Electronic, bonding, and optical properties of 1d [CuCN]_n (n = 1–10) chains, 2d [CuCN]_n (n = 2–10) nanorings, and 3d [Cu_n(CN)_n]_m (n = 4, m = 2, 3; n = 10, m = 2) tubes studied by DFT/TD‐DFT methods

Abstract

The electronic, bonding, and photophysical properties of one-dimensional [CuCN](n) (n = 1-10) chains, 2-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) nanorings, and 3-D [Cu(n)(CN)(n)](m) (n = 4, m = 2, 3; n = 10, m = 2) tubes are investigated by means of a multitude of computational methodologies using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent-density-functional theory (TD-DFT) methods. The calculations revealed that the 2-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) nanorings are more stable than the respective 1-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) linear chains. The 2-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) nanorings are predicted to form 3-D [Cun (CN)(n)](m) (n = 4, m = 2, 3; n = 10, m = 2) tubes supported by weak stacking interactions, which are clearly visualized as broad regions in real space by the 3D plots of the reduced density gradient. The bonding mechanism in the 1-D [CuCN](n) (n = 1-10) chains, 2-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) nanorings, and 3-D [Cu(n)(CN)(n)](m) (n = 4, m = 2, 3; n = 10, m = 2) tubes are easily recognized by a multitude of electronic structure calculation approaches. Particular emphasis was given on the photophysical properties (absorption and emission spectra) of the [CuCN](n) chains, nanorings, and tubes which were simulated by TD-DFT calculations. The absorption and emission bands in the simulated TD-DFT absorption and emission spectra have thoroughly been analyzed and assignments of the contributing principal electronic transitions associated to individual excitations have been made.