Pb nanoprecipitates in Al: magic-shape effects due to elastic strain

We present a theory for size-dependent shapes of Pb nanoprecipitates in Al, introducing the concept of "magic shapes," i.e., shapes having near-zero homogeneous elastic strains. Our quantitative atomistic calculations of edge energies show their effect on precipitate shape to be negligible, thus it appears that shapes must be due to the combined effect of strain and interface energies. By employing an algorithm for generating magic shapes, we replicate the experimental observations by selecting magic-shape precipitates with interfacial energies less than a cutoff value.     

Direct Detection of Al–O–Al Structure in Aluminosilicate Specimens: A Use of Homo-Nuclear DQMAS NMR

A general strategy of Al–O–Al structure in various aluminosilicate was evaluated by combining triple-quantum magic angle spinning (3QMAS) and double-quantum homo-nuclear correlation under magic angle spinning (DQMAS) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements with the aid of high magnetic field NMR (800 MHz for ¹H Larmor frequency). The results show that in many cases the direct detection of Al–O–Al sites in aluminosilicate crystals and glasses is possible; hence the extent of aluminum avoidance can be directly elucidated. Specifically, experimental evidence of Al–O–Al linkages in several aluminosilicate materials with Si/Al >1 was straightforwardly confirmed; and the existence of Al–O–Al is considered to have little correlation with the Si/Al ratio, but it may be strongly related to the cation and local structural arrangement. In addition, the presence of tri-clusters of (Si, Al)O₄-tetrahedra in aluminosilicate framework was proposed, which was thought to act as nuclei for formation and incorporation of cations to achieve charge neutrality.     

AlH(3) and Al(2)H(6): magic clusters with unmagical properties

Enhanced stability, low electron affinity, and high ionization potential are the hallmarks of a "magic" cluster. With an electron affinity of 0.28 eV, ionization potential of 11.43 eV, and a large binding energy, AlH(3) satisfies these criteria. However, unlike other magic clusters that interact only weakly with each other, two AlH(3) clusters bind to each other with an energy of 1.54 eV. The resulting Al(2)H(6), while also a magic cluster in its own right, possesses the most unusual property that the difference between its adiabatic and vertical detachment energy is about 2 eV--the largest of any known cluster. These results, based on density functional theory, are verified experimentally through photodetachment spectroscopy.     

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.     

High-Resolution Heteronuclear Correlation between Quadrupolar Nuclei

Multiple-quantum magic angle spinning is successfully incorporated with double-quantum cross-polarization between quadrupolar nuclei, producing a two-dimensional 11B[27Al] high-resolution heteronuclear correlation spectrum for a magnesium aluminoborate glass. It is shown that the six-coordinate aluminum site (AlO6) preferentially coordinates to the tetrahedral boron site (BO4).     

Sensitivity enhancement of NMR spectra of half-integer spin quadrupolar nuclei in solids using hyperbolic secant pulses

The experimental factors influencing the enhancements achievable for the central NMR transition, m(I)=1/2-->m(I)=-1/2, of spin-3/2 and spin-5/2 nuclei in the solid state using hyperbolic secant, HS, pulses for population transfer are investigated. In the case of powder samples spinning at the magic angle, it is found that the spinning frequency, the bandwidth and the frequency offset of the HS pulse play a crucial role in determining the maximum enhancements. Specifically, the bandwidth must be set to the spinning frequency for maximum signal enhancements. The (87)Rb NMR enhancement obtained for RbClO(4) using HS pulses was relatively insensitive to the magic angle spinning frequency; however, in the case of Al(acac)(3), the (27)Al enhancement increased with MAS frequency. In order to obtain an adiabatic HS sweep, one should optimize the rf field for a given pulse duration or optimize the pulse duration for a given rf field.     

