液态金属Al凝固过程中的团簇结构与幻数特性

采用分子动力学方法,对含有100000个Al原子的液态金属系统在凝固过程中团簇结构的形成特性进行了模拟研究,并采用原子团类型指数法(CTIM)来描述各种类型的团簇结构组态.研究结果显示:在液态金属Al的凝固过程中,只有与1551键型相关的二十面体原子团(12 0 12 0)及其组合形成的各种团簇结构,对微结构的演变起着关键的、决定性的作用;由不同数目、不同类型基本原子团组成的各种层次的团簇结构,都在一定的原子数区段内呈现出峰值,即幻数点;系统的幻数序列为:13(13), 19(21), 25～28(27), 31～33(29～30) ,37、39,…(括号内为液态时对应的幻数值),与Harris等人的实验结果甚为相符.本模拟研究所用的团簇结构按层次区段来研究幻数序列的方法,可为实验结果提供更为合理的模型解释.     

冷却速率对液态金属Zn快速凝固过程中微观结构的影响

用分子动力学模拟方法研究了六种不同冷却速率对液态金属Zn凝固过程微观结构的影响. 采用双体分布函数g(r)曲线、平均原子总能量、Honeycutt-Andersen(HA)键型指数法和原子团类型指数法(CTIM-2)对凝固过程中微观结构的变化进行了分析. 结果表明, 冷却速率对微观结构的转变有决定性影响, 当冷却速率为1×10¹⁴、5×10¹³、2×10¹³、1×10¹³、5×10¹² K·s-1时, 系统形成以1551、1541、1431键型为主体的非晶态结构; 当冷却速率为1×10¹² K·s-1时, 系统形成以1421、1422键型为主或以密排六方(hcp)基本原子团(12 0 0 0 6 6)和面心立方(fcc)基本原子团(12 0 0 0 1 2 0)共存的部分晶态结构. 同时发现, 在形成非晶的五个系统中,玻璃化转变温度Tg随着冷速的降低而降低.     

Ni3Al合金液态与非晶中的原子团簇

采用常温常压分子动力学模拟技术，模拟了液态Ni3Al中原子团簇在快速凝固条件下的演变过程，模型采用的是TB(tight binding)作用势.用偶分布函数、键对和多面体等结构参数来描述快速凝固条件下团簇种类和数量的变化，并将团簇结构可视化.在2 000 K下，液态Ni3Al中团簇数量较少，且都是由缺陷二十面体构成；在4×1013 K•s－1的冷速下，团簇的数量随温度的降低不断增加，且出现完整二十面体团簇，体系最终形成了由二十面体和缺陷二十面体团簇网络所组成的非晶结构.     

嵌入纳米Fe颗粒的Fe液凝固过程的分子动力学模拟

采用Sutton-Chen 势函数及分子动力学(MD)方法对嵌入了Fe纳米团簇(半径从0.4-1.8 nm)的Fe液凝固过程进行了模拟. 模拟结果表明只有当嵌入的纳米团簇半径超过0.82 nm才能降低凝固时所需要的临界过冷度(ΔT^*), 起到诱导凝固的作用. 同时采用原子键型指数法(CTIM-2)对样本在凝固过程中的原子结构进行了标定, 通过观察微观结构演变发现当嵌入纳米团簇能够作为凝固核心时, 体系按照hcp-fcc 交叉形核的方式长大. 同时还发现嵌入纳米团簇对体系凝固过程晶核的生长方向及凝固的最终构型存在“结构遗传效应”.     

[Ca(NH2)2]n (n＝1～5)团簇的密度泛函理论研究

用密度泛函理论(DFT)的杂化密度泛函B3LYP方法在6-31G*基组水平上对[Ca(NH2)2]n (n＝1～5)团簇各种可能的构型进行几何结构优化, 预测了各团簇的最稳定结构. 并对最稳定结构的振动特性、成键特性、电荷特性等进行了理论研究. 结果表明: 团簇易形成环状结构, 以金属Ca原子团簇作为骨架, NH2基结合在金属团簇骨架上, 并主要是Ca—N成键和Ca—Ca成键. 团簇中Ca—N键长为0.225～0.257 nm, Ca—Ca键长为0.312～0.354 nm, N—H键长为0.102～0.103 nm, H—N—H键角为102.9°～104.2°; 团簇中Ca原子的自然电荷在1.657e～1.720e之间, N原子的自然电荷在－1.543e～－1.592e之间, H原子的自然电荷在0.349e～0.367e之间, Ca原子和NH2基之间相互作用呈现较强的离子性;对比团簇和晶体的结构及IR谱表明, NH2基在团簇和晶体中的结构基本一致.     

