Theoretical investigation of the ground and low-lying excited states of nickel carbide, NiC.

The electronic structure and bonding of 19 states of the diatomic nickel carbide (NiC) has been studied by multireference methods. Potential energy curves have been constructed for all states, whereas for the three lowest states of symmetries X (1)Sigma(+), a (3)Pi, and A (1)Pi well separated from the rest of the states, special attention was paid through the use of very large basis sets and the calculation of core-valence correlation and scalar relativistic effects. The recommended binding energies for these states are 91, 67, and 54 kcal/mol with respect to the ground state atoms. Our results in general can be considered in fair agreement with the limited experimental findings.