Physics of Nickel Clusters: Energetics and Equilibrium Geometries

On the influence of exact exchange on transition metal superatoms

The electronic structure of A7C (A = Hg, Pd, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu; C = 0, ±1, ±2) clusters has been determined using density functional theory methods. The A7C (A = Hg, Pd, Cr, Cu; C = 0, ±1, ±2) clusters all conform to the existing superatomic model, with a sufficiently stabilised local structure to prevent perturbation upon the introduction of exact exchange to the exchange correlation functional. For the A7C (A = Mn, Fe, Ni; C = 0, ±1, ±2) clusters the incorporation of exact exchange separates the atomic s- and d-electrons, leading to a net increase in the number of superatomic electrons. Conversely the incorporation of exact exchange into the exchange correlation functional decreases the number of superatomic electrons for the V7C (C = 0, ±1, ±2) clusters, owing to the radial extension of the d-orbitals influencing their ability to contribute into superatomic shells.

Evaluation of the effect of nickel clusters on the formation of incipient soot particles from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations

In the present study, the ReaxFF reactive molecular dynamics simulation method was applied to investigate the effect of a small nickel cluster (Ni13) on the formation of nascent soot from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) precursors. A series of NVT simulations was performed for systems of a Ni13 cluster and various PAH monomers, namely, naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, coronene, ovalene, and circumcoronene, at temperatures from 400 to 2500 K. At low temperatures, the PAHs form soot particles via binding and stacking around nickel clusters. Larger soot particles are formed due to the early initiation of clustering provided by nickel compared to those observed in homogenous PAH systems. At 1200-1600 K, the PAH monomers show a chemisorption tendency onto the nickel surface, which results in incipient soot particles. Chemical nucleation was observed at 2000 K where nickel-assisted dehydrogenation and chemisorption of PAH led to the growth of stable soot particles, which did not occur in the absence of Ni-clusters. At a high temperature (2500 K), nickel significantly accelerates the ring-opening and graphitization of PAH molecules and increases the size of the fullerene-type soot as compared to that of homogenous systems.

Intermetallic Differences at CdS-Metal (Ni, Pd, Pt, and Au) Interfaces: From Single-Atom to Subnanometer Metal Clusters

Metal co-catalysts tipped at a photocatalyst surface form a crucial component in the nanoheterostructures designed for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. To examine the intermetallic differences and size effects at these interfaces, we use spin-polarized density functional theory to study single-atom, 13-atom, and 55-atom cluster depositions of Ni, Pd, Pt, and Au on the CdS(101̅0) surface. For the single metal atoms, the ground-state configuration was the same site for all of the elements. Analysis of the metal-CdS bonding and of the charge transfers revealed a Ni-Cd bonding complex leading to depletion of electronic charge at the Ni single atom and at deposited Ni clusters, in contrast to charge accumulation observed for the other three metals Pd, Pt, and Au. For scaling up sizes of the metal deposition, six subnanometer cluster types were selected over a wide range of cluster's effective coordination number, and their interfaces were differentiated by charge redistributions, structure and adhesion energies, highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gaps, and Schottky barrier heights. Although all considered clusters are semiconducting in the gas phase, 9 out of 28 clusters became (semi)metallic after deposition on the CdS semiconductor surface. Intermetallic differences and common trends are discussed.

An efficient genetic algorithm for structure prediction at the nanoscale

We have developed and implemented a new global optimization technique based on a Lamarckian genetic algorithm with the focus on structure diversity. The key process in the efficient search on a given complex energy landscape proves to be the removal of duplicates that is achieved using a topological analysis of candidate structures. The careful geometrical prescreening of newly formed structures and the introduction of new mutation move classes improve the rate of success further. The power of the developed technique, implemented in the Knowledge Led Master Code, or KLMC, is demonstrated by its ability to locate and explore a challenging double funnel landscape of a Lennard-Jones 38 atom system (LJ₃₈). We apply the redeveloped KLMC to investigate three chemically different systems: ionic semiconductor (ZnO)_1-32, metallic Ni₁₃ and covalently bonded C₆₀. All four systems have been systematically explored on the energy landscape defined using interatomic potentials. The new developments allowed us to successfully locate the double funnels of LJ₃₈, find new local and global minima for ZnO clusters, extensively explore the Ni₁₃ and C₆₀ (the buckminsterfullerene, or buckyball) potential energy surfaces.

Evolution of the structural, energetic, and electronic properties of the 3d, 4d, and 5d transition-metal clusters (30 TMn systems for n = 2–15): a density functional theory investigation

Subnanometric transition-metal (TM) clusters have attracted great attention due to their unexpected physical and chemical properties, leastwise compared to their bulk counterparts.

