Ab initio search for global minimum structures of neutral and anionic hydrogenated Li5 clusters

Abstract

The structure and some electronic properties of neutral and anionic Li5Hn (n = 0–6) clusters have been studied by using the stochastic search method with the B3LYP/6-31G level of theory. After searching possible isomers, first few isomers with the lowest energy have been recalculated by the B3LYP/6-311G++(2d,2p) and CCSD(T)/6-311G++(2d,2p) level of theory. The method used in this study has been compared with the previously reported ab initio calculations, and its reliability has been confirmed. The anionic Li5Hn (n = 0–6) clusters are reported in this study for the first time. Our results show that in general, stability increases with increasing number of hydrogen atoms. The fragmentation energies of hydrogenated Li5 clusters are easier to fragmentation the two hydrogen atoms than one hydrogen atom in hydrogenated clusters, and it is too high for the reversible hydrogen storage systems.