ABSTRACT
This paper reports a DFT modelling of SERS spectra for benzene and benzonitrile on the basis of a simple noncoordinate substrate-adsorbate model. Assignment of normal modes was obtained from internal force constants and potential energy distribution matrices and used to identify, according the SERS selection rules, the orientation of the optimized molecules on the metallic surface. Calculated band enhancements are in good agreement with experimental observations. The optimized geometry parameters of the molecule-Ag system, changes of HOMO-LUMO energies are discussed to give insight in the different SERS mechanisms for both molecules.
Subject(s)
Benzene Derivatives/chemistry , Benzene/chemistry , Models, Chemical , Nitriles/chemistry , Organometallic Compounds/chemistry , Quantum Theory , Silver/chemistry , Spectrum Analysis, Raman/methods , Surface Properties , ThermodynamicsABSTRACT
The SERS modelling of o-, m-, and p-methoxybenzonitrile has been performed following the same methodology that in Part I. Optimized structure obtained from DFT calculations in a B3LYP-LANL2DZ level of calculation shows different tilted positions for the isomers under study. From correlations obtained by comparison of Raman and SERS spectra concerning geometrical parameters, frequency shifting, change in band intensity, and force constants is possible to give insight about the different effect of the metal surface on these molecules and the structural reasons of this behaviour. Frontier orbital analysis gives further information and reveals a ligand to metal charge transfer mechanism for all isomers, as well as its relative importance.
