Encapsulation of small metal particles in solid organic matrices

The methods of synthesis of macroscopic amounts of size-selected clusters with desired properties, and most importantly, the possibility of their controlled assembly into new materials with novel properties are currently of great interest. The interaction of metal atoms and small clusters with solid organic matrices may lead to the stabilization of reactive particles up to room temperatures. Thus obtained nanoscale heterogeneous materials offer an area of intriguing technological promise. In this review, we discuss recent developments in the encapsulation of small metallic particles in different organic solid matrices: organic monomeric compounds, polymers and carbon derivatives.     

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.     

内嵌富勒烯的研究进展

内嵌富勒烯由于其结构新颖以及独特而优异的性质在国际上引起持续而广泛的关注,成为近年来的研究热点之一.目前已经研究发现的内嵌富勒烯多达近百种,从惰性气体到碱土金属再到稀土元素都已被成功地嵌入到不同尺寸的碳笼中.其中金属离子或含金属的离子簇内嵌入富勒烯碳笼形成的内嵌金属富勒烯,以其种类丰富、结构多样成为内嵌富勒烯的主要研究对象.本文就近年来研究报道的种类繁多的内嵌富勒烯按其内嵌物类型进行归纳阐述,为今后开发更多新型的内嵌富勒烯提供一定的参考.     

Sub-nanometre sized metal clusters: from synthetic challenges to the unique property discoveries

Sub-nanometre sized metal clusters, with dimensions between metal atoms and nanoparticles, have attracted more and more attention due to their unique electronic structures and the subsequent unusual physical and chemical properties. However, the tiny size of the metal clusters brings the difficulty of their synthesis compared to the easier preparation of large nanoparticles. Up to now various synthetic techniques and routes have been successfully applied to the preparation of sub-nanometre clusters. Among the metals, gold clusters, especially the alkanethiolate monolayer protected clusters (MPCs), have been extensively investigated during the past decades. In recent years, silver and copper nanoclusters have also attracted enormous interest mainly due to their excellent photoluminescent properties. Meanwhile, more structural characteristics, particular optical, catalytic, electronic and magnetic properties and the related technical applications of the metal nanoclusters have been discovered in recent years. In this critical review, recent advances in sub-nanometre sized metal clusters (Au, Ag, Cu, etc.) including the synthetic techniques, structural characterizations, novel physical, chemical and optical properties and their potential applications are discussed in detail. We finally give a brief outlook on the future development of metal nanoclusters from the viewpoint of controlled synthesis and their potential applications.     

Metalloid group 14 cluster compounds: an introduction and perspectives to this novel group of cluster compounds

Metalloid cluster compounds of group 14 of the general formulae E(n)R(m) with n > m (E = Si, Ge, Sn and Pb, tetrel elements; R = ligand), where "naked" tetrel atoms are present as well as ligand-bound tetrel atoms, represent a novel class of cluster compounds in group 14 chemistry. Since the "naked" tetrel atoms in these clusters exhibit an oxidation state of 0, the average oxidation state of the tetrel atoms in such metalloid group 14 cluster compounds is between 0 and 1. Thus, these cluster compounds may be seen as intermediates on the way to the elemental state. Therefore, interesting properties maybe expected for these compounds which might complement results from nanotechnology. During the last years many different syntheses of such novel cluster compounds have been introduced, leading to several metalloid group 14 cluster compounds which exhibit new and unusual structure and bonding properties. In this tutorial review an account is given of the first steps in this novel field of group 14 chemistry. Special attention is focused on structural features and bonding properties.     

DFT Studies of Palladium Model Catalysts: Structure and Size Effects

An important task for theory is the multi-scale modeling of catalytic properties of nanocrystallites with sizes ranging from clusters of few metal atoms to particles consisting of 10³–10⁴ atoms. To explore catalytic properties of nanosized metal catalysts, we developed an approach based on three-dimensional symmetric model clusters of 1–2 nm (~100 metal atoms) with fcc structure, terminated by low-index surfaces. With this modeling technique one is able to describe at an accurate DFT level various catalytic and adsorption properties of metal nanoparticles in quantitative agreement with experimental studies of model catalysts deposited on thin oxide films. Metal nanocrystallites exhibit properties that can significantly vary with their size and shape.     

Stable clusters in the condensed state and some possibilities for gas phase clusters

The classical naked cluster ions of the post-transition elements that are stable in solid compounds and their lower charged analogues observed in mixed metal beams reflect the reduced number of good bonding orbitals. New cluster ions of indium that are hypoelectronic (fewer than 2n+2 skeletal bonding electrons) because of distortions or the bonding of heterometal atoms within the clusters are described. A large family of new, orbital-rich clusters of the group III and IV transition metals sheathed by halide are all centered by a wide variety of heteroatoms. Factors in their stability, possible analogous naked cluster targets, and some calculations are considered.     

Oxide- and zeolite-supported molecular metal complexes and clusters: physical characterization and determination of structure, bonding, and metal oxidation state

This article is a review of the physical characterization of well-defined site-isolated molecular metal complexes and metal clusters supported on metal oxides and zeolites. These surface species are of interest primarily as catalysts; as a consequence of their relatively uniform structures, they can be characterized much more precisely than traditional supported catalysts. The properties discussed in this review include metal nuclearity, oxidation state, and ligand environment, as well as metal-support interactions. These properties are determined by complementary techniques, including transmission electron microscopy; X-ray absorption, infrared, Raman, and NMR spectroscopies; and density functional theory. The strengths and limitations of these techniques are assessed in the context of results characterizing samples that have been investigated thoroughly and with multiple techniques. The depth of understanding of well-defined metal complexes and metal clusters on supports is approaching that attainable for molecular analogues in solution. The results provide a foundation for understanding the more complex materials that are typical of industrial catalysts.     

Lanthanide-transition metal coordination polymers based on multiple N- and O-donor ligands

Lanthanide-transition metal (Ln-M) coordination polymers have attracted extensive interest because they exhibit novel physical properties originating from the interactions between distinct metal ions. This review mainly describes our recent work in the design of Ln-M coordination polymers through the assembly of different metal ions and organic ligands, especially the ligands with multiple N- and O-donor atoms. Many of these crystalline Ln-M materials exhibit intriguing structural motifs and interesting magnetic properties.     

Metal-cluster compounds: Model systems for nanosized metal particles

Meta-cluster compounds can be exploited advantageously to study the evolution, with increasing size of the molecules of the physical properties of metal clusters from molecular to bulk-metal behavior. The metal-cluster molecules are well-defined, stoichiometric, chemical compounds. The molecules consist of a metal core of a variable number of atoms, surrounded by a shell of ligand atoms or molecules. Depending on the compound, the type of metal atom may be varied, whereas the core size can be changed from a few up to several thousands of atoms. Accordingly, these materials provide excellent model systems for monodisperse metal particles, embedded in a dielectric matrix, and can be investigated by the well-known experimental techniques of solid-state physics. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical properties of high-nuclearity metal cluster compounds

Metal cluster compounds are composed of large macromolecules, which consist of a metal core (cluster) containing a certain number (n=6–560) of metal atoms, to which core a shell of ligands is coordinated. They provide excellent model systems for an assembly of identical metal clusters, embedded in a dielectric matrix. We discuss a number of physical properties of these materials.     

Magnetism in Simple Metal and 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> Transition Metal Clusters

In this review article I discuss two aspects of magnetism in small metal clusters. The first question discussed is whether simple metal clusters, that obey electronic shell models and mimic properties of elemental atoms, also obey Hund’s rule of maximum spin multiplicity. The second question is whether small clusters of 4d transition metal atoms, that are non-magnetic in the bulk, have magnetic ground states. The question arises because calculations showed that small V clusters are magnetic although the bulk metal is not. We discuss known results on Rh clusters in detail to show that small clusters are generally magnetic, but it is difficult to unequivocally identify the ground state due to the presence of many isomers and spin states that are very close in energy.     

Analysis of low oxidation state transition metal clusters by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A variety of homonuclear and heteronuclear transition metal carbonyl clusters have been analyzed by ultraviolet laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The spectra were recorded in negative and positive ion modes, using both linear and reflective techniques. A range of different clusters based on different nuclearities, geometries, and ligand types, which include hydrides, phosphines, nitriles, and cyclopentadienyl ligands and naked main group atoms, were studied. These experiments have allowed us to construct a detailed picture of the technique for the analysis of transition metal carbonyl clusters and their derivatives. In general, extensive reactions are observed, cluster aggregation reactions in particular, and from a comparison of the spectra obtained, some mechanistic inferences concerning the aggregation processes have been drawn.     

Pushing up the size limit of chalcogenide supertetrahedral clusters: two- and three-dimensional photoluminescent open frameworks from (Cu(5)In(30)S(54))(13-) clusters

Direct band gap copper indium chalcogenides are of great technological importance in part because of their high photovoltaic conversion efficiency. Covalent superlattices constructed from copper indium chalcogenide clusters are of particular interest because they may combine open framework architecture with semiconducting properties. Here two photoluminescent covalent superlattices built from core-shell type copper indium sulfide supertetrahedral clusters are reported. Each cluster consists of 35 metal cations and is so far the largest known supertetrahedral cluster with a metal-to-metal distance of 1.6 nm. In addition, this is the first example of supertetrahedral clusters in heterometallic copper indium chalcogenides. The preparation of these large clusters has narrowed down the size gap between colloidal nanoclusters and small supertetrahedral clusters and revealed new possibilities in the construction of nanoporous semiconducting superlattices with tunable pore size. Through the combination of metal ions with different oxidation states to provide both overall and local charge neutrality, an effective approach has been demonstrated in the rational synthesis of chalcogenide open framework materials with large and unprecedented supertetrahedral clusters.     

