Structural properties of sub-nanometer metallic clusters

Abstract

At the nanoscale, the investigation of structural features becomes fundamental as we can establish relationships between cluster geometries and their physicochemical properties. The peculiarity lies in the variety of shapes often unusual and far from any geometrical and crystallographic intuition clusters can assume. In this respect, we should treat and consider nanoparticles as a new form of matter. Nanoparticle structures depend on their size, chemical composition, ordering, as well as external conditions e.g. synthesis method, pressure, temperature, support. On top of that, at finite temperatures nanoparticles can fluctuate among different structures, opening new and exciting horizons for the design of optimal nanoparticles for advanced applications. This article aims to overview geometrical features of transition metal clusters and of their various rearrangements.

The transformation of cuboctahedral to icosahedral nanoparticles: atomic structure and dynamics

“…Barriers were found to be accessible at room temperature up to Ni 561 and Cu 561 , while higher barriers were found for Pd, Pt, Au and Ag. [27][28][29] Barreteau et al found energy barriers for Pd 147 and Rh 147 to be larger than 4 eV and larger than 10 eV for Pd 309 and Rh 309 using a tight binding approach. 30 This work is organized as follows.…”

Evidencing the relationship between isomer spectra and melting: the 20- and 55-atom silver and gold cluster cases

“…The most stable structures reported for different cluster sizes exhibit either very regular shape (e.g. Au 20 or Ag 55 ) or amorphous patterns 50 . As an example, it has been reported that Au 55 could present cavities below its outer shell 33,48,51 and a competition between ordered and disordered geometries has been evidenced in the case of Au 147 33,52 .…”

Enhanced Methanol Electro‐Oxidation Activity of Nanoclustered Gold

“…Moreover, the crystallization of the Au NCs structures likely occurs more easily in the gas‐phase where Au clusters are free from any gas or support interaction. [ 63 ] The dispersion of these naked clusters is preserved upon soft landing on the FTO surface. The high stability of these (quasi)crystalline structures makes them resistant to oxidation during the CV scans avoiding their deactivation by surface restructuring.…”