Stern-Gerlach experiments of one-dimensional metal-benzene sandwich clusters: Mn(C6H6)m (M = Al, Sc, Ti, and V)

A molecular beam of multilayer metal-benzene organometallic clusters Mn(C6H6)m (M = Al, Sc, Ti, and V) was produced by a laser vaporization synthesis method, and their magnetic deflections were measured. Multidecker sandwich clusters of transition-metal atoms and benzene Scn(C6H6)n+1 (n = 1, 2) and Vn(C6H6)n+1 (n = 1-4) possess magnetic moments that increase monotonously with n. The magnetic moments of Al(C6H6), Scn(C6H6)n+1, and Vn(C6H6)n+1 are smaller than that of their spin-only values as a result of intracluster spin relaxation, an effect that depends on the orbital angular momenta and bonding characters of the orbitals containing electron spin. While Ti(C6H6)2 was found to be nonmagnetic, Tin(C6H6)n+1 (n = 2, 3) possess nonzero magnetic moments. The mechanism of ferromagnetic spin ordering in M2(C6H6)3 (M = Sc, Ti, V) is discussed qualitatively in terms of molecular orbital analysis. These sandwich species represent a new class of one-dimensional molecular magnets in which the transition-metal atoms are formally zerovalent.     

Ferromagnetism in one-dimensional vanadium-benzene sandwich clusters

A molecular beam of multilayer vanadium-benzene organometallic complexes Vn(C6H6)m was produced by a laser vaporization synthesis method. The magnetic moments of the complexes were measured by a molecular beam magnetic deflection technique, and were found to increase with the number of vanadium atoms in the cluster, showing that the unpaired electrons, which occupy the nonbonding dsigma orbitals localized on the metal atoms, couple ferromagnetically. These sandwich species represent a new class of one-dimensional molecular magnets in which the transition metal atoms are formally zerovalent.     

Geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of small anion Mg-doped gold clusters: a density functional theory study

First-principle density functional theory is used for studying the anion gold clusters doped with magnesium atom. By performing geometry optimizations, the equilibrium geometries, relative stabilities, and electronic and magnetic properties of [Au(n)Mg]? (n = 1-8) clusters have been investigated systematically in comparison with pure gold clusters. The results show that doping with a single Mg atom dramatically affects the geometries of the ground-state Au(n+1)? clusters for n = 2-7. Here, the relative stabilities are investigated in terms of the calculated fragmentation energies, second-order difference of energies, and highest occupied?lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gaps, manifesting that the ground-state [Au(n)Mg]? and Au(n+1)? clusters with odd-number gold atoms have a higher relative stability. In particular, it should be noted that the [Au?Mg]? cluster has the most enhanced chemical stability. The natural population analysis reveals that the charges in [Au(n)Mg]? (n = 2-8) clusters transfer from the Mg atom to the Au frames. In addition, the total magnetic moments of [Au(n)Mg]? clusters exhibit an odd-even oscillation as a function of cluster size, and the magnetic effects mainly come from the Au atoms.     

Structures and stabilities of 3d-transition metal-benzene organometallic clusters

In the gas phase, we have successfully synthesized organometallic clusters, M_n(benzene)_m (M=3d transition metal atoms), by using a laser vaporization method. The measurements of mass spectra and ionization energies (E_i) have revealed that the organometallic clusters can take two types of structures; layered sandwich structures (m = n + 1) and metal clusters saturatedly covered with benzenes. For early transition metals of Sc, Ti, and V, only the multiple decker sandwich structure clusters were preferentially produced, in which benzene and metal atoms are alternately piled up. For late transition metals of Co and Ni, the metal clusters saturatedly surrounded by benzenes were also produced as well as the sandwich clusters. Furthermore, the E_is of M₁(benzene)₂ (M = Sc-Ni) were systematically measured and their electronic properties will be discussed.     

Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of Con(benzene)m complexes

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of cobalt-benzene complexes (Co(n)Bz(m), n, m = 1-4, m = n, n + 1) have been explored within the framework of an all electron gradient-corrected density functional theory. Sandwich conformations are energetically preferred for the smallest series of n, m = 1-2, rice-ball structures are for larger sizes with n > or = 3, and both motifs coexist for Co(2)Bz(3). The rice-ball clusters of (3, 3) and (4, 4) are more stable than (3, 4) having a relative large binding energy and HOMO-LUMO gap whereas smaller sandwich clusters have highly kinetic stability at (n, n + 1). The computed ionization potentials and magnetic moments of Co(n)Bz(m) are in good agreement with the measured values overall; the present results suggest that the measured moments are averages reflecting mixtures of a few nearly isoenergetic isomers having different spin states. The magnetism of the complexes mainly comes from Co atoms with a Bz molecule only possessing very small moments. Ferromagnetic ordering is energetically preferred for smaller complexes with n = 1-3 whereas antiferromagnetic ordering is favored for (4, 4). The relatively smaller moments of Con clusters in a Bz matrix indicate that Bz molecules play an attenuation role to the magnetism of the complexes.     

Ge_nEu(n=1-13)团簇的结构、电子及磁性质(英文)

利用密度泛函理论在广义梯度近似下研究了GenEu(n=1-13)团簇的生长模式和磁性.结果表明:对于GenEu(n=1-13)团簇的基态结构而言,没有Eu原子陷入笼中.这和SinEu以及其它过渡金属掺杂半导体团簇的生长模式不同.除GeEu团簇外,GenEu(n=2-13)团簇的磁矩均为7μB.团簇的总磁矩与Eu原子的4f轨道磁矩基本相等.Ge、Eu原子间的电荷转移以及Eu原子的5d、6p和6s间的轨道杂化可以增强Eu原子的局域磁矩,却不能增强团簇总磁矩.     

Magnetic deflection of neutral metal clusters in a beam

A new apparatus for measuring the magnetic properties of metal clusters has been constructed. The technique involves the conventional Stern-Gerlach deflection scheme together with modern pulsed laser vaporization source technology and time of flight mass spectrometry. High field seeking monodirectional deflections have been measured for cobalt clusters containing between 40 and 400 atoms. The measured magnetic moments per atom are found to be lower than the known values for the bulk. Special attention has been given to velocity measurements of the metal clusters and the carrier gas atoms in the beam. The residence time of the particles in the source cavity has been measured.     

Electronic structures of exohedral lanthanide-C60 clusters

We have studied the electronic structures of several gas phase exohedral lanthanide (Ln)-C(60) clusters, Ln(n)C(60) (Ln=Pr, Ho, Tb, Tm, Eu, and Yb) with n=1-4, by photoionization spectroscopy of the neutrals and photoelectron spectroscopy of their anions. Both of the spectroscopic analyses reveal that most of the Ln atoms preferably take +3 oxidation states, while Eu atoms alone assume +2 oxidation states, and that C(60) accepts up to twelve donated electrons in Ln(n)C(60). An additional photoionization examination of the oxygen atom mixing into the Ln(n)C(60) clusters demonstrated that each oxygen atom reduces two electrons from C(60). This result implies that the number of accepted electrons in C(60) can be varied by a suitable choice of the number of Ln atoms and O atoms.     

FMBen（FM=Fe,Co,Ni;n=1-12）团簇结构和电子性质

采用密度泛函理论中的广义梯度近似对FMBen(FM=Fe,Co,Ni;n=1-12)团簇的几何构型进行优化,并对能量、频率和磁性进行了计算,同时考虑了电子的自旋多重度.结果表明,纯铍团簇的幻数是由电子的壳层模型确定,而FMBen团簇的幻数主要由几何效应来解释;掺杂铁磁性的过渡金属(Fe,Co,Ni)提高了纯团簇的稳定性.二阶能量差分表明FMBen(FM=Fe,Co,Ni)的幻数分别为5,10;5,10;4,10.通过对磁性质的研究发现掺杂不同的过渡金属时,磁矩出现了不同的变化规律.     

Bonding of benzene with excited States of Fe7

The interaction between high-spin Fe7 clusters and a benzene molecule was studied using the BPW91/6-311++G(2d,2p) method. The Fe7-C6H6 ground state has a T-shaped structure, similar to that of the benzene dimer, and a multiplicity M = 2S + 1 = 19 (S = total spin). The carbon atoms are bonded to a single equatorial iron atom, which experiences a dramatic decrease in its magnetic moment, from 3.1 to -0.8 mu(B); the magnetic moments of other Fe atoms are larger than those in the ground-state Fe7 cluster. Such unexpected magnetic behavior of the cluster is crucial for adsorption of benzene.     

FMBen(FM=Fe,Co, Ni; n=1-12)团簇结构和电子性质

采用密度泛函理论中的广义梯度近似对FMBen(FM=Fe, Co, Ni; n=1-12)团簇的几何构型进行优化, 并对能量、频率和磁性进行了计算, 同时考虑了电子的自旋多重度. 结果表明, 纯铍团簇的幻数是由电子的壳层模型确定, 而FMBen团簇的幻数主要由几何效应来解释; 掺杂铁磁性的过渡金属(Fe, Co, Ni)提高了纯团簇的稳定性. 二阶能量差分表明FMBen(FM=Fe, Co, Ni)的幻数分别为5, 10; 5, 10; 4, 10. 通过对磁性质的研究发现掺杂不同的过渡金属时, 磁矩出现了不同的变化规律.     

RESr2RuCu2O8(RE=Gd和Eu)的合成与物性研究

报道了磁性超导体RESr2RuCu2O8(RE=Gd和Eu)单相样品的合成以及对其结构和物性的研究。结果表明，这类化合物的结构和YBa2Cu3O7-δ相类似；在这两类化合物中，超导电性与弱铁磁有序共存；两样品铁磁相变温度TM分别为136，130K，超导临界温度TC分别为46，35K；由于Gd^3 和Eu^3 离子磁矩的不同，两样品的磁性质存在一定的差别。     

MTi(0.7)Mo(0.3)Mo(5)O(10) (M = SR, Eu), first evidence of mono- and bicapped bioctahedral Mo(11) and Mo(12) clusters: synthesis, crystal structures, and physical properties

The novel quaternary reduced molybdenum oxides MTi(0.7)Mo(0.3)Mo(5)O(10) (M = Sr, Eu) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction at 1400 degrees C for 48 h in sealed molybdenum crucibles. Their crystal structures were determined on single crystals by X-ray diffraction. Both compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with 8 formula units per cell and the following lattice parameters: a(Sr) = 9.1085 (7), b(Sr) = 11.418 (1), and c(Sr) = 15.092 (3) A; a(Eu) = 9.1069 (7), b(Eu) = 11.421 (2), and c(Eu) = 15.075 (1) A. The Mo network is dominated by bioctahedral Mo(10) clusters, which coexist randomly with Mo(11) and Mo(12) clusters (monocapped and bicapped Mo(10) clusters). The Mo-Mo distances within the clusters range from 2.62 to 2.92 A and the Mo-O distances from 1.99 to 2.17 A as usually observed in the reduced molybdenum oxides. The Sr(2+) and Eu(2+) ions occupy large cavities, which result from the fusion of two cubooctahedra and thus are surrounded by 11 oxygen atoms. The M-O distances range from 2.50 to 3.23 A for the Sr compound and from 2.49 to 3.24 A for the Eu analogue. Single-crystal resistivity measurements indicate that both materials are poor metals with transitions to semiconducting states below 50 and 40 K and room temperature resistivity values of 9 x 10(-3) and 5 x 10(-3) Omega.cm for the Sr and Eu compounds, respectively. The magnetic susceptibility data indicate paramagnetic behavior due to the Eu(2+) moment at high temperatures for the Eu compound and do not reveal the existence of localized moments on the Mo and Ti sublattice in the Sr compound. An XPS study clearly suggests that the isolated Ti ions are tetravalent. Theoretical considerations preclude the existence of heterometallic Mo-Ti clusters.     

Geometries and magnetisms of the Zr(n) (n=2-8) clusters: the density functional investigations

The geometries, stabilities, and electronic and magnetic properties of small-sized Zr(n) (n=2-8) clusters with different spin configurations were systematically investigated by using density functional approach. Emphasis is placed on studies that focus on the total energies, equilibrium geometries, growth-pattern behaviors, fragmentation energies, and magnetic characteristics of zirconium clusters. The optimized geometries show that the large-sized low-lying Zr(n) (n=5-8) clusters become three-dimensional structures. Particularly, the relative stabilities of Zr(n) clusters in terms of the calculated fragmentation energies and second-order difference of energies are discussed, exhibiting that the magic numbers of stabilities are n=2, 5, and 7 and that the pentagonal bipyramidal D(5h) Zr(7) geometry is the most stable isomer and a nonmagnetic ground state. Furthermore, the investigated magnetic moments confirm that the atomic averaged magnetic moments of the Zr(n) (n not equal to 2) display an odd-even oscillation features and the tetrahedron C(s) Zr(4) structure has the biggest atomic averaged magnetic moment of 1.5 mu(B)/at. In addition, the calculated highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps indicate that the Zr(n) (n=2 and 7) clusters have dramatically enhanced chemical stabilities.     

Synthesis, characterization, and OFET properties of amphiphilic heteroleptic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium(III) complexes with hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) substituents

A series of amphiphilic heteroleptic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium complexes with hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) heads and hydrophobic alkoxy tails {Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8}Eu{Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8}Eu[Pc(OCnH2n + 1)8] (n = 6, 8, 10,12) (1-4) were designed and prepared from the reaction between homoleptic bis(phthalocyaninato) europium compound {Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8}Eu{Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8} and metal-free 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis(alkoxy)phthalocyanine H2Pc(OCnH2n + 1)8 (n = 6, 8, 10,12) in the presence of Eu(acac)3.H2O (Hacac = acetylacetone) in boiling 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB). These novel sandwich triple-decker complexes have been characterized by a wide range of spectroscopic methods and have been electrochemically studied. With the help of the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, these typical amphiphilic triple-decker complexes have been fabricated into organic field effect transistors (OFET) with an unusual bottom contact configuration. The devices display good OFET performance with the carrier mobility for holes in the direction parallel to the aromatic phthalocyanine rings, which shows dependence on the length of the hydrophobic alkoxy side chains, decreasing from 0.46 for 1 to 0.014 cm2 V(-1) s(-1) for 4 along with the increase in the carbon number in the hydrophobic alkoxy side chains.     

A theoretical study on small iridium clusters: structural evolution, electronic and magnetic properties, and reactivity predictors

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of iridium clusters with sizes of n = 2-15 are investigated by employing the generalized gradient approximation of density functional theory. Simple cube evolution pattern is revealed for Ir(2-15) clusters, as predicted by previous reports. It is remarkable that for Ir(10), Ir(11) clusters, new generated isomers with higher stabilities relative to those reported in previous studies are obtained. The even-sized clusters are more stable than the odd-sized species. The Ir-Ir bonds in the cubic Ir(8) and Ir(12) clusters, which are considered as the basic units in the structural evolution present covalent character. Starting from n = 8, the magnetic moments of Ir(n) clusters decrease sharply. The moments of magnetic clusters show 5d characters. The reactive site selectivity of studied clusters with n = 5-15 is analyzed with condensed Fukui function. The capped atoms in certain clusters (Ir(9), Ir(10), Ir(11), and Ir(13)) generally show extraordinary activity for both nucleophilic and electrophilic attack.     

Magnetic moments of bare and benzene-capped cobalt clusters

Magnetic moments of bare cobalt clusters Co(n) (n=7-32) and benzene-capped cobalt clusters Co(n)(bz)(m) have been measured at temperatures ranging from 54 to 150 K using a molecular beam deflection method. It was observed that Co(12-32) produced at temperatures greater than approximately 100 K display high-field-seeking behavior at all temperatures in the range investigated, indicating that they are superparamagnetic species. At temperatures below approximately 100 K, the field-on beam profiles of Co(7-11) and some larger clusters displayed substantial symmetric broadening, indicating that some fraction of the clusters in the beam were no longer superparamagnetic, but rather were in a blocked (locked-moment) state. In the superparamagnetic regime (T=150 K) Co(n) clusters in the n=7-32 size range were found to possess per-atom moments ranging from 1.96+/-0.04 micro(b)(Co(24)) to 2.53+/-0.04 micro(b)(Co(16)), significantly above the bulk value of 1.72 micro(b). Locked-moment isomers were found to display moments of approximately 1 micro(b) per atom. Cobalt clusters containing a layer of adsorbed benzene molecules were found to possess significantly lower moments per cobalt atom than the corresponding bare cobalt clusters.     

A density functional study of YnAl (n=1-14) clusters

The geometries, stabilities, and electronic and magnetic properties of Y(n)Al (n=1-14) clusters have been systematically investigated by using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. The growth pattern for different sized Y(n)Al (n=1-14) clusters is Al-substituted Y(n+1) clusters and it keeps the similar frameworks of the most stable Y(n+1) clusters except for Y(9)Al cluster. The Al atom substituted the surface atom of the Y(n+1) clusters for n<9. Starting from n=9, the Al atom completely falls into the center of the Y-frame. The Al atom substituted the center atom of the Y(n+1) clusters to form the Al-encapsulated Y(n) geometries for n>9. The calculated results manifest that doping of the Al atom contributes to strengthen the stabilities of the yttrium framework. In addition, the relative stability of Y(12)Al is the strongest among all different sized Y(n)Al clusters, which might stem from its highly symmetric geometry. Mulliken population analysis shows that the charges always transfer from Y atoms to Al atom in all different sized clusters. Doping of the Al atom decreases the average magnetic moments of most Y(n) clusters. Especially, the magnetic moment is completely quenched after doping Al in the Y(13), which is ascribed to the disappearance of the ininerant 4d electron spin exchange effect. Finally, the frontier orbitals properties of Y(n)Al are also discussed.     

Low-energy isomer identification, structural evolution, and magnetic properties in manganese-doped gold clusters MnAu(n) (n = 1-16)

The size-dependent electronic, structural, and magnetic properties of Mn-doped gold clusters have been systematically investigated by using relativistic all-electron density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. A number of new isomers are obtained for neutral MnAu(n) (n = 1-16) clusters to probe the structural evolution. The two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional (3D) transition occurs in the size range n = 7-10 with manifest structure competitions. From size n = 13 to n = 16, the MnAu(n) prefers a gold cage structure with Mn atom locating at the center. The relative stabilities of the ground-state MnAu(n) clusters show a pronounced odd-even oscillation with the number of Au atoms. The magnetic moments of MnAu(n) clusters vary from 3 μ(B) to 6 μ(B) with the different cluster size, suggesting that nonmagnetic Au(n) clusters can serve as a flexible host to tailor the dopant's magnetism, which has potential applications in new nanomaterials with tunable magnetic properties.     

Effect of peripheral hydrophobic alkoxy substitution on the organic field effect transistor performance of amphiphilic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium triple-decker complexes

A series of four amphiphilic heteroleptic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium complexes with different lengths of hydrophobic alkoxy substituents on one outer phthalocyanine ligand [Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(OCnH(2n+1))8] (n = 4, 6, 10,12) (1, 2, 4, and 5) was designed and prepared. Their film forming and organic field effect transistor properties have been systematically studied in comparison with analogous [Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(OC8H17)8] (3). Experimental results showed that all these typical amphiphilic sandwich triple-decker molecules have been fabricated into highly ordered films by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, which displays carrier mobility in the direction parallel to the aromatic phthalocyanine rings in the range of 0.0032-0.60 cm2 V(-1) s(-1) depending on the length of the hydrophobic alkoxy substituents. This is rationalized on the basis of comparative morphology analysis results of the LB films by the atomic force microscopy technique.