Structures, stabilities and electronic properties of FePbn (n=1-14) clusters: Density-functional theory investigations

The structures, stabilities and electronic properties of FePb_n (n=1-14) clusters have been studied using the density-functional theory (DFT). Extensive search of the ground-state structures has been carried out by considering a larger number of structural isomers for each cluster size. The Fe atom gradually falls into the interior of the Pb framework as the number of Pb atom increases from 1 to 14. The FePb_n clusters at n=3, 5, 10, 12 have relatively higher stability by analyzing the averaged binding energy and the second-order energy difference. Especially, FePb₁₂ is more stable, owing to its highest symmetrical icosahedron structure. The magnetic moments of FePb_n clusters do not quench when Fe atom is encapsulated in the Pb framework and mostly originate from 3d state of Fe atom.