<Emphasis Type="Italic">In-situ</Emphasis> discrimination of the water cluster size distribution in aqueous solution by ToF-SIMS

The size distribution and molecular structure of water clusters play a critical role in the chemical, biological and atmospheric process. The common experimental study of water clusters in aqueous solution is challenged due to the influence of local Hbonding environments on vibration spectroscopies or vacuum requirements for most mass spectrometry technologies. Here, the time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) combining with a microfluidic chip has been applied to achieve the in-situ discrimination of the size distribution for water clusters in liquid water at room temperature. The results demonstrated that the presented method is highly system stable, reproducible and accurate. The comparison of heavy water with pure water was made to further demonstrate the accuracy of this technique. These results showed that (H₂O)₃H⁺ and (D₂O)₄D⁺ are the most dominant clusters in pure and heavy water, respectively. This one water molecule difference in the dominant cluster size may due to the nuclear quantum effects on water’s hydrogen bonded network. It is the first time to experimentally show the size distribution of water clusters over a wide range (n=1–30) for pure (H₂O) and heavy (D₂O) water from molecular level. This technique provides an achievable method for liquid water, which offers a bridge to close the gap between theoretical and experimental study of water cluster in aqueous solution.     

Structures and magnetic properties of Ni<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 36-40) clusters from first-principles calculations

A genetic algorithm (GA) coupled with a tight-binding (TB) interatomic potential is used to search for the low-energy structures of medium-sized Ni _n (n = 36-40) clusters. Structural candidates obtained from our GA search are further optimized with first-principles calculations. The medium-sized nickel clusters ranging from 36 to 40 atoms are found to favor the double-icosahedron-based structures with a Ni₇ core (a pentagonal bipyramidal structure) except Ni₃₈ cluster. The lowest-energy structure of Ni₃₈ can be considered to be a magic cluster, which is a typical face-centered cubic structure with large stability and magnetic moment.     

A parametrical embedding method for catalytic modeling

In this work, an embedding procedure is proposed for parametric methods. An application to modeling a nickel catalyst supported on γ-alumina was carried out by considering a set of point charges and parametric functionals to simulate short- and long-range interactions. Several clusters were calculated Al_nO_m and Al_nO_mNi_o (n=4, 8, 14, 18, 20; m=6, 12, 21, 27, 30; o=1–5). An analysis of calculated properties for different cluster sizes indicates that, in order to model chemical properties in an adequate way, a minimum cluster size is required. Results show that the long-range effects in the modeling of Ni cluster formation on alumina have to be considered, because they produce changes in bond energies and charges.     

Effect of charge state and stoichiometry on the structure and reactivity of nickel oxide clusters with CO

The collision induced fragmentation and reactivity of cationic and anionic nickel oxide clusters with carbon monoxide were studied experimentally using guided-ion-beam mass spectrometry. Anionic clusters with a stoichiometry containing one more oxygen atom than nickel atom (NiO₂⁻, Ni₂O₃⁻, Ni₃O₄⁻ and Ni₄O₅⁻) were found to exhibit dominant products resulting from the transfer of a single oxygen atom to CO, suggesting the formation of CO₂. Of these four species, Ni₂O₃⁻ and Ni₄O₅⁻ were observed to be the most reactive having oxygen transfer products accounting for approximately 5% and 10% of the total ion intensity at a maximum pressure of 15 mTorr of CO. Our findings, therefore, indicate that anionic nickel oxide clusters containing an even number of nickel atoms and an odd number of oxygen atoms are more reactive than those with an odd number of nickel atoms and an even number of oxygen atoms. The majority of cationic nickel oxides, in contrast to anionic species, reacted preferentially through the adsorption of CO onto the cluster accompanied by the loss of either molecular O₂ or nickel oxide units. The adsorption of CO onto positively charged nickel oxides, therefore, is exothermic enough to break apart the gas-phase clusters. Collision induced dissociation experiments, employing inert xenon gas, were also conducted to gain insight into the structural properties of nickel oxide clusters. The fragmentation products were found to vary considerably with size and stoichiometry as well as ionic charge state. In general, cationic clusters favored the collisional loss of molecular O₂ while anionic clusters fragmented through the loss of both atomic oxygen and nickel oxide units. Our results provide insight into the effect of ionic charge state on the structure of nickel oxide clusters. Furthermore, we establish how the size and stoichiometry of nickel oxide clusters influences their ability to oxidize CO, an important reaction for environmental pollution abatement.     

