Structure Of Metal Nanoclusters Research Articles

Dynamic Metal Nanoclusters: A Review on Accurate Crystal Structures.

Dynamic metal nanoclusters have garnered widespread attention due to their unique properties and potential applications in various fields. Researchers have been dedicated to developing new synthesis methods and strategies to control the morphologies, compositions, and structures of metal nanoclusters. Through optimized synthesis methods, it is possible to prepare clusters with precise sizes and shapes, providing a solid foundation for subsequent research. Accurate determination of their crystal structures is crucial for understanding their behavior and designing custom functional materials. Dynamic metal nanoclusters also demonstrate potential applications in catalysis and optoelectronics. By manipulating the sizes, compositions, and surface structures of the clusters, efficient catalysts and optoelectronic materials can be designed and synthesized for various chemical reactions and energy conversion processes. This review summarizes the research progress in the synthesis methods, crystal structure characterization, and potential applications of dynamic metal nanoclusters. Various nanoclusters composed of different metal elements are introduced, and their potential applications in catalysis, optics, electronics, and energy storage are discussed. Additionally, the important role of dynamic metal nanoclusters in materials science and nanotechnology is explored, along with an overview of the future directions and challenges in this field.

Room-Temperature Spin Transport in Metal Nanocluster-Based Spin Valves.

As a new type of inorganic-organic hybrid semiconductor, quantum-confined atomically precise metal nanoclusters (MNCs) have been widely applied in the fields of chemical sensing, optical imaging, biomedicine and catalysis. Herein, we successfully design and fabricate the first example of MNC-based spin valves (SVs) that exhibit remarkable magnetoresistance (MR) value up to 1.6 % even at room temperature (300 K). The concomitant photoresponse of MNC-based SVs unambiguously confirms that the spin-polarized electron transmission takes place across the MNC interlayer. Furthermore, the spin-dependent transport property of MNC-based SVs is largely varied by changing the atomic structure of MNCs. Both experimental proofs and quantum chemistry calculations reveal that the atomic structure-discriminative spin transport behavior is attributed to the distinct spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effect of MNCs.

Room‐Temperature Spin Transport in Metal Nanocluster‐Based Spin Valves

AbstractAs a new type of inorganic‐organic hybrid semiconductor, quantum‐confined atomically precise metal nanoclusters (MNCs) have been widely applied in the fields of chemical sensing, optical imaging, biomedicine and catalysis. Herein, we successfully design and fabricate the first example of MNC‐based spin valves (SVs) that exhibit remarkable magnetoresistance (MR) value up to 1.6 % even at room temperature (300 K). The concomitant photoresponse of MNC‐based SVs unambiguously confirms that the spin‐polarized electron transmission takes place across the MNC interlayer. Furthermore, the spin‐dependent transport property of MNC‐based SVs is largely varied by changing the atomic structure of MNCs. Both experimental proofs and quantum chemistry calculations reveal that the atomic structure‐discriminative spin transport behavior is attributed to the distinct spin‐orbit coupling (SOC) effect of MNCs.

Formation of nanoclusters containing In and Sb atoms

It have been reported that in deposition onto the Si(111)-(7 x 7) reconstruction under suitable conditions resulted in the formation of the ordered In nanocluster array structure. Such ordered array structures of metal nanoclusters are promising materials for an ultra-high density recording and nanocatalysis, etc. In the present report, we deposit Sb onto the In nanocluster array structure on the Si(1 11)-(7 x 7) reconstructed surface, and observe clusters containing In and Sb atoms by STM.

Quantum effects on the structure of pure and binary metallic nanoclusters

A family of high-symmetry bimetallic clusters---recently shown to give rise to ``magic'' structures in the case of Ag-Cu and Ag-Ni nanoclusters---is investigated also in the case of Ag-Pd, Ag-Co, Au-Cu, Au-Ni, and Au-Co. Cluster structures obtained by global optimization within a semiempirical potential model are then reoptimized via density functional calculations. Sizes up to 45 atoms are considered. Ag-Cu, Ag-Ni, and Au-Ni clusters have some common characteristics. They present polyicosahedral character and achieve maximum stability at the Ag- and Au-rich compositions, when the structural arrangement is associated to a Ni(Cu)core-Ag(Au)shell chemical ordering. This is due both to the huge size mismatch between the components and a clear tendency of the larger atoms to segregate at the surface. In Au-Cu and Ag-Pd, clusters achieve their best stability at intermediate compositions, in agreement with the tendency of these metals to mix in the bulk phase. Finally, for Ag-Co and Au-Co, peculiar quantum effects favor intermediate compositions despite the fact that these metal phases separate in the bulk. These results are rationalized in terms of the interplay between electronic and volumetric effects on the structure of metallic nanoclusters.

Self-organizing processes in connection with metastable nanocluster states

In the past experimental as well as theoretical investigations have shown that the structure of metallic nanoclusters most often deviates significantly from those of the bulk. With the help of molecular dynamics calculations we demonstrate how the transition from bulk structured materials to nanostructured clusters might take place. In connection with such structural transitions one result is rather interesting: the occurrence of metastable cluster states. The conditions under which such metastable nanostructures might be possible and how their lifetime could be influenced are systematically investigated. How are the structure and the dynamics of nanoclusters changed when they transform from the metastable into the stable state? In order to answer this we calculated the structure factor and the generalized phonon density of states for the stable as well as for the metastable cluster state.