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.     

Nanoplasma dynamics in Xe clusters driven by ultraintense laser fields

We present a theoretical and computational study of the properties and the response of the nanoplasma and of outer ionization in Xe_n clusters (n = 55–2171, initial cluster radius R₀ = 8.7–31.0 ?) driven by ultraintense near-infrared laser fields (peak intensity I_M = 10¹⁵–10²⁰ Wcm^-2, temporal pulse length τ= 10–100 fs, and frequency ν= 0.35 fs^-1). The positively charged high-energy nanoplasma produced by inner ionization nearly follows the oscillations of the fs laser pulse and can either be persistent (at lower intensities of I_M = 10¹⁵–10¹⁶ Wcm^-2 and/or for larger cluster sizes, where the electron energy distribution is nearly thermal) or transient (at higher intensities of I_M = 10¹⁸–10²⁰ Wcm^-2 and/or for smaller cluster sizes). The nanoplasma is depleted by outer ionization that was semiquantitatively described by the cluster barrier suppression electrostatic model, which accounts for the cluster size, laser intensity and pulse length dependence of the outer ionization yield. The electrostatic model was further utilized for estimates of the laser intensity and pulse width dependence of the border radius R₀ ^(I) for the attainment of complete outer ionization at , while at R₀ > R₀ ^(I) a persistent nanoplasma prevails. R₀ ^(I) establishes an interrelationship between electron dynamics and nuclear Coulomb explosion dynamics in ultraintense laser-cluster interactions.     

Infrared ion dip and ultraviolet spectroscopy of 4-phenyl imidazole, its tautomer, 5-phenyl imidazole, and its multiply hydrated clusters

Mass-resolved resonant two photon ionisation (R2PI) and infrared ion dip spectra have been recorded for 4-phenylimidazole (4PI) and its singly and multiply hydrated clusters 4PI(H₂O)_{n = 0 - 4}, under supersonic expansion conditions. In the case of 4PI(H₂O)_0,1, it has also been possible to record infrared spectra in both the ground (S₀) and excited (S₁) states. Combining the experimental data with the results of ab initio calculations has led to the structural assignment of each cluster. In each case, the water molecules bind primarily to the NH site of the imidazole ring. Clusters with n≥ 2 incorporate linear water chains, in which the proton donating terminus bridges either to the π-electron system (n = 2) or to the >N: atom site (n = 3, 4) on the imidazole ring. Despite the creation of a “water wire”, connecting the donor and acceptor sites of imidazole, there is no evidence of proton transfer in either the ground or excited state. Received 20 December 2001 Published online 13 September 2002     

Structural stability and electronic properties of Au5Hn (n=1–10) clusters

A systematic study on the geometrical structures, electronic and magnetic properties of Au₅H _n (n=1–10) clusters has been performed by using the all-electron scalar relativistic density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation at the PW91 level. It is found that all Au₅H _n clusters prefer to keep the planar structures like pure Au₅ cluster, the Au₅ structures in Au₅H₄, Au₅H₅ and Au₅H₆ clusters are distorted obviously. The adsorption of a number of hydrogen atoms enhances the stability of Au₅ cluster and all Au₅H _n clusters are more stable than pure Au₅ cluster energetically. The odd-even alteration of magnetic moment is observed in Au₅H _n clusters and may be served as the material with tunable code capacity of “0” and “1” by adsorbing odd or even number of H atoms. It seems that the most favorable adsorption between Au₅ cluster and a number of hydrogen atoms takes place in the case that the odd number of hydrogen atoms is adsorbed onto Au₅ cluster and becomes Au₅H _n cluster with even number of valence electrons.     

