CASSCF/CI calculations of low-lying states and potential energy surfaces of Au3

Complete active space MCSCF (CASSCF) and second-order configuration interaction (SOCI) calculations of low-lying electronic states [2B2,2A1] of Au3 as well as the 1Σ+g state of Au2 are carried out. The bending potential energy surfaces of 2A1 and 2B2 states are also presented. A barrier is found in the potential energy surface of the 2A1 state in moving from the linear to bent structure. Two nearly-degenerate structures are found for the ground state. The 2Σ+u state arising from the linear structure with an Au–Au bond length of 2.66 Å is only 3.2 kcal/mol below the 2A1 bent state. The equilibrium geometry of the 2A1 state is an isosceles triangle with an apex angle of 54°. The Au3 cluster is found to be more stable than the gold dimer. The effect of d correlation is studied on Au2 by carrying out MRSDCI (multireference singles and doubles CI) calculations on the 1Σ+g state of Au2 which include excitations from the d orbitals.