Polyoxometalate clusters, nanostructures and materials: from self assembly to designer materials and devices

Polyoxometalates represent a diverse range of molecular clusters with an almost unmatched range of physical properties and the ability to form structures that can bridge several length scales. The new building block principles that have been discovered are beginning to allow the design of complex clusters with desired properties and structures and several structural types and novel physical properties are examined. In this critical review the synthetic and design approaches to the many polyoxometalate cluster types are presented encompassing all the sub-types of polyoxometalates including, isopolyoxometalates, heteropolyoxometalates, and reduced molybdenum blue systems. As well as the fundamental structure and bonding aspects, the final section is devoted to discussing these clusters in the context of contemporary and emerging interdisciplinary interests from areas as diverse as anti-viral agents, biological ion transport models, and materials science.     

Structure and magnetism of VnBz(n+1) sandwich clusters

Results on structural, energetic, electronic, and magnetic properties of linear sandwich VnBzn+1 clusters obtained using high-accuracy density functional computations are presented and analyzed. Energetically close-lying configurations and states of different spin-multiplicities are identified. The computed characteristics are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The computations predict that the most stable forms of the clusters in the size range n >/= 4 are chiral. This feature, combined with the magnetism of these systems, makes them of potential importance as building blocks of nanosystems with coupled optical and magnetic functionalities.     

无机-有机多金属砷钒氧簇合物的合成及研究进展

多金属砷钒氧簇合物由于具有结构多样性、优良的物理特性以及广泛的应用前景而引起人们的关注。该类簇合物的合成战略是将有机配体和过渡金属配合物连接到砷钒氧骨架上以获得各种新奇结构。按此策略人们合成出一系列新奇的无机有机砷钒氧簇合物。本文综述了多金属砷钒氧簇合物的合成方法、结构性质等方面的研究进展,并对其今后研究前景进行了展望。     

Polyoxometalates: Building Blocks for Functional Nanoscale Systems

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a subset of metal oxides that represent a diverse range of molecular clusters with an almost unmatched range of physical properties and the ability to form dynamic structures that can range in size from the nano‐ to the micrometer scale. Herein we present the very latest developments from synthesis to structure and function of POMs. We discuss the possibilities of creating highly sophisticated functional hierarchical systems with multiple, interdependent, functionalities along with a critical analysis that allows the non‐specialist to learn the salient features. We propose and present a “periodic table of polyoxometalate building blocks”. We also highlight some of the current issues and challenges that need to be addressed to work towards the design of functional systems based upon POM building blocks and look ahead to possible emerging application areas.     

Phase changes,nonwetting and coexistence: (KCI)32

Binary clusters of ionic substances exhibit several properties that make them quite different from homogeneous clusters representable by pairwise Lennard-Jones or Morse potentials. While the potential energy surfaces of clusters of a only a few or several pairs of ions can be explored in microscopic detail, clusters of the size of (KC1)₃₂ must be examined statistically. The stable structures of (KC1)₃₂ can be put into four useful categories: (1) the rocksalt-like ground state (2) slightly defective crystal-like structures (3) “non-wetting” structures that are partly rocksalt-like and partly amorphous and (4) the amorphous structures. A method is presented to estimate the density of configurational states as a function of energy and, from it, the partition function and thermodynamic properties of (KC1)₃₂. Solid and liquid forms of this cluster can coexist in measurable quantities over a significant range of temperatures. However, the times required for the cluster to show ergodic exploration of solid-like and liquid-like regions of phase space is beyond the limits of conventional dynamic simulations.     

