Nucleation theorems applied to the Ising model

We use Monte Carlo simulations to study a single cluster of "up" spins in a sea of "down" spins in the three-dimensional Ising model. We evaluate the growth and decay rates for clusters of different sizes, identify the critical size for which these rates are equal, and obtain the internal energy of the critical size cluster. The results of the simulations at different temperatures and magnetic fields are used together with the first and second nucleation theorems to predict how the cluster nucleation rate changes when the external magnetic field and the temperature are changed. Our results are in agreement with literature values, but our method requires significantly less computational effort than the simulations reported earlier and avoids the difficult evaluation of free energies.     

The internal energy of small ammonia clusters in a supersonic beam and after scattering off LiF(100)

The photoionization efficiency (PIE) of neutral ammonia clusters is studied as a function of photon energy. From these curves the internal energies of clusters in the incident supersonic beam and of clusters surviving after scattering off a LiF(100) surface are derived. A supersonic expansion of ammonia seeded in He produces small clusters of various size but with uniform kinetic energy of about 285 meV per monomer molecule. The mass distribution of clusters in the jet and of the scattered particles is measured in a reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer by single photon photoionization using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser radiation tunable between and . In the incident beam the internal energies of clusters up to n = 15 do not vary significantly and amount to an average of about . After scattering off LiF(100) the internal energy of clusters up to n = 4 increases with fragment size and amounts to about half a monomer binding energy. Received 18 October 1999 and Received in final form 10 December 1999     

Role of cluster transient mobility in pulsed laser deposition-type growth kinetics

The ballistic motion of kinetically hyperthermal clusters on corrugated potential energy surfaces is studied by molecular dynamics simulations. Under pulsed laser deposition conditions, such clusters are generated due to the supersaturation flux and nonthermal energies of the incident species, a fraction of which is transferred to the clusters. This energy transfer, together with the flattening of the potential energy surface due to the cluster inner bonds, causes a lengthening of the ballistic paths as the cluster size increases. These results help explain the enhancement of growth kinetics by pulsed laser deposition.     

Cluster–surface interaction studied by time-resolved two-photon photoemission

n ⁺ clusters (n=2-9)deposited onto highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrates at liquid nitrogen temperatures. The deposition was carried out with variable kinetic energies of the clusters. Clusters deposited with high kinetic energy (up to 60 eV/cluster) become fragmented upon impact. For low deposition energies (1–4 eV/cluster) the size dependence of the photoelectron spectra reveals a pronounced odd/even effect, which is well known for gas phase silver clusters. This indicates that the soft deposited clusters retain their size and identity on the sample. The phase of the odd/even effect suggests that transient negatively charged cluster ions serve as an intermediate step in the two-photon photoemission process. The lifetime of the anions rises with cluster size. This is attributed to an increasing electronic density of states for larger clusters. Received: 26 October 1998 / Revised version: 16 December 1998     

Photoelectron spectroscopy on Pt atoms and clusters deposited on C(0001)

An experimental photoelectron spectroscopy study is presented highlighting several aspects of importance for the study of deposited metal clusters and particles with photoemission. It is shown that the Fermi level is the correct energy reference for the core level binding energies. The choice of different deposition conditions, well within the range of soft landing, has a strong impact on the outcome of the spectroscopic experiments. Single adatoms as well as clusters deposited with some excess energy display relatively narrow core level spectra at much lower binding energies than previously reported, even when atomic mass selection is not performed. In contrast, single sized Pt₁₉ clusters, deposited onto a thin Ar film before being exposed to the graphite surface show spectral broadening and shifts to higher binding energies. We discuss our results in terms of the cluster substrate interaction and the influence of deposition conditions on the metal adsorbate structure.     

Magnetic anisotropy in icosahedral cobalt clusters

Magnetic anisotropy has been measured in multiply twinned, icosahedral cobalt clusters. It is found that the low-temperature magnetization of deposited cluster layers is well defined with the Stoner–Wohlfarth model by averaging over clusters with a range of anisotropy energy. Anisotropy energy calculation based on Néel's pair model shows that the icosahedral structure and the layer-by-layer growth of the clusters induce oscillations of the magnetic anisotropy as a function of the filling of the outer surface of the particle. The magnetization measurement at room temperature indicates a weakly correlated cluster glass, as deduced from the approach to saturation that is well described with 2D random anisotropy model.     

