Isolated molecules in metals

Isolated clusters consisting of a heavy radioactive impurity and a small number of light interstitial atoms can be produced in a metallic host and conveniently studied by hfi techniques. The heavy impurities are introduced by ion implantation using the radioactive impurities as probe atoms or in-situ irradiation of the host matrix. Light interstitials can be introduced by diffusion from the gas phase, by electrolytic charging or co-implantation. If a chemical interaction between the two types of atoms exists, these clusters can be regarded as molecules in metals. In reviewing the existing data, the following topics will be discussed: mechanisms of molecule formation, after-effects, stoichiometry, geometry and stability of the complexes formed. It will be shown that nuclear reaction analysis of the light interstitial atoms is a valuable complementary tool in the study of molecules in metals.     

Structures of Pt clusters on graphene by first-principles calculations

The interactions between Pt_n clusters (n?13) and a graphene sheet have been investigated by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. For single Pt-atom and Pt₂-dimer adsorptions, the stable adsorption sites are bridge sites between neighboring carbon atoms. When the number of Pt atoms in a cluster increases, the Pt-C interaction energy per contacting Pt atom becomes smaller. For smaller clusters (3?n?7), the adsorption as a vertical planar cluster is more stable than that as parallel planar or three-dimensional (3D) clusters, due to the stability of a planar configuration itself and the stronger planar-edge/graphene interaction, while the adsorption as a parallel planer cluster becomes stable for larger cluster (n?7) via the deformation of the planar configuration so as to attain the planar-edge/graphene contact. For much larger clusters (n?10), the adsorption as a 3D cluster becomes the most stable due to the stability of the 3D configuration itself as well as substantial Pt-C interactions of edge or corner Pt atoms. The interfacial interaction between a Pt cluster and graphene seriously depends on the shape and size of a cluster and the manner of contact on a graphene sheet.     

Study of clusters of interest for liquid ionic alloys

Calculations are reported of the total energies and related quantities of sequences of small clusters of the form A_m Pb_n, where A is an alkali atom, n <6 and m < 9. The object of this study is to shed light on the stoichiometry and the possible formation of complexes in A-Pb liquid alloys. The calculations are performed using empty core pseudopotentials and the spherical average approximation for the cluster. The results are insensitive to the choice of alkali atom apart from a smooth trend with the progression from Li to Cs. The calculated total energies suggest that clusters with compositions A₄Pb and A₄Pb₄ are very stable against a change in the number of Pb or A atoms and support the possibility of these clusters forming in the liquid alloys. This stability arises from an electronic shell-closing effect.     

Formation and stability of high-spin alkali clusters

Helium nanodroplet isolation has been applied to agglomerate alkali clusters at temperatures of 380 mK. The very weak binding to the surface of the droplets allows a selection of only weakly bound, high-spin states. Here we show that larger clusters of alkali atoms in high-spin states can be formed. The lack of strong bonds from pairing electrons makes these systems nonmetallic, van der Waals-like complexes of metal atoms. We find that sodium and potassium readily form such clusters containing up to 25 atoms. In contrast, this process is suppressed for rubidium and cesium. Apparently, for these heavy alkalis, larger high-spin aggregates are not stable and depolarize spontaneously upon cluster formation.     

Structure of nano-objects through polarizability and dipole measurements

The electric polarizability and the electric permanent dipole are important quantities for understanding the electronic properties of a cluster. Experimental techniques, the simulations necessary to interpret the experimental results, and a review of measurements on atomic and mixed clusters are presented. For atomic clusters, the polarizability is related to the type of bonding. In simple metal clusters such as alkali clusters, the results are well interpreted by the electron delocalization characteristic of the metallic bonding. In other metal clusters, the polarizability reflects the difficulty of establishing a clear and regular picture of the size evolution of electronic properties. The size evolution observed for covalent and semiconductor clusters is different from the evolution for metal clusters, and the influence of the geometry is preponderant, as demonstrated in the case of fullerenes. For mixed clusters, the measurements of the electric dipole allows one to deduce the charge transfers and the geometric arrangement. This is illustrated in the case of the metal-fullerene system and alkali halide clusters. To cite this article: M. Broyer et al., C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 301–317.     