5d过渡金属原子中心镶嵌Ag团簇M@Ag12(M＝Hf～Hg) Ih和Oh构型的密度泛函理论研究

采用相对论密度泛函理论方法对Ih和Oh构型M@Ag12 (M＝Hf～Hg)的几何和电子结构进行了系统的研究. 研究表明, 原子半径之和与团簇的电子结构共同决定了M—Ag键长的大小. M@Ag12的成键能来自中心原子的嵌入能和Ag12笼子的形变能. 最高占据轨道为成键轨道的团簇比反键轨道的团簇的稳定性强. 我们发现在此系列中, Ih构型不一定总比Oh构型稳定. Hf@Ag12, Ir@Ag12, Au@Ag12和Hg@Ag12的Oh构型比Ih构型稳定.     

Sn_nSm(n=1～9)团簇结构稳定性与磁学性质的理论研究

采用Saunders全局优化随机踢球模型与密度泛函理论相结合的方法,在B3LYP/SDD理论水平下研究了锡基原子团簇Sn_n(n=2~10)及锡基稀土原子钐掺杂团簇Sn_nSm(n=1~9)的几何结构、稳定性、电子性质和磁性.结果表明,团簇Sn_nSm(n=1~9)中掺杂的钐原子通常位于主团簇的表面,掺杂团簇的基态结构更倾向于具有较高对称性的三维结构;二元锡基混合团簇的平均结合能变大,稳定性增强,这主要归因于Sn—Sm键比Sn—Sn键的键能大,具有更强的相互作用;掺杂团簇具有较高的磁性,其总磁矩主要源自于钐原子4f电子的贡献;随着团簇尺寸的增加,二元团簇的总磁矩呈现出趋于饱和的现象.     

(Mg3N2)n(n=1～4)团簇结构与性质的密度泛函研究

用密度泛函理论(DFT)的杂化密度泛函B3LYP方法在6-31G*基组水平上对(Mg3N2)n(n=1～4)团簇各种可能的构型进行几何结构优化,预测了各团簇的最稳定结构.并对最稳定结构的振动特性、成键特性、电荷特性和稳定性等进行了理论分析.结果表明:(Mg3N2)n=1～4团簇易形成笼状结构,其最稳定构型中N原子配位数以3、4较多见;团簇主要由Mg-N键组成,Mg-N键长为0.194～0.218nm,Mg-Mg 键长为0.262～0.298 nm;N原子的平均自然电荷为-2.06 e,Mg原子的平均自然电荷为 1.37 e;(Mg3N2)2团簇有相对较高的动力学稳定性.     

包含两个平面五配位碳原子C_(2+n)B_(10-n)(n=0～10)团簇的结构的理论研究

采用B3LYP/6-311+G**方法,我们优化了初始构型中包含两个平面五配位碳原子(ppCs)的C2+nB10-n(n=0～10)团簇的结构并计算了它们的振动频率.计算结果表明,C2+nB10-n(n=0～2)团簇是稳定的,而且这三个结构中ppC—B键的Wiberg键级介于0.511～0.909之间,ppC—C键的Wiberg键级为0.2254(n=1)和0.8586(n=2),ppC的键级介于3.778到3.879之间,即这三个结构中存在两个ppCs,而且ppC遵循八隅规则;C2+nB10-n(n=3～6)团簇的最稳定结构包含一个ppC;C2+nB10-n(n6)团簇能量最低结构中不存在ppC.而且只有团簇C2+nB10-n(n=0～2)中没有悬键,它们的π电子数分别为:6,7和8,计算它们的NICS(0)值表明强芳香性一般位于局部的三元环中心,表明局部离域有利于平面结构的形成.C2+nB10-n(n=0～2)团簇的第一垂直激发能分别为:1.91,0.56和3.12eV.     