Aln(n=2～7)团簇的结构和能级分布

采用密度泛函B3LYP的方法研究了小原子团簇Al2～7的几何结构和能级分布,分析了随团簇原子数的增加,团簇的几何结构和费米能级的变化情况.研究结果表明:Al2～7的团簇的几何结构在5个原子以前为平面结构,而从六个原子开始为空间立体的稳定结构.电子壳层结构表明,在铝团簇中没有出现非常明显的象碱金属那样的稳定幻数结构.在Al2～Al7团簇中,能级结构呈现明显的分立特征,费米能级随着原子个数的增加而减小,到Al7时又有所增加,且团簇的能量间隙最小.     

27Al multiple-quantum MAS NMR of mechanically treated bayerite (alpha-Al(OH)3) and silica mixtures

Two-dimensional 27Al multiple-quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) NMR experiments are used to study mixtures of bayerite (alpha-Al(OH)3) with either silicic acid (SiO2.nH2O) or silica gel (SiO2) that have been ground together for varying lengths of time. This mechanical treatment produces changes in the 27Al MAS and MQMAS NMR spectra that correspond to the formation of new Al species. Mean values of the quadrupolar interaction (PQ) and isotropic chemical shift (deltacs) are extracted from the two-dimensional 27Al NMR spectra for each of these species. The presence of significant distributions of both 27Al quadrupolar and chemical shift parameters is demonstrated and the effect of grinding duration on the magnitudes of these distributions is discussed.     

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.     

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。     

Scanning tunneling microscope study of dynamic phenomena on clean Si(111) surfaces: Si magic clusters and their role

On Si(111) surfaces, we observed a special type of Si magic clusters with a variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM). At temperatures above 400°C, these clusters migrate on Si(111)-(7×7) surfaces as a whole. They can hop within a half-cell of Si(111)-(7×7), but sometimes they hop away from their original halves, leaving the 7×7 structure intact. When this happens, the magic cluster usually reappears at a site a few hundred Å away. We characterize its structure and derive path-specific hopping parameters using Arrhenius analysis. In the long hops, interestingly, magic clusters exhibit a strong bias for moving in the direction of the heating current. Effects of the directed motion in electromigration and those in thermal migration are determined separately and quantitatively. We also observed fluctuations of step edges through detachment and attachment of magic clusters. The filling of two-dimensional (2-D) craters and the decay of 2-D islands are also found to occur preferentially at the cathode side. These observations provide important clues for understanding the atomic processes in epitaxial growth and in electromigration on Si(111) surfaces. Based on our observations, the phase transition of 7×7↔1×1 is also discussed.     

用固体核磁共振方法研究CeO2-γ-Al2O3混合氧化物中的Al状态

用固体核磁共振技术研究了CeO₂-γ-Al₂O₃ 混合体系中CeO₂ 和 γ -Al²O₃两相间的相互作用. 在混合物的²⁷Al MAS NMR 中,除了四配位和六配位的Al位外,有一个尖锐的位于37处的,这个峰在高场处有一宽的肩峰. 实验证实： 位于高场的宽峰来自于 γ-Al₂O₃中的五配位Al,而位于37处的尖峰则是由CeO₂ 和 γ-Al₂O₃两相间的相互作用产生的,即Al取代了CeO₂晶格中八配位的Ce. 定量研究表明,这种Al取代的量是极其有限的,整个CeO₂晶格只有1%的Ce能被Al取代.     

Melting properties of mixed Ni13-xAlx(x=0 to 13) clusters

Starting from the configuration full optimized by Genetic Algorithm (GA), the melting behaviors of Binary Ni13-xAlx(x=0 to 13) clusters have been investigated by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations with Metropolis algorithm with a n-body Gupta potential. In contrast to bulk, these clusters have smeared first order transitions occurring over a range of temperature. The melting temperature Tm calculated from Lindemanns criterion vary drastically with concentrations x. For most clusters studied, the average energy per atom E, the relative root-mean-square (rms) bond length fluchuation δ and the heat capacity C per atom related to the energy fluctuation of the system change with temperature in the transition region in manners differing from LJ and alkali metal clusters. For Ni12Al, Ni7Al6, Ni6Al7, Ni5Al8 clusters, there are behaviors characteristic of magic number in C, which do not exist in the pure TM clusters.     