Structure, dynamic and energetic of mixed transition metal clusters

Classical molecular dynamics simulation (MD) with Sutton-Chen potential has been used to generate the minimum energy and to study the thermodynamic and dynamic properties of mixed transition metal cluster motifs of Ag _n Ni_(13?n) for n ?? 13. Literature results of thirteen particle clusters of neat silver and nickel atoms were first reproduced before the successive replacement of the silver atom by nickel. Calculation was repeated for both silver-centred and nickel-centred clusters. It was found that the nickel-centred clusters were more stable than the silver-centred clusters. Heat capacities and hence the melting points of silver and nickel-centred clusters were determined by using the Histogram method. Species-centric order parameters developed by Hewage and Amar were used to understand the dynamic behaviour in the transition of silver-centred clusters to more stable nickel-centred clusters. This species-centric order parameter calculation further confirmed the stability of nickel-centred clusters over those of silver-centred species.     

Stability of (3)He(2)(4)He(n) and (3)He(3)(4)He(n) L=0 clusters

We have studied the stability of mixed (3)He/(4)He clusters in L=0 states by the diffusion Monte Carlo method, employing the Tang-Toennies-Yiu He-He potential. The clusters (3)He(4)He(N) and (3)He(2)(4)He(N) are stable for N>1. The lighter atoms tend to move to the surface of the cluster. The minimum number of 4He atoms able to bind three 3He atoms in a L=0 state is nine. Two of three fermionic helium atoms stay on the surface, while the third one penetrates into the cluster.     

How can we make stable linear monoatomic chains? Gold-cesium binary subnanowires as an example of a charge-transfer-driven approach to alloying

On the basis of first-principles calculations of clusters and one dimensional infinitely long subnanowires of the binary systems, we find that alkali-noble metal alloy wires show better linearity and stability than either pure alkali metal or noble metal wires. The enhanced alternating charge buildup on atoms by charge transfer helps the atoms line up straight. The cesium doped gold wires showing significant charge transfer from cesium to gold can be stabilized as linear or circular monoatomic chains.     

Dreikörperkräfte und die Stabilität einfacher Kristallgitter

Observed stability of crystal structures for rare-gas atoms, alkali halides and for those II–VI and III–V compounds whose ions are isoelectronic with rare-gas atoms is correlated with atomic and ionic interactions in dense media. On the basis of central forces essential discrepancies between theory and experiment occur. Further analysis indicates that strong, simultaneous interactions of exchange type between three atoms or three ions play an important role in determining the stable crystal structure. An evaluation of such three-body interactions is carried out in first and second orders of perturbation theory, using effective-electron wave functions of Gaussian form. It is shown that the theory accounts for all observed stability relations on a quantitative basis. The stability of the face-centered cubic configuration for solids of heavy rare gases is explained. Also, the occurrence of the cesium chloride structure for some of the heavy alkali halides and the magnitude of observed transition pressures are reproduced by the theory. In addition, it is shown that three-ion interactions are responsable for the occurrence of the sphalerite (zincblende) and wurtzite configurations with II–VI and III–V compounds, without covalent bonding between the ions being involved. General laws are given which govern the relative stability of the sodium chloride, cesium chloride, sphalerite and wurtzite configurations for these types of compounds.     

Narrowing of the Absorption Line of Light Alkali Metal Atoms in an Atmosphere of Heavy Inert Gases at Growing Radiation Intensity

Optics and Spectroscopy - The effect of narrowing of the absorption line of light alkali metal 7Li and 23Na atoms present in an atmosphere of heavy inert gas (xenon) with an increase in the...     

Ab initio study of formation, migration and binding properties of helium-vacancy clusters in aluminum

Ab initio calculations based on density functional theory have been performed to study the dissolution and migration of helium, and the stability of small helium-vacancy clusters He_nV_m (n, m=0-4) in aluminum. The results indicate that the octahedral configuration is more stable than the tetrahedral. Interstitial helium atoms are predicted to have attractive interactions and jump between two octahedral sites via an intermediate tetrahedral site with low migration energy. The binding energies of an interstitial He atom and an isolated vacancy to a He_nV_m cluster are also obtained from the calculated formation energies of the clusters. We find that the di- and tri-vacancy clusters are not stable, but He atoms can increase the stability of vacancy clusters.     