Competition between supercluster and stuffed cage structures in medium-sized Ge(n) (n=30-39) clusters

We have performed an unbiased global search for the geometries of low-lying Ge(n) clusters in the size range of 30相似文献   

Role of hydrogen in dimerizaton of aluminum clusters: a theoretical study

We have used density functional theory to investigate how Al(13) cluster dimers can be formed with or without a bridging hydrogen. We have identified several stable dimers in which 0, 1, or 2 hydrogen atoms link two bare clusters together. Each of these structures can adsorb further H atoms in atop sites on the surface of the dimer. Additional dimers were identified with 3 and 4 H atoms linking the clusters but these are only stable in the multihydrogenated form. Reaction profiles for the formation of these dimers from a range of cluster and H atom combinations indicate that the dimer structures are energetically favored over the isolated clusters. This observation may have significant implications for the design of cluster-assembled materials.     

Nickel and copper doped palladium clusters from a first-principles perspective

A complete study on the evolution of structures and the variation of the energy properties of MPd_n−1 (M = Ni and Cu; n = 2-13) clusters is presented. The study was performed employing auxiliary density functional theory. The obtained results were compared with the results of Pd_n clusters studied with the same methodology. For each cluster size, several structures were studied to determine the lowest energy structures. The initial structures for the geometry optimization were taken along ab initio Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics trajectories. Different potentials energy surfaces were studied. All cluster structures were fully optimized without any symmetry restriction. Stable structures, frequencies, spin multiplicities, averaged bond lengths, spin density plots, different energy properties, dipole and magnetic moments as well as charge transfers are reported. This investigation indicates that the palladium clusters doped with a Ni atom are the most stable and potentially the most chemical active ones.     

Small ScCn cyclic clusters: a density functional study of their structure and stability

A theoretical study of the ScCn, ScCn+, and ScCn- (n = 1-10) cyclic clusters has been carried out employing the B3LYP density functional method. Predictions for several molecular properties that could help in their possible experimental characterization, such as equilibrium geometries, electronic structures, dipole moments, and vibrational frequencies, are reported. All ScCn cyclic clusters are predicted to have doublet ground states. For cationic clusters the ground state is alternate between singlets (n-even species) and triplets (n-odd members). In the case of anionic clusters the singlet-triplet separation is relatively small, with the singlets being favored in most cases. In general, even-odd parity effects are also observed for different properties, such as incremental binding energies, ionization energies, and electron affinities. For all neutral, cationic, and anionic clusters it is found that cyclic species are more stable than their open-chain counterparts. Therefore, cyclic structures are the most interesting possible targets for an experimental search of scandium-doped carbon clusters.     

InAs管状团簇及单壁InAs纳米管的结构、稳定性和电子性质

采用密度泛函理论研究了InnAsn (n≤90)管状团簇以及单壁InAs纳米管的几何结构、稳定性和电子性质. 小团簇InnAsn (n=1-3)基态结构和电子性质的计算结果与已有报道相一致. 当n≥4时优化得到了一族稳定的管状团簇, 其结构基元(In原子与As原子交替排列的四元环和六元环结构)满足共同的衍化通式. 团簇的平均结合能表明横截面为八个原子的管状团簇稳定性最好. 管状团簇前线轨道随尺寸的变化规律有效地解释了一维稳定管状团簇的生长原因, 同时也说明了实验上之所以能合成InAs纳米管的微观机理. 此外, 研究结果表明通过管状团簇的有效组装可得到宽带隙的InAs半导体单壁纳米管.     

Density Functional Theory Study on the Adsorption of Dioxygen on Small Pt-Pd Clusters

1 INTRODUCTION The bimetallic nanoclusters are of standing inte- rest since they can exhibit catalytic, electronic and optical properties distinct from those of corre- sponding pure nanoclusters[1～4]. Palladium and pla- tinum, well known for their catalytic properties, are often used as the catalyst in different fuel cells[5～8]. Several experimental results illustrate that for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is one of the primary reactions taking place in many fuel cells and…     

Quantum phenomena in magnetic nano clusters

One of the fascinating fields of study in magnetism in recent years has been the study of quantum phenomena in nanosystems. While semiconductor structures have provided paradigms of nanosystems from the stand point of electronic phenomena, the synthesis of high nuclearity transition metal complexes have provided examples of nano magnets. The range and diversity of the properties exhibited by these systems rivals its electronic counterparts. Qualitative understanding of these phenomena requires only a knowledge of basic physics, but quantitative study throws up many challenges that are similar to those encountered in the study of correlated electronic systems. In this article, a brief overview of the current trends in this area are highlighted and some of the efforts of our group in developing a quantitative understanding of this field are outlined.     

