Density functional theory calculations have been performed on SnO in the litharge, herzenbergite, and rocksalt crystal structures. An asymmetric electron distribution was found around the Sn atoms in litharge and herzenbergite SnO which could be ascribed to a $\mathrm{Sn}5s^2$ sterically active “lone pair.” Analysis of the electronic structure shows that the states responsible for the asymmetric Sn electron distribution are due to the coupling of unfilled $\mathrm{Sn}\left(5p\right)$ with the antibonding combination arising from interaction of $\mathrm{Sn}\left(5s\right)$ and $\mathrm{O}\left(2p\right)$. The coupling of $\mathrm{Sn}\left(5p\right)$ was found to be active in both the formation of the asymmetric density and the stabilization of the litharge and herzenbergite phases. Due to the symmetry of the interaction the coupling of $\mathrm{Sn}\left(5p\right)$ with the antibonding states can only take place on distorted Sn sites, explaining the absence of an asymmetry in the rocksalt structure. In contrast to the classical view that the Sn(II) “lone pair” forms directly through hybridization of $\mathrm{Sn}5s$ and $5p$, our calculations confirm for the first time, through COOP analysis, that it is only through the interaction of the oxygen $2p$ states that formation of the asymmetric density is achieved.

• Received 16 March 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.70.235114