Geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of gold-magnesium (AunMg) bimetallic clusters

The geometrical structures, relative stabilities, and electronic properties of bimetallic Au_nMg (n=1-8) clusters have been systematically investigated by means of first-principle density functional theory. The results show that the ground-state isomers have planar structures for n=1-7. Here, the calculated fragmentation energies, the second-order difference of energies, the highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gaps, and the hardness exhibit a pronounced odd-even alternation, manifesting that the clusters, especially Au₂Mg, with even-number gold atoms have a higher relative stability. On the basis of natural population analysis, the charge transfer and magnetic moment are also discussed.