Electronic shells and shells of atoms in metallic clusters

Intensity anomalies (magic numbers) have been observed in the mass spectra of sodium clusters containing up to 22 000 atoms. For small clusters (Na _n ,n≤1500) the anomalies appear to be due to the filling of electronic shells (groups of subshells having the same energy). The shells can be characterized rather well by a pseudoquantum-number, indicating the possible existence of a symmetry higher than spherical. The mass spectra of larger clusters (1500≤n≤22 000) are well explained by the completion of icosahedral or cuboctahedral shells of atoms. The fact that the two types of shells (electron and atom) occur in distinct and non-overlapping size intervals might indicate the existence of a “liquid” to “solid” transition in going from small to large clusters.     

Computer-aided study of oxygen absorption by water clusters. IR spectra of heteroclusters

Spectral characteristics of (H₂O)_n, (O₂)_m(H₂O)_n, and (O)_i(H₂O)_n cluster systems, where m≤2, i≤4, and 10 ≤ n ≤ 50, are studied with the molecular dynamics method using a flexible molecule model. The IR absorption spectra are changed substantially as a result of O₂ molecule dissociation, and in the presence of atomic oxygen in the clusters, the spectra are characterized by a deep minimum at 520 cm^?1. The absorption of oxygen causes a marked reduction in reflection coefficient R of monochromatic IR radiation. The number of peaks in the R(ω) spectra decreases to two in the case of molecular oxygen absorption and is no larger than four in the case of atomic oxygen absorption. The absorption of atomic oxygen by the clusters is also accompanied by a significant increase in the dissipation of energy accumulated by the clusters. This effect weakens when molecular oxygen is absorbed. An increase in atomic oxygen concentration in the clusters renders their radiation harder.     

Electron detachment and fragmentation in collisions between 50 keV C n − (1 ≤ n ≤ 86) clusters and H2

The destruction cross section for 50 keV negative carbon clusters C _n ^? (1 ≤ n ≤ 88) in collisions with n ₂ is reported. The dominant destruction channel is believed to be electron detachment. The measured cross section values are compared with theoretical values based on a simple geometrical model of the carbon cluster, and structural information is obtained. Fragment spectra of both positive and negative clusters are also recorded and fragmentation patterns are discussed in relation to fragmentation energies and ionization potentials.     

IR absorption,reflection, and emission spectra of aqueous disperse systems interacting with nitric oxide

IR absorption, reflection, and emission spectra of aqueous disperse systems that absorbed molecules of nitric oxide are calculated. In order to reveal the effect of the absorption of NO molecules on the dielectric properties of water clusters with different sizes, clusters are divided into two groups. The first group consists of clusters containing two to ten water molecules, while the second group contains from 11 to 20 H₂O molecules. Six systems of clusters are studied, e.g., (H₂O) _n , and (NO)₂(H₂O) _n with 2 ≤ n ≤ 10 and 11 ≤ n ≤ 20 ranges. An increase in the cluster size in each group leads to the amplification of absorption, reflection, and the power of emission of IR radiation. The doubling of the NO concentration in the disperse system results in weak changes in the absorption of IR radiation, reduces the reflection and decreases the number of electrons participating in the interaction with external IR radiation, as well as significantly lowers the power of thermal radiation emitted by the system.     

Cluster cations ejected from liquid metal ion source: alkali metals (Li,Na) and group IV elements (Si,Ge, Sn,Pb)

Cluster abundance of Li _n ⁺ (n≤19), Na _n ⁺ (n≤25), Si _n ^z+ (n≤8 forz=1, 3≤n≤7 forz=2), Ge _n ^z+ (n≤11 forz=1, 3≤n≤9 forz=2,n=4 forz=3), Sn _n ^z+ (n≤7 forz=1, 3≤n≤9 forz=2,n=4 forz=3) and Pb _n ^z+ (n≤6 forz=1, 5≤n≤7 forz=2) ejected from a liquid metal ion source has been investigated by mass spectrometry. The abundance spectra of alkali metal clusters showed distinct maxima and steps atn=3, 7, 9, 13 and 19 for Li, and atn=3, 5, 11, 13 and 19 for Na. Mass spectra of Si, Ge and Sn clusters were very similar each other, showing intensity drops aftern=4 and 6 (and alson=10 for Ge) for singly charged clusters. The magic numbers observed are discussed in terms of stability of charged clusters.     

Spectral characteristics of aqueous dispersions enriched in oxygen

The IR absorption and reflection spectra of aqueous dispersions consisting of (H₂O)_n, O₂(H₂O)_n, and (O₂)₂(H₂O)_n clusters (10 ≤ n ≤ 50) were calculated by the method of molecular dynamics using a flexible model of molecules. The frequency distribution of the power scattered by the cluster systems was obtained in the range 0 ≤ ω ≤ 3000 cm^?1. The capture of one oxygen molecule by the clusters is accompanied by a decrease in the absorption of the low-frequency IR radiation and by a peak of the absorption intensity in the vicinity of ω 2704 cm^?1. This is also accompanied by a decrease in the reflection coefficient throughout the frequency range and a decrease in the emission power at ω < 1030 and ω > 1700 cm^?1. Addition of two oxygen molecules to the clusters decreases the capability of the dispersions for the absorption, reflection, and scattering of IR radiation.     

