Anion photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations of TaSi16−/0 clusters: global minimum fullerene-like cage structure, bonding and superatom properties†
Abstract
Anion photoelectron spectroscopy combined with quantum chemistry calculations and a particle swarm optimization (CALYPSO) global search algorithm were used to investigate the structural and bonding properties of TaSi16−/0 clusters. The vertical detachment energy (VDE) of TaSi16− was measured to be 3.81 ± 0.08 eV. The global minima of the TaSi16− anion and TaSi16 neutral are confirmed to be a fullerene-like cage structure with the central Ta atom coordinated with nine Si atoms. Molecular orbital analysis shows that TaSi16− possesses σ + π double delocalized bonding patterns and has a large HOMO–LUMO gap. TaSi16− can be viewed as a superatom cluster due to the closed-shell electron configuration of |1S2|1P6|1D10|2S2|1F14|2P6|2D10|1G18|3S2| in terms of the jellium model. Theoretical calculations indicate that both the TaSi16− anion and TaSi16 neutral have aromaticity.