A density functional molecular dynamics study of the bonding and stability of Mg n clusters (n=2−13)

A study of the structure and the bonding nature of Mg clusters having 2 to 13 atoms has been made using the density functional molecular dynamics method within the local density approximation. The calculated lowest energy structures can be described in terms of a tetrahedron and a trigonal prism. Mg₄ and Mg₁₀ are magic clusters and Mg₁₃ is neither an icosahedron nor a cuboctahedron. The bonding nature varies from atom to atom in a cluster and the transition from weakly bonded dimer to bulk like metallic behaviour is oscillatory and slow.