Au12M (M=Na,Mg, Al,Si, P,S, Cl)团簇的结构、稳定性和电子性质

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法系统地研究了Au12M(M=Na,Mg,Al,Si,P,S,Cl)团簇的结构、稳定性和电子性质.对团簇的平均结合能、镶嵌能、垂直离化势、最高占据分子轨道(HOMO)和最低未占据分子轨道(LUMO)的能级差、电荷布居分析、自然键轨道(NBO)进行了计算和讨论.对于Au12M(M=Na,Mg,Al)团簇,它们形成了内含M原子的最稳定的笼状结构.然而对于Au12M(M=Si,P,S,Cl)团簇,它们却形成了以M元素为顶点的稳定锥形结构.在这些团簇中发现Au12S团簇相对是最稳定的,这是由于Au12S团簇形成了稳定的满壳层的电子结构.自然电荷布居分析表明:对于所有的Au12M(M=Na,Mg,Al,Si,P,S,Cl)团簇电荷总是从Au原子转向M原子.自然键轨道和HOMO分析表明Au12M团簇中发生了Au原子的s-d轨道和M原子的p轨道间的杂化现象.     

液态金属Al快速凝固过程中团簇结构的形成特性

A simulation study on the formation characteristics of clusters in a large-scale liquid Al system consisting of 105 atoms has been performed by the molecular dynamics method. And a cluster-type index method（CTIM）has been used to describe the structural configurations of various clusters. The results demonstrate that the icosahedron clusters（12 0 12 0）and their combinations play the most important role in the microstructure transition. The nanoclusters（containing up to 104 atoms）have been formed by combining some middle clusters which have been formed by combining smaller basic clusters. The structures of these nano-clusters are very different from those of nano-clusters obtained by evaporation,ionic spray methods,and so on. The latter is formed by the multi-shell crystals accumulated with an atom as the center and the surrounding atoms arranged according to octahedron configuration. The center atoms of these basic clusters are bond-connected each other with the linear or twisting mode. The corners of the nano-cluster just could become the starting points of the dendrite growth in the solidification processes of liquid metals.     

Structures of bimetallic clusters

We report an optimization algorithm for studying bimetallic nanoclusters. The algorithm combines two state-of-the-art methods, the genetic algorithm and the basin hopping approach, widely employed in the literature for predicting structures of pure metallic and nonmetallic clusters. To critically test the present algorithm and its use in determining the lowest-energy structures of bimetallic nanoclusters, we apply it to study the bimetallic clusters Cu(n)Au(38-n) (0< or =n< or =38). It is predicted that the Au atoms, being larger in size than the Cu atoms, prefer to occupy surface sites showing thus the segregating behavior. As the atom fraction of Cu increases, the bimetallic cluster Cu(n)Au(38-n), as a whole, first takes on an amorphous structure and is followed by dramatic changes in structure with the Cu atoms revealing hexagonal, then assuming pentagonal, and finally shifting to octahedral symmetry in the Cu-rich range.     

A dynamic lattice searching method with interior operation for unbiased optimization of large Lennard-Jones clusters

For improving the efficiency of dynamic lattice searching (DLS) method for unbiased optimization of large Lennard-Jones (LJ) clusters, a variant of the interior operation (IO) proposed by Takeuchi was combined with DLS. The method is named as DLS-IO. In the method, the IO moves outer atoms with higher energy toward the coordinates center, i.e., (0, 0, 0), of a cluster and a local minimization (LM) follows each IO. This makes the interior atoms more compact and the outer atoms more uniformly distributed with lower potential energy. Therefore, the starting structure for DLS operations is closer to the global optimum compared with the randomly generated structures. On the other hand, a method to identify the central atom is proposed for the central vacancy problem. Optimizations of LJ(500), LJ(561), LJ(660), LJ(665), and LJ(670) were investigated with the DLS-IO, and the structural transition during the optimization was analyzed. It was found that the method is efficient and unbiased for optimization of large LJ clusters, and it may be a promising approach to be universally used for structural optimizations.     

