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Cioni M, Delle Piane M, Polino D, Rapetti D, Crippa M, Irmak EA, Van Aert S, Bals S, Pavan GM. Sampling Real-Time Atomic Dynamics in Metal Nanoparticles by Combining Experiments, Simulations, and Machine Learning. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2307261. [PMID: 38654692 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Even at low temperatures, metal nanoparticles (NPs) possess atomic dynamics that are key for their properties but challenging to elucidate. Recent experimental advances allow obtaining atomic-resolution snapshots of the NPs in realistic regimes, but data acquisition limitations hinder the experimental reconstruction of the atomic dynamics present within them. Molecular simulations have the advantage that these allow directly tracking the motion of atoms over time. However, these typically start from ideal/perfect NP structures and, suffering from sampling limits, provide results that are often dependent on the initial/putative structure and remain purely indicative. Here, by combining state-of-the-art experimental and computational approaches, how it is possible to tackle the limitations of both approaches and resolve the atomistic dynamics present in metal NPs in realistic conditions is demonstrated. Annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy enables the acquisition of ten high-resolution images of an Au NP at intervals of 0.6 s. These are used to reconstruct atomistic 3D models of the real NP used to run ten independent molecular dynamics simulations. Machine learning analyses of the simulation trajectories allow resolving the real-time atomic dynamics present within the NP. This provides a robust combined experimental/computational approach to characterize the structural dynamics of metal NPs in realistic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Cioni
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, 10129, Italy
| | - Massimo Delle Piane
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, 10129, Italy
| | - Daniela Polino
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Polo Universitario Lugano, Campus Est, Via la Santa 1, Lugano-Viganello, 6962, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Rapetti
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, 10129, Italy
| | - Martina Crippa
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, 10129, Italy
| | - Ece Arslan Irmak
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Aert
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - Giovanni M Pavan
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, 10129, Italy
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Polo Universitario Lugano, Campus Est, Via la Santa 1, Lugano-Viganello, 6962, Switzerland
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Telari E, Tinti A, Settem M, Maragliano L, Ferrando R, Giacomello A. Charting Nanocluster Structures via Convolutional Neural Networks. ACS NANO 2023; 17:21287-21296. [PMID: 37856254 PMCID: PMC10655179 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c05653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
A general method to obtain a representation of the structural landscape of nanoparticles in terms of a limited number of variables is proposed. The method is applied to a large data set of parallel tempering molecular dynamics simulations of gold clusters of 90 and 147 atoms, silver clusters of 147 atoms, and copper clusters of 147 atoms, covering a plethora of structures and temperatures. The method leverages convolutional neural networks to learn the radial distribution functions of the nanoclusters and distills a low-dimensional chart of the structural landscape. This strategy is found to give rise to a physically meaningful and differentiable mapping of the atom positions to a low-dimensional manifold in which the main structural motifs are clearly discriminated and meaningfully ordered. Furthermore, unsupervised clustering on the low-dimensional data proved effective at further splitting the motifs into structural subfamilies characterized by very fine and physically relevant differences such as the presence of specific punctual or planar defects or of atoms with particular coordination features. Owing to these peculiarities, the chart also enabled tracking of the complex structural evolution in a reactive trajectory. In addition to visualization and analysis of complex structural landscapes, the presented approach offers a general, low-dimensional set of differentiable variables that has the potential to be used for exploration and enhanced sampling purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Telari
- Dipartimento
di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome 00184, Italy
| | - Antonio Tinti
- Dipartimento
di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome 00184, Italy
| | - Manoj Settem
- Dipartimento
di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome 00184, Italy
| | - Luca Maragliano
- Dipartimento
Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona 60131, Italy
- Center
for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Giacomello
- Dipartimento
di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome 00184, Italy
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Aleinikava D, Jellinek J. Analysis of Dynamical Peculiarities in Nanoalloys at Subsystems Level: Dynamical Degrees of Freedom, Temperature Differences, and the Chameleon Effect. Chemphyschem 2023; 24:e202300184. [PMID: 37582049 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
A novel analysis of the dynamical behavior of nanoalloy systems, as represented by model Ni/Al 13-atom clusters, over a broad range of energies that cover the stage-wise transition of the systems from their solid-like to liquid-like state is presented. Conceptually, the analysis is rooted in partitioning the systems into judiciously chosen subsystems and characterizing the latter in terms of subsystem-specific dynamical descriptors that include dynamical degrees of freedom, root-mean-square bond-length fluctuation, and element-specific subsystem temperature. The analysis reveals a host of intriguing new peculiarities in the dynamical behavior of the Ni/Al 13-mers, among which are what we call the chameleon effect and the difference in the temperatures of the Ni and Al subsystems at high energies, a difference that strongly depends on the cluster composition and also changes with energy. These do not have an analog in pure Ni13 and Al13 and are explained in terms of the coupled effects of the difference between the masses of the Ni and Al atoms (the mass effect) and of the difference in the anharmonicity of the overall interaction potential as experienced by the Ni and Al subsystems of the clusters (the potential effect).