A Magnetic Study of Low Moment Nickel Clusters Formed from the Solid-State Decomposition Reaction of Nickel bis-1,5-Cyclooctadiene

Variable temperature SQUID magnetometry measurements were made on a sample of commercially available nickel bis-1,5-cyclooctadiene (Ni(COD)₂) is reported. The material is shown to be a mixed phase magnetic system where the Ni(COD)₂ behaves as a diamagnet containing a paramagnetic component at low temperatures which we believe consists of elemental Ni clusters arising from the decomposition of the material. The magnetic response of the Ni clusters can be described by the combination of two Langevin functions, which indicate cluster magnetic moments of 1.8 μ _B and 15 μ _B suggesting Ni _n clusters with n = 2–3 and n = 14–19. However, we demonstrate that these clusters appear to show a spin transition to an S = 0 state at low temperatures, which may be a consequence of interactions between the clusters and the surrounding organic medium. Nevertheless, our results suggest that Ni(COD)₂ is a novel material for the study of Ni clusters embedded in a diamagnetic background material.     

Association equilibrium constants and populations of clusters /H2O/n/g/ and /D2O/n/g/: Differences between isotopomers and a possible relation to isotope enrichment

Equilibrium constants of H₂O/g/ and D₂O/g/ associations to clusters /H₂O/_n/g/ and /D₂O/_n/g/ have been calculated on the basis of the ab initio SCF CI MCY-B water-water pair potential. Populations of the components of equilibrium cluster mixtures have been evaluated at various temperatures and pressures for both isotopomeric series. Differences between the H and D steam are pointed out and possible consequences are discussed.     

Fragmentation by electron impact ionization and intracluster reactions of size selected (N2H4) n and (OCS) n clusters

The hydrogen-bonded (N₂H₄) _n clusters and the van der Waals (OCS) _n clusters are size selected in a scattering experiment with a He beam up to the cluster sizen=6. By measuring the angular distributions of the scattered clusters the complete fragmentation pattern of electron impact ionization is obtained. For Hydrazine the two main fragment masses are the protonated species (N₂H₄) _n?1H⁺ and with somewhat weaker intensities also the nominal ion mass (N₂H₄) _n ⁺ . The largest intensity is observed for the monomer ion N₂H ₄ ⁺ to which clusters up ton=5 fragment. For carbonylsulfide, completely different results are obtained. Aside from the fragments of the OCS monomer and the van der Waals cluster fragments (OCS) ₂ ⁺ and (OCS) ₃ ⁺ signals at mass S ₂ ⁺ , S ₃ ⁺ and S₂OCS⁺ are detected. This indicates a fast chemical reaction in the cluster according to: S + OCS → CO + S₂ which occurs for clusters of sizen ≥ 2. Peaks at S ₃ ⁺ and S₂OCS⁺ are seen for the first time forn ≥ 5 according to a further reaction of S₂ in the cluster.     

Reactivity of positively charged cobalt cluster ions with CH4, N2, H2, C2H4, and C2H2

Reactivity of positively charged cobalt cluster ions (Co _n ⁺ ,n=2?22), produce by laser vaporization, with various gas samples (CH₄, N₂, H₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₂) were systematically investigated by using a fast-flow reactor. The reactivity of Co _n ⁺ with the various gas samples is qualitatively consistent with the adsorption rate of the gas to cobalt metal surfaces. Co _n ⁺ highly reacts with C₂H₂ as characterized by the adsorption rate to metal surfaces, and it indicates no size dependence. In contrast, the reactions of Co _n ⁺ with the other gas samples indicate a similar cluster size dependence; atn=4, 5, and 10?15, Co _n ⁺ highly reacts. The difference can be explained by the amount of the activation energy for chemisorption reaction. Compared with neutral cobalt clusters, the size dependence is almost similar except for Co ₄ ⁺ and Co ₅ ⁺ . The reactivity enhancement of Co ₄ ⁺ and Co ₅ ⁺ indicates that the cobalt cluster ions are presumed to have an active site for chemisorption atn=4 and 5, induced by the influence of positive charge.     

The Electronic and Magnetic Properties of a Few Transition-Metal Clusters

Using density functional theory we present a systematic study of the electronic and magnetic properties of various nickel clusters and two small bimetallic clusters, Ni _n Co _m and Ni _n Fe _m (n + m ≤ 6). A detail study of binding energy, magnetic moment and stability function of pure nickel clusters of nuclearity (N) 40–60 have been performed. We observe that the magic numbers occur at N = 43, 46, 49, 53, 55, and 58, which correspond to the most stable clusters. We find that, with increase in substitution of Co and Fe atoms in Ni cluster, while Ni _n Co _m becomes more stable, the Ni _n Fe _m clusters become less stable. The significant enhancement of average magnetic moment and suppression of local magnetic moment of nickel atoms are found in both clusters with increase in Co and Fe concentration.     

