Tight-binding study of structural and electronic properties of silver clusters

Tight-binding model is developed to study the structural and electronic properties of silver clusters. The ground state structures of Ag clusters up to 21 atoms are optimized by molecular dynamics-based genetic algorithm. The results on small Ag_n clusters (n = 3-9) are comparable to ab initio calculations. The size dependence of electronic properties such as density of states, s-d band separation, HOMO-LUMO gap, and ionization potentials are discussed. Magic number behavior at Ag₂, Ag₈, Ag₁₄, Ag₁₈, Ag₂₀ is obtained, in agreement with the prediction of electronic ellipsoid shell model. We suggest that both the electronic and geometrical effect play significant role in the coinage metal clusters. Received 7 August 2000     

Cluster Structure of Liquid Alcohols,Water, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-Hexane

The processes of cluster formation in liquid alcohols, water, methanol, n-hexanol, and n-hexane have been investigated by the method of flicker-noise spectroscopy. Two types of clusters — clusters with a close-packed structure and clusters with a loose structure — have been detected. The energy of formation of different clusters in methanol and n-hexane ranges, respectively, from −250 to +250 J/mole and from −50 to +50 J/mole. The smallest clusters of methanol, n-hexanol, water, and n-hexane consist, respectively, of six, two, eleven, and two molecules, and their largest clusters represent oscillators consisting, respectively, of 50,400, 17,200, 93,500, and 33,150 molecules at 274 K. In methanol at 271 K, more than 44 types of clusters consisting of 6, 97, 152, 219, 297, 492, 1029, 1368, 1560, etc. molecules were detected. In n-hexanol at 273 K, 57 types of clusters were detected. Models of small clusters are proposed. In water, the content of close-packed clusters is maximum at 277 K. The energy of formation/decomposition of small clusters in water ranges from −0.4 to +0.4 kJ/mole and increases with increase in the water temperature. The hysteresis of transformation of the (H₂O)₂₈₀ cluster in the process of heating and cooling of water in the temperature range 273–280 K was detected. Series of energy spectra of clusters in liquids at different temperatures are presented and discussed. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 72, No. 3, pp. 305–312, May–June, 2005.     

Novel metal-encapsulated caged clusters of silicon and germanium

We report the recent findings of metal (M) encapsulated clusters of silicon from computer experiments based on ab initio total energy calculations and a cage shrinkage and atom removal approach. Our results show that using a guest atom, it is possible to wrap silicon in fullerenelike (f) structures, as sp² bonding is not favorable to produce empty cages unlike for carbon. Transition M atoms have a strong bonding with the silicon cage that are responsible for the compact structures. The size and structure of the cage change from 14 to 20 Si atoms depending upon the size and valence of the M atom. Fewer Si atoms lead to relatively open structures. We find cubic, f, Frank-Kasper (FK) polyheral type, decahedral, icosahedral and hexagonal structures for M@Si_n with n = 12-16 and several different M atoms. The magic behavior of 15 and 16 atom Si cages is in agreement with experiments. The FK polyhedral cluster, M@Si₁₆ has an exceptionally large density functional gap of about 2.35 eV calculated within the generalized gradient approximation. It is likely to give rise to visible luminescence in these clusters. The cluster-cluster interaction is weak that makes such clusters attractive for cluster assembled materials. Further studies to stabilize Si₂₀ cage with M = Zr, Ba, Sr, and Pb show that in all cases there is a distortion of the f cage. Similar studies on M encapsulated germanium clusters show FK polyhedral and decahedral isomers to be more favorable. Also perfect icosahedral M@Ge₁₂ and M@Sn₁₂ clusters have been obtained with large gaps by doping with divalent M atoms. Recent results of the H interaction with these clusters, hydrogenated silicon fullerenes as well as assemblies of clusters such as nanowires and nanotubes are briefly presented.     

Stability and fragmentation of multiply ionized clusters

The stability of neutral, singly and multiply ionized silicon clusters, (N = 2-7, M = 0, , , ), has been investigated using an ab initio density functional method. We show that the fragmentation effect significantly affects the structure of mass-spectra of multiply ionized silicon clusters. For clusters, the clusters with a large fragmentation energy are found to correspond to the high peaks at N = 4 and 6 in mass-spectra. For clusters, a peak at N = 5 in mass-spectra has been predicted to be especially high. Received: 9 June 1997 / Revised: 8 January 1998 / Accepted: 25 February 1998     

利用密度泛函理论研究BnNi(n≤5)小团簇的结构和磁性

基于第一性原理，用密度泛函理论中的广义梯度近似方法，获得了B_nNi(n≤5)小团簇在不同自旋多重度下的几何构型，确定了最低能量结构，并计算了相应的频率、平均结合能和磁性. 结果表明：B_nNi(n≤5)小团簇最低能量结构的自旋多重度分别为2，1，2，1，2；Ni掺入B团簇后增大了其结合能；Ni原子磁矩和团簇总磁矩随团簇尺寸增大而呈现振荡趋势. 关键词： nNi小团簇')" href="#">B_nNi小团簇 自旋多重度 磁性     

Stability of gold cages (Au<Subscript>16</Subscript> and Au<Subscript>17</Subscript>) at finite temperature

We have employed ab initio molecular dynamics to investigate the stability of the smallest gold cages, namely Au₁₆ and Au₁₇, at finite temperatures. First, we obtain the ground state structure along with at least 50 distinct isomers for both the clusters. This is followed by the finite temperature simulations of these clusters. Each cluster is maintained at 12 different temperatures for a time period of at least 150 ps. Thus, the total simulation time is of the order of 2.4 ns for each cluster. We observe that the cages are stable at least up to 850 K. Although both clusters melt around the same temperature, i.e. around 900 K, Au₁₇ shows a peak in the heat capacity curve in contrast to the broad peak seen for Au₁₆.      

Defect studies in small CdTe clusters

We study Cd vacancy formation in prototype stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric CdTe clusters with and without passivation. For certain clusters like Cd₁₃Te₁₆, vacancy leads to severe distortion of the geometry due to propagation of defect. Annealing of the vacancy out of the cluster is observed in all unpassivated clusters. Passivated clusters retain their initial geometry and vacancy induced structural distortions are not seen in these clusters since the defect gets localized. Vacancy also induces intragap states. However, it was observed that the passivation of the dangling bonds created by the vacancy removes the intragap states. In an attempt to have CdTe clusters with extrinsic carriers, we substituted a Cd atom by its adjacent atoms Pd/Ag/In/Sn in these CdTe clusters. Substitutional doping of Cd by metal atoms increases the stability of unpassivated clusters. For certain clusters, metal atom doping leads to a half-metallic character. Pd/Ag-doped clusters are p-type semiconductors whereas In-doped clusters are n-type semiconductors. Sn doping in these clusters does not result in n-type semiconductors.     

Water-silica interaction in clusters

The interaction of water with SiO ₂ is an important problem in geophysics, materials physics, and environmental science. In this paper, we present recent results on studies of H ₂ O-silica clusters from first-principles Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics calculations. Bond strength and chemical stability are investigated as a function of cluster size and chemical composition. Both physisorption and chemisorption of water molecules on the clusters are discussed via analysis of energetics. Calculations of clusters are compared with the results from extended surfaces. The validity of clusters as models of surfaces is discussed.     

Structures,energetics and magnetic properties of (NiSn)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> clusters with <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 1–6

We report the results of calculations which were performed to investigate equilibrium structures, electronic and magnetic properties of stoichiometric (NiSn) _n clusters with n = 1–6 within the framework of density functional theory. The calculated results show that the structural arrangement of (NiSn) _n clusters is dominated by the Ni-Sn and Ni-Ni interactions. We find that these binary clusters show significant variation in the geometries as compared to that of the host nickel clusters. The preference for tetrahedron unit of Ni₃Sn is seen in the lowest-energy configuration of these clusters. The multi-centre bonding between Ni atoms play an important role in stabilizing the stoichiometric Ni-Sn clusters. Doping of Sn atoms enhances the binding energy and reduces the ionization potential of nickel clusters. These binary clusters prefer the lowest spin state. For (NiSn)₆ the magnetic moment is 0 μB. The complete quenching of the cluster magnetic moment appears to be due to the antiferromagnetic alignment of atomic spins as revealed by the spin density plots.     

Structures and its evolution of Ba n ( n =2 ∼ 14) clusters

We have studied the atomic structure and the electronic properties of Ba_n clusters by the ab initio molecular dynamics method. We find that a structural transition to the bulk-like structure begins at Ba₉ cluster, and the structures of the clusters are transferred to be icosahedral-like around n = 13. The relatively high stability for Ba₄, Ba₁₀ and Ba₁₃ clusters are observed. Received 1st December 2000     

Comparative ab initio studies of small tin and lead clusters

We have performed ab initio total-energy pseudopotential calculations on neutral and negatively charged Snn and Pb_n (n = 3 ? 10) clusters. The lowest energy structures have been determined for all clusters, and the stabilities of neutral clusters were investigated by comparing their evaporation energies and stability functions. Clusters with n = 7,10 were found to be most stable while the clusters with n = 8 and Pb_s were much less stable, in agreement with features of the observed mass spectra. Calculations on Sn^?_n and Pb^?_n show that both atomic and electronic structures of a neutral cluster change substantially upon charging. The densities of states of Sn^?_n clusters reproduce the main features of the experimental photoelectron spectra. The agreement is poorer for Pb^?_n clusters where the calculations underestimate the separation between energy levels which we think is due to the larger spin-orbit splitting in Pb, which was neglected in the calculations. We found that the differences between Sn and Pb clusters cannot be completely addressed without a more complete accounting of relativistic effects. The electron affinities of Sn_n and Pb_n clusters have also been calculated and the results agree fairly well with experimental values. Finally we considered Sn^2?₄ and Pb^2?₄ clusters and related the results to the formation of Zintl anions in liquid alkali-Sn and alkali-Pb alloys.     

Symmetry-breaking transitions and dissociation of two-dimensional Plateau borders

We have experimentally studied the dissociation/coalescence of internal Plateau borders (PBs) in simple monolayer bubble clusters, as a result of changing the liquid fraction. At large liquid content, the clusters consist of n bubbles of the same size, symmetrically placed around an internal n-sided PB (n-PB). On decreasing the liquid fraction we observed symmetry-breaking transitions in the 4- and 5-bubble clusters (but not in the 3-bubble cluster), followed by dissociation of the PBs. We used the Surface Evolver to determine the various equilibrium configurations of the corresponding two-dimensional wet clusters and their surface energies. The sequence of 4-bubble cluster configurations observed on varying the liquid fraction correlates qualitatively with that predicted on the basis of Surface Evolver calculations. The same is not true of the 5-bubble cluster.     

Uniaxial deformation tests of aqueous foams: rate effects and topological changes

We have experimentally obtained force?elongation, F(w), curves for the uniaxial extension/compression of single cylindrical bubbles and bubble clusters bounded by two horizontal walls at a variable separation, w. We have studied the effect of the elongation rate on F(w) of cylindrical bubbles and the changes in F associated with instabilities and with topological transformations that occur during deformation of bubble clusters.     

Density-functional study of CO adsorbed on RhN （N = 2-19） clusters

We investigate the structural, electronic and adsorption properties of one single CO molecule adsorbed on Rh_N (N = 2-19) clusters, using the density-functional theory in the spin-polarized generalized gradient approximation. It is found that the structural growth model of the Rh_N clusters transforms from double layers (N = 12-16) to three layers (N = 17-19). Three different adsorption types are the atop site adsorption for N = 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, the bridge site adsorption for N = 2-5, 7, 10, 13-15, 17 and the face adsorption for N = 16, 18, 19. The adsorption abilities of Rh_N clusters are related to C-O bond length, vibrational frequency, adsorption energy and the charge transfer between CO and Rh clusters as well as the electronic density of state. With the increase of Rh cluster size, the adsorption energy of CO adsorbed on Rh_N clusters tends to be 2.2 eV-2.3 eV, which is 0.2 eV-0.3 eV larger than the theoretical value (about 2.0 eV) of CO molecule adsorption on clean Rh (111) surface.     

Modeling self-organization of nano-size vacancy clusters in stochastic systems subjected to irradiation

We study the self-organization of vacancy clusters in irradiated materials under reactor and accelerator conditions. Using a continuum stochastic model we take into account dynamics of point defects and their sinks with elastic interactions of vacancies. Dynamics of vacancy clusters formation is studied analytically and numerically. We have shown a difference in patterning dynamics at irradiation under reactor and accelerator conditions. The external noise influence related to fluctuation in a defect production rate is studied in detail. Applying our approach to pure nickel irradiated under different conditions we have shown that vacancy clusters having a linear size ～eq 6 nm can arrange in a statistical periodic structure with nano-meter range. We have found that the linear size of vacancy clusters at accelerator conditions decreases down to 20%, whereas a period of vacancy clusters reduces to 6.5%.     

Drainage and water clusters in Gillette foam

Raman measurements on Gillette foam have been carried out to analyze different phases of water in the system. We have shown that in addition to free water molecules, which drain out with aging of foam, water clusters of only a few water molecules are also present in foam. We have analyzed the rate of drainage with the existing theory available in the literature. The nature of water clusters in Gillette foam has also been obtained from ab initio self‐consistent field calculations for [H₂O]_n clusters. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interaction of low energy electrons with formic acid monomer,dimer and trimer

Configurations of the formic acid monomer, dimer and trimer are presented. We have calculated the total energies for these structures. We have considered also the negatively charged clusters and discussed the possible pathways of interaction of low energy electrons with monomers and clusters. Calculations have been executed using 6-311G** and 6-311++G** basis sets. The electron affinities of monomer and clusters are presented. Influence of choice of the molecular basis set is also discussed. Only such systematic studies allow to explain values observed experimentally, for example in electron attachment experiments on formic acid [1].     

High energy collisions of protonated water clusters

We have measured attenuation cross sections and fragmentation cross sections for protonated water clusters H(H₂O)_n ⁺ (n = 1 to 100) colliding with noble gas atoms (He and Xe) at a laboratory energy of 50 keV. In collisions with He, a transparency effect in the attenuation cross section was observed. For the case of fragmentation in collisions with Xe, a strong enhancement of small clusters was observed which we attribute to multifragmentation. Received 30 November 2000     

Monte Carlo study of the universal area distribution of clusters in honeycomb O(n) loop model

We investigate the area distribution of clusters (loops) for the honeycomb O(n) loop model by means of worm algorithm with n=0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2. At the critical point, the number of clusters, whose enclosed area is greater than A, is proportional to A^-1 with a proportionality constant C. We confirm numerically that C is universal, and its value agrees well with the predictions based on the Coulomb gas method.     

用EPR谱研究ZnS:Mn、Cu的Mn2+团形成和它对发光特性的影响

Mn2+浓度C(0.5%,0.6%)相同,而煅烧温度不同的DCEL ZnS:Mn、Cu粉未样品的EPR谱是不同的.用微机模拟EPR谱,计算出Mn2+团所占Mn2+的比例Cc/C.煅烧温度低于950℃时,Mn2+团比例随锻烧温度升高而减少,煅烧温度高于950℃时,六角晶相比例和Mn2+团比例同时随锻烧温度的升高而增加.分析表明,六角晶相有利于Mn2+间的间接电子自旋交换作用,在相同的掺Mn、Cu浓度条件下,对比立方晶相,它将使更多的Mn2+形成团,使材料的发光亮度降低.文中还讨论了锻烧DCEL ZnS:Mn、Cu材料的最佳温度问题.