transfer is strongly stabilizing for fragments within van der Waals contact. The repulsive interaction in the short range region of the potential arises from deformation as the fragment wave functions distort to avoid significant interpenetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two Σ and four Π states of the weakly bound complex Ar–NH3 correlating to j=2, k=±1 ammonia have been observed by tunable far infrared difference frequency-microwave sideband spectroscopy. The results have been combined with published data to determine a new angular potential energy surface for the system. The barrier to threefold internal rotation of the NH3 about its C3 axis in the complex is estimated to be 25.606(24) cm-1 near the minimum energy (T-shaped) configuration. The potential also exhibits maxima at both symmetric top configurations, with energies approximately 53 and 31 cm-1, respectively above that of the global minimum. The location and splitting between the symmetric and antisymmetric Σ states are indicative of a strong interaction with another pair of unobserved states, most likely the first excited intermolecular stretch built on j=1, k=±1 Ar–NH3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many atomistic simulation methods with very different costs, accuracies, transferabilities, and numbers of empirical parameters. I show how statistical model selection can compare these methods fairly, even when they are very different. These comparisons are also useful for developing new methods that balance cost and accuracy. As an example, I build a semiempirical model for hydrogen clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mixed quantum classical rate theory (MQCLT) is applied to the collinear hydrogen exchange reaction on the LSTH and PK II potential energy surfaces. Classical trajectories are combined with a numerically exact quantum Monte Carlo evaluation of the thermal flux operator to compute the thermal reaction rate. The MQCLT results are compared to quantum transition state theory (QTST) and centroid rate theory computations. The computed rates are found to bound the exact results from above for temperatures ranging from T=200 K to T=1000 K. As in previous studies, the mixed quantum classical theory gives better agreement with numerically exact computations, than the QTST computations, while the added numerical effort is not prohibitive. The MQCLT rate is almost exact at high temperature. At T=200 K it is a factor of 2.8 (2.0) greater than the exact rate on the LSTH (PK II) potential energy surface, a significant improvement over the QTST overestimate of 3.7 (3.4). The mixed quantum classical results are comparable in accuracy to the centroid theory computations, except that the centroid theory is always lower than the exact result while MQCLT is always higher. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fundamental details concerning the interaction between H2 and CH3-Si(111) have been elucidated by the combination of diffractive scattering experiments and electronic structure and scattering calculations. Rotationally inelastic diffraction (RID) of H2 and D2 from this model hydrocarbon-decorated semiconductor interface has been confirmed for the first time via both time-of-flight and diffraction measurements, with modest j = 0 → 2 RID intensities for H2 compared to the strong RID features observed for D2 over a large range of kinematic scattering conditions along two high-symmetry azimuthal directions. The Debye-Waller model was applied to the thermal attenuation of diffraction peaks, allowing for precise determination of the RID probabilities by accounting for incoherent motion of the CH3-Si(111) surface atoms. The probabilities of rotationally inelastic diffraction of H2 and D2 have been quantitatively evaluated as a function of beam energy and scattering angle, and have been compared with complementary electronic structure and scattering calculations to provide insight into the interaction potential between H2 (D2) and hence the surface charge density distribution. Specifically, a six-dimensional potential energy surface (PES), describing the electronic structure of the H2(D2)/CH3-Si(111) system, has been computed based on interpolation of density functional theory energies. Quantum and classical dynamics simulations have allowed for an assessment of the accuracy of the PES, and subsequently for identification of the features of the PES that serve as classical turning points. A close scrutiny of the PES reveals the highly anisotropic character of the interaction potential at these turning points. This combination of experiment and theory provides new and important details about the interaction of H2 with a hybrid organic-semiconductor interface, which can be used to further investigate energy flow in technologically relevant systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an investigation of the translation-rotation (TR) level structure of H2 entrapped in C60, in the rigid-monomer approximation, by means of a low-order perturbation theory (PT). We focus in particular on the degree to which PT can accurately account for that level structure, by comparison with the variational quantum five-dimensional calculations. To apply PT to the system, the interaction potential of H2@C60 is decomposed into a sum over bipolar spherical tensors. A zeroth-order Hamiltonian, Ħ 0, is then constructed as the sum of the TR kinetic-energy operator and the one term in the tensor decomposition of the potential that depends solely on the radial displacement of the H2 center of mass (c.m.) from the cage center. The remaining terms in the potential are treated as perturbations. The eigenstates of Ħ0, constructed to also account for the coupling of the angular momentum of the H2 c.m. about the cage center with the rotational angular momentum of the H2 about the c.m., are taken as the PT zeroth-order states. This zeroth-order level structure is shown to be an excellent approximation to the true one except for two types of TR-level splittings present in the latter. We then show that first-order PT accounts very well for these splittings, with respect to both their patterns and magnitudes. This allows one to connect specific features of the level structure with specific features of the potential-energy surface, and provides important new physical insight into the characteristics of the TR level structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collision integrals related to binary (dilute gas) diffusion are calculated classically for six species colliding with N2. The most detailed calculations make no assumptions regarding the complexity of the potential energy surface, and the resulting classical collision integrals are in excellent agreement with previous semiclassical results for H + N2 and H2 + N2 and with recent experimental results for CnH2n+2 + N2, n = 2-4. The detailed classical results are used to test the accuracy of three simplifying assumptions typically made when calculating collision integrals: (1) approximating the intermolecular potential as isotropic, (2) neglecting the internal structure of the colliders (i.e., neglecting inelasticity), and (3) employing unphysical R-12 repulsive interactions. The effect of anisotropy is found to be negligible for H + N2 and H2 + N2 (in agreement with previous quantum mechanical and semiclassical results for systems involving atomic and diatomic species) but is more significant for larger species at low temperatures. For example, the neglect of anisotropy decreases the diffusion coefficient for butane + N2 by 15% at 300 K. The neglect of inelasticity, in contrast, introduces only very small errors. Approximating the repulsive wall as an unphysical R- 1 2 interaction is a significant source of error at all temperatures for the weakly interacting systems H + N2 and H2 + N2, with errors as large as 40%. For the normal alkanes in N2, which feature stronger interactions, the 12/6 Lennard-Jones approximation is found to be accurate, particularly at temperatures above ~700 K where it predicts the full-dimensional result to within 5% (although with somewhat different temperature dependence). Overall, the typical practical approach of assuming isotropic 12/6 Lennard-Jones interactions is confirmed to be suitable for combustion applications except for weakly interacting systems, such as H + N2. For these systems, anisotropy and inelasticity can safely be neglected but a more detailed description of the repulsive wall is required for quantitative predictions. A straightforward approach for calculating effective isotropic potentials with realistic repulsive walls is described. An analytic expression for the calculated diffusion coefficient for H + N2 is presented and is estimated to have a 2-sigma error bar of only 0.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a density functional theory study of the structure and stability of neutral and positively-charged coronene C24Hq+ 12 . In particular, we have investigated (i) adiabatic and vertical ionization potentials up to charge q = 9, (ii) the corresponding infrared spectra, and (iii) dissociation energies and potential energy surfaces for several hydrogen loss channels: sequential H+H, H+H+, H++H, H++H+, and direct H2 and H+2 . We have found that the stability of positively-charged coronene is extremely high as a consequence of the molecule's capability to redistribute the charge all over the structure. The computed dissociation energies and fragmentation barriers show that there is competition between different hydrogen loss channels and that the relative importance of these channels depends on the charge of the molecule. From a careful analysis of the