Nanocatalyst shape and composition during nucleation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The dynamic evolution of nanocatalyst particle shape and carbon composition during the initial stages of single-walled carbon nanotube growth by chemical vapor deposition synthesis is investigated. Classical reactive and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations are used, along with environmental transmission electron microscope video imaging analyses. A clear migration of carbon is detected from the nanocatalyst/substrate interface, leading to a carbon gradient showing enrichment of the nanocatalyst layers in the immediate vicinity of the contact layer. However, as the metal nanocatalyst particle becomes saturated with carbon, a dynamic equilibrium is established, with carbon precipitating on the surface and nucleating a carbon cap that is the precursor of nanotube growth. A carbon composition profile decreasing towards the nanoparticle top is clearly revealed by the computational and experimental results that show a negligible amount of carbon in the nanoparticle region in contact with the nucleating cap. The carbon composition profile inside the nanoparticle is accompanied by a well-defined shape evolution of the nanocatalyst driven by the various opposing forces acting upon it both from the substrate and from the nascent carbon nanostructure. This new understanding suggests that tuning the nanoparticle/substrate interaction would provide unique ways of controlling the nanotube synthesis.

A comparative study of small 3d-metal oxide (FeO)n, (CoO)n, and (NiO)n clusters

Geometrical and electronic structures of the 3d-metal oxide clusters (FeO)_n, (CoO)_n, and (NiO)_n are computed using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation in the range of 1 ≤ n ≤ 10.

Validation of classical force fields for the description of thermo-mechanical properties of transition metal materials

It is demonstrated that classical force fields validated through the density functional theory (DFT) calculations of small titanium and nickel clusters can be applied for the description of thermo-mechanical properties of corresponding materials. This has been achieved by means of full-atom molecular dynamics simulations of nanoindentation of amorphous and nanostructured Ti and Ni-Ti materials. The theoretical analysis performed and comparison with experimental data demonstrate that the utilized classical force fields for Ti-Ti, Ni-Ni and Ni-Ti interactions describe reasonably well hardness and the Young's modulus of these materials. This observation is of the general nature and can be utilized for similar numerical exploration of thermo-mechanical properties of a broad range of materials.

Thiolate-protected Ni39 and Ni41 nanoclusters: synthesis, self-assembly and magnetic properties

Thiolate-protected soluble nickel clusters, Ni(39)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)24 and Ni(41)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)25, were synthesized via a wet chemical method. The cluster formulae were identified by MALDI-TOF. Possible structures of the clusters were discussed. These clusters exhibit ferromagnetism with hysteresis loops in the 1.8-300 K range. By solvent evaporation, the clusters can self-assemble into simple cubic structured crystals with a width in the range of 1-10 μm and length up to 300 μm. These properties shed light on their application potentials in nanomagnetics working at room temperature.

Electronic structure of Zr-Ni-Sn systems: role of clustering and nanostructures in half-Heusler and Heusler limits

Half-Heusler and Heusler compounds have been of great interest for several decades for thermoelectric, magnetic, half-metallic and many other interesting properties. Among these systems, Zr-Ni-Sn compounds are interesting thermoelectrics which can go from semiconducting half-Heusler (HH) limit, ZrNiSn, to metallic Heusler (FH) limit, ZrNi2Sn. Recently Makongo et al (2011 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 133 18843) found that dramatic improvement in the thermoelectric power factor of HH can be achieved by putting excess Ni into the system. This was attributed to an energy filtering mechanism due to the presence of FH nanostructures in the HH matrix. Using density functional theory we have investigated clustering and nanostructure formation in ZrNi1+xSn (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) systems near the HH (x = 0) and FH (x = 1) ends and have found that excess Ni atoms in HH tend to stay close to each other and form nanoclusters. On the other hand, there is competing interaction between Ni-vacancies occupying different sites in FH which prevents them from forming vacancy nanoclusters. Effects of nano-inclusions on the electronic structure near HH and FH ends are discussed.

Melting and Glass Transition for Ni Clusters

The melting of NiN clusters (N = 29, 50-150) has been investigated by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with a quantum corrected Sutton-Chen (Q-SC) many-body potential. Surface melting for Ni147, direct melting for Ni79, and the glass transition for Ni29 have been found, and those melting points are equal to 540, 680, and 940 K, respectively. It shows that the melting temperatures are not only size-dependent but also a symmetrical structure effect; in the neighborhood of the clusters, the cluster with higher symmetry has a higher melting point. From the reciprocal slopes of the caloric curves, the specific heats are obtained as 4.1 kB per atom for the liquid and 3.1 kB per atom for the solid; these values are not influenced by the cluster size apart in the transition region. The calculated results also show that latent heat of fusion is the dominant effect on the melting temperatures (Tm), and the relationship between S and L is given.

Homonuclear transition-metal trimers

Density-functional theory has been used to determine the ground-state geometries and electronic states for homonuclear transition-metal trimers constrained to equilateral triangle geometries. This represents the first application of consistent theoretical methods to all of the ten 3d block transition-metal trimers, from scandium to zinc. A search of the potential surfaces yields the following electronic ground states and bond lengths: Sc3(2A1',2.83 A), Ti3(7E',2.32 A), V3(2E",2.06 A), Cr3(17E',2.92 A), Mn3(16A2',2.73 A), Fe3(11E",2.24 A), Co3(6E",2.18 A), Ni3(3A2",2.23 A), Cu3(2E',2.37 A), and Zn3(1A1',2.93 A). Vibrational frequencies, several low-lying electronic states, and trends in bond lengths and atomization energies are discussed. The predicted dissociation energies DeltaE(M3-->M2+M) are 49.4 kcal mol(-1)(Sc3), 64.3 kcal mol(-1)(Ti3), 60.7 kcal mol(-1)(V3), 11.5 kcal mol(-1)(Cr3), 32.4 kcal mol(-1)(Mn3), 61.5 kcal mol(-1)(Fe3), 78.0 kcal mol(-1)(Co3), 86.1 kcal mol(-1)(Ni3), 26.8 kcal mol(-1)(Cu3), and 4.5 kcal mol(-1)(Zn3).

Shell and subshell periodic structures of icosahedral nickel nanoclusters

Using the modified analytic embedded atom method and molecular dynamics, the binding energies and their second order finite differences (stability functions) of icosahedral Ni clusters with shell and subshell periodicity are studied in detail via atomic evolution. The results exhibit shell and subshell structures of the clusters with atoms from 147 to 250,000, and the atomic numbers corresponding to shell or subshell structures are in good agreement with the experimental magic numbers obtained in time-of-flight mass spectra of threshold photoionization, and Martin's theoretical proposition of progressive formation of atomic umbrellas. Clusters with size from 147 to 561 atoms are energetically investigated via one-by-one atomic evolution and their magic numbers are theoretically proved. For medium-size Ni clusters with 561 to 2057 atoms, the prediction of magic numbers with atomic numbers is performed on the basis of umbrella-like subshell growth in near face-edge-vertex order. The similarity of the energy curves makes it possible to extend the prediction to even larger Ni nanoclusters in hierarchical Mackay icosahedral configurations.

Broken-symmetry unrestricted hybrid density functional calculations on nickel dimer and nickel hydride

In the present work we investigate the adequacy of broken-symmetry unrestricted density functional theory for constructing the potential energy curve of nickel dimer and nickel hydride, as a model for larger bare and hydrogenated nickel cluster calculations. We use three hybrid functionals: the popular B3LYP, Becke's newest optimized functional Becke98, and the simple FSLYP functional (50% Hartree-Fock and 50% Slater exchange and LYP gradient-corrected correlation functional) with two basis sets: all-electron (AE) Wachters+f basis set and Stuttgart RSC effective core potential (ECP) and basis set. We find that, overall, the best agreement with experiment, comparable to that of the high-level CASPT2, is obtained with B3LYP/AE, closely followed by Becke98/AE and Becke98/ECP. FSLYP/AE and B3LYP/ECP give slightly worse agreement with experiment, and FSLYP/ECP is the only method among the ones we studied that gives an unacceptably large error, underestimating the dissociation energy of Ni(2) by 28%, and being in the largest disagreement with the experiment and the other theoretical predictions. We also find that for Ni(2), the spin projection for the broken-symmetry unrestricted singlet states changes the ordering of the states, but the splittings are less than 10 meV. All our calculations predict a deltadelta-hole ground state for Ni(2) and delta-hole ground state for NiH. Upon spin projection of the singlet state of Ni(2), almost all of our calculations: Becke98 and FSLYP both AE and ECP and B3LYP/AE predict (1)(d(A)(x(2)-y(2)d(B)(x(2)-y(2)) or (1)(d(A)(xy) (d)(B)(xy)) ground state, which is a mixture of (1)Sigma(g) (+) and (1)Gamma(g). B3LYP/ECP predicts a (3)(d(A)(x(2)-y(2))d(B)(xy) (mixture of (3)Sigma(g) (-) and (3)Gamma(u)) ground state virtually degenerate with the (1)(d(A)(x(2)-y(2)d(B)(x)(2)-y(2)/(1)(d(A)(xy)D(B)(xy) state. The doublet delta-hole ground state of NiH predicted by all our calculations is in agreement with the experimentally predicted (2)Delta ground state. For Ni(2), all our results are consistent with the experimentally predicted ground state of 0(g) (+) (a mixture of (1)Sigma(g) (+) and (3)Sigma(g) (-)) or 0(u) (-) (a mixture of (1)Sigma(u) (-) and (3)Sigma(u) (+)).

REACTIONS OFTRANSITIONMETALCLUSTERS WITHSMALLMOLECULES

Atoms and small molecules react with transition metal clusters in ways that are analogous to the physisorption and chemisorption reactions observed on the corresponding extended metal surface. However, often underlying these similarities are size-dependent variations in the reaction mechanisms and rates, the interpretation of which requires a detailed understanding of the structures of both the bare metal cluster substrates and the cluster-molecule complexes. Although polyatomic transition metal clusters cannot be characterized by the traditional methods of molecular spectroscopy, the combination of other physical and chemical probes can provide qualitative and semiquantitative structural information. These techniques, when combined with equilibrium geometries calculated using ab initio or semiempirical methods, provide a detailed picture of the structural origin of metal cluster reactivity and its variation with size.