Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Spectroscopy and Thermochemistry of UC+/0/

A combination of high-level ab initio calculations and anion photoelectron detachment (PD) measurements is reported for the UC, UC^-, and UC⁺ molecules. To better compare the theoretical values with the experimental photoelectron spectrum (PES), a value of 1.493 eV for the adiabatic electron affinity (AEA) of UC was calculated at the Feller-Peterson-Dixon (FPD) level. The lowest vertical detachment energy (VDE) is predicted to be 1.500 eV compared to the experimental value of 1.487 ± 0.035 eV. A shoulder to lower energy in the experimental PD spectrum with the 355 nm laser can be assigned to a combination of low-lying excited states of UC^- and excited vibrational states. The VDEs calculated for the low-lying excited electronic states of UC at the SO-CASPT2 level are consistent with the observed additional electron binding energies at 1.990, 2.112, 2.316, and 3.760 eV. Potential energy curves for the Ω states and the associated spectroscopic properties are also reported. Compared to UN and UN⁺, the bond dissociation energy (BDE) of UC (411.3 kJ/mol) is predicted to be considerably lower. The natural bond orbitals (NBO) calculations show that the UC^0/+/- molecules have a bond order of 2.5 with their ground-state configuration arising from changes in the oxidation state of the U atom in terms of the 7s orbital occupation: UC (5f²7s¹), UC^- (5f²7s²), and UC⁺ (5f²7s⁰). The behavior of the UN and UC sequence of molecules and anions differs from the corresponding sequences for UO and UF.

Electronic Properties of UN and UN- from Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Correlated Molecular Orbital Theory

The results of calculations of the properties of the anion UN^- including electron detachment are described, which further expand our knowledge of this diatomic molecule. High-level electronic structure calculations were conducted for the UN and UN^- diatomic molecules and compared to photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The low-lying Ω states were obtained using multireference CASPT2 including spin-orbit effects up to ∼20,000 cm^-1. At the Feller-Peterson-Dixon (FPD) level, the adiabatic electron affinity (AEA) of UN is estimated to be 1.402 eV and the vertical detachment energy (VDE) is 1.423 eV. The assignment of the UN excited states shows good agreement with the experimental results with a VDE of 1.424 eV. An Ω = 4 ground state was obtained for UN^- which is mainly associated with the ³H ΛS state. Thermochemical calculations estimate a bond dissociation energy (BDE) for UN^- (U^- + N) of 665.9 kJ/mol, ∼15% larger than that of UN and UN⁺. The NBO analysis reveals U-N triple bonds for the UN, UN^-, and UN⁺ species.

Reply to the Comment on "Realization of Lewis Basic Sodium Anion in the NaBH3 - Cluster"

We reply to the comment by S. Pan and G. Frenking who challenged our interpretation of the Na^- :→BH₃ dative bond in the recently synthesized NaBH₃ ^- cluster. Our conclusion remains the same as that in our original paper (https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201907089 and https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.201907089). This conclusion is additionally supported by the energetic pathways and NBO charges calculated at UCCSD and CASMP2(4,4) levels of theory. We also discussed the suitability of the Laplacian of electron density (QTAIM) and Adaptive Natural Density Partitioning (AdNDP) method for bond type assignment. It seems that AdNDP yields more sensible results. This discussion reveals that the complex realm of bonding is full of semantic inconsistencies, and we invite experimentalists and theoreticians to elaborate this topic and find solutions incorporating different views on the dative bond.

Excess electrons bound to H2S trimer and tetramer clusters

We have prepared the hydrogen sulfide trimer and tetramer anions, (H2S)3− and (H2S)4−, measured their anion photoelectron spectra, and applied high-level quantum chemical calculations to interpret the results.

Realization of Lewis Basic Sodium Anion in the NaBH3 - Cluster

We report a Na:^- →B dative bond in the NaBH₃ ^- cluster, which was designed on the principle of minimum-energy rupture, prepared by laser vaporization, and characterized by a synergy of anion photoelectron spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations. The global minimum of NaBH₃ ^- features a Na-B bond. Its preferred heterolytic dissociation conforms with the IUPAC definition of dative bond. The lone electron pair revealed on Na and the negative Laplacian of electron density at the bond critical point further confirm the dative nature of the Na-B bond. This study represents the first example of a Lewis adduct with an alkalide as the Lewis base.

Ultrahigh-Capacity Lithium-Oxygen Batteries Enabled by Dry-Pressed Holey Graphene Air Cathodes

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O₂) batteries have the highest theoretical energy density of all the Li-based energy storage systems, but many challenges prevent them from practical use. A major obstacle is the sluggish performance of the air cathode, where both oxygen reduction (discharge) and oxygen evolution (charge) reactions occur. Recently, there have been significant advances in the development of graphene-based air cathode materials with a large surface area and catalytically active for both oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, especially with additional catalysts or dopants. However, most studies reported so far have examined air cathodes with a limited areal mass loading rarely exceeding 1 mg/cm². Despite the high gravimetric capacity values achieved, the actual (areal) capacities of those batteries were far from sufficient for practical applications. Here, we present the fabrication, performance, and mechanistic investigations of high-mass-loading (up to 10 mg/cm²) graphene-based air electrodes for high-performance Li-O₂ batteries. Such air electrodes could be easily prepared within minutes under solvent-free and binder-free conditions by compression-molding holey graphene materials because of their unique dry compressibility associated with in-plane holes on the graphene sheet. Li-O₂ batteries with high air cathode mass loadings thus prepared exhibited excellent gravimetric capacity as well as ultrahigh areal capacity (as high as ∼40 mAh/cm²). The batteries were also cycled at a high curtailing areal capacity (2 mAh/cm²) and showed a better cycling stability for ultrathick cathodes than their thinner counterparts. Detailed post-mortem analyses of the electrodes clearly revealed the battery failure mechanisms under both primary and secondary modes, arising from the oxygen diffusion blockage and the catalytic site deactivation, respectively. These results strongly suggest that the dry-pressed holey graphene electrodes are a highly viable architectural platform for high-capacity, high-performance air cathodes in Li-O₂ batteries of practical significance.