Electron superhalogens as positronium superhalogens

Abstract

Positronium (Ps) exhibits the ability to form energetically stable complexes with atoms and molecules before annihilation occurs. In particular, F, a halogen, shows the highest reported positronium binding energy (2.95 eV) in the periodic table. Superhalogens are defined as molecules with electron affinities exceeding that of Cl (3.61 eV), the atom with the highest electron affinity. Building upon the concept of superhalogens, we can define Ps-superhalogens as molecules with Ps binding energies surpassing that of F. This study explores structural and energetic aspects of positronium and positron binding to neutral and anionic superhalogen molecules of the MX_k+1 family (M = Li, Na, Be, Mg, B, Al, Si, P; X = F, Cl, Br), respectively and where k represents the highest formal valence of M. We perform multicomponent MP2 calculations for positron systems, which reveal how positron affinities vary with the type and number of halogen atoms present. The analysis of the results emphasizes the predominant role of electrostatic interactions in determining the positron affinity, with negligible effects of electronic and geometric relaxation upon positron attachment. We predict the energetic stability of 22 of the 24 PsMX_k+1 complexes with respect to the chemically relevant dissociation channels: e⁺ emission, Ps emission and M–X bond breaking. Our findings reveal six MF_k+1 systems that qualify as Ps-superhalogens, showing a positronium binding energy exceeding 2.95 eV. Of these, AlF₄ stands out by setting a new record for the highest positronium binding energy among neutral molecules, reaching 4.36 eV.