Supramolecular architectures assembled from amphiphilic hybrid polyoxometalates

Polyoxometalate (POM)-based inorganic-organic molecular hybrid clusters have been recently recognized as good candidates to design novel multi-functional materials. Tremendous efforts have been invested in synthesizing many interesting hybrid structures with exceptional chemical and physical properties. Grafting organic ligands to the POM clusters render these functional clusters amphiphilic properties. Here we summarize the current progresses and provide some perspectives, from colloidal chemists' point of view, on the self-assembly of the amphiphilic POM-organic hybrids in solution and at interfaces, as well as the related consequent novel features such as enhanced fluorescent properties.     

Oxide- and zeolite-supported molecular metal complexes and clusters: physical characterization and determination of structure, bonding, and metal oxidation state

This article is a review of the physical characterization of well-defined site-isolated molecular metal complexes and metal clusters supported on metal oxides and zeolites. These surface species are of interest primarily as catalysts; as a consequence of their relatively uniform structures, they can be characterized much more precisely than traditional supported catalysts. The properties discussed in this review include metal nuclearity, oxidation state, and ligand environment, as well as metal-support interactions. These properties are determined by complementary techniques, including transmission electron microscopy; X-ray absorption, infrared, Raman, and NMR spectroscopies; and density functional theory. The strengths and limitations of these techniques are assessed in the context of results characterizing samples that have been investigated thoroughly and with multiple techniques. The depth of understanding of well-defined metal complexes and metal clusters on supports is approaching that attainable for molecular analogues in solution. The results provide a foundation for understanding the more complex materials that are typical of industrial catalysts.     

PdSi_n(n=1～15)团簇电子结构与光谱性质的理论研究

在卡里普索(CALYPSO)结构预测的基础上,采用密度泛函理论(DFT)B3LYP方法,优化得到PdSi_n(n=1~15)团簇的基态结构,对其电子性质、红外光谱和拉曼光谱进行了讨论.结果表明,PdSi_n(n=1~15)团簇的基态构型随n值的增大由平面结构向立体结构演化;当n≤4时,PdSi_n团簇的红外与拉曼活性在450~500 cm-1范围内表现较好,当n≥5时,PdSi_n团簇的红外与拉曼活性在50~500 cm~(-1)范围内表现较好.     

Geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of Pt-group-doped gold clusters, their relationship to cluster size, and comparison with pure gold clusters

A systematic study of bimetallic Au(n)M(2) (n = 1-6, M = Ni, Pd, and Pt) clusters is performed by using density functional theory at the B3LYP level. The geometric structures, relative stabilities, HOMO-LUMO gaps, natural charges and electronic magnetic moments of these clusters are investigated, and compared with pure gold clusters. The results indicate that the properties of Au(n)M(2) clusters for n = 1-3 diverge more from pure gold clusters, while those for n = 4-6 show good agreement with Au(n) clusters. The dissociation energies, the second-order difference of energies, and HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, exhibiting an odd-even alternation, indicate that the Au(4)M(2) clusters are the most stable structures for Au(n)M(2) (n = 1-6, M = Ni, Pd, and Pt) clusters. Moreover, we predict that the average atomic binding energies of these clusters should tend to a limit in the range 1.56-2.00 eV.     