On the decay of hot metallic clusters by evaporation

Starting from the Weisskopf theory decay rates for the evaporation of cluster atoms from hot liquid alkali metal clusters are derived. The crucial input quantity is the level density which is determined from empirical properties of the bulk, namely from the specific heat and the thermal expansion coefficient. The resulting rate expression is compared with decay rate formulas given by Engelking, Klots and Gspann. Furthermore, critical (appearance) sizes of multiply charged clusters are calculated by equating the rates for neutral monomer and light charged particle emission. Also shrinking and cooling rates of large hot clusters are determined by treating multiple emission of cluster atoms, thus establishing a time scale for the decay of clusters theoretically.     

Optical characterization and manipulation of alkali metal nanoparticles in porous silica

Rubidium and cesium metal nanoparticles were grown in nanoporous silica samples placed in alkali vapor cells. Their size and shape were investigated by measuring the sample optical transmittance. Spectral changes due to photodesorption processes activated by weak light were also analyzed. Alkali atoms photoejected from the silica walls diffuse through and out of the nanopores, modifying both the nanoparticle distribution in the silica matrix and the atomic vapor pressure in the cell volume. The number of rubidium and cesium atoms burst out of the samples was measured as a function of photon energy and fluence. The optical absorption measurements together with the analysis of the photodesorption yield give a complete picture of the processes triggered by light inside the nanopores. We show that atomic photodesorption, upon proper choice of light frequency and intensity, induces either growth or evaporation of nanosized alkali metal clusters. Cluster size and shape are determined by the host-guest interaction.     

Interrelationship between the polarization moments of different parity upon optical pumping of atoms under magnetic resonance conditions: II. Theory

The mutual coupling between the polarization moments with ranks of different parity is theoretically considered. The manifestation of this mutual coupling has been revealed previously in experiments on magnetic resonance of optically oriented cesium atoms. The two well-known types of the coupling between the polarization moments are considered: the field coupling of these moments that occur due to the breaking of the hyperfine coupling between the electronic and nuclear moments of the alkali atom by the magnetic field and the light coupling of the moments due to the absorption of the pumping light by polarized atoms. The experimentally observed similarity in the shape of resonance signals of alignment and orientation upon circularly polarized pumping can be explained by the fact that, for alkali atoms, the generation of alignment by light at the wavelength of the D ₁ line is of low efficiency. Therefore, alignment arises mainly from orientation by means of either the field or the light coupling of polarization moments. For metastable 2³ S ₁ ⁴He atoms, no influence of the orientation on the alignment was observed because, in these atoms, the field coupling between the polarization moments is absent and the light coupling is not displayed because the generation of alignment by the circularly polarized pumping light is more efficient than the creation of alignment from orientation by means of light coupling of polarization moments.     

Two-dimensional discrete gap breathers in a two-dimensional discrete diatomic Klein-Gordon lattice

We study the existence and stability of two-dimensional discrete breathers in a two-dimensionai discrete diatomic Klein-Gordon lattice consisting of alternating light and heavy atoms, with nearest-neighbor harmonic coupling. Localized solutions to the corresponding nonlinear differential equations with frequencies inside the gap of the linear wave spectrum, i.e. two-dimensional gap breathers, are investigated numerically. The numerical results of the corresponding algebraic equations demonstrate the possibility of the existence of two-dimensional gap breathers with three types of symmetries, i.e., symmetric, twin-antisymmetric and single-antisymmetric. Their stability depends on the nonlinear on-site potential （soft or hard）, the interaction potential （attractive or repulsive） and the center of the two-dimensional gap breathers （on a light or a heavy atom）.     

