Neutral and charged gallium clusters: structures, physical properties and implications for the melting features

A database of low-energy atomically precise nanoclusters

The chemical and structural properties of atomically precise nanoclusters are of great interest in numerous applications, but the structures of the clusters can be computationally expensive to predict. In this work, we present the largest database of cluster structures and properties determined using ab-initio methods to date. We report the methodologies used to discover low-energy clusters as well as the energies, relaxed structures, and physical properties (such as relative stability, HOMO-LUMO gap among others) for 63,015 clusters across 55 elements. We have identified clusters for 593 out of 1595 cluster systems (element-size pairs) explored by literature that have energies lower than those reported in literature by at least 1 meV/atom. We have also identified clusters for 1320 systems for which we were unable to find previous low-energy structures in the literature. Patterns in the data reveal insights into the chemical and structural relationships among the elements at the nanoscale. We describe how the database can be accessed for future studies and the development of nanocluster-based technologies.

Structural evolution and electronic properties of pure and semiconductor atom doped in clusters: Inn - , Inn Si- , and Inn Ge- (n = 3-16)

The bonding and electronic properties of In_n ^- , In_n Si^- , and In_n Ge^- (n = 3-16) clusters have been computationally investigated. An intensive global search for the ground-state structures of these clusters were conducted using the genetic algorithm coupled with density functional theory (DFT). The ground-state structures of these clusters have been identified through the comparison between simulated photoelectron spectra (PES) of the found lowest-energy isomers and the experimentally measured ones. Doping semiconductor atom (Si or Ge) can significantly change the structures of the In clusters in most sizes, and the dopant prefers to be surrounded by In atoms. There are three structural motifs for In_n X^- (X = Si, Ge, n = 3-16), and the transition occurs at sizes n = 5 and 13. All In_n Si^- and In_n Ge^- share the same configurations and similar electronic properties except for n = 8. Among all above studied clusters, In₁₃ ^- stands out with the largest vertical detachment energy (VDE), HOMO-LUMO gap, (E_b ) and second order energy difference Δ² E due to its closed electronic shell of (1S)² (1P)⁶ (1D)¹⁰ (2S)² (1F)¹⁴ (2P)⁶ . Similarly, the neutral In₁₂ X (X = Si, Ge) clusters are also identified as superatoms but with electronic configuration of (1S)² (1P)⁶ (2S)² (1D)¹⁰ (1F)¹⁴ (2P)⁶ .

Mapping the Finite-Temperature Behavior of Conformations to Their Potential Energy Barriers: Case Studies on Si6B and Si5B Clusters

Dynamical simulations of molecules and materials have been the route to understand the rearrangement of atoms within them at different temperatures. Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamical simulations have further helped to comprehend the reaction dynamics at various finite temperatures. We take a case study of Si₆B and Si₅B clusters and demonstrate that their finite-temperature behavior is rather mapped to the potential energy surface. The study further brings forth the fact that an accurate description of the dynamics is rather coupled with the accuracy of the method in defining the potential energy surface. A more precise potential energy surface generated through the coupled cluster method is finally used to identify the most accurate description of the potential energy surface and the interconnected finite-temperature behavior.

Finite temperature behavior of carbon atom-doped silicon clusters: depressed thermal stabilities, coexisting isomers, reversible dynamical pathways and fragmentation channels

BOMD simulations revealed a multifarious thermo-stimuli response (from “solid-state” to reversible dynamics to fragmentation) of experimentally identified SiC mixed clusters at finite temperature.

Ultra stable superatomic structure of doubly magic Ga13 and Ga13Li electrolyte

We report the extreme thermal stability of the superatomic electronic structure for 13-atom gallium clusters and the Ga₁₃Li electrolyte. Using previously-validated first-principles simulations, [K. G. Steenbergen and N. Gaston, Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter Mater. Phys., 2013, 88, 161402-161405] we show that the superatomic shell progression of doubly-magic Ga₁₃^- remains stable up to 1000 K, making this cluster an ideal candidate for high-temperature applications requiring an exceptionally stable electronic structure. Using the neutral and cationic clusters for comparison, we quantify the extent to which cluster stability (geometric and electronic) is modified through addition or subtraction of a single electron. Finally, combining 13-atom gallium with lithium, we illustrate that superatomic closed-shell Ga₁₃Li exhibits the same exceptionally high thermal stability as naked Ga₁₃^-. For technological use as a superatomic electrolyte, we demonstrate that Ga₁₃Li has a low affinity to water as well as a low Li⁺ binding energy.

Mass spectrometric investigation of amorphous Ga-Sb-Se thin films

Amorphous chalcogenide thin films are widely studied due to their enhanced properties and extensive applications. Here, we have studied amorphous Ga-Sb-Se chalcogenide thin films prepared by magnetron co-sputtering, via laser ablation quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the stoichiometry of the generated clusters was determined which gives information about individual species present in the plasma plume originating from the interaction of amorphous chalcogenides with high energy laser pulses. Seven different compositions of thin films (Ga content 7.6–31.7 at. %, Sb content 5.2–31.2 at. %, Se content 61.2–63.3 at. %) were studied and in each case about ~50 different clusters were identified in positive and ~20–30 clusters in negative ion mode. Assuming that polymers can influence the laser desorption (laser ablation) process, we have used parafilm as a material to reduce the destruction of the amorphous network structure and/or promote the laser ablation synthesis of heavier species from those of lower mass. In this case, many new and higher mass clusters were identified. The maximum number of (40) new clusters was detected for the Ga-Sb-Se thin film containing the highest amount of antimony (31.2 at. %). This approach opens new possibilities for laser desorption ionization/laser ablation study of other materials. Finally, for selected binary and ternary clusters, their structure was calculated by using density functional theory optimization procedure.

Liquid metals: fundamentals and applications in chemistry

Post-transition elements, together with zinc-group metals and their alloys belong to an emerging class of materials with fascinating characteristics originating from their simultaneous metallic and liquid natures. These metals and alloys are characterised by having low melting points (i.e. between room temperature and 300 °C), making their liquid state accessible to practical applications in various fields of physical chemistry and synthesis. These materials can offer extraordinary capabilities in the synthesis of new materials, catalysis and can also enable novel applications including microfluidics, flexible electronics and drug delivery. However, surprisingly liquid metals have been somewhat neglected by the wider research community. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals underlying liquid metal research, including liquid metal synthesis, surface functionalisation and liquid metal enabled chemistry. Furthermore, we discuss phenomena that warrant further investigations in relevant fields and outline how liquid metals can contribute to exciting future applications.

Thermally stable coexistence of liquid and solid phases in gallium nanoparticles

Gallium (Ga), a group III metal, is of fundamental interest due to its polymorphism and unusual phase transition behaviours. New solid phases have been observed when Ga is confined at the nanoscale. Herein, we demonstrate the stable coexistence, from 180 K to 800 K, of the unexpected solid γ-phase core and a liquid shell in substrate-supported Ga nanoparticles. We show that the support plays a fundamental role in determining Ga nanoparticle phases, with the driving forces for the nucleation of the γ-phase being the Laplace pressure in the nanoparticles and the epitaxial relationship of this phase to the substrate. We exploit the change in the amplitude of the evolving surface plasmon resonance of Ga nanoparticle ensembles during synthesis to reveal in real time the solid core formation in the liquid Ga nanoparticle. Finally, we provide a general framework for understanding how nanoscale confinement, interfacial and surface energies, and crystalline relationships to the substrate enable and stabilize the coexistence of unexpected phases.

Thermodynamics of confined gallium clusters

We report the results of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of Ga13 and Ga17 clusters confined inside carbon nanotubes with different diameters. The cluster-tube interaction is simulated by the Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential. We discuss the geometries, the nature of the bonding and the thermodynamics under confinement. The geometries as well as the isomer spectra of both the clusters are significantly affected. The degree of confinement decides the dimensionality of the clusters. We observe that a number of low-energy isomers appear under moderate confinement while some isomers seen in the free space disappear. Our finite-temperature simulations bring out interesting aspects, namely that the heat capacity curve is flat, even though the ground state is symmetric. Such a flat nature indicates that the phase change is continuous. This effect is due to the restricted phase space available to the system. These observations are supported by the mean square displacement of individual atoms, which are significantly smaller than in free space. The nature of the bonding is found to be approximately jellium-like. Finally we note the relevance of the work to the problem of single file diffusion for the case of the highest confinement.