PNNL

Abstract

We report a systematic and comprehensive investigation of the electronic structures and chemical bonding in a series of ditungsten oxide clusters, WOn⁻ and WOn (n = 1-6), using anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Well-resolved photoelectron spectra were obtained at several photon energies (2.331, 3.496, 4.661, 6.424, and 7.866 eV) and W 5d-based spectral features were clearly observed and distinguished from O 2p-based features. More complicated spectral features were observed for the oxygen-deficient clusters due to the W 5d electrons. With increasing oxygen content in WOn⁻, the photoelectron spectra were observed to shift gradually to higher binding energies, accompanied by a decreasing number of W 5d-derived features. A behavior of sequential oxidation as a result of charge transfers from W to O was clearly observed. A large energy gap (2.8 eV) was observed in the spectrum of WO₆⁻, indicating the high electronic stability of the stoichiometric WO₆ molecule. Extensive DFT calculations were carried out to search for the most stable structures of both the anion and neutral clusters. Time-dependent DFT method was used to compute the vertical detachment energies and compare to the experimental data. Molecular orbitals were used to analyze the chemical bonding in the ditungsten oxide clusters and elucidate their electronic and structural evolution.