Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and first-principles calculation were used to study the heredity characteristics, evolution trend and structural stability of basic clusters during the rapid solidification of Pd₈₂Si₁₈ alloy. The local atomic structures were characterized by the pair distribution function g(r) and the extended cluster-type index method (CTIM). The MD simulations reveal that the number of bi-cap Archimedes anti-prism (BSAP) clusters with CTIM index (10 2/1441 8/1551) is dominant in the amorphous solids rather than three-cap triangular prism(TTP) with CTIM index (9 3/1441 6/1551), which is identified be the most popular basic units in Pd₈₂Si₁₈ alloys analyzed by Voronoi index Relative to other basic clusters, the Si-centered BSAP possesses much larger fraction in the glassy state of Pd₈₂Si₁₈ alloys. Different from the findings in Cu-Zr alloys, the Si-centered BSAP instead of icosahedra has a larger hereditary fraction than any other Kasper clusters. During the solidification, it was found that most of the other Si-centered basic clusters are transferred into BSAP. Via the DFT calculations, it is observed that the Si-centered basic clusters with higher fraction of heredity and possesses lower binding energy. Among of them, BSAP always keeps lower binding energy than any other Si-centered Kasper clusters during the rapid solidification, resulting in its highest structural stability and the largest heredity fraction.

The interaction of Ag atoms with a defective MgO(001) surface is systematically studied based on density functional theory. The Ag clusters are deposited on neutral and charged oxygen vacancies of the MgO(001) surface. The structures of Ag clusters take the shape of simple models of two-or three-dimensional (2D and 3D) metal particles deposited on the MgO surface. When the nucleation of the metal clusters occurs in the Fs (missing neutral O) centre, the interaction with the substrate is considerably stronger than that in the F + s (missing O − ) centre. The results show that the adsorption of Ag atoms on the MgO surface with oxygen vacancy is stronger than on a clear MgO surface, thereby attracting more Ag atoms to cluster together, and forming atomic islands.

Theoretical studies of structures, cohesive energies,reaction enthalpies and densities of states (DOSs) of Mg7TMH16 (TM=Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb) compounds are performed using the first-principles method based on the density functional theory in the generalized gradient approximation. The cohesive energies are calculated to analyze the stability, and the formation abilities of Mg7TiH16 and Mg7NbH16 are stronger than others. The obtained formation enthalpy for hydride Mg7TMH16 is used to investigate the possible pathways of formation reaction. The calculated formation enthalpy changes show that the decomposition temperature of Mg7TMH16 is lower than that of MgH2. The electronic DOSs reveal that all the hydrides studied here exhibit metallic characteristics.