Structure, bonding, and magnetism in manganese clusters

We investigate the structures and magnetic properties of small Mn(n) clusters in the size range of 2-13 atoms using first-principles density functional theory. We arrive at the lowest energy structures for clusters in this size range by simultaneously optimizing the cluster geometries, total spins, and relative orientations of individual atomic moments. The results for the net magnetic moments for the optimal clusters are in good agreement with experiment. The magnetic behavior of Mn(n) clusters in the size range studied in this work ranges from ferromagnetic ordering (large net cluster moment) for the smallest (n=2, 3, and 4) clusters to a near degeneracy between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic solutions in the vicinity of n=5 and 6 to a clear preference for antiferromagnetic (small net cluster moment) ordering at n=7 and beyond. We study the details of this evolution and present a picture in which bonding in these clusters predominantly occurs due to a transfer of electrons from antibonding 4s levels to minority 3d levels.     

Size dependence of the structures and energetic and electronic properties of gold clusters

The structures and stabilities of gold clusters with up to 14 atoms have been determined by density-functional theory. The structure optimizations and frequency analysis are performed with the Perdew-Wang 1991 gradient-corrected functional combined with the effective core potential and corresponding valence basis set (LANL2DZ). The turnover point from two-dimensional to three-dimensional geometry for gold clusters occurs at Au12. The energetic and electronic properties of the small gold clusters are strongly dependent on sizes and structures, which are in good agreement with experiment and other theoretical calculations. The even-odd oscillation in cluster stability and electronic properties predicted that the clusters with even numbers of atoms were more stable than the neighboring clusters with odd numbers of atoms. The stability and electronic structure properties of gold clusters are also characterized by the maximum hardness principle of chemical reactivity and minimum polarizability principle.     

Self-Assembly in Natural and Unnatural Systems

Although there are no fundamental factors hindering the development of nanoscale structures, there is a growing realization that “engineering down” approaches, in other words a reduction in the size of structures generated by lithographic techniques below the present lower limit of roughly 1 μm, may become impractical. It has, therefore, become increasingly clear that only by the development of a fundamental understanding of the self-assembly of large-scale biological structures, which exist and function at and beyond the nanoscale, downwards, and the extension of our knowledge regarding the chemical syntheses of small-scale structures upwards, can the gap between the promise and the reality of nanosystems be closed. This kind of construction of nanoscale structures and nanosystems represents the so-called “bottom up” or “engineering up” approach to device fabrication. Significant progress can be made in the development of nanoscience by transferring concepts found in the biological world into the chemical arena. Central to this mission is the development of simple chemical systems capable of instructing their own organization into large aggregates of molecules through their mutual recognition properties. The precise programming of these recognition events, and hence the correct assembly of the growing superstructure, relies on a fundamental understanding and the practical exploitation of non-covalent bonding interactions between and within molecules. The science of supramolecular chemistry—chemistry beyond the molecule in its very broadest sense—has started to bridge the yawning gap between molecular and macro-molecular structures. By utilizing inter-actions as diverse as aromatic π–π stacking and metal–ligand coordination for the information source for assembly processes, chemists have, in the last decade, begun to use biological concepts such as self-assembly to construct nanoscale structures and superstructures with a variety of forms and functions. Here, we provide a flavor of how self-assembly operates in natural systems and can be harnessed in unnatural ones.     

Structures, energetics, and spectra of hydrated hydroxide anion clusters

The structures, energetics, electronic properties, and spectra of hydrated hydroxide anions are studied using density functional and high level ab initio calculations. The overall structures and binding energies are similar to the hydrated anion clusters, in particular, to the hydrated fluoride anion clusters except for the tetrahydrated clusters and hexahydrated clusters. In tetrahydrated system, tricoordinated structures and tetracoordinated structures are compatible, while in pentahydrated systems and hexahydrated systems, tetracoordinated structures are stable. The hexahydrated system is similar in structure to the hydrated chloride cluster. The thermodynamic quantities (enthalpies and free energies) of the clusters are in good agreement with the experimental values. The electronic properties induced by hydration are similar to hydrated chloride anions. The charge-transfer-to-solvent energies of these hydrated-hydroxide anions are discussed, and the predicted ir spectra are used to explain the experimental data in terms of the cluster structures. The low-energy barriers between the conformations along potential energy surfaces are reported.