Combined experimental and theoretical study of small aluminum oxygen clusters

We report a combined experimental and computational investigation of small Al_nO_m species (n ≤20, m ≤ 12), produced in a laser vaporization cluster source. The oxygen content in the clusters was tuned by varying the oxygen concentration in the carrier gas. Ionization energies are bracketed using different ionizing photon energies in the energy range between 5.37 and 7.89 eV. Among the singly doped Al_nO species, Al₃O and Al₁₅O are found to have relatively low ionization energies, which can be related to the magic character of the corresponding cations. Peculiarly low ionization energies also are observed for specific oxygen rich species (m > 1), suggesting the formation of ionically bound subunits. The structures and ionization energies of singly doped Al_nO^0,+ (n = 1 - 7) clusters were determined using density functional theory (B3LYP/6-311+G(d)). Electronic supplementary material Supplementary Online Material     

DFT study of CO adsorption on neutral and charged Pd<Subscript>n</Subscript>(n = 1–7) clusters

Density functional calculations have been performed to investigate CO adsorption on neutral, cationic and anionic Pd_n (n=1–7) clusters. From the results, it is observed that the binding of CO molecule to neutral and cationic palladium clusters takes place via 1-, 2- and 3-fold coordination. On the other hand, only terminal adsorption of CO molecule is possible in anionic clusters barring bridging adsorption in Pd₇ ^- cluster.     

Salt deposition from hydrothermal solutions in a flow reactor

A flow hydrothermal setup with a tubular reactor equipped with a plunger pump and back pressure valves is used to study the effects of scaling in the K₂SO₄-KCl-H₂O, K₂SO₄-K₂CO₃-H₂O, and Na₂SO₄-NaCl-H₂O systems at pressures of up to 270–340 kg/cm², temperatures of 400–600°C, and flow rates of 5.0 and 2.5 ml/min in order to establish conditions for the formation of salt plugs of type 2 (K₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄) in the flow mode at supercritical (SC) state parameters and to explore ways of eliminating such salt deposits by means of hydrothermal solvents, more specifically, high-temperature aqueous solutions of salts of type 1 (KCl, K₂CO₃, and NaCl). The concentrations of hydrothermal solvents sufficient to prevent the plugging of flow systems with solutions containing 0.26–0.27 mol % K₂SO₄ or Na₂SO₄ are determined, and the effects of the flow rate and chemical composition of type 1 salts on this process are studied. The results show that the phenomenon of scaling with the formation of salt plugs, which hinders the practical use of supercritical water oxidation technology, can be eliminated by adding readily soluble electrolytes, salts of type 1, to initial aqueous solution of type 2 salts.     

Structure and dynamics of cationic van-der-Waals clusters

Ar_nHCl⁺ van-der-Waals clusters for n = 1–13 are investigated with the “minimal diatomics-in-molecules (DIM) model” using ab-initio input data obtained from multi-reference configuration-interaction calculations plus subsequent projection onto valence-bond wavefunctions. The results for the complexes with n = 1–3 are checked against ab-initio calculations at the coupled-cluster (CCSD) level with the same one-electron atomic basis set as for the input data generation (aug-cc-pVTZ from Dunning). In addition to the electronic ground state, the first excited state for the triatomic complex (n = 1) is also studied. The results from the DIM model are shown to be in fair agreement with those from advanced conventional ab-initio calculations, although there are differences in detail. The comparison justifies the extension of the DIM approach to n > 3. Systematic analysis of the local minima of the multi-dimensional potential-energy surfaces (PESs), carried out with the combined method described in part I (Monte-Carlo sampling plus subsequent steepest-descent optimization), reveals simple building-up regularities for the most stable structures (i.e. those corresponding to the global PES minimum) at each n: apart from always having a nearly linear (Ar–H–Cl)⁺ fragment as core, the aggregates show little or no symmetry. Secondary local minima are also determined and their structures interpreted. The PESs for the low-lying excited states reveal a much more complicated topography compared to the Ar_nH⁺ clusters allowing a variety of photo-processes. The energy level sequence of the first five excited electronic states and the stability of the clusters in these states is studied as a function of the cluster size n.     