Co@Aun(n=1-8)团簇的几何结构和电子性质的理论研究

本文利用密度泛函PW91方法研究了Co@Aun(n=1-8)团簇的平衡结构、稳定性和磁矩。结构优化显示Co原子在低能异构体中趋于占据最高配位位置,基态Co@Aun(n=2-6)团簇为二维结构,Co@Au7和Co@Au8转变为三维结构。原子平均结合能、二阶能量差分及HOMO-LUMO能级间隙分析表明掺杂Co原子提高了金团簇的稳定性,改变了金团簇能级间隙的奇偶振荡性,n=5为掺杂团簇的幻数。磁矩的计算揭示Co@Aun团簇的磁性主要源于Co原子的3d轨道。     

Co@Au_n(n=1～8)团簇的几何结构和电子性质的理论研究

本文利用密度泛函PW91方法研究了Co@Au_n（n=1～8）团簇的平衡结构、稳定性和磁矩.结构优化显示Co原子在低能异构体中趋于占据最高配位位置,基态Co@Au_n（n=2～6）团簇为二维结构,Co@Au₇和Co@Au8转变为三维结构.原子平均结合能、二阶能量差分及HOMO-LUMO能级间隙分析表明掺杂Co原子提高了金团簇的稳定性,改变了金团簇能级间隙的奇偶振荡性,n=5为掺杂团簇的幻数.磁矩的计算揭示Co@Au_n团簇的磁性主要源于Co原子的3d轨道.     

氨团簇(NH_3)_n(n=2～8)结构的密度泛函理论研究

本文应用密度泛函理论(DFT)的B3LYP方法,在6-31G(d)和6-31 G(d)基组水平上对氨团簇氢键体系进行了研究,计算得到了氨团簇(NH3)n(n=2～8)的各种稳定构型及对应的能量和团簇束缚能.分析发现,在各类尺寸中以单环结构最为稳定,而相同尺寸的异构体之间团簇束缚能越大越稳定.最后利用二阶差分理论讨论了不同尺寸氨团簇中最稳定结构的生长规律,结果表明n=5,7时的结构最为稳定,具有明显的幻数特征,n=6,8时的团簇结构最不稳定,而在n=2～5之间,随着n的增大团簇的稳定性也在逐步增强.     

Geometries,stabilities, electronic and magnetic properties of small PdnIr (n = 1–8) clusters from first-principles calculations

The geometrical structures, relative stabilities, electronic and magnetic properties of small Pd_nIr (n = 1–8) clusters have been systematically investigated using density functional theory at the B3PW91 level. The optimised geometries show that the lowest-energy structures of Pd_nIr clusters prefer a three-dimensional configuration. The relative stability of these clusters was examined by analysis of the binding energies per atom, fragmentation energies, the second-order difference of energies and the HOMO–LUMO energy gaps as a function of cluster size. The obtained results exhibit that the Pd₂Ir, Pd₃Ir and Pd₅Ir clusters are more stable than their neighbouring clusters. The energy gap of the Pd₂Ir cluster is the largest of all the clusters (2.258 eV). In addition, the charge transfers, vertical ionisation potentials, vertical electron affinities and chemical hardness were calculated and discussed. The magnetism calculations indicate that the total magnetic moment of Pd_nIr clusters is mainly localised on the iridium atom for Pd_1–6Ir clusters. Meanwhile, the 5d orbital plays the key role in the magnetic moment of the iridium atom.     

AlnCl(n=2-14)团簇结构与电子性质的理论研究

运用卡里普索(CALYPSO)结构预测方法,在杂化密度泛函B3LYP/6-311G+(d)基组水平上,对AlnCl(n=2-14)团簇的几何结构与电子性质进行优化计算,并讨论了团簇的平均结合能、能隙、二阶能量差分、电离能、亲和能以及电子自然布局和极化率。研究结果表明：AlnCl(n=2-14)团簇的基态构型由简单平面几何结构向立体结构演化,形成Cl原子戴帽Aln-1Cl团簇结构;Cl原子的掺杂增大了Aln团簇的平均结合能;二阶能量差分、能隙、电离能、亲和能的变化表明Al7Cl是幻数团簇结构;团簇中的电荷总是由Al原子向Cl原子转移,原子之间的成键作用随着团簇尺寸的增大而增强。     

Systematic theoretical investigation of structure and electronic properties of pure copper and lithium doped copper clusters

The pure copper and lithium-doped copper clusters are studied using the unbiased CALYPSO structure searching method and density function theory to understand the evolution of various structure and electronic properties. Theoretical results show the growth behaviours of doped clusters are organised as follows: Li capped Cu_n clusters or Li substituted Cu_n+1 clusters as well as Cu capped Cu_n-1Li clusters. Moreover, the lowest energy structures of Cu_nLi favour planar structures for n ≤ 3 and three-dimensional structures for n = 4–12. In addition, the calculated averaged binding energies, fragmentation energies and second-order difference of energies exhibit obvious odd–even alternations as cluster size increasing. At last, the highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps, molecular orbital energy, magnetic property, natural population analysis, natural electron configurations, electrostatic potential, electron density difference, Infrared and Raman spectra and density of states are also, respectively, operative for characterising and rationalising the electronic properties of doped clusters.     

Ab initio calculation of the geometric,electronic and magnetic properties of neutral and anionic Au n Pd (n = 1–9) clusters

The ab initio method based on density functional theory at the B3PW91 level has been applied to study the geometric, electronic, and magnetic properties of neutral and anionic Au _n Pd (n?=?1–9) clusters. The results show that the most stable geometric structures adopt a three-dimensional structure for neutral Au₇Pd and Au₈Pd clusters, but for anionic clusters, no three-dimensional lowest-energy structures were obtained. The relative stabilities of neutral and anionic Au _n Pd clusters were analysed by means of the dependent relationships between the binding energies per atom, the dissociation energies, the second-order difference of energies, the HOMO–LUMO energy gaps and the cluster size n, and a local odd–even alternation phenomenon was found. Natural population analysis indicates the sequential transfer from the Pd atom to the Au _n frame in Au_1,2,3,5Pd and Au_2,3Pd^? clusters, and from the Au _n frame to the Pd atom in other clusters. Much to our surprise, irrespective of whether it is the total magnetic moment or the local magnetic moment, the magnetic moment presents an odd–even alternation phenomenon as a function of the cluster size n. The magnetic effects are mainly localized on the various atoms (Au or Pd) for different cluster size n.     

Irn(n=2-25)团簇基态结构的遗传算法研究

用遗传算法结合Gupta紧束缚模型势研究了Irn(n=2-25)团簇的基态结构.分析了Irn(n=2-25)团簇的基态结构随团簇尺寸的变化规律.计算结果表明,Irn(n=2-25)团簇的每个原子的平均束缚能和平均第一近邻随团簇尺寸的增加而增大,以总束缚能的二阶差分为判据,Irn(n=2-25)团簇的幻数是4、7、9、13、15、19、23.     

Al_nCl(n=2-14)团簇结构与电子性质的理论研究

运用卡里普索(CALYPSO)结构预测方法,在杂化密度泛函B3LYP/6-311G+(d)基组水平上,对Al_nCl(n=2-14)团簇的几何结构与电子性质进行优化计算,并讨论了团簇的平均结合能、能隙、二阶能量差分、电离能、亲和能以及电子自然布居和极化率.研究结果表明:Al_nCl(n=2-14)团簇的基态构型由简单平面几何结构向立体结构演化,形成Cl原子戴帽Al_n-1Cl团簇结构;Cl原子的掺杂增大了Al_n团簇的平均结合能;二阶能量差分、能隙、电离能、亲和能的变化表明Al_7Cl是幻数团簇结构;团簇中的电荷总是由Al_原子向Cl原子转移,原子之间的成键作用随着团簇尺寸的增大而增强.     

Cohesive properties of mercury clusters in the ground and excited states

Optimized structures and cohesive energies of small mercury clusters (Hg_N; N = 3–7, 13, 19) are calculated with the spin-orbit diatomics-in-molecules method. The theory takes into account the effect of s-p mixing which tends to enhance the binding energies in the ground state. It is shown that excimer clusters have significantly short optimum bond lengths and their atomic geometries differ considerably from those in the ground state. Excitation energy gap depends sensitively on both cluster size and nearest-neighbor separation. Numerical results are compared with other theories and experiments.     

A computational DFT analysis of OH chemisorption on catalytic Pt(111) nanoparticles

In this article, various energies and geometries of pure platinum nanoparticles and those of platinum nanoparticles with adsorbed OH were investigated. Fourteen different platinum clusters of 3–40 atoms were studied using spin-unrestricted density functional theory (DFT) with a double numerical plus polarization basis set. This range of sizes gave enough information for establishing the general trends that were the primary goal of the study. Three different shapes of platinum clusters were presented, and the effect of cluster size on binding energy, total energy, and HOMO–LUMO energy gap was investigated. Subsequently, same calculations were performed for those selected Pt clusters with OH adsorbate on the surface. The results show that the stability of both the pure clusters and the clusters with adsorbed OH molecule increases with an increase of cluster size. This fact indicates that direct influence of the size of Pt cluster on the reaction rate is possible, and the understanding of how cluster size would affect binding energy is important. As expected, the effect of cluster size on total energy of molecule was shown to be a linear function independent of cluster type. We also found that optimized (stable) Pt clusters were bigger in size than that of the initial clusters, or clusters with bulk geometry.     

Electronic excitation processes in rare gas clusters studied by electron energy loss spectroscopy

We present the electron energy loss spectra for Ar clusters as a function of incident electron energy and of cluster size. In spectra measured with 100 eV incident electron energy the bulk excitation peak becomes visible for a mean cluster size above 170 atoms per cluster. For 250 eV incident electron energy the bulk excitation peak is clearly observable even for a mean cluster size of 120 atoms per cluster. These experimental results are qualitatively reproduced by a simple calculation that accounts for the mean free path of electrons in Ar clusters; i.e., the penetration depth of incident electrons into the cluster.     

飞秒强激光场中大尺寸氩团簇爆炸机理的实验研究

利用飞行时间谱，研究了在飞秒强激光场（60 fs，2×1016 W/cm2）作用下，大尺寸氩原子团簇Arn（n—=3×103—3×106原子/每团簇）的电离爆炸过程，测量了 团簇爆炸所产生的氩离子的平均能量与团簇尺寸（气体背压）的关系.实验发现，随着气体 背压的升高（团簇尺寸增大），氩离子的平均能量也相应升高.通过分析两个不同几何尺寸 锥形超声喷嘴所产生团簇爆炸后的离子能量，结合Hagena团簇尺寸规律，发现在激光参数保 持不变的情况下，离子的平均能量由团簇尺寸唯一确定.分析表明，团簇尺寸在3×105原 子/每团簇以下时，团簇膨胀的主要机理是库仑爆炸.随着团簇尺寸的进一步增大，团簇膨胀 机理将由库仑爆炸向流体动力学膨胀过渡，在3×105关键词： 原子团簇 飞秒强激光 库仑爆炸 流体动力学膨胀     

Ab-initio Study of Small Silver Nanoclusters

We explore the lowest energy structures and investigate the structural and electronic properties of small Ag_N (N = 1–10) clusters by employing an ab-initio self-consistent density functional method in the local density approximation. The calculation of binding energy, bond length and the energy difference of HOMO–LUMO states have been carried out in a large energy interval for different isomeric forms of Ag clusters. The cluster binding energies increases rapidly with cluster size, which is consistent with the size dependence properties of clusters but our values are slightly higher than the other calculations.