铜原子纳米团簇热力学性质的分子动力学模拟研究

利用分子动力学模拟方法,研究了CuN(N=80,140,216,312,408,500,628和736)纳米团簇在热化和冷凝过程中结构和热力学性质的变化,模型采用的是Johnson的EAM作用势.模拟结果表明:铜团簇的熔点和凝固点随其尺寸线性增加,并逐渐向大块晶体靠拢;所有团簇的凝固点都低于熔点,出现凝固过程中的滞后现象;在熔点和凝固点附近,团簇都具有负热容特性,负热容是由相变前后团簇内部结构突变引起的.     

Thermodynamic properties of noble metal clusters:molecular dynamics simulation

The thermodynamics properties of noble metal clusters Au_N, Ag_N, Cu_N, and Pt_N (N = 80, 106, 140, 180, 216, 256, 312, 360, 408, 500, 628, 736, and 864) are simulated by micro-canonical molecular dynamics simulation technique. The potential energy and heat capacities change with temperature are obtained. The results reveal that the phase transition temperature of big noble metal clusters (N ⩾ 312 for Au, 180 for Ag and Cu, and 360 for Pt) increases linearly with the atom number slowly and approaches gently to bulk crystals. This phenomenon indicates that clusters are intermediate between single atoms and molecules and bulk crystals. But for the small noble clusters, the phase transition temperature changes irregularly with the atom number due to surface effect. All noble metal clusters have negative heat capacity around the solid-liquid phase transition temperature, and hysteresis in the melting/freezing circle is derived in noble metal clusters.     

小尺寸铝纳米团簇的相变行为

采用分子动力学方法模拟了半径从0.3–1.3 nm变化的小尺寸铝纳米团簇的熔化、凝固行为. 基于势能-温度曲线、热容-温度曲线分析, 获得了熔点、凝固点与尺寸的依变关系, 并利用表面能理论、小尺寸效应开展了现象分析.研究表明, 铝团簇原子数小于80时, 熔点和凝固点的尺寸依赖性出现无规律的异常变化; 而大于该原子数, 熔、凝固点则随着团簇尺寸的减小而单调下降; 当原子数为27时, 团簇熔点高于块材熔点近40 K. 同时, 铝纳米团簇呈现出凝固滞后现象, 即凝固点低于熔点. 关键词： 纳米团簇 熔点 凝固点 分子动力学     

Surface effect on the coalescence of Pt clusters: A molecular dynamics study

We have performed molecular dynamics simulations for Pt_N + Pt_N → Pt_2N (N = 147, 324, 500,792), to investigate the effect of size and substrate on coalescence temperature. Our simulations show that platinum nanoclusters coalesce at the temperatures lower than the cluster melting point. The difference between coalescence and melting temperatures decreases with the increase in cluster size and presence of substrate. These thermal behaviors affect catalytical properties of nanoclusters and the substrate, as an environment, has major effect on activity of metal nanoclusters.     

Simulation of the processes of structuring of copper nanoclusters in terms of the tight-binding potential

The processes of melting and crystallization of copper nanoclusters with a radius ranging from 0.69 to 3.05 nm have been investigated using the molecular dynamics simulation. The performed simulation has shown that the melting begins with the surface of the cluster. Another feature of this phase transition is that it occurs in a temperature range where the liquid and solid phases can coexist. However, it is found that, for small copper clusters, the melting and crystallization temperatures coincide with each other. Moreover, it is established that the parent face-centered cubic structure of these small clusters (N < 150 atoms) transforms into a structure with fivefold symmetry even at temperatures of the order of 150–170 K. The behavior of some thermodynamic characteristics of copper nanoclusters is investigated in the vicinity of the solid-liquid phase transition. Analysis of the data obtained has revealed a number of regularities that are in agreement with the results of analytical calculations. In particular, the melting and crystallization temperatures of copper nanoparticles are linear functions of N ^?1/3. However, the melting heat ΔH _m and the melting entropy ΔS _m vary in a more complex manner. It is noted that the formation of a cluster structure depends on the conditions used for cooling from the liquid phase. Slow cooling results predominantly in the formation of a face-centered cubic phase, whereas rapid cooling in the majority of cases leads to the formation of an icosahedral modification. Therefore, the simulation performed has demonstrated the possibility of controlling the formation of a structure of copper nanoclusters during crystallization.     

小尺寸铜团簇冷却与并合过程中结构变化的原子尺度研究

研究Cu_N（N=57,58,59）熔融铜团簇在冷却过程以及300 K时两个具有二十面体结构Cu₅₅团簇在并合过程中的结构变化.对这些小尺寸团簇的结构变化采用基于嵌入原子方法的正则系综分子动力学进行计算机模拟.通过对模拟结果的分析表明,小团簇的冷却和并合过程存在阶段变化的特点.降温过程中Cu_N（N=57,58,59）团簇的原子运动及其微观结构变化表现出较大差异,由此导致这三类团簇内原子排布的不同,其中Cu₅₉团簇结构的有序程度最低.在两个Cu₅₅团簇并合早期阶段,这两个团簇相接触后发生变形导致原子位置出现较大改变,在随后的并合过程中,原子扩散引起原子局部位置调整导致所并合体系的结构发生变化.远离两个团簇接触区的原子仍保持其并合前的结构. 关键词： 团簇 分子动力学 计算机模拟 表面     

On the size dependence of melting parameters for silicon

Using the dependences of melting point T_m and crystallization point T_c on the number of atoms (N) in a spherical silicon crystal that were calculated elsewhere [6] by the method of molecular dynamics, (i) the number of atoms at which the latent heat of the solid–liquid phase transition disappears and (ii) temperature T₀ = T_m(N₀) = _Tc(N₀) below which solidifying nanoclusters remain noncrystalline are estimated. These values are found to be N₀ = 22.8156 and T₀ = 400.851 K. The N dependences for silicon melting parameters, namely, a jump of entropy of melting, latent melting heat, slope of the melting line, and jumps in the surface energy and volume, are derived.     

初始温度和冷却速率对金属团簇凝固行为的影响

用分子动力学结合嵌入原子势研究了含有531个原子的Co₅₃₁, Cu₅₃₁和Ni₅₃₁团簇从不同初始温度以不同冷却速率凝固到200 K时的凝固行为. 结果表明初始温度和冷却速率对团簇的凝固点有很大影响. 初始温度越高, 冷却速率越小, 团簇的凝固点越高. 凝固条件的改变会对三种团簇的凝固结构产生不同的影响. Cu₅₃₁和Ni₅₃₁团簇尽管在不同条件下的凝固点不同, 但凝固结构都是二十面体. 而Co 关键词： 金属团簇 凝固 分子动力学模拟     

Thermodynamic properties of noble metal clusters: molecular dynamics simulation

The thermodynamics properties of noble metal clusters Au_N, Ag_N, Cu_N, and Pt_N (N = 80, 106, 140, 180, 216, 256, 312, 360, 408, 500, 628, 736, and 864) are simulated by micro-canonical molecular dynamics simulation technique. The potential energy and heat capacities change with temperature are obtained. The results reveal that the phase transition temperature of big noble metal clusters (N ? 312 for Au, 180 for Ag and Cu, and 360 for Pt) increases linearly with the atom number slowly and approaches gently to bulk crystals. This phenomenon indicates that clusters are intermediate between single atoms and molecules and bulk crystals. But for the small noble clusters, the phase transition temperature changes irregularly with the atom number due to surface effect. All noble metal clusters have negative heat capacity around the solid-liquid phase transition temperature, and hysteresis in the melting/freezing circle is derived in noble metal clusters.     

Critical sizes and characteristics of nanoclusters and nanostructures

Critical sizes and characteristics of nanoclusters and nanostructures are introduced as parameters of nanosystems. The following critical characteristics are under consideration: atomic and electronic magic numbers, critical size of cluster nucleation, critical size of melting–freezing of cluster, critical size of the first order magnetic phase transition. The critical characteristics are treated in terms of thermodynamics and tested by Mössbauer spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, heat capacity and other methods.     

Thermodynamic properties of AuyAgx bimetallic clusters through the evolutive ensemble

The caloric and specific heat curves for the bimetallic nanoclusters Au_7-xAg_x (x=0,3,4,7) are obtained through a statistical determination of the configurational density of states in the evolutive ensemble obtained with a genetic algorithm. The effect of the value of x (the relative concentrations) on the thermodynamics is studied. Three peaks are observed in the specific heat curves for all values of x. This is interpreted as being due to melting, and fragmentation of the cluster into first two, and then into 3 or more parts. A fourth pre-melting peak is observed for Au₄Ag₃ and is attributed to a new phenomena related to the breaking of the degeneracy of the permutational isomers. The melting transition for the bimetallic clusters is significantly wider than that for the pure clusters. The boiling transition displays a larger specific heat for the bimetallic clusters.     

金原子纳米团簇的负热容现象的分子动力学模拟研究

文中采用微正则分子动力学方法模拟研究了原子数N=60到675之间的6种金原子纳米团簇从固态到液态的熔解过程,得到了势能和热容量随温度的变化关系.其结果表明,所模拟的6种团簇在熔点附近出现负热容,通过对这些团簇熔解前后的势能以及结构变化的分析,探讨了产生负热容的微观机制.     

Gold‐Cluster‐Based Dual‐Emission Nanocomposite Film as Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensing Paper for Specific Metal Ion

A dual‐emission ratiometric fluorescent sensing film for metal ion detection is designed. This dual‐emission film is successfully prepared from chitosan, graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄), and gold nanoclusters (Au NCs). Here, it is shown that the g‐C₃N₄ not only serves as the fluorescence emission source, but also enhances the mechanical and thermal stability of the film. Meanwhile, the Au NCs are adsorbed on the surface of chitosan film by the electrostatic interaction. The as‐prepared dual‐emission film can selectively detect Cu²⁺, leading to the quench of red fluorescence of Au NCs, whereas the blue fluorescence from g‐C₃N₄ persists. The ratio of the two fluorescence intensities depends on the Cu²⁺ concentration and the fluorescence color changes from orange red to yellow, cyan, and finally to blue with increasing Cu²⁺ concentration. Thus, the as‐prepared dual‐emission film can be worked as ratiometric sensing paper for Cu²⁺ detection. Furthermore, the film shows high sensitivity and selectivity, with low limit of detection (LOD) (10 ppb). It is observed that this novel gold‐cluster‐based dual‐emission ratiometric fluorescent sensing paper is an easy and convenient way for detecting metal ions. It is believed that this research work have created another avenue for the detection of metal ions in the environment.     

Thermal spike model of track formation in YBa2Cu3O7−x

We consider a model based on the thermal spike concept for an explanation of latent track formation in YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x single crystal. The model demonstrates some interesting peculiarities such as “electronic quenching” and the existence of bifurcation points. Arguments for why the energy spent on damage creation in the track should be equal to the melting heat and why the so-called “epitaxial regrowth” is impossible are given. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Synthesis of starfish-like Cu2O nanocrystals through ��-irradiation and their application in lithium-ion batteries

In this study, single-crystalline starfish-like cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) nanocrystals with the backbones lengths in the range of 660 nm~16 ??m are successfully prepared through ??-irradiation, the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is used as a capping material or soft colloidal templates. Without the addition of CTAB in the reaction system, irregular Cu₂O nanoclusters were obtained and their diameter is about 200 nm~1 ??m. Controlling the concentration ratio of CTAB to the copper ions, starfish-like morphology of Cu₂O can be obtained in high yield. Their structures are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The possible growth mechanism of the starfish structure is discussed in the text. For potential application in lithium-ion batteries, an electrode made of the starfish-like Cu₂O shows excellent electrochemical cycling performance and high-rate capability. Compared with the Cu₂O nanoclusters, the starfish-like Cu₂O exhibits an improved electrochemical cycling stability. The capacity of the starfish-like Cu₂O can maintain 340 and 215 mAh g^?1 after 50 cycles at the rate of 0.1 C and 5 C, respectively. The reversible capacity holds 60% as the discharge?Ccharge rate even increases by 50 times.     

Ternary alloying effect on the melting of metal clusters

Canonical ensemble Monte Carlo simulations are applied to investigate the melting of the icosahedral 55-atom Ag-Cu-Au clusters. The clusters are modeled by the second-moment approximation of the tight-binding (TB-SMA) many-body potentials. Results show that the introduction of the only Cu atom of the third alloying metal in the bimetallic Ag₄₃Au₁₂ cluster, forming the Ag₄₂Cu₁Au₁₂ cluster, can greatly increase the melting point of the cluster by about 100 K. It is also found that the substitution of the only Cu atom of the third alloying metal in the Ag₁Au₅₄ clusters, forming the Ag₁Cu₁Au₅₃ cluster, can result in an increase of 40 K in the melting point. It can be concluded that the melting points of the bimetallic clusters can be tuned by the third metal impurities doping. In addition, the surface segregation of Ag atoms in the Ag-Cu-Au trimetallic clusters occurs even after melting.     

Dual structural transition in small nanoparticles of Cu-Au alloy

Cu-Au alloy nanoparticles are known to be widely used in the catalysis of various chemical reactions as it was experimentally defined that in many cases the partial substitution of copper with gold increases catalytic activity. However, providing the reaction capacity of alloy nanoparticles the surface electronic structure strongly depends on their atomic ordering. Therefore, to theoretically determine catalytic properties, one needs to use a most real structural model complying with Cu-Au nanoparticles under various external influences. So, thermal stability limits were studied for the initial L1₂ phase in Cu₃Au nanoalloy clusters up to 8.0 nm and Cu-Au clusters up to 3.0 nm at various degrees of Au atom concentration, with molecular dynamics method using a modified tight-binding TB-SMA potential. Dual structural transition L1₂?→?FCC and further FCC?→?Ih is shown to be possible under the thermal factor in Cu₃Au and Cu-Au clusters with the diameter up to 3.0 nm. The temperature of the structural transition FCC?→?Ih is established to decrease for small particles of Cu-Au alloy under the increase of Au atom concentration. For clusters with this structural transition, the melting point is found to be a linear increasing function of concentration, and for clusters without FCC?→?Ih structural transition, the melting point is a linear decreasing function of Au content. Thus, the article shows that doping Cu nanoclusters with Au atoms allows to control the forming structure as well as the melting point.     

Melting heat of a nanoparticle

Expressions for the melting point (T _m ), freezing temperature (T _N < T _m ), entropy change per atom (Δs), latent heat (Δh = T _m Δs), and volume change (Δv) for the solid-liquid phase transition are derived from a model of a nanocrystal in the form of a parallelepiped with a variable shape of the surface. These quantities are studied as a function of the number of atoms (N) and the shape of the nanoparticle. Calculations carried out for copper nanoparticles show good agreement with the results of computational experiments. It is shown that functions Δs, Δh, and Δv vanish in a certain range of cluster dimension N ₀ and a hysteresis between the melting point and freezing temperature disappears, T _N (N ₀) = T _m (N ₀). In such a cluster, the phases become physically identical. For nanocopper, this dimension falls into the range N ₀ = 49–309 and grows when the shape of the nanoparticle deviates from the energetically most favorable one.     

Influence of Cu substrate surface oxides and heating rates during reflow on melting point of Sn-3.5Ag solder

Three types of copper substrates, fresh, aged (kept for years in open atmosphere) and acid washed aged, were investigated for the reflow behaviour of a solder using different heating rates. Melting point of the Sn-3.5Ag solder was lowered on the aged Cu substrate. Reduction was found to be higher in high heating rate and declined with the decrease in the heating rate. Melting point was lowered from 221 °C to 175 °C with the heating rate of 180 °C/min, but recovered to 210 °C when aged Cu substrate was washed with sulphuric acid. XPS depth profile revealed the presence of Cu₂O up to the greater depth in the aged substrate compared to the fresh and acid washed aged substrates. Study showed the relation of reduction in melting point with the depth of Cu₂O on the surface of aged Cu substrates. It was proposed that lower dissipation of heat generated in high heating rates by the oxidation of the flux carbon during reduction of high Cu₂O amount in aged carbon was responsible for the variations in melting points.     

Comparative study of the heat capacity of icosahedral quasicrystals in solid and liquid states

The heat capacity of icosahedral quasicrystals Al₆₃Cu₂₅Fe₁₂ and Al₆₂Cu_25.5Fe_12.5 has been studied at high temperatures up to 1700 K, which is by almost 400 K higher than the melting point of the material. It has been shown that the melt exhibits an excess heat capacity with respect to that determined by the Dulong-Petit law and that is a direct extension of the excess heat capacity of the solid state. It has been concluded that the excess heat capacity is related, as a whole, to the short-range order in the quasicrystal structure. This circumstance allows the identification of the orbital hybridization as the most probable mechanism of formation of the pseudogap in the electronic structure of the quasicrystals.