All-electron scalar relativistic calculation on the interaction between nitric monoxide and small gold cluster

An all-electron scalar relativistic calculation on Au _n NO (n = 1–10) clusters has been performed by using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation at the PW91 level. The small gold cluster would like to bond with nitric and the nitric monoxide molecule prefers to occupy the on-top and single fold coordination site. The Au _n structures in all Au _n NO clusters are only distorted slightly and still keep the planar structures. With the bend of Au-N-O bond, the structures of Au _n NO clusters evolve from the 2D structure to 3D structure. The most favorable adsorption between small gold cluster and nitric monoxide molecule takes place in the case that nitric monoxide molecule is adsorbed onto an odd-numbered pure Au _n cluster and becomes odd-numbered Au _n NO cluster with even number of valence electrons. The scalar relativistic effect strengthens the Au–Au, Au–N interaction and weakens the N–O interaction, appearing as the shorter Au–Au, Au–N bond-length and the longer N–O bond-length. The differences between our work and previous work are believed to be the reflection of the scalar relativistic effect.     

BaxOy小团簇修饰Ru(0001)表面的结构稳定性和氮分子吸附性质

为了说明钡助剂的存在形式, 本文采用第一性原理方法研究了Ba_xO_y小团簇修饰Ru(0001)表面的结构稳定性和氮分子吸附性质. 基于总能的热力学分析发现, 在实验条件下(500 K, P_H2O/P_H2<10^-3), Ba₂O团簇比BaO₂, BaO, Ba和O等团簇(原子)更加稳定. 这证实含有金属性钡原子的团簇也是氧化钡助剂可能的工作状态. 表面电荷差分密度说明Ba₂O团簇的氧和钡原子与衬底的作用不同. 不过Ba₂O团簇氧和钡原子附近的氮分子吸附行为相似, Ba₂O团簇增强了氮分子和衬底的相互作用. Ba₂O团簇氧和钡原子附近的氮分子吸附能分别为0.78 和0.88 eV, 均大于清洁表面的0.67 eV. 氮分子间距和氮分子的拉伸振动频率都表明Ba₂O团簇在一定程度上活化了吸附氮分子. Ba₂O团簇氧和钡原子附近的N–N键长分别为0.117和0.116 nm, 大于清洁表面的0.114 nm. 氧和钡原子附近氮分子的拉伸振动频率分别为 1888 和1985 cm^-1, 小于清洁表面的2193 cm^-1. 电荷差分密度的计算结果说明, 削弱作用主要来自于Ba₂O团簇中钡离子和氮分子间的静电作用. 两者间的静电作用增加了氮分子π 反键轨道的占据数, 促进了氮分子极化, 从而削弱氮分子键.     

Absolute cross sections of electron attachment to molecular clusters. Part II: Formation of (H2O) N? , (N2O) N? , and (N2) N?

Absolute cross sections σ⁻(E, N) of electron attachment to clusters (H₂O) _N , (N₂O) _N , and (N₂) _N for varying electron energy E and cluster size N are measured by using crossed electron and cluster beams in a vacuum. Continua of σ⁻(E) are found that correlate well with the functions of electron impact excitation of molecules’ internal degrees of freedom. The electron is attached through its solvation in a cluster. In the formation of (H₂O) _N ⁻ , (N₂O) _N ⁻ , and (N₂) _N ⁻ , the curves σ⁻(N) have a well-defined threshold because of a rise in the electron thermalization and solvation probability with N. For (H₂O)₉₀₀, (N₂O)₃₅₀, and (N₂)₂₆₀ clusters at E = 0.2 eV, the energy losses by the slow electron in the cluster are estimated as 3.0 × 10⁷, 2.7 × 10⁷, and 6.0 × 10⁵ eV/m, respectively. It is found that the growth of σ⁻ with N is the fastest for (H₂O) _N and (N₂) _N clusters at E → 0 as a result of polarization capture of the s-electron. Specifically, at E = 0.1 eV and N = 260, σ⁻ = 3.0 × 10⁻¹³ cm² for H₂O clusters, 8.0 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm² for N₂O clusters, and 1.4 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm² for N₂ clusters; at E = 11 eV, σ⁻ = 9.0 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm² for (H₂O)₂₀₀ clusters, 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm² for (N₂O)₃₅₀ clusters, and 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² for (N₂)₂₆₀ clusters; finally, at E = 30 eV, σ⁻ = 3.6 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² for (N₂O)₁₀ clusters and 3.0 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² for (N₂)₁₂₅ clusters. Original Russian Text ? A.A. Vostrikov, D.Yu. Dubov, 2006, published in Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoĭ Fiziki, 2006, Vol. 76, No. 12, pp. 1–15.     

Structural,energetic, and electronic properties of hydrogenated aluminum arsenide clusters

The chemisorptions of hydrogen on aluminum arsenide clusters are studied with density functional theory (DFT). The on-top site is identified to be the most favorable chemisorptions site for hydrogen. And the Al-top site is the preferred one in the most cases for one hydrogen adsorption in (AlAs) _n (n = 2, 5, 6, 8–15) clusters. Top on the neighboring Al and As atoms ground-state structures are found for two hydrogen adsorption on (AlAs) _n except for (AlAs)₂ cluster. The Al–As bond lengths decrease generally as the size of the cluster increases. And there is a slight increase in the mean Al–As bond lengths after H adsorption on the lowest-energy sites of the most AlAs clusters. In general, the binding energy of H and 2H are both found to decrease with an increase in the cluster size. And the result shows that large binding energies (BE) of a single hydrogen atom on small AlAs clusters and large highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular-orbital gaps for (AlAs)H and (AlAs)₃H make these species behaving like magic clusters. Calculations on two hydrogen atoms on (AlAs) _n clusters show large BE for (AlAs) _n H₂ with an odd number of n. The stability of these complexes is further studied from the fragmentation energies. (AlAs)₇H₂ and (AlAs)₉H₂ clusters are again suggested to be the stable clusters. On the other hand both the fragmentation energy and the binding energy for (AlAs)₁₃H are close to the lowest values.     

Magnetism of free and supported clusters: a comparative study

The presented work investigates the differences in magnetic properties of free and supported clusters via ab-initio calculations. The electronic structure of the clusters was calculated using a spin polarized relativistic multiple-scattering Green’s function formalism. We focus on Fe clusters of 2–9 atoms, either free or supported by Ni(001), and on Co clusters of 2–7 atoms, either free or supported by Au(111). For the supported clusters, the spin and orbital magnetic moments depend on the cluster size nearly monotonically, while for the free clusters large quasi-oscillations of magnetic moments with the cluster size were observed. Similarly, for supported clusters, the local spin magnetic moments decrease nearly linearly with increasing coordination number, while for free clusters of the same size range the trend is much more complicated. These findings are consistent with the fact that the spectral distribution function contains much sharper features for free clusters than for supported clusters.      

Rheological behaviour of worm-like micelles: Effect of electrostatic interactions

Summary Both linear and non-linear viscoelasticity experiments have been performed in semi-dilute micellar aqueous solutions of ethanediyl-α,ω-bis (dodecylmethylammonium bromide) as a function of solution chloride (NaCl) concentration. The results suggest that both linear and non-linear properties are affected by the electrostatic interactions. In particular, the plateau modulusG′_∞ and the ratioσ _m/G′_∞, whereσ _m represents the plateau value in a stress-shear rate experiment, are enhanced as the electrostatic interactions are screened by addition of salt. The zero-shear viscosity is lowered upon addition of NaCl, due likely to an exchange of the Cl⁻ ions with the Br⁻ counterions. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Charge transfer between alkali cluster ions and atoms in the 1 to 10 keV collisional energy range

The cross-sections for collisional charge transfer between singly charged free clusters M _n ⁺ (M = Li, Na; n=1...50) and atomic targets A (cesium, potassium) have been measured as a function of collisional relative velocity in laboratory energy range 1–10 keV. For each cluster size, the experimental values of the charge transfer cross-section are fitted with an universal parametric curve with two independent parameters and v_m, the maximum cross-section and the corresponding velocity. For small size clusters (), the characteristic parameters show strong variations with the number of atoms in the cluster. Abrupt dips observed for n=10 and n=22 are attributed to electronic properties. Charge transfer patterns observed for various collisional systems present similarities, which appear more sensitive to cluster quantum size effects than to collision energy defects. In their whole, the and v_m parameters show differences in both their size evolution and their absolute values discussed in term of projectile and target electronic structures. Received 13 April 2000 and Received in final form 29 June 2000     

Coordination and solvation of noble metal ions: Infrared spectroscopy of Ag+(H2O)n

Vibrational spectra of mass-selected Ag⁺(H₂O)_n ions are measured by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and analyzed with the aid of density functional theory calculations. Hydrogen bonding between H₂O molecules is found to be absent for cold Ag⁺(H₂O)₃, but detected for Ag⁺(H₂O)₄ through characteristic changes in the position and intensity of OH-stretching transitions. The third H₂O coordinates directly to Ag⁺, but the fourth H₂O prefers solvation through hydrogen bonding. The preference of the tri-coordinated form is attributed to the inefficient 5s–4d hybridization in Ag⁺, in contrast to the efficient 4s–3d hybridization in Cu⁺. For Ag⁺(H₂O)₄, however, di-coordinated isomers are identified in addition to the tri-coordinated one.     

Tunable diode laser spectroscopy of helium clusters

Helium clusters, He_N-X, containing a probe molecule, X, are studied by infrared spectroscopy for the size range N≈1∼100. Spectra are observed using a supersonic jet expansion and a tunable diode laser source operating in a rapid-scan (sweep integration) mode. The pulsed jet uses a dilute gas mixture of the probe molecule in helium, with relatively high backing pressures (5–50 bar), and a cooled (80–295 K) nozzle. Sensitivity is enhanced by multi-passing the laser beam through the jet with a toroidal mirror system. The clusters are larger than van der Waals dimers and trimers, but smaller than those encountered in the field of helium nanodroplets (N≈10³–10⁵). Furthermore, individual cluster sizes are resolved here, but not with nanodroplets, and infrared absorption is detected directly (change in transmitted laser intensity), rather than indirectly (change in cluster fragmentation). Trends in the spectra are described for five probe molecules, X=CO, SiH₄, OCS, N₂O, and CO₂. Superfluid effects dominate for clusters larger than N≈8. Notable results include the unexpected observation of broad oscillations in the effective rotational constants as a function of cluster size. PACS 33.20.Ea; 34.30.+h; 36.40.Mr; 42.55.Px     

Composition change of uranium perchlorates with organic ligands upon mechanochemical activation of exchange processes

Results of studies on the effect of mechanochemical activation of ligand exchange processes in uranyl perchlorate-dimethylsulfoxide are presented. Spectroscopic data show that mechanical activation of the exchange process in this system results in the replacement of H₂O in the first coordination sphere of uranyl UO₂²⁺ by DMSO to form nanocrystals with a defined ligand sphere. Possible factors governing the noted features are considered. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 2, pp. 213–216, March–April, 2008.     

Interaction of chloride ions with water clusters absorbing ozone: A computer experiment

The molecular dynamics method is used to investigate the interaction of two, four, and six chloride ions with (H₂O)₅₀, clusters absorbing six ozone molecules. Chloride ions moving toward the cluster penetrate into it. The presence of ozone increases the residence time of Cl⁻ ions in the cluster. The duration of the perturbation increases with the number of Cl⁻ ions surrounding the 6O₃ + (H₂O)₅₀ system. The interaction with Cl⁻ ions enhances the positional disorder of the molecules in the system and enhances the intensity of absorption and emission of infrared radiation. These changes, however, are not monotonic function of the number of ions perturbing the system. As a result of the interaction with Cl⁻ ions, the integrated intensity of the Raman scattering on the (O₃)₆(H₂O)₅₀ cluster in the frequency range 0 ≤ ω ≤ 1100 cm⁻¹ is significantly lower and the number of peaks in the spectrum is smaller.     

Cosmology with cluster surveys

Surveys of clusters of galaxies provide us with a powerful probe of the density and nature of the dark energy. The red-shift distribution of detected clusters is highly sensitive to the dark energy equation of state parameterw. Upcoming Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) surveys would provide us large yields of clusters to very high red-shifts. Self-calibration of cluster scaling relations, possible for such a huge sample, would be able to constrain systematic biases on mass estimators. Combining cluster red-shift abundance with limited mass follow-up and cluster mass power spectrum can then give constraints onw, as well as onσ ₈ and Ω_M to a few per cents.