Surfaces polyatomic

Steps, In a real crystal where dislocations are present, there are two types of steps the step that begins and ends on the boundary of the surface (Fig. 3.13a), and the step that starts on the surface and terminates on a boundary (Fig. 3.4). If a step starts on a surface, this is a place where a screw dislocation meets the surface. At 0 K, steps tend to be straight, but as the temperature is raised (F > 0 K), step roughness develops and the structure of the step includes a number of kinks, adsorbed atoms (adatoms or adions), and vacancies (Fig. 3.16). Steps can be of monatomic height or, as in the case of a real crystal surface, polyatomic height. 

The interatomic and intennolecular interactions of adsorbed species and their state on the catalyst surface are the basis of all elementary steps of the catalytic process. The importance and reliability of the modeled results depend on the correct choice of the potential of the interatomic interaction. The question about the type and nature of interatomic forces between adsorbed species is the focus. Interatomic forces are diverse and usually anisotropic. Adsorbed species do not form structures at low coverage. When the number of adsorbed species and the rate of their surface diffusion increase, the probabilities of their interaction and formation of surface polyatomic structures increases. These structures can be rather stable and they form islands of adsorbed species. 

The theory coimecting transport coefficients with the intemiolecular potential is much more complicated for polyatomic molecules because the internal states of the molecules must be accounted for. Both quantum mechanical and semi-classical theories have been developed. McCourt and his coworkers [113. 114] have brought these theories to computational fruition and transport properties now constitute a valuable test of proposed potential energy surfaces that... 

Schinke R and Huber J R 1993 Photodissociation dynamics of polyatomic molecules. The relationship between potential energy surfaces and the breaking of molecular bonds J. Rhys. Chem. 97 3463... 

These electronic energies dependence on the positions of the atomic centres cause them to be referred to as electronic energy surfaces such as that depicted below in figure B3.T1 for a diatomic molecule. For nonlinear polyatomic molecules having atoms, the energy surfaces depend on 3N - 6 internal coordinates and thus can be very difficult to visualize. In figure B3.T2, a slice tln-oiigh such a surface is shown as a fimction of two of the 3N - 6 internal coordinates. 

Figure B3.1.2. Two-dimensional slice tin-ough a (SA - 6)-dimensional energy surface of a polyatomic molecule or ion. After [2],...

The simplest condensed phase VER system is a dilute solution of a diatomic in an atomic (e.g. Ar or Xe) liquid or crystal. Other simple systems include neat diatomic liquids or crystals, or a diatomic molecule bound to a surface. A major step up in complexity occurs with poly atomics, with several vibrations on the same molecule. This feature guarantees enonnous qualitative differences between diatomic and polyatomic VER, and casts doubt on the likelihood of understanding poly atomics by studying diatomics alone. 

In this chapter, we look at the techniques known as direct, or on-the-fly, molecular dynamics and their application to non-adiabatic processes in photochemistry. In contrast to standard techniques that require a predefined potential energy surface (PES) over which the nuclei move, the PES is provided here by explicit evaluation of the electronic wave function for the states of interest. This makes the method very general and powerful, particularly for the study of polyatomic systems where the calculation of a multidimensional potential function is an impossible task. For a recent review of standard non-adiabatic dynamics methods using analytical PES functions see [1]. 

Conical intersections, introduced over 60 years ago as possible efficient funnels connecting different elecbonically excited states [1], are now generally believed to be involved in many photochemical reactions. Direct laboratory observation of these subsurfaces on the potential surfaces of polyatomic molecules is difficult, since they are not stationary points . The system is expected to pass through them veiy rapidly, as the transition from one electronic state to another at the conical intersection is very rapid. Their presence is sunnised from the following data [2-5] ... 

An example that is closely related to organic photochemishy is the x e case [70]. A doubly degenerate E term is the ground or excited state of any polyatomic system that has at least one axis of symmetry of not less than third order. It may be shown [70] that if the quadratic tenn in Eq, (17) is neglected, the potential surface becomes a moat around the degeneracy, sometimes called Mexican hat, The polar coordinates p and <(>, shown in Figure 20, can be used to write an expression for the energy ... 

There are forces other than bond stretching forces acting within a typical polyatomic molecule. They include bending forces and interatomic repulsions. Each force adds a dimension to the space. Although the concept of a surface in a many-dimensional space is rather abstract, its application is simple. Each dimension has a potential energy equation that can be solved easily and rapidly by computer. The sum of potential energies from all sources within the molecule is the potential energy of the molecule relative to some arbitrary reference point. A... 

We envision a potential energy surface with minima near the equilibrium positions of the atoms comprising the molecule. The MM model is intended to mimic the many-dimensional potential energy surface of real polyatomic molecules. (MM is little used for very small molecules like diatomies.) Once the potential energy surface iias been established for an MM model by specifying the force constants for all forces operative within the molecule, the calculation can proceed. 

The potential energy curve in Figure 6.4 is a two-dimensional plot, one dimension for the potential energy V and a second for the vibrational coordinate r. For a polyatomic molecule, with 3N — 6 (non-linear) or 3iV — 5 (linear) normal vibrations, it requires a [(3N — 6) - - 1]-or [(3A 5) -F 1]-dimensional surface to illustrate the variation of V with all the normal coordinates. Such a surface is known as a hypersurface and clearly cannot be illustrated in diagrammatic form. What we can do is take a section of the surface in two dimensions, corresponding to V and each of the normal coordinates in turn, thereby producing a potential energy curve for each normal coordinate. 

If we require similar information regarding the ground state potential energy surface in a polyatomic molecule the electronic emission specttum may again provide valuable information SVLF spectroscopy is a particularly powerful technique for providing it. 

Murrel JM (1977) The Potential Energy Surfaces of Polyatomic Molecules. 32 93-146... 

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