1
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Van den Bossche M. Three-Center Tight-Binding Together with Multipolar Auxiliary Functions. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:2538-2550. [PMID: 38483273 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
We present an ab initio tight-binding method that allows to improve on the effective potential and minimal basis approximations employed in semiempirical calculations. Three-center expansions are used to evaluate the zeroth-order Hamiltonian matrix elements and repulsive energy terms in the spirit of the Horsfield method. Self-consistency is handled by expanding atomic orbital products in an auxiliary basis following the work of Giese and York, combined with a two-center expansion of the exchange-correlation kernels. Together with nonminimal main basis sets (double-ζ plus polarization), we show that the resulting method trades a modest amount of accuracy for a significant gain in speed, compared to that of numerical atomic orbital density functional theory, in calculations on small molecules, bulk compounds, and metal nanoclusters.
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2
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Weal GR, Guðmundsson KI, Mackenzie FD, Whiting JR, Smith NB, Skúlason E, Garden AL. Calculations of the effect of catalyst size and structure on the electrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 on Cu nanoclusters. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:5242-5256. [PMID: 38362911 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr04956f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The structure and catalytic properties of Cu nanoclusters of sizes between 55 and 147 atoms were examined to understand if small Cu clusters could provide enhancement over traditional catalysts for the electrocatalysis of CO2 to CO and carbon-based fuels, such as CH4 and CH3OH, compared to bulk Cu surfaces and large Cu nanoparticles. Clusters studied included Cu55, Cu78, Cu101, Cu124, and Cu147, the structures of which were determined using global optimisation. The majority of Cu clusters examined were icosahedral, including the perfect closed-shell, partial-shell, elongated and distorted icosahedral clusters. Free energy diagrams for the reduction of CO2 showed the potential required for the formation of CO is notably smaller for all cluster sizes considered, relative to Cu(111). Less variation is observed for the limