Electronic and vibrational structure of transition metal trimers: Photoelectron spectra of Ni−3, Pd−3, and Pt−3

Palladium clusters, free and supported on surfaces, and their applications in hydrogen storage

Palladium is a late transition metal element in the 4d row of the periodic table. Palladium nanoparticles show efficient catalytic activity and selectivity in a number of chemical reactions. In this paper, we review the structural and electronic properties of palladium nanoclusters, both isolated and deposited on the surface of different substrates. Careful experiments and extensive calculations have been performed for small Pd clusters which provide ample information on their properties. Work on large Pd clusters is less abundant and more difficult to perform and interpret. Cluster deposition is a method to modify material surfaces for different applications, and we report the known results for the deposition of Pd clusters on the surfaces of a number of interesting substrates: carbonaceous substrates like graphene and some layered novel materials related to graphene, metal oxide substrates, silicon and silicon-related substrates and metallic alloy substrates. Emphasis is placed on revealing how the structural, electronic and magnetic properties change when the clusters are deposited on the substrate surfaces. Some examples of chemical reactions catalyzed by supported Pd clusters and nanoparticles are reported. An issue discussed in detail is the influence of Pd on the storage of hydrogen in porous materials. Experimental work shows that the amount of stored hydrogen increases when the absorbing material is doped with Pd atoms, clusters and nanoparticles, and a spillover mechanism from the metal particle to the substrate is usually accepted as the explanation. To shed light on this issue, a critical analysis based on density functional simulations of the mechanisms of hydrogen spillover in perfect and defective graphene doped with palladium clusters is presented.

Structures of (NaSCN)2(H2O)n -/0 (n = 0-7) and solvation induced ion pair separation: Gas phase anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations

We studied (NaSCN)₂(H₂O)_n ^- clusters in the gas phase using size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. The photoelectron spectra and vertical detachment energies of (NaSCN)₂(H₂O)_n ^- (n = 0-5) were obtained in the experiment. The structures of (NaSCN)₂(H₂O)_n ^-/0 up to n = 7 were investigated with density functional theory calculations. Two series of peaks are observed in the spectra, indicating that two types of structures coexist, the high electron binding energy peaks correspond to the chain style structures, and the low electron binding energy peaks correspond to the Na-N-Na-N rhombic structures or their derivatives. For the (NaSCN)₂(H₂O)_n ^- clusters at n = 3-5, the Na-N-Na-N rhombic structures are the dominant structures, the rhombic four-membered rings start to open at n = 4, and the solvent separated ion pair (SSIP) type of structures start to appear at n = 6. For the neutral (NaSCN)₂(H₂O)_n clusters, the Na-N-Na-N rhombic isomers become the dominant starting at n = 3, and the SSIP type of structures start to appear at n = 5 and become dominant at n = 6. The structural evolution of (NaSCN)₂(H₂O)_n ^-/0 (n = 0-7) confirms the possible existence of ionic clusters such as Na(SCN)₂ ^- and Na₂(SCN)⁺ in NaSCN aqueous solutions.

From platinum atoms in molecules to colloidal nanoparticles: A review on reduction, nucleation and growth mechanisms

Platinum (Pt) is one of the most studied materials in catalysis today and considered for a wide range of applications: chemical synthesis, energy conversion, air treatment, water purification, sensing, medicine etc. As a limited and non-renewable resource, optimized used of Pt is key. Nanomaterial design offers multiple opportunities to make the most of Pt resources down to the atomic scale. In particular, colloidal syntheses of Pt nanoparticles are well documented and simple to implement, which accounts for the large interest in research and development. For further breakthroughs in the design of Pt nanomaterials, a deeper understanding of the intricate synthesis-structures-properties relations of Pt nanoparticles must be obtained. Understanding how Pt nanoparticles form from molecular precursors is both a challenging and rewarding area of investigation. It is directly relevant to develop improved Pt nanomaterials but is also a source of inspiration to design other precious metal nanostructures. Here, we review the current understanding of Pt nanoparticle formation. This review is aimed at readers with interest in Pt nanoparticles in general and their colloidal syntheses in particular. Readers with a strongest interest on the study of nanomaterial formation will find here the case study of Pt. The preferred model systems and characterization techniques used to perform the study of Pt nanoparticle syntheses are discussed. In light of recent achievements, further direction and areas of research are proposed.