potential energy surface we conclude that the channel with the lowest barrier corresponds to the loss of H2 from neutral, singly-, doubly-, and triply-charged coronene, H+ 2 from quadruply-charged coronene and H++H+ from quintuply-charged coronene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the vibrational transitions of the donor unit in water dimer with an approach that is based on a three-dimensional local mode model.We perform a perturbative treatment of the intermolecular vibrational modes to improve the transition wavenumber of the hydrogen bonded OH-stretching transition. The model accurately predicts the transition wavenumbers of the vibrations in water dimer compared to experimental values and provides a physical picture that explains the redshift of the hydrogen bonded OH-oscillator.We find that it is unnecessary to include all six intermolecular modes in the vibrational model and that their effect can, to a good approximation, be computed using a potential energy surface calculated at a lower level electronic structure method than that used for the unperturbed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a theoretical study of the frequency shift (redshift) of the stretching fundamental transition of an H2 molecule confined inside the small dodecahedral cage of the structure II clathrate hydrate and its dependence on the condensed-phase environment. In order to determine how much the hydrate water molecules beyond the confining small cage contribute to the vibrational frequency shift, quantum five-dimensional (5D) calculations of the coupled translation-rotation eigenstates are performed for H2 in the v = 0 and v = 1 vibrational states inside spherical clathrate hydrate domains of increasing radius and a growing number of water molecules, ranging from 20 for the isolated small cage to over 1900. In these calculations, both H2 and the water domains are treated as rigid. The 5D intermolecular potential energy surface (PES) of H2 inside a hydrate domain is assumed to be pairwise additive. The H2–H2O pair interaction, represented by the 5D (rigid monomer) PES that depends on the vibrational state of H2, v = 0 or v = 1 , is derived from the high-quality ab initio full-dimensional (9D) PES of the H2–H2O complex [P. Valiron et al., J. Chem. Phys. 129, 134306 (2008)]. The H2 vibrational frequency shift calculated for the largest clathrate domain considered, which mimics the condensed-phase environment, is about 10% larger in magnitude than that obtained by taking into account only the small cage. The calculated splittings of the translational fundamental of H2 change very little with the domain size, unlike the H2j = 1 rotational splittings that decrease significantly as the domain size increases. The changes in both the vibrational frequency shift and the j = 1 rotational splitting due to the condensed-phase effects arise predominantly from the H2O molecules in the first three complete hydration shells around H2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new electronically non-adiabatic quantum reactive scattering methodology is presented based on a time-independent coupled channel formalism and the adiabatically adjusting principal axis hyperspherical coordinates of T Pack and Parker [J. Chem. Phys. 87, 3888 (1987)]. The methodology computes the full state-to-state scattering matrix for A + B2( v , j) ↔ AB( v ′, j′) + B and A + AB( v , j) → A + AB( v ′, j′) reactions that involve two coupled electronic states which exhibit a conical intersection. The methodology accurately treats all six degrees of freedom relative to the center-of-mass which includes non-zero total angular momentum J and identical particle exchange symmetry. The new methodology is applied to the ultracold hydrogen exchange reaction for which large geometric phase effects have been recently reported [B. K. Kendrick et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 153201 (2015)]. Rate coefficients for the H/D + HD( v = 4, j = 0) → H/D + HD( v ′, j′) reactions are reported for collision energies between 1 μK and 100 K (total energy ≈1.9 eV). A new diabatic potential energy matrix is developed based on the Boothroyd, Keogh, Martin, and Peterson (BKMP2) and double many body expansion plus single-polynomial (DSP) adiabatic potential energy surfaces for the ground and first excited electronic states of H3, respectively. The rate coefficients computed using the new non-adiabatic methodology and diabatic potential matrix reproduce the recently reported rates that include the geometric phase and are computed using a single adiabatic ground electronic state potential energy surface (BKMP2). The dramatic enhancement and suppression of the ultracold rates due to the geometric phase are confirmed as well as its effects on several shape resonances near 1 K. The results reported here represent the first fully non-adiabatic quantum reactive scattering calculation for an ultracold reaction and validate the importance of the geometric phase on the Wigner threshold behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for "chemical accuracy" is becoming more and more demanded in the field of structure and kinetics of molecules at solid surfaces. In this paper, as an example, we focus on the barrier for hydrogen diffusion on a α-Al2O3(0001) surface, aiming for a couple cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)]-level benchmark. We employ the density functional theory (DFT) optimized minimum and transition state structures reported by Heiden, Usvyat, and Saalfrank [J. Phys. Chem. C 123, 6675 (2019)]. The barrier is first evaluated at the periodic Hartree–Fock and local Møller–Plesset second-order perturbation (MP2) level of theory. The possible sources of errors are then analyzed, which includes basis set incompleteness error, frozen core, density fitting, local approximation errors, as well as the MP2 method error. Using periodic and embedded fragment models, corrections to these errors are evaluated. In particular, two corrections are found to be non-negligible (both from the chemical accuracy perspective and at the scale of the barrier value of 0.72 eV): the correction to the frozen core-approximation of 0.06 eV and the CCSD(T) correction of 0.07 eV. Our correlated wave function results are compared to barriers obtained from DFT. Among the tested DFT functionals, the best performing for this barrier is B3LYP-D3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Photoloc technique has been employed to measure the state-resolved differential cross sections of the HD(v′, j′) product in the reaction H + D2 over a wide range of collision energies and internal states. The experimental results were compared with fully dimensional, time-dependent quantum mechanical calculations on the refined Boothroyd-Keogh-Martin-Peterson potential energy surface. We find nearly perfect agreement between theory and experiment for HD(v′, j′) product states with low to medium rotational excitation, e.g., HD(v′ = 1, j′ = 3) at a collision energy, Ecoll, of 1.72 eV, HD(v′ = 1, j′ = 3, 5) at Ecoll = 1.97 eV, and HD(v′ = 3, j′ = 3) at Ecoll = 1.97 eV. As the rotational angular momentum, j′, of HD(v′, j′) increases, the agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements worsens but not in a simple fashion. A moderate disagreement between theory and experiment has been found for HD(v′ = 0, j′ = 12) at Ecoll = 1.76 eV and increased monotonically for HD(v′ = 0, j′ = 13) at Ecoll = 1.74 eV, HD(v′ = 0, j′ = 14) at Ecoll = 1.72 eV, and HD(v′ = 0, j′ = 15) at Ecoll = 1.70 eV. Disagreement was not limited to vibrationless HD(v′, j′) product states: HD(v′ = 1, j′ = 12) at Ecoll = 1.60 eV and HD(v′ = 3, j′ = 8, 10) at Ecoll = 1.97 eV followed a similar trend. Theoretical calculations suggest more sideways/forward scattering than has been observed experimentally for high j′ HD(v′, j′) states. The source of this discrepancy is presently unknown but might be the result of inaccuracy in the potential energy surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated spin-orbit-induced intersystem crossing effects in the title reaction by the time-dependent wave-packet method combined with an extended split operator scheme. We performed non-adiabatic calculations of the fine-structure-resolved cross section and adiabatic calculations of integral cross section. The calculations are based on the potential energy surfaces of (3)A(') and the two degenerate (3)A('') states [S. Rogers, D. Wang, A. Kuppermann, and S. Walch, J. Phys. Chem. A 104, 2308 (2000)], together with the spin-orbit coupling matrix [B. Maiti and G. C. Schatz, J. Chem. Phys. 119, 12360 (2003)] and singlet (1)A(') potential energy surface [J. Dobbyn and P. J. Knowles, Faraday Discuss. 110, 247 (1998)]. The results of the O((3)P) + D2 are similar to those of the O((3)P) + H2 reaction. The product spin state-resolved reaction cross section and the total reaction cross section both show that the adiabatic channel is dominant in all cases, and the non-adiabatic channels have cross sections of several orders of magnitude smaller than the adiabatic channels at high collision energy. Although the cross sections caused by the intersystem crossing effects in the O((3)P) + D2 reaction are larger than those in the O((3)P) + H2 reaction, the differences in non-adiabaticity between these two reaction systems are quite modest. Based on the results of the O((3)P) + H2 reaction, we can predict that the influence of spin-orbit on the total reaction cross sections of the O((3)P) + D2 reaction is also insignificant. However, these non-adiabatic effects can be reflected in the presence of some forward-scattering in the angular distribution for the OD product.

