Superatomic properties of transition-metal-doped tetrahexahedral lithium clusters: TM@Li14

ABSTRACT

The lowest energy structure of Li₁₅ cluster is a capped double centred square antiprism sharing a square face. Interestingly, when a lithium atom is substituted by a transition-metal atom TM (TM?=?Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta and W), the lowest energy structure is found to be cage-like with a D_6d symmetry, where the outer cage is composed by fourteen lithium atoms with an endohedral transition-metal atom. The unique structures are confirmed by CALYSPO structure prediction method code and density-functional theory calculations. Superatomic properties are confirmed in all the D_6d clusters. Energy calculations predict that they are very stable, and their stability is further enhanced by the large gaps of the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO gaps). Our findings offer potential applications in building blocks for assembling materials with superatoms.     

Ag4超原子在超原子分子中的SP3杂化特性

为了研究和原子类似的超原子也能用来组建分子和材料的这一特性,以正四面体的Ag₄团簇为例构建了一系列的超原子分子Ag₄X₄(X=H,Li,Na,K,Cu,Ag,Au以及F,Cl,Br)． 基于超级价键模型,可以将正四面体的Ag₄团簇视为4电子的超原子,通过比较Ag₄和C组成的代表分子Ag₄X₄(X=Au,Cl)和CX₄(X=H,Cl)的成键模式和分子轨道,可以发现Ag₄超原子与sp³杂化的C原子相似．能量计算显示超原子分子是稳定的,大能隙和高芳香性也进一步证实了它们的稳定性．     

First principles computational investigation on the possibility of Pt-decorated SiC hexagonal sheet as a suitable material for oxygen reduction reaction

First principles calculations play a significant role in developing and optimizing new energy storage and conversion materials especially at the nanoscale. In this work, the structural, energetics and, electronic properties of adsorbed Pt atom onto two-dimensional graphene, hexagonal BN (h-BN) and SiC (h-SiC) sheets have been investigated at DFT–B3LYP level of theory using coronene molecule as a suitable model. Spin-polarization and model size effects on the Pt adsorption properties have also been evaluated. Various positions for establishing Pt atom on the selected substrates have been considered and full structural optimization was carried out for all selected systems. The adsorption energies, electronic structures and charge population analysis indicated that in all the studied structures there were strong interaction between two interacting entities. It was also found that the adsorption ability of h-SiC is much stronger than the other counterparts with adsorption energy of −3.828 eV.We have also examined the O₂ adsorption properties of Pt-decorated graphene, h-BN and h-SiC sheets for possible tunability of O₂ adsorption strength of systems under study. We found that h-SiC sheet possess a weakened O₂ adsorption energy among the selected substrates. In view of the strong stability of adsorbed Pt atom on h-SiC sheet and relatively weaker O₂ adsorption energy, one can expect that h-SiC might be a promising material for support assistant as well as increasing the catalytic activity of Pt atoms compared to graphene and h-BN substrates. This may attribute to preventing aggregating of Pt atoms due to the strong fastening nature of the h-SiC sheet and also by affording a balance in the O₂ adsorption strength that lead to enhanced catalyst turnover. Therefore, our first principles findings offer a unique opportunity for design and applications of SiC-based nanoscale supports in fuel cell technology.     

Raman spectroscopy of bromine chains inside the one‐dimensional channels of AlPO4‐5 single crystals

Raman spectroscopy of the one‐dimensional atomic or molecular chains, which are the attractive building blocks of advanced nanoscale materials, is crucial in understanding the physical properties of the one‐dimensional atomic or molecular chains. Here, we introduce the bromine into the one‐dimensional channels of AlPO₄‐5 single crystals through a physical vapor diffusion method. Raman spectroscopy indicates that the confined bromine structures mainly exist as (Br₂)_n chains, individual Br₂ molecules, and a small amount of Br₃⁻ chains inside the channels of AlPO₄‐5 single crystals. Polarized Raman spectra demonstrate that the bromine molecular chains are approximately parallel to the channel direction of AlPO₄‐5 single crystals. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A multifractal study of wave functions in 1-D quasicrystals

Using multifractal analysis we study extended, self-similar and non-self-similar type of wave functions in the Fibonacci model. Extended states arising due to commutation of transfer matrices for certain blocks of atoms in quasiperiodic systems are shown to have the same signature as the Bloch states in terms of the singularity spectrum withf(α)=α=1. Numerically, however, the extended states show a typical multifractal behaviour for finite chain lengths. Finite size scaling corrections yield results consistent with that obtained analytically. The self-similar states at the band edges show a multifractal behaviour and they are energy dependent in the case of blocks of atoms arranged in a Fibonacci sequence. For non-self-similar states we obtain a non-monotonic behaviour off(α) as a function of the chain length. We also show that in cases where extended states exist, the cross-over from extended to non-self-similar states in gradual.     

