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CHEM01200604005 A. K. Pathak - Homi Bhabha National Institute

CHEM01200604005 A. K. Pathak - Homi Bhabha National Institute

CHEM01200604005 A. K. Pathak - Homi Bhabha National Institute

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stable minimum energy structure is taken from different optimized configurations with<br />

small difference in dangling hydrogen orientations. All the stable configurations that are<br />

found for each size K.nNH 3 cluster are displayed in Fig. 6.1. The minimum energy<br />

structure of mono-ammoniated potassium cluster, K.NH 3 is shown in Fig. 6.1-I. It is<br />

clearly seen that N atom of NH 3 is directed towards the K atom and it is ~2.8 Å apart<br />

from the metal atom. It is worth to mention that two initial guess structures are<br />

considered for geometry optimization. In one case, the N atom of NH 3 is directed towards<br />

K atom and in the other case H atoms of NH 3 face towards the metal atom. Full geometry<br />

optimization generates exactly the same structure as shown in Fig. 6.1-I. Thus for the<br />

larger clusters, the initial thought structure is made where the N atom of NH 3 is oriented<br />

towards K atom. Only one minimum energy structure is predicted for di-ammoniated<br />

cluster, K.2NH 3 with ∠NKN of 180ºand the optimized structure is displayed in Fig. 6.1-<br />

II. Several initial guess structures are considered for the tri-ammoniated clusters, K.3NH 3<br />

based on the minimum energy structure of K.2NH 3 . But only one stable minimum energy<br />

structure displayed in Fig. 6.1-III is predicted having ∠NKN = 120º. In all these cases N<br />

and K atoms are in same plane. Two minimum energy structures are obtained for K.4NH 3<br />

cluster and shown in Fig.6.1-IVA and IVB, respectively. The most stable structure (see<br />

Fig. 6.1-IVA) is a distorted tetrahedral with four N atoms in the corners keeping K atom<br />

at the center and more stable than structure IVB having square planar arrangement with<br />

four N atoms at the corners by 1.09 kcal/mol. Based on these minimum energy structures,<br />

initial guess structures for K.5NH 3 and K.6NH 3 are modeled. In each case, three stable<br />

minimum energy structures are found and displayed in Fig. 6.1-VA-VC and Fig.6.1-VIA-<br />

VIC, respectively. The most stable conformer of K.5NH 3 cluster is displayed in figure<br />

97

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