Improved quantitation in 3QMAS of spin 5/2 nuclei by RF power modulation of FAM-II

High-resolution NMR of quadrupolar I = 5/2 nuclei using triple-quantum magic angle spinning (3QMAS) techniques can provide more accurate quantitative information on sites with small quadrupolar coupling constants by changing the pulse strength in addition to the pulse length in the FAM-II multiple-quantum conversion sequence. These effects are illustrated using (27)Al NMR of yttrium aluminium garnet and andalusite.     

Different magic number behaviors in supported metal clusters

Two different magic number behaviors in supported metal clusters, which contain several to hundreds of atoms, are revealed on a series of fcc(001) metal surfaces based on the calculations with the tight-binding potential. The magic number sequence persists on some surfaces while gradually disappears on the others with the increasing cluster size. A theory is proposed to explain these behaviors in terms of atomic interactions. We find in surprise that the different magic number behaviors are triggered by the relatively weak adatom–adatom interactions between next nearest-neighbor (NNN) atoms, although the closed shell of the magic cluster is enhanced by nearest-neighbor interactions. For an attractive NNN interaction, the closed shell of the magic cluster is gradually destabilized and eventually broken, leading to the disappearance of the magic number sequence with increasing cluster size. For a repulsive one, the closed shell and magic number sequence persists. Besides, our theory also allows a good understanding of the equilibrium shape of Cu islands on the Cu(001) surface.     

Probing through bond connectivities with MQMAS NMR

Polarization transfer from quadrupolar (27Al) to spin-1/2 (31P) nuclei via J-coupling is employed to measure two-dimensional 27Al-31P heteronuclear correlation spectra with isotropic resolution. The proposed experiment, MQ-J-HETCOR, uses multiple quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) NMR for elimination of the second-order quadrupolar broadening and INEPT, INEPTR, INEPT+ and DEPT sequences for the polarization transfer. The experimental conditions leading to best sensitivity and resolution are detailed using AlPO4-14 as a test sample.     

<Superscript>23</Superscript>Na and <Superscript>27</Superscript>Al NMR Study of Structure and Dynamics in Mordenite

Temperature dependencies of ²⁷Al and ²³Na nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and spin–lattice relaxations in mordenite have been studied in static and magic angle spinning regimes. Our data show that the spin–lattice relaxations of the ²³Na and ²⁷Al nuclei are mainly governed by interaction of nuclear quadrupole moments with electric field gradients of the crystal, modulated by translational motion of water molecules in the mordenite channels. At temperatures below 200 K, the dipolar interaction of nuclear spins with paramagnetic impurities becomes an important relaxation mechanism of the ²³Na and ²⁷Al nuclei.     

Doping of magic nanoclusters in the submonolayer In/Si(100) system

Si(100)4 x 3-In reconstruction is essentially a superlattice of magic (identical-size) Si7In6 nanoclusters. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) observations, we have found that under appropriate growth conditions up to 35% of these clusters can be modified; namely, two Si atoms in the cluster can be replaced by two In atoms, thus forming a Si5In8 cluster. This modification can be considered as a doping of the magic cluster, as it changes the electronic properties of the cluster from semiconducting towards metallic. The doped cluster is less rigid than the ordinary one and swings in the electrical field of the STM tip. The atomic structure and stability of the doped magic cluster have been examined using first-principles total-energy calculations.     

77Se NMR probe of magnetic excitations of the magic angle effect in (TMTSF)2PF6

We report 77Se spin-lattice relaxation rates for (TMTSF)2PF6, carried out in the regime where a set of spectacular transport anomalies known as the "magic angle effects" are observed. In situ resistance measurements (R(zz)) were used to verify the experimental conditions and give precise sample alignment information. We found that the 77Se T-11 exhibits no significant changes as the magnetic-field orientation is rotated through the magic angles, and conclude that there is no evidence for either a single-particle gap or a spin gap. The clearly observed field-induced spin-density wave transition temperature is also, unexpectedly, not enhanced at the magic angles.