Effect of atomic vibrations in XANES: polarization‐dependent damping of the fine structure at the Cu K‐edge of (creat)2CuCl4

Polarization‐dependent damping of the fine structure in the Cu K‐edge spectrum of creatinium tetrachlorocuprate [(creat)₂CuCl₄] in the X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) region is shown to be due to atomic vibrations. These vibrations can be separated into two groups, depending on whether the respective atoms belong to the same molecular block; individual molecular blocks can be treated as semi‐rigid entities while the mutual positions of these blocks are subject to large mean relative displacements. The effect of vibrations can be efficiently included in XANES calculations by using the same formula as for static systems but with a modified free‐electron propagator which accounts for fluctuations in interatomic distances.     

Novel structure and electronic property of Sin (21n30) clusters

Using first-principles simulated annealing generalized gradient approximation density functional calculations based on norm-conserving pseudopotentials, we have investigated the geometric and electronic structures of low-energy silicon clusters (Si_n, n=21–30). We have obtained new low-energy structures not reported previously. Our calculations suggest that the lowest energy structures are spherical ones including core atoms whose number increases with the cluster size. The trend of the binding energy as well as that of the energy difference between the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals is studied as a function of the cluster size and the number of core atoms.     

Relative motions in atomic fluids: A molecular dynamics investigation

The generalized time-dependent pair distribution function G₂(R, R'; t) is examined for the first time by two molecular dynamics experiments in Lennard-Jones argon at room temperature and different densities. This function gives insight into the relative motion of atoms and plays an important role in all collision-induced phenomena. The results stress the features of G₂ at intermediate and long times; in the latter case they are found to be in agreement with a simple theoretical model. The behavior of some physical quantities dependent on the relative motion of atoms is also discussed.     

Computer-aided design of nanostructured materials containing trisaza-bridged [60]fullerene

A novel fullerene-based building block for the synthesis of nanostructured materials has been designed with the aid of electronic structure theory calculations and molecular modeling. The building block consists of four trisaza-bridged C₆₀ fullerene molecules linked to a central cubane (C₈) unit. Each C₆₀ unit is located on the vertex of a tetrahedron with edge of 2.2 nm. One possible packing mode of the building blocks to yield the nanostructured material is suggested.     

Structural chemistry and zeolitic properties of mixed oxalates with two open-framework types based on eight coordinate metals

Two families of open-framework materials have been obtained from the assembly of MO₈ polyhedra and oxalate groups as building blocks. The compounds can be formulated as [MM′(C₂O₄)₄]²⁻(M″_y)²⁺ · (4 + x)H₂O (y is 2 for monovalent M″ metals and 1 for divalent M″ metals), in which the sum of the valences of the two metals M and M′ involved in the anionic framework is six. The water molecules and counter cations, located in the voids of the structure, lead to zeolitic or cation dynamic properties.     

Phase separation in degenerate magnetic oxide semiconductors

A theory of mixed electronic-impurity phase separation in degenerate magnetic oxide semiconductors, including high-T _c superconductors and materials with colossal magnetoresistance (CMR), is developed. Such a separation can occur in materials with excess oxygen, if they are simultaneously doped with an acceptor impurity whose atoms are frozen in position. Oxgyen acts as an acceptor, which can diffuse through the crystal. Then, for example, manganites can break up into ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic regions with all holes and oxygen ions concentrated in the former and with no holes or oxygen ions in the latter. Such two-phase systems can possess CMR and anomalous thermoelectric power, and they can make a transition from an insulating into a highly conducting state as temperature increases. The reverse insulator-metal transition is also possible. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 2069–2073 (November 1998)     

Bulk magnetization study of a DyNi5 single crystal

Magnetization and susceptibility measurements were performed on a single crystal of DyNi₅ along the three main symmetry axes of the ortho-hexagonal cell. Below its ordering temperature (T_c = 11.6 K), b and c are respectively the easy and hard magnetization axes. The strong anisotropy originates from the crystalline electric field acting on the 4f electrons of the Dy³⁺ ions. A small magnetization is induced on nickel atoms by the applied field and the exchange interactions with the dysprosium atoms. The crystal field parameters, the molecular field coefficients and the susceptibility of nickel atoms are determined from the experimental data.     

