High-level ab initio predictions for the ionization energy, bond dissociation energies, and heats of formation of nickel carbide (NiC) and its cation (NiC+).

The ionization energy (IE) of NiC and the 0 K bond dissociation energies (D(0)) and heats of formation at 0 K (ΔH(o)(f0)) and 298 K (ΔH(o)(f298)) for NiC and NiC(+) are predicted by the wavefunction based CCSDTQ(Full)/CBS approach and the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) method with Davidson correction (MRCI+Q). The CCSDTQ(Full)/CBS calculations presented here involve the approximation to the complete basis set (CBS) limit at the coupled cluster level up to full quadruple excitations along with the zero-point vibrational energy (ZPVE), high-order correlation, core-valence electronic (CV), spin-orbit coupling (SO), and scalar relativistic effect (SR) corrections. The present calculations provide the correct symmetry predictions for the ground states of NiC and NiC(+) to be (1)∑(+) and (2)∑(+), respectively. The CCSDTQ(Full)/CBS IE(NiC)=8.356 eV is found to compare favorably with the experimental IE value of 8.372 05±0.000 06 eV. The predicted IE(NiC) value at the MRCI+Q/cc-pwCV5Z level, including the ZPVE, SO, and SR effects is 8.00 eV, which is 0.37 eV lower than the experimental value. This work together with the previous experimental and theoretical investigations supports the conclusion that the CCSDTQ(Full)/CBS method is capable of providing reliable IE predictions for 3d-transition metal carbides, such as FeC and NiC. Furthermore, the CCSDTQ(Full)/CBS calculations give the prediction of D(0)(Ni-C)-D(0)(Ni(+)-C)=0.688 eV, which is also consistent with the experimental determination of 0.732 21±0.000 06 eV, whereas the MRCI+Q calculations (with relativistic and CV effects) predict a significantly lower value of 0.39 eV for D(0)(Ni-C)-D(0)(Ni(+)-C). The analysis of the correction terms shows that the CV and valence-valence electronic correlations beyond CCSD(T) wavefunction and the relativistic effect make significant contributions to the calculated thermochemical properties of NiC/NiC(+). For the experimental D(0) and ΔH(o)(f0) values of NiC/NiC(+), which are not known experimentally, we recommend the CCSDTQ(Full)/CBS predictions [D(0)(Ni-C)=4.048 eV, D(0)(Ni(+)-C)=3.360 eV, ΔH(o)(f0)(NiC)=749.0 kJ/mol, and ΔH(o)(f0)(NiC(+))=1555.1 kJ/mol].