Do Ag(n) (up to n = 8) clusters retain their identity on graphite? Insights from first-principles calculations including dispersion interactions

Growth pattern and electronic and magnetic properties of Cr-doped silver clusters

Growth pattern and electronic and magnetic properties of Agn Cr (n = 1-16) clusters have been investigated via density functional theory (DFT) combined with CALYPSO structure search method. The optimized geometry shows that the growth of the global minimum structures of Agn Cr clusters have obvious rule. when n > 12, silver atoms grow around an icosahedron which is almost unchanged in each structure. Analyses of electronic properties indicate that the doped Cr atom can only enhance the stability of larger silver clusters. Optical absorption and photoelectron spectra of Agn Cr isomers have been predicted and can be used for their structural identification. The icosahedral Ag12 Cr cluster with large energy level gap can be seen as a superatom. The adsorption capacity of Cr atom in Agn Cr cluster to CO is much higher than that of free Cr atom. The intensity of IR and Ramam spectra can be dramatically enhanced when CO is absorbed on Agn Cr cluster that Cr atom is encapsulated by Ag atoms. Moreover, the red shift of IR and Raman spectra of CO adsorbed on these clusters is also very small compared to free CO. Magnetism calculations show that the magnetic moment of Agn Cr clusters decreases linearly from n = 6 to 12 and increases linearly from n = 12 to 16. The total magnetic moment of Agn Cr cluster is mainly localized on the Cr atom. The change of magnetic moment of Cr atom is related to the charge transfer between Cr and Ag atoms.

Coordination of Ethylamine on Small Silver Clusters: Structural and Topological (ELF, QTAIM) Analyses

Amine ligands are expected to drive the organization of metallic centers as well as the chemical reactivity of silver clusters early growing during the very first steps of the synthesis of silver nanoparticles via an organometallic route. Density functional theory (DFT) computational studies have been performed to characterize the structure, the atomic charge distribution, and the planar two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) relative stability of small-size silver clusters (Ag_n, 2 ≤ n ≤ 7), with or without an ethylamine (EA) ligand coordinated to the Ag clusters. The transition from 2D to 3D structures is shifted from n = 7 to 6 in the presence of one EA coordinating ligand, and it is explained from the analysis of the Ag-N and Ag-Ag bond energies. For fully EA saturated silver clusters (Ag_n-EA_n), the effect on the 2D/3D transition is even more pronounced with a shift between n = 4 and 5. Subsequent electron localization function (ELF) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) topological analyses allow for the fine characterization of the dative Ag-N and metallic Ag-Ag bonds, both in nature and in strength. Electron transfer from ethylamine to the coordinated silver atoms induces an increase of the polarization of the metallic core.

A density functional study of silver clusters on a stepped graphite surface: formation of self-assembled nano-wires

Adsorption and diffusion of silver adatoms and clusters containing up to eight atoms on an HOPG substrate with an armchair step are studied using density functional methods. Step edges act as attractive sinks for adatoms and clusters. The diffusion barrier of an Ag adatom along the step edge is much larger than that on a clean terrace. At zero temperature, Ag clusters either distort or dissociate by forming covalent bonds with the edge C atoms. At 600 K, Ag5 and Ag8 clusters diffuse to the step edges, and then break up so as to maximize Ag-C bonds. The Ag atoms try to form a nanowire structure along the step edge. At such high temperatures, diffusion of clusters along the step edge involves diffusion of individual Ag atoms not bonded to the edge C atoms. Assumption of complete immobility of clusters trapped at step edges in the Gates-Robins model is not valid at high temperatures in this particular system.

Metal cluster-deposited graphene as an adsorptive material for m-xylene

m-Xylene weakly adsorbs on graphene and silver cluster doped graphene, but it has excellent interaction with platinum cluster doped graphene.