Study of water clusters in the n = 2–34 size regime, based on the ABEEM/MM model

Various properties of water clusters in the n = 2–34 size regime with the change of cluster size have been systemically explored based on the newly developed flexible-body and charge-fluctuating ABEEM/MM water potential model. The ABEEM/MM water model is to take ABEEM charges of all atoms, bonds, and lone-pairs of water molecules into the intermolecular electrostatic interaction term in molecular mechanics. The computed correlating properties characterizing water clusters (H₂O) _n (n = 2–34) include optimal structures, structural parameters, ABEEM charge distributions, binding energies, hydrogen bonds, dipole moments, and so on. The study of optimal structures shows that the ABEEM/MM model can correctly predict the following important structural features, such as the transition from two-dimensional (from dimer to pentamer) to three-dimensional (for clusters larger than the hexamer) structures at hexamer region, the transition from cubes to cages at dodecamer (H₂O)₁₂, the transition from all-surface (all water molecules on the surface of the cluster) to one water-centered (one water molecule at the center of the cluster, fully solvated) structures at (H₂O)₁₇, the transition from one to two internal molecules in the cage at (H₂O)₃₃, and so on. The first three structural transitions are in good agreement with those obtained from previous work, while the fourth transition is different from that identified by Hartke. Subsequently, a systematic investigation of structural parameters, ABEEM charges, energetic properties, and dipole moments of water clusters with increasing cluster size can provide important reference for describing the objective trait of hydrogen bonds in water cluster system, and also provide a strong impetus toward understanding how the water clusters approach the bulk limit.     

Gold clusters: reactions and deuterium uptake

We have examined the reactivity and saturation of small gold clusters (cations, neutrals and anions) towards several molecules and find that specific small gold clusters exhibit a pronounced variation in their reactivity towards hydrogen, methane and oxygen. The reactivity not only depends strongly on cluster size but also on the cluster charge state. For example, small (n<15) gold cations react readily with D₂, but no evidence of reaction is observed for the anions under our experimental conditions. Similar behavior is seen for methane. With oxygen only even atom (odd electron) anions are reactive, and Au ₁₀ ⁺ is the only cation which exhibits evidence of reaction. The global features (small cluster cations reactive towards H₂, CH₄, but large ones not reactive, odd electron anions reactive towards O₂) are qualitatively explained by appealing to a simple frontier orbital picture. The uptake of deuterium and methane on gold clusters also exhibits a pronounced size dependence with D/Au varying from a high of 3 for the dimer to zero for clusters containing more than 15 Au atoms. Comparison of the methane and deuterium saturation behavior leads us to suggest that methane is dissociated and bound as CH₃ and H.     

Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Adsorption on Ruthenium Clusters

The geometries, stabilities, electronic, and magnetic properties of hydrogen adsorption on Ru _n clusters have been systematically investigated by using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. The result indicates the absorbed species does not lead to a rearrangement of the basic cluster. For n > 2, three different adsorption patterns are found for the Ru _n H₂ complexes: One H atom binds to the Ru top site, and another H binds to the bridge site for n = 3, 5, 6, 8; bridge site adsorption for n = 4; hollow site and top site adsorption for n = 7. The adsorption energies display oscillation and reach the peak at n = 2, 4, 7, implying their high chemical reactivity. The small electron transferred number between H atoms and Ru _n clusters indicates that the interaction between H atoms and Ru _n clusters is small. When H₂ is absorbed on the Ru _n clusters, the chemical activity of corresponding clusters is dramatically increased. The absorbed H₂ can lead to an oscillatory behavior of the magnetic moments, and this behavior is rooted in the electronic structure of the preceding cluster and the changes in the magnetic moment are indicative of the relative ordering of the majority and minority LUMO’s. The second order difference indicates 5 is magic number in Ru _n H₂ and Ru _n clusters.     

Studies of the hydrated oxonium radical H3O·(H2O)n and the ammoniated ammonium radical NH4·(NH3)n by neutralized ion beam techniques

Neutralized ion beam studies of the clusters NH₄·(NH₃)_n and H₃O·(H₂O)_n,n = 0–3, and their fully deuterated analogs are presented. Stabilization of the hypervalent monomer radicals is found to accompany solvation. Cluster stability is found to decrease with increasing size. Reasons for this observation are discussed. Internally excited clusters are found to stabilize efficiently through the sequential loss of structural units (NH₃ or H₂O). The mixed isotopic dimer clusters (D₂¹⁸O)·D·(D₂¹⁶O) and (HDO)·D·(D₂O) are also investigated. Presence of the D₃¹⁶O radical structural unit is found to be crucial to dimer stability. This is consistent with the results of earlier investigations involving the monomer which showed the surprising lifetime progression τ(D₃¹⁶O) ≫; τ(D₃¹⁸O) ⩾ τ(H₃¹⁶O).     