Magnetic and thermodynamic properties of Heisenberg chains and n-nuclear cyclic clusters: S i = 3/2 (n ≤ 11, n → ∞) and S i = 2 (n ≤ 10, n → ∞) systems

Based on the method considering spin and spatial symmetry, numerical calculations of the spin-level spectra have been performed for n-nuclear cyclic clusters with S _i = 3/2 (n ≤ 11) and S _i = 2 (n ≤ 10). The theoretical curves of the magnetic susceptibility, the magnetic contribution to the heat capacity, the internal energy, and the entropy as a function of temperature have been obtained. The theoretical curves of the magnetic susceptibility and the magnetic contribution to the heat capacity have been extrapolated to n → ∞ with a controlled accuracy.     

Evolution of the metallicity in the Li n H m clusters as a function of m: evidence for a segregation

The unimolecular decomposition of metal rich Li _n H _m ⁺ clusters (1 ≤ m ≤ 6, n ≤ 22 and (n ? m) > 3) is studied. The evaporative rates of the mixed clusters display features characteristic of metallic clusters. This confirms and extends to a larger size range the previous results obtained by photoionization and absorption cross section measurements. The evaporative rates are simulated by considering that there is a segregation between a metallic Li _n-m ⁺ part and an insulating (LiH)_m part in the mixed cluster.     

Geometries,stabilities, electronic and magnetic properties of small aluminum cluster anions doped with cobalt: A density functional theory study

The geometrical structures, relative electronic and magnetic properties of small Al_nCo^– (1 ≤ n ≤ 9) clusters are systematically investigated within the framework of density functional theory at the BPW91 level. The single Co doping can dramatically affect the ground state geometries of the 1 Al_n+1^- clusters. At the same time, the resulting geometries show that the lowest energy Al_nCo^– clusters prefer to be three dimensional structures. Here, the relative stabilities are investigated in terms of the calculated average binding energies, fragmentation energies, and second-order energy differences. Moreover, the result of the highest occupiedlowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gaps indicates that Al₆Co^– clusters have the highest chemical stability for Al_nCo^– (1 ≤ n ≤ 9) clusters. Furthermore, the natural population analysis reveals that the charges in Al_nCo^– clusters transfer from the Al frames to the Co atom. Additionally, the analyses of the local and total magnetic moments of the Al_nCo^– clusters show that the magnetic effect mainly comes from the Co atom.     

Threshold photoionization behaviour of (Li2O)Lin clusters produced by a laser vaporization source

We report on the production of small and medium size lithium and lithium oxide clusters by a laser vaporization cluster source. The isotopomeric distribution of natural lithium allowed to identify Li_kO clusters as the most abundant components in the mass spectrum. Photoionization efficiency curves of Li_kO clusters with photon energies from 3.4 to 4.7 eV were measured for 8 ≤ k ≤ 27. Using linear extrapolation of the increase in photoionization efficiency with photon energy, ionization potentials were extracted. With the chemical bond of the O^2- anion to two Li atoms, leaving n = k-2 valence electrons in the (Li₂O)Li_n clusters, clear shell closure effects are present at n = 8 and n = 20.     

Structure and analysis of atomic vibrations in clusters of Cu n (n ≤ 20)

The binding energy, equilibrium geometry, and vibration frequencies of free clusters Cu _n (2 ≤ n ≤ 20) are calculated using the potentials of interatomic interactions found using the tight-binding approximation. The nonmonotonic dependence of the clusters’ minimum vibration frequency on their sizes and the extreme values for the number of atoms in a cluster n = 4, 6, 13, and 19 is demonstrated. It is noted that this result agrees with the theoretical and experimental data on stable structures of small and medium metallic clusters.     

Silver-halogen cluster compounds Ag n X m (n≥2; 0≤m≤n;X=F,Br)

Nonstoichiometric silver-halogen cluster compounds Ag _n X _m (0≤m≤n;X=F, Br) are generated by cocondensation of Ag atoms and AgX species using a slightly modified gas aggregation technique. The AgX molecules are produced by partial decomposition of SF₆ and Br₂ respectively at the surface of the hot silver containing crucible, followed by the reaction of halogen atoms with silver, giving rise to the formation of AgX molecules. In a heterogeneous nucleation between these molecules and evaporated Ag atoms the afore mentioned cluster compounds are formed. The degree of halogenation can either be controlled by the adjustment of the silver evaporation rate, or even more easily by controlling the partial pressure of the halogenating agent. The mass spectra of singly charged halogenated clusters, which are generated by electron impact ionization, reflect the stability of ions. These mass spectra demonstrate that there is an alternation in the intensity pattern up to a relatively high degree of halogenation (m) for each of the investigated compound series Ag _n X _m ,n≤8. This behavior is similar to the well-known odd-even effect for pure metal clusters, allowing us to postulate the existence of a “metallic” core which governs the stability of the cluster ion (at least for not too high degree of halogenation).     

