Theoretical study on the small clusters of LiH, NaH, BeH(2), and MgH(2)

High-level ab initio molecular orbital theory is used to calculate the geometries, vibrational frequencies, atomic charges, and binding energies of the small clusters (LiH)(n), (NaH)(n), (BeH(2))(n), and (MgH(2))(n) (n = 1-4). For (LiH)(n) and (NaH)(n), there are planar cyclic structures when n = 2, 3. We have found the cubic structure T(d) in addition to the planar cyclic D(4)(h) when n = 4. The D(4)(h) is less stable than the T(d) geometry. For (BeH(2))(n) and (MgH(2))(n), when n = 3, there are three kinds of structures: chain C(2)(v), planar cyclic D(3)(h), and hat-like C(2)(v). The C(2)(v) geometry is more stable than the others. When n = 4, there are four kinds of structures: chain D(2)(h), cubic T(d), string-like C(2), and cubic transformation C(1). The most stable compounds in the families of (LiH)(n), (NaH)(n), (BeH(2))(n), and (MgH(2))(n) are cubic T(d), cubic T(d), chain D(2)(h), and string-like C(2) geometries, respectively, when n = 4. Calculated binding energies range from -24 to -37 kcal/mol for (LiH)(n) and --19 to -30 kcal/mol for (NaH)(n), (BeH(2))(n), and (MgH(2))(n). The hydrogen atoms in hydride clusters always have negative charges. The atomic charges of planar cyclic structures are weaker than those of cubic structures, and there is a tendency of reducing along with the increase of the cluster size. The vibrational frequencies of planar cyclic structures have consistent tendency, too. It indicates that the bond distance increases with the ionic character of the bond.