Full-dimensional quantum calculations of the vibrational states of H5(+) have been performed on the accurate potential energy surface developed by Xie et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 224307 (2005)]. The zero point energies of H5(+), H4D(+), D4H(+), and D5(+) and their ground-state geometries are presented and compared with earlier theoretical results. The first 10 low-lying excited states of H5(+) are assigned to the fundamental, overtone, and combination of the H2-H3(+) stretch, the shared proton hopping and the out-of-plane torsion. The ground-state torsional tunneling splitting, the fundamental of the photon hopping mode and the first overtone of the torsion mode are 87.3 cm(-1), 354.4 cm(-1), and 444.0 cm(-1), respectively. All of these values agree well with the diffusion Monte Carlo and multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree results where available.

The thermal rate coefficients and kinetic isotope effects have been calculated using ring polymer molecular dynamics (RPMD) for the prototypical reactions between methane and several hydrogen isotopes (H, D, and Mu). The excellent agreement with the theoretical rate coefficients of the H + CH4 reaction obtained previously from a multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree calculation on the same potential energy surface provides strong evidence for the accuracy of the RPMD approach. These quantum mechanical rate coefficients are also in good agreement with the results obtained previously using the transition-state theory with semi-classical tunneling corrections for the H∕D + CH4 reactions. However, it is shown that the RPMD rate coefficients for the ultralight Mu reaction with CH4 are significantly smaller than the experimental data, presumably suggesting inaccuracies in the potential energy surface and∕or experimental errors. Significant discrepancies between the RPMD and transition-state theory results have also been found for this challenging system.

We present new experimental and theoretical results for reactive scattering of dihydrogen from Cu(100). In the new experiments, the associative desorption of H(2) is studied in a velocity resolved and final rovibrational state selected manner, using time-of-flight techniques in combination with resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization laser detection. Average desorption energies and rotational quadrupole alignment parameters were obtained in this way for a number of (v = 0, 1) rotational states, v being the vibrational quantum number. Results of quantum dynamics calculations based on a potential energy surface computed with a specific reaction parameter (SRP) density functional, which was derived earlier for dihydrogen interacting with Cu(111), are compared with the results of the new experiments and with the results of previous molecular beam experiments on sticking of H(2) and on rovibrationally elastic and inelastic scattering of H(2) and D(2) from Cu(100). The calculations use the Born-Oppenheimer and static surface approximations. With the functional derived semi-empirically for dihydrogen + Cu(111), a chemically accurate description is obtained of the molecular beam experiments on sticking of H(2) on Cu(100), and a highly accurate description is obtained of rovibrationally elastic and inelastic scattering of D(2) from Cu(100) and of the orientational dependence of the reaction of (v = 1, j = 2 - 4) H(2) on Cu(100). This suggests that a SRP density functional derived for H(2) interacting with a specific low index face of a metal will yield accurate results for H(2) reactively scattering from another low index face of the same metal, and that it may also yield accurate results for H(2) interacting with a defected (e.g., stepped) surface of that same metal, in a system of catalytic interest. However, the description that was obtained of the average desorption energies, of rovibrationally elastic and inelastic scattering of H(2) from Cu(100), and of the orientational dependence of reaction of (v = 0, j = 3 - 5, 8) H(2) on Cu(100) compares less well with the available experiments. More research is needed to establish whether more accurate SRP-density functional theory dynamics results can be obtained for these observables if surface atom motion is added to the dynamical model. The experimentally and theoretically found dependence of the rotational quadrupole alignment parameter on the rotational quantum number provides evidence for rotational enhancement of reaction at low translational energies.

