New insight into the structure of the C60Sc20 cluster: bonding, vibrational and optical properties

Abstract

Recently, a new stable C₆₀Sc₂₀ cluster has been proposed. Its structure has T_h symmetry and a large HOMO–LUMO gap value. In this communication a systematic study of its bonding, IR, Raman and absorption spectra has been carried out. Its calculated absorption spectrum features four peaks located at 1.34, 1.6, 1.87 and 2.1 eV. Moreover its Raman and IR spectra are dominated by the signals of normal modes with T_u, E_g and A_u irreducible representations.