Structure, vibrational, and optical properties of platinum cluster: a density functional theory approach

Using density functional theory, stability, chemical, and optical properties of small platinum clusters, Ptn (n = 2 to 10) have been investigated. An attempt has been made to establish a correlation between stability and chemical reactivity parameters. The calculated geometries are in agreement with the available experimental and theoretical results. The atom addition energy change (ΔE1) and stability function (ΔE2) reveal that Pt7 is more stable than its neighboring clusters. Very good agreement of the calculated electron affinity with the available experimental results has been observed. The polarizability of the Ptn clusters depends almost linearly on the number of atoms. A correlation between the static polarizability and ionization potential is found, paving a way to calculate polarizabilty of larger clusters from their ionization potential. The calculated vibrational frequencies are compared with available experimental and theoretical results and good agreement between them has been established. In general, the prominent peak of molar absorption coefficient is shifting toward the lower energy side when cluster size grows. Our DOS calculation suggests that d orbital is primarily responsible for HOMO position and s orbital is responsible for LUMO position.

Geometry and stability of BenCm (n=1-10; m=1, 2, ..., to 11-n) clusters

Density functional theory B3PW91/6-31+G* calculations on BenCm (n=1-10; m=1, 2, ..., to 11-n) clusters have been carried out to examine the effect of cluster size, relative composition, binding energy per atom, HOMO-LUMO gap, vertical ionization potential, and electron affinity on their relative stabilities. The most stable planar cyclic conformations of these clusters always show at least a set of two carbon atoms between two beryllium atoms, while structures where beryllium atoms cluster together, or allow the intercalation of one carbon atom between two of them, generally seem to be the least stable ones. Clusters containing 1, 2, and 3 beryllium atoms (Be2C8, Be3C6, Be2C6, BeC6, Be2C4, BeC4, Be2C2, and BeC2) are identified as clusters of "magic numbers" in terms of their high binding energy per atom, high HOMO-LUMO gap, vertical ionization potential, and second difference in energy per beryllium atom.

Assessment of density functional theory optimized basis sets for gradient corrected functionals to transition metal systems: The case of small Nin (n⩽5) clusters

Density functional calculations have been performed for small nickel clusters, Ni(n), Ni(n) (+), and Ni(n)(-) (n<or=5), using the linear combination of Gaussian-type orbital density functional theory approach. Newly developed nickel all-electron basis sets optimized for generalized gradient approximation (GGA) as well as an all-electron basis set optimized for the local density approximation were employed. For both neutral and charged systems, several isomers and different multiplicities were studied in order to determine the lowest energy structures. A vibrational analysis was performed in order to characterize these isomers. Structural parameters, harmonic frequencies, binding energies, ionization potentials, and electron affinities are reported. This work shows that the employed GGA basis sets for the nickel atom are important for the correct prediction of the ground state structures of small nickel clusters and that the structural assignment of these systems can be performed, with a good resolution, over the ionization potential.

Theoretical Study of the Interaction of Molecular Oxygen with Copper Clusters

A new method based on frontier orbital theory has been used to investigate the binding site of molecular oxygen to neutral and anion copper clusters. It has been shown that one can make useful predictions of the binding sites based on the knowledge of the donor local reactivity of the cluster using the condensed Fukui function, f(-)(Ff). In this way, it was found that Cu(3), Cu(5), and Cu(5)(-) have the highest reactivity toward molecular oxygen.

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).

Structure and magnetism of neutral and anionic palladium clusters

The properties of neutral and anionic Pd(N) clusters were investigated with spin-density-functional calculations. The ground-state structures are three dimensional for N>3 and they are magnetic with a spin triplet for 2 < or = N < or = 7 and a spin nonet for N = 13 neutral clusters. Structural and spin isomers were determined and an anomalous increase of the magnetic moment with temperature is predicted for a Pd7 ensemble. Vertical electron detachment and ionization energies were calculated and the former agrees well with measured values for Pd(-)(N).

Ultrafast hot-electron dynamics observed in Pt( -)(3) using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

Time-resolved two-photon photoelectron spectra have been measured for free Pt( -)(3) using femtosecond pulses of 1.5 eV photon energy in a pump-probe configuration. The time-dependent photoelectron distribution reveals a lifetime of optically excited states of less than 70 fs. Such an unexpected fast electron relaxation in Pt( -)(3) suggests the existence of inelastic electron-electron scattering processes in a triatomic cluster which result in a lifetime similar to those of bulk metals.