Translationally hot H collisions with the acetylene are investigated using quasiclassical trajectory calculations, on a recent full-dimensional ab initio-based potential energy surface. Three outcomes are focused on: non-reactive energy transfer via prompt collisions, non-reactive energy transfer via the formation of the vinyl complex, and reactive chemical H-atom exchange, also via complex formation. The details of these outcomes are presented and correlated with the collision lifetime. Large energy transfer is found via complex formation, which can subsequently decay back to reactants, a non-reactive event, or to new products, a reactive event. For the present system, these two events are experimentally indistinguishable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantum mechanical state-to-state rotational excitation cross sections have been computed using the ab initio ground electronic state potential energy surface of the system [M. Mladenovic and S. Schmatz, J. Chem. Phys. 109, 4456 (1998)] computed at coupled-cluster single and double and triple perturbative excitations method using correlation-consistent polarized valence quadruple zeta basis set where the asymptotic potential have been computed using the dipole moment, quadrupole moment, and the molecular polarizability components and fitted to this interaction potential. The anisotropy of the surface has been analyzed in terms of the multipolar expansion coefficients for the rigid-rotor surface. The integral cross sections for rotational excitations have been computed by solving close-coupled equations at very low collision energies (5-200 cm-1) and the corresponding rates have been obtained for a range of low temperatures (5-175 K). The j = 0 → j′ = 1 rotational excitation cross section (and rate) is found to be the dominant followed by the j = 0 → j′ = 2 in these collision energies. The close-coupling, coupled-state, and infinite-order sudden approximations coupling calculations have been performed in the energy range of 0.1-1.0 eV using vibrational ground potential. The rotational cross sections have been obtained by performing computationally accurate close-coupling calculations at 0.1 eV using vibrationally averaged potential (v = 1) and compared with the results of vibrational ground potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate atomistic mechanisms governing hydrogen release and uptake processes in ammonia borane (AB) within the framework of the density functional theory. In order to determine the most favorable pathways for the thermal inter-conversion between AB and polyaminoborane plus H2, we calculate potential energy surfaces for the corresponding reactions. We explore the possibility of enclosing AB in narrow carbon nanotubes to limit the formation of undesirable side-products such as the cyclic compound borazine, which hinder subsequent rehydrogenation of the system. We also explore the effects of nanoconfinement on the possible rehydrogenation pathways of AB and suggest the use of photoexcitation as a means to achieve dehydrogenation of AB at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energetics of the reaction of HOCO with HO2 have been studied using the quadratic configuration interaction with single and double excitations (QCISD(T)) method and a large basis set on the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces of the system. The results show that the ground-state O2+HOC(O)H products can be produced by a direct hydrogen abstraction via a transition state with a small barrier (1.66 kcal/mol) on the lowest triplet surface. A similar hydrogen abstraction can occur on the singlet electronic surface, but it leads to the singlet O2(a1Δ) and HOC(O)H. On the singlet surface, a new stable intermediate, HOC(O)OOH, hydroperoxyformic acid, has been found. This intermediate is formed by the direct addition of the terminal oxygen atom in HO2 onto the carbon atom in HOCO in a barrierless reaction. The HOC(O)OOH intermediate may dissociate into either the CO2+H2O2 or CO3+H2O products through elimination reactions with four-center transition states, or into HOC(O)O+OH through an O–O bond cleavage. The heat of formation of HOC(O)OOH is predicted to be -118.9±1.0 kcal/mol. In addition, the dynamics of the HO2+HOCO reaction have been investigated using a scaling-all correlation couple cluster method with single and double excitation terms (CCSD) on the singlet potential energy surface. Reaction mechanisms have been studied in detail. It was found that the direct and addition reaction mechanisms coexist. For the addition mechanism, the lifetime of the HOC(O)OOH intermediate is predicted to be 880±27 fs. At room temperature, the calculated thermal rate coefficient is (6.52±0.44)×10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 with the product branching fractions: 0.77 (CO2+H2O2), 0.15 (HOC(O)O+OH), 0.056 (CO3+H2O), 0.019 (O2(a1Δ)+HOC(O)H), and 0.01 (O2(X 3Σ)+HOC(O)H). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]