IR double resonance experiments with size selected clusters for identification of isomers

Infrared photodissociation spectra of (CH₃OH) _n clusters (n=2, 3 and 6) and the mixed dimer C₂H₄ · CH₃COCH₃ are presented. The clusters are generated in a supersonic jet expansion and size selected by scattering from a helium atomic beam combined with mass spectrometric detection. Continuous CO₂-lasers are used to vibrationally excite the molecules in the cluster leading to rapid dissociation of the complex. Various dissociation peaks that are found in single-laser dissociation spectra can be assigned unambigously in a pump-probe experiment with two lasers to either different isomers (acetone-ethene dimer) or splitted lines of one isomer (methanol hexamer). For size distributions, the method is able to select contributions of single masses which is demonstrated for mixtures of methanol dimers and trimers.     

Reaction mechanism of the preferential oxidation of the CO reaction in an H<Subscript>2</Subscript> stream over Cu–Ni bimetallic catalysts: A computational study

The preferential oxidation (PROX, CO + H₂ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O) of the CO reaction in an H₂ stream is the simplest and most cost-effective method to remove CO gas to less than 10 ppm in reformed fuel gas. We study the mechanism of PROX of the CO reaction in the H₂ stream catalyzed by Cu _n Ni (n = 3-12) clusters using a density functional theory (DFT) calculation to investigate bimetallic effects on the catalytic activation. Our results indicate that the Cu₁₂Ni cluster is the most efficient catalyst for H₂ dissociation and the Cu₆Ni cluster is the most efficient catalyst for CO-PROX in excess hydrogen among Cu _n Ni (n = 3-12) clusters. To gain insight into the adsorption and dissociation of the H₂ molecule effect in the catalytic activity over the Cu₁₂Ni cluster and the potential energy surfaces about PROX of CO oxidation on the Cu₆Ni cluster, the nature of the interaction between the adsorbate and substrate is analyzed by detailed electron local densities of states (LDOS) as well as molecular structures.     

Theoretical Studies of the Electronic Structures and Spectrum Properties of Pt n Ni m (n + m = 7, n, m ≠ 0) Clusters

We studied Pt _n Ni _m (n + m = 7, n, m ≠ 0) clusters within the framework of the density functional theory (B3LYP) at the LANL2DZ level. The calculated results show that the Fermi levels are determined by the number of Pt atoms, which gain electrons from Ni atoms. Meanwhile, multifarious orbital hybridization is found in the frontier molecular orbital, and the more platinum or nickel atoms, the smaller energy gap it has. Moreover, the calculated IR and Raman spectrum indicates the aromatic character, which is vital for transitional metal clusters.     

Interactions between Ni n (n = 1–4) clusters and molecules of methane,water, and hydrogen peroxide

Quantum chemical computations and study of IR spectra of systems Ni₄ + CH₄, Ni₄ + H₂O, and Ni₄ +H₂O are performed. The results are discussed conjointly with analogous data for products of reactions with Ni _n (n=1–3). It is shown that formation of complexes with either hydrogen atoms or CH₃ and OH radicals in a bridged position is characteristic of these systems. It is essential that the ground state of the nickel frame formed in Ni₄ systems has the form of a flat rhombus, which is different from the main isomer form of Ni₄ having pyramidal structure.     

A density functional study of bare and hydrogenated platinum clusters

We perform density functional theory calculations using Gaussian atomic-orbital methods within the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange and correlation to study the interactions in the bare and hydrogenated platinum clusters. The minimum-energy structures, binding energies, relative stabilities, vibrational frequencies and the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular-orbital gaps of Pt_nH_m (n = 1–5, m = 0–2) clusters are calculated and compared with previously studied pure platinum and hydrogenated platinum clusters. We investigate any magic behavior in hydrogenated platinum clusters and find that Pt₄H₂ is more stable than its neighboring sizes. The lowest energy structure of Pt₄ is found to be a distorted tetrahedron and that of Pt₅ is found to be a bridge site capped tetrahedron which is a new global minimum for Pt₅ cluster. The successive addition of H atoms to Pt_n clusters leads to an oscillatory change in the magnetic moment of Pt₃–Pt₅ clusters.