Ultrafast photodissociation of Kn=3...9 clusters

By means of femtosecond pump and probe technique we investigated the temporal evolution of the photodissociation of excited potassium clusters (3 ≤ n ≤ 9). For three different excitation energies E = 1.47 eV, 2.00 eV, and 2.94 eV we were able to measure the transient multiphoton ionization spectra. In the frame of a simple energy level model the photodissociation process could be analyzed. Fragmentation time constants are estimated to be cluster size- and energydependent in the range of 200 fs up to 10 ps. The results are compared with data received from similar experiments on Nan clusters.     

Cluster ion formation in laser mass spectrometry of substituted pyridines

Emission of cluster ions occurs during laser irradiation of substituted pyridines even at threshold laser power densities. The clusters generated include dimers and trimers, and appear in both positive-ion and negative-ion laser mass spectra. Fragments of cluster ions are observed and can be rationlized as losses of neutral molecules from (nM ± H)^±. Dissociation of clusters occurs primarily from substituents on the pyridine ring. Laser mass spectrometry of pyridoxine hydrochloride and pyridoxamine-dihydrochloride resulted in the emission of clusters analogous to those observed for nicotinic acid. In contrast to these results, secondary-ion and field-desorption mass spectra of salts contain the ions C_nA_n?1⁺ and C_nA_n+1^?, that were not detected in the laser mass spectra.     

Semiclassical simulation of electronic spectra in aniline-Arn clusters

We present results of semiclassical simulations of the electronic spectra and dynamics of aniline-Ar_n (1≤n≤3) clusters. The spectral density formalism of Mukamel [3] is used to generate the spectra from the time dependent energy difference of the S₀ and S₁ states of aniline solvated by the argon atoms. A repulsive Ar-N interaction is incorporated in the Hamiltonian of the S₁ state; this term permits a quantitative prediction of the origin shifts of the S₁<--S₀ transition (both red and blue shifts) for all the clusters studied. The temperature dependence of the spectrum of aniline-Ar₂ is correlated with the underlying dynamics of this cluster.     

Energetics and structure in I 2 − (CO2) n clusters

We have implemented a model of I ₂ ^? (CO₂) _n (2 ≤n ≤ 17) clusters and present an analysis of the minimum energy structures obtained from a quenching procedure. A discussion of the importance of various potential contributions to the energetics of the clusters is also presented. Given the current state of understanding of structural control of caging and the time scales of recombination and evaporation, this model has important implications for understanding the picosecond dynamics observed by the Lineberger group and for rigorous studies of evaporation rates.     

Stability of isomeric Na n clusters

A method which combines density functional theory and the use of pseudopotentials is applied to obtain ground state and low-lying metastable geometries of Na _n clusters (7≤n≤40). The large variation in the magnitude of energy gaps between isomers suggests that the melting temperature is not a simple monotonous function of size. A detailed study of the differences between electronically stabilized (n=8, 20, 40) and structurally stabilized (n=13) clusters suggests some clues to understand the intriguing behaviour of Na₁₃.     

Computer simulation of the adsorption of acetylene by disperse aqueous medium. IR spectra

Adsorption of acetylene molecules by water clusters at T 230 K was studied by the method of molecular dynamics. Addition of already two C₂H₂ molecules to (H₂O) _n clusters (10 ≤ n ≤ 20) makes them thermodynamically unstable. With an increase in the acetylene concentration in the disperse aqueous system, the IR absorption by the cluster system in the frequency range 0 ≤ ω ≤ 1000 cm^?1 increases. Depending on the number of C₂H₂ molecules per water cluster, the IR reflection by cluster systems can either increase or decrease. The power of the thermal radiation emitted by the clusters considerably increases after the adsorption of C₂H₂ molecules and grows with an increase in the acetylene concentration in the disperse aqueous system.     

Calculation of the electronic properties of neutral and ionized divalent-metal clusters

The electronic properties of neutral and ionized divalent-metal clusters have been studied using a microscopic theory, which takes into account the interplay between van der Waals (vdW) and covalent bonding in the neutral clusters, and the competition between hole delocalization and polarization energy in the ionized clusters. By calculating the ground-state energies of neutral and ionized Hg _n clusters, we determine the size dependence of the bond character and the ionization potentialI _p (n). For neutral Hg _n clusters we obtain a transition from van der Waals to covalent behaviour at the critical sizen _c ～10–20 atoms. Results forI _p (Hg _n ) withn≤20 are in good agreement with experiments, and suggest that small Hg _n ⁺ clusters can be viewed as consisting of a positive trimer core Hg ₃ ⁺ surrounded byn?3 polarized neutral atoms.     

Ion solvation in water clusters

We describe here molecular dynamics computer simulations performed to study the solvation of ions (Cl^? and Na⁺) in water clusters. Our simulations show that the calculated structure and dynamics of the clusters is very sensitive to the potential model which is used to describe the interactions. From the comparison with thermodynamic data and data from the photoelectron spectra we conclude that in Cl^?(H₂O)_n (n≤20) clusters the ion is located on the surface of the cluster.