Monitoring the dissolution process of metals in the gas phase: reactions of nanoscale Al and Ga metal atom clusters and their relationship to similar metalloid clusters

Formation and dissolution of metals are two of the oldest technical chemical processes. On the atomic scale, these processes are based on the formation and cleavage of metal-metal bonds. During the past 15 years we have studied intensively the intermediates during the formation process of metals, i.e. the formation of compounds containing many metal-metal bonds between naked metal atoms in the center and ligand-bearing metal atoms at the surface. We have called the clusters metalloid or, more generally, elementoid clusters. Via a retrosynthetic route, the many different Al and Ga metalloid clusters which have been structurally characterized allow us to understand also the dissolution process; i.e. the cleavage of metal-metal (M-M) bonds. However, this process can be detected much more directly by the reaction of single metal atom clusters in the gas phase under high vacuum conditions. A suitable tool to monitor the dissolution process of a metal cluster in the gas phase is FT-ICR (Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance) mass spectrometry. Snapshots during these cleavage processes are possible because only every 1-10 s is there a contact between a cluster molecule and an oxidizing molecule (e.g. Cl2). This period is long, i.e. the formation of the primary product (a smaller metal atom cluster) is finished before the next collision happens. We have studied three different types of reaction:(1) Step-by-step fragmentation of a structurally known metalloid cluster allows us to understand the bonding principle of these clusters because in every step only the weakest bond is broken.(2) There are three oxidation reactions of an Al13(-) cluster molecule with Cl2, HCl and O2 central to this review. These three reactions represent three different reaction types, (a) an exothermic reaction (Cl2), (b) an endothermic reaction (HCl), and (c) a kinetically limited reaction based on spin conservation rules (O2).(3) Finally, we present the reaction of a metalloid cluster with Cl2 in order to show that in this cluster only the central naked metal atoms are oxidized, and a smaller metalloid cluster results containing the entire protecting shell as the primary cluster.All the experimental results, supported by quantum chemical calculations, give a rough idea about the complex reaction cascades which occur during the dissolution and formation of metals. Furthermore, these results cast a critical light on many simplifying and generalizing rules in order to understand the bonding and structure of metal clusters. Finally, the experiments and some recent results provided by physical measurements on a crystalline Ga(84) compound build a bridge to nanoscience; i.e. they may be a challenge for chemistry in the next decades, since it has been shown that only with a perfect orientation of nanoscale metal clusters, e.g. in a crystal, can novel, unexpected properties (e.g. superconducting nanoscale materials) be obtained.     

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.     

Clusters as crystal fragments of silicon bulk

Silicon clusters of 13 to 43 atoms were studied with the semi-empirical method SINDO1. Crystalline structures of face-centered cubic (fcc), hexagonal close packed (hcp) and diamond type and noncrystalline structures of icosahedral type were compared. Noncrystalline structures are most stable for clusters up to 13 atoms. Clusters with 19 and more atoms of the fcc structure are preferable to the less dense diamond structure. With more than 35 Si atoms, the diamond structure is favored over the hcp structure. The binding energy of fcc and hcp structures decreases and that of the diamond structure increases with increasing cluster size. A similar trend is observed for the HOMO-LUMO energy gap which is taken as a measure of the band gap.     

硅、锗、锡、铅/磷二元原子团簇的形成、光解和结构

利用激光溅射产生了第IV主族 (硅、锗、锡、铅 ) /磷二元团簇正负离子 ,用飞行时间质谱研究了团簇离子的组成规律和激光光解产物 .研究表明二元团簇稳定性受团簇电子结构和几何结构的影响 ,但随着第IV主族元素自上而下 ,几何结构对团簇稳定性的作用越来越大 .在二元团簇离子中存在两类幻数团簇 :一类可以用Wade规则解释 ,其中磷原子或者充当给电子配体结合在第IV主族原子构成的团簇骨架外 ,或者直接参与团簇骨架的构成 ;另一类则与稳定的第IV主族中性团簇 (或磷中性团簇 )是等电子体 .利用从头计算和Wade规则对幻数团簇的结构和价键进行了分析 .