Preparation, characterization, and catalysis of mecro-catalysts

Because catalysis by metals is a surface phenomenon, many technological catalysts contain small (typically nanometre-sired) supported metal particles with a large fraction of the atoms exposed. Many reactions, such as hydrocarbon hydrogenations, are structure-insensitive, proceeding at approximately the same rates on metal particles of various sizes provided that they are larger than 1 nm and show bulk-like metallic behavior. But the catalytic properties are not known when metal particles become so small that their sizes are indium clusters consisting of several indium atoms. Here the catalytic behavior of precisely defined clusters of just four and six indium atoms on solid supports is shown. It is found that the Ir4 and Ir6 clusters differ in catalytic activity both from each other and from metallic Ir particles.     

Formation of Ad-Layers and Clusters on Condensation of Metal Vapors on Solid Surfaces

Synthesis of organometallic materials can be accomplished in many cases by cocondensation of metal atoms and organic molecules at low temperatures. The reaction kinetics is determined by the competition between metal cluster growth and formation of the organometallic compound. Interesting compounds may contain one or more metal atoms; the latter type could be obtained by reaction between a cluster containing the desired number of metal atoms and an organic molecule. A precise knowledge of the events occurring on condensation of metal atoms and cluster formation can therefore be of value in the control of chemical synthesis. These phenomena have been investigated in connection with the study of the growth of thin metallic films, both experimentally and theoretically. Direct observation of the formation of very small clusters is difficult. The good agreement between experimental results and recent calculations for the development of large clusters, however, allows reliable theoretical conclusions for the first stages of adsorption and cluster formation. The present contribution describes experimental work on film growth and relevant theoretical concepts, and an attempt is made to develop applications to organometallic synthesis.     

三核欠完整立方烷金属原子簇二阶非线性光学性质的理论研究

研究了具有欠完整立方烷构型的过渡金属原子簇分子的二阶非线性光学性质。利用TDDFT方法计算了选取的簇分子及相应模拟构造分子的静态和动态的一阶非线性光学超级化率(ijk);并计算了不同金属、桥原子和配体以及簇芯对该类化合物一阶超级化率的影响。选取其中的一个簇分子为基本模型,分析了该分子的电子结构和分子轨道,在微观水平上阐述了其非线性光学性质的可能起源。认为由过渡金属和硫原子组成的簇芯和与桥原子相连的配体对该类簇合物的二阶非线性光学性质的起决定性的作用。     

Synergy between theory and experiment in structure resolution of low-dimensional oxides

In this paper, I review recent progress in joint theoretical and experimental studies aiming at atomic structure determination of low-dimensional metal oxides. Low-dimensional systems can be generally defined as materials of unusual structure that extend to less than three dimensions. In recent years low-dimensional systems have attracted increasing attention of physicists and chemists, and the interest is expected to rise in the near future. Two- and one-dimensional structures in form of thin oxide films or elongated oxide chains have many potential applications including model supports for heterogeneous catalysts and insulating layers in semiconductor industry. The interest in zero-dimensional gas-phase oxide clusters ranges from astrophysics to studies of elementary steps in catalysis. The key prerequisite for understanding physical and chemical properties of low-dimensional systems is a detailed knowledge of their atomic structures. However, such systems frequently present complex structures to solve. Only in a few cases experimental data can provide some information about possible arrangement of atoms, but data interpretation relies to a large extent on intuition. Therefore, in the recent years quantum chemical calculations became an indispensable tool in structure identification of low-dimensional systems, yet the accuracy of theoretical tools is often limited. The results reviewed here demonstrate that often the only way of an unambiguous atomic structure determination of low-dimensional systems are experimental studies combined with theoretical calculations. Particularly the global optimization methods such as genetic algorithm in combination with the density functional theory prove very useful in automatic structure determination of the observed surface structures and gas-phase clusters.     

Structure and energetics of equiatomic K-Cs and Rb-Cs binary clusters

The basin-hopping algorithm combined with the Gupta many-body potential is used to study the structural and energetic properties of (KCs)(n) and (RbCs)(n) bimetallic clusters with N=2n up to 50 atoms. Each binary structure is compared to those of the pure clusters of the same size. For the cluster size N=28 and for the size range of N=34-50, the introduction of K and Rb atoms in the Cs alkali metal cluster results in new ground state structures different from those of the pure elements. In the size range N>/=38 the binary and pure clusters show not only structural differences, but they also display different magic numbers. Most of the magic Rb-Cs and K-Cs clusters possess highly symmetric structures. They belong to a family of pIh structures, where a fivefold pancake is a dominant structural motif. Such geometries have not been reported for alkali binary clusters so far, but have been found for series of binary transition metal clusters with large size mismatch. Moreover, tendency to phase separation (shell-like segregation) is predicted for both K-Cs and Rb-Cs clusters with up to 1000 atoms. Our finding of a surface segregation in Rb-Cs clusters is different from that of theoretical and experimental studies on bulk Rb-Cs alloys where phase separation does not occur.