Vibrational properties of Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>XY<Subscript>4</Subscript> sulvanites (X = Nb,Ta, and V; and Y = S,and Se) by ab initio molecular dynamics

In this work, we present a structural and dynamic characterisation of six different types of sulvanites Cu₃ X Y ₄ with X = Nb, V and Ta, and Y = S and Se. These materials have been the subject of intense study in recent times primarily as potential candidates for solar cell devices, as well as for their enhanced opto-electrical properties. Here, by means of first-principles calculations, we study the structural and dynamic behaviour of these materials at different temperatures, which is important for use of these materials in high-temperature conditions. In this work the dynamic and structural properties are studied using the Density Functional Theory technique. The simulations were performed at four different temperatures, ranging from room temperature to ~1500 K. By using first-principles molecular dynamics in the microcanonical ensemble, we are able to determine the vibrational spectra of these sulvanites. With this information we report for the first time the partial vibrational density of states of these structures at different temperatures. With these results we determine the vibrational properties of the basic building blocks of those sulvanites and their dynamic behaviour under temperature effects. We also show that the building blocks that which make up these structures, remain stable as the temperature increases.     

Spin-glass-like behaviour and long-range order in dilute YTb alloys

Using neutron diffraction, we have examined the magnetic ordering of two YTb alloys whose magnetic properties are characteristic of spin-glass materials. For YTb_{5 at %} we have determined that a spiral state appears below the susceptibility cusp at 26.6 K, despite differences between field coolled and zero field cooled magnetization. No evidence for long-range order was found for YTb_{3 at %} below its cusp at 15.5 K. We conclude that irreversibility alone can not be used to characterize the spin-glass state.     

Monofunctional gold nanoparticles: synthesis and applications

The ability to control the assembly of nanoparticle building blocks is critically important for the development of new materials and devices. The properties and functions of nanomaterials are not only dependent on the size and properties of individual particles, but also the interparticle distance and interactions. In order to control the structures of nanoassemblies, it is important to first achieve a precise control on the chemical functionality of nanoparticle building blocks. This review discusses three methods that have been reported recently for the preparation of monofunctional gold nanoparticles, i.e., nanoparticles with a single chemical functional group attached to each particle. The advantages and disadvantages of the three methods are discussed and compared. With a single functional group attached to the surface, one can treat such nanoparticles as molecular building blocks to react with other molecules or nanoparticles. In other words, by using appropriate chemical reactions, nanoparticles can be linked together into nanoassemblies and materials by covalent bonds, similar to the total chemical synthesis of complicated organic compounds from smaller molecular units. An example of using this approach for the synthesis of nanoparticle/polymer hybrid materials with optical limiting properties is presented. Other potential applications and advantages of covalent bond-based nanoarchitectures vs. non-covalent interaction-based supramolecular self-assemblies are also discussed briefly in this review.     

Sonochemical syntheses of a new fibrous-like nano-scale manganese(II) coordination supramolecular compound; precursor for the fabrication of octahedral-like Mn3O4 nano-structure

Nanoparticles of a new three-dimensional Mn(II) coordination supramolecular compound, [Mn(L)₂(H₂O)₂] (1), (L⁻ = 1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylate), have been synthesized by a sonochemical process and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. Structural determination of compound 1 reveals the Mn(II) ion is six coordinated, bonded to two nitrogen atoms, two oxygen atoms from the L⁻ ligand and two water molecules. The thermal stability of compound 1 both its bulk and nano-size has been studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analyses (DTA) and compared each other. Concentration of initial reagents effects on size and morphology of nano-structured compound 1, have been studied and shows that low concentrations of initial reagents decreased particles size and also leaded to fibrous-like nanostructures morphology. Mn₃O₄ nano-structure with an octahedral-like morphology were simply synthesized by solid-state transformation of compound 1 at 650 °C.     

Doping effect of hydrogen on Al3 cluster

The doping effect of hydrogen atoms on geometric and electronic properties of small aluminum cluster, Al₃, where deviation from the jellium model may occur, is investigated from a first-principle method. It is found that the most favorable sites for H atoms to be bound to Al atoms depend on amount of H atoms. For each cluster, Al–H bond lengths have the smallest values when the H atoms are on the top sites and have the largest values when the H atoms are on face sites, while those corresponding to bridge-site H atoms are of medium value. The doping of H increases the binding energy of the Al₃ cluster. Al₃H₃ and Al₃H₅ are found to have much lower electron affinities, higher ionization potentials and significantly larger HOMO–LUMO gaps than their neighbors, which are typical characteristics of magic clusters. The high stabilities of the Al₃H₃ and Al₃H₅ suggest that they may have a good potential applications in cluster-assembled materials.