A density functional theory study of small bimetallic PdnAl (n=1–8) clusters

The geometries, stabilities, and magnetic properties of Pd_nAl (n=1–8) neutral clusters are studied using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. The growth pattern for different sized Pd_nAl (n=1–8) clusters is Al-substituted Pd_n+1 clusters and it keeps the similar framework of the most stable Pd_n+1 clusters except n=6 and 8. Al atoms in the ground state Pd_nAl isomers tend to occupy the most highly coordinated position. The analysis of stabilities shows that doping an Al atom can enhance the stabilities of the host Pd clusters and the magic number characteristic of Pd₄ cluster cannot be changed, the Pd₃Al cluster has a higher stability. Charges are transferred from Al atom to Pd atoms in all Pd_nAl clusters, so the Al atom is the electron donor, and Pd atoms are the electron accepters. Doping an Al atom decreases the average atomic magnetic moments of the host Pd clusters.     

Structure,stability and magnetic properties of (NiAl)n(n≤6) clusters

In this paper, density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange-correlation potential has been used to calculate the energetically global-minimum geometries and electronic states of (NiAl)_n(n≤6) clusters. Full structural optimizations, analysis of energy and frequency calculation are performed. The most stable structures of (NiAl)_n clusters are all three-dimensional structures except NiAl. The average bond lengths of (NiAl)_n clusters are larger than that of Ni_2n, and are smaller than that of Al_2n. The binding energy per atom of Ni_2n and (NiAl)_n has the same change trend, and that are larger than that of Al_2n. Stability analysis shows that Ni₈, (NiAl)₂ and Al₁₀ clusters have higher relative stability than other clusters. Mulliken analysis indicates that charges always transfer from Al atoms to Ni atoms, and the average charges of transfer from Al atoms to Ni atoms have a maximum at (NiAl)₆, implying the strong interaction between Al and Ni atoms in (NiAl)₆. The average atomic magnetic moments of (NiAl)_n are smaller than that of true Ni_2n. The analysis of the static polarizability shows that the electronic structures of (NiAl)_n clusters tend to be compact with the increase of atoms.     

Structure,energetic and phase transition of small nickel-palladium heterogeneous clusters

Molecular dynamics simulation (MD) with Sutton-Chen potential for palladium-palladium, nickel-nickel and palladium-nickel interactions has been used to generate the minimum energy structures and to study the thermodynamic and dynamic properties of mixed transition metal cluster motifs of Ni _n Pd_(13?n) for n ≤ 13. Thirteen particle icosahedral clusters of neat palladium and nickel atoms were first reproduced accordingly with the results in literature. Then in the palladium icosahedra, each palladium atom has been successively replaced by nickel atom. Calculation is repeated for both palladium-centered and nickel-centered clusters. It is found that the nickel-centered clusters are more stable than the palladium-centered clusters and cohesive energy increases along the palladium end to nickel end. Phase transition of each cluster from one end-species to the other end-species is studied by means of caloric curve, root mean square bond fluctuation and heat capacity. Trend in variation of melting temperature is opposite to the energy trend. Palladium-centered cluster shows a premelting at low temperature due to the solid-solid structural transition. Species-centric order parameters developed by Hewage and Amar is used to understand the dynamic behavior in the solid-solid transition of palladium-centered cluster to more stable nickel-centered cluster (premelting). This species-centric order parameter calculation further confirmed the stability of nickel-centered species over those of palladium-centered species and solid-solid structural transition at low temperature.     

Density functional theory study of AunMn(n=1-8) clusters

Equilibrium geometries, relative stabilities, and magnetic properties of small Au_nMn (n=1-8) clusters have been investigated using density functional theory at the PW91P86 level. It is found that Mn atoms in the ground state Au_nMn isomers tend to occupy the most highly coordinated position and the lowest energy structure of Au_nMn clusters with even n is similar to that of pure Au_n+1 clusters, except for n=2. The substitution of Au atom in Au_n+1 cluster by a Mn atom improves the stability of the host clusters. Maximum peaks are observed for Au_nMn clusters at n=2, 4 on the size dependence of second-order energy differences and fragmentation energies, implying that the two clusters possess relatively higher stability. The HOMO-LUMO energy gaps of the ground state Au_nMn clusters show a pronounced odd-even oscillation with the number of Au atoms, and the energy gap of Au₂Mn cluster is the biggest among all the clusters. The magnetism calculations indicate that the total magnetic moment of Au_nMn cluster, which has a very large magnetic moment in comparison to the pure Au_n+1 cluster, is mainly localized on Mn atom.