Calculations with the CNDO method on clusters of silver atoms

An attempt has been made to explore the applicability of the complete neglect of differential overlap (CNDO) method for investigating clusters of silver atoms. A new parametrization for silver has been obtained by comparing charge distributions, as well as local and total density of states, from CNDO calculations with those from the X_α scattered wave (X_αSW) method for an Ag₇ cluster which represents a fragment of the silver lattice. These parameters have then been used for making CNDO calculations on four further clusters of the same type, namely Ag₆, Ag₁₀, Ag₁₃ and Ag₁₉, and the results are compared with previous X_αSW calculations. These CNDO calculations give d-band widths in broad agreement with those from the X_αSW method. The most significant difference is that the CNDO method gives less localization on central atoms with high coordination numbers than is found from the X_αSW calculations. It is suggested that this apparent deficiency of the CNDO calculations may be less serious when the clusters are being used for modelling part of a solid metal rather than for specifically investigating the properties of small particles.