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Affiliation(s)
- Darya Aleinikava
- Department of Physical Sciences, Benedictine University Lisle, Illinois, 60532, USA
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory Lemont, Illinois, 60439, USA
| | - Julius Jellinek
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory Lemont, Illinois, 60439, USA
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El Koraychy EY, Ferrando R. Growth pathways of Cu shells on Au and AuCu seeds: interdiffusion, shape transformations, strained shells and patchy surfaces. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 5:5838-5849. [PMID: 37881698 PMCID: PMC10597565 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00714f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The growth of AuCu nanoparticles obtained by depositing Cu atoms on starting seeds of pure Au and on mixed AuCu seeds is studied by molecular dynamics simulations. Depending on the shape of the seed, its composition and the growth temperature, different growth pathways are observed, in which several types of structural transformations take place. The final growth structures comprise Au@Cu core@shell arrangements as well as Janus-like structures with patchy surfaces. The results of the growth simulations are rationalized in terms of the activation of different diffusion processes, both on the surface and inside the growing clusters. These diffusion processes regulate structural transitions between different motifs and the occurrence of dewetting phenomena. The simulation results show that depositon of Cu atoms on pure Au or mixed AuCu seed can be an effective tool for producing clusters with uncommon surface atom arrangements of potential interest for catalysis.
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Courtney C, Siberchicot B. On the nature of noble gas - metal bond in silver aggregates. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:23929-23936. [PMID: 37642525 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03416j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to extend the study of the nature of the bond between noble gas to nano- and sub nanoscale silver aggregates. In the framework of DFT-PAW calculations implemented in the abinit package, we carried out a thorough investigation on the nature of the bond between the six noble gases NG (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe and Rn) and numerous neutral silver aggregates Agn from the single atom Ag1 to the nanoparticle Ag147 using atoms-in-molecules (AIM) dual functional analysis,. We evaluated the impact of the silver aggregate size, the adsorption site and of the noble gas on the Ag-NG bond. Our study concluded on the favored adsorption of heavier noble gases (Kr, Xe and Rn) over that of lighter noble gases (He, Ne and Ar) on any aggregate size due to an enhanced chemical contribution in the bond. For these heavier noble gases, in accordance with studies carried out on surfaces, we noted their preferential adsorption on on-top sites rather than on hollow sites, which further evidences the chemical contribution to the bond. Moreover, the slight positive Bader charge on these heavier noble gases implies an electron transfer from the noble gas to the silver atom. Noble gas adsorption is favored on smaller, few-atom, two-dimensional clusters rather than on larger three-dimensional nanoparticles. Finally, we identified a universal power law with a unique exponent linking bond length and electronic density at the bond critical point for all aggregate sizes, noble gases and adsorption sites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Siberchicot
- CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297, Arpajon CEDEX, France.
- CEA, Laboratoire Matière en Conditions Extrêmes, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91680, Bruyères-le-Châtel, France
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Rapetti D, Delle Piane M, Cioni M, Polino D, Ferrando R, Pavan GM. Machine learning of atomic dynamics and statistical surface identities in gold nanoparticles. Commun Chem 2023; 6:143. [PMID: 37407706 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00936-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It is known that metal nanoparticles (NPs) may be dynamic and atoms may move within them even at fairly low temperatures. Characterizing such complex dynamics is key for understanding NPs' properties in realistic regimes, but detailed information on, e.g., the stability, survival, and interconversion rates of the atomic environments (AEs) populating them are non-trivial to attain. In this study, we decode the intricate atomic dynamics of metal NPs by using a machine learning approach analyzing high-dimensional data obtained from molecular dynamics simulations. Using different-shape gold NPs as a representative example, an AEs' dictionary allows us to label step-by-step the individual atoms in the NPs, identifying the native and non-native AEs and populating them along the MD simulations at various temperatures. By tracking the emergence, annihilation, lifetime, and dynamic interconversion of the AEs, our approach permits estimating a "statistical equivalent identity" for metal NPs, providing a comprehensive picture of the intrinsic atomic dynamics that shape their properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Rapetti
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy
| | - Massimo Delle Piane
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy
| | - Matteo Cioni
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy
| | - Daniela Polino
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Polo Universitario Lugano, Campus Est, Via la Santa 1, 6962, Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland
| | - Riccardo Ferrando
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146, Genova, Italy
| | - Giovanni M Pavan
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy.
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Polo Universitario Lugano, Campus Est, Via la Santa 1, 6962, Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland.
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de Mendonça JPA, Calderan FV, Lourenço TC, Quiles MG, Da Silva JLF. Theoretical Framework Based on Molecular Dynamics and Data Mining Analyses for the Study of Potential Energy Surfaces of Finite-Size Particles. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:5503-5512. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- João Paulo A. de Mendonça
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, P.O. Box 780, 13560-970 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Felipe V. Calderan
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo, 01016 020 São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tuanan C. Lourenço
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, P.O. Box 780, 13560-970 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos G. Quiles
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo, 01016 020 São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juarez L. F. Da Silva
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, P.O. Box 780, 13560-970 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
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Aikens CM, Jin R, Roy X, Tsukuda T. From atom-precise nanoclusters to superatom materials. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:170401. [PMID: 35525653 DOI: 10.1063/5.0095770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Aikens
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
| | - Rongchao Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Xavier Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Tatsuya Tsukuda
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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