Electronic wave

 

Ab-initio calculation of molecules and solids

Members

Research

Electronic structure and the chemical bond

We investigate the structure and properties of molecules and solids using quantum-theoretical methods. Besides procedures based on the density functional theory (DFT), wavefunction based methods are applied, especially to treat dynamical electron correlation more accurately. For compounds containing heavy elements, the impact of the theory of relativity on the electronic structure is taken into account.

The quantum-mechanical results have to be related to chemical concepts of charges and bonding, which are often heuristic in nature. In order to accomplish this purpose, tools like the topological analysis of the electron density or the electron localization function (ELF) are used.

 

See also: Intermetallic phases

Examples

Cd-PES Investigations of the anisotropic hcp structures of elemental Zn and Cd:
Calculations with the method of increments (CCSD(T)) show, that the bonding in Zn and Cd
is due to dynamical electron correlation with a substantial contribution of the filled d-shell.
→Publication
Cd-PES The various shapes of the [Tl8]6- clusteranion are derived from an ideal cube by displacive
distortions. A closed-shell electronic system is either obtained by spin-orbit coupling or by
Jahn-Teller distortion.
→Publication
Cd-PES In recent high-pressure and high-temperature experiments new polymorphs of Bi2O3 were
found. HP-Bi2O3 exhibits two Bi sites with different stereo-chemical activity of the lone electron
pairs. The orientation of the lone pairs suggests ferroelectric behaviour.
→Publication

Topics and related publications:

Chemical concepts and quantum chemistry

Metallic elements and intermetallic compounds: Local bonding and dynamical correlation

Compounds of heavy elements: The impact of the theory of relativity

Oxides and Nitrides: Chemical bonding and ordering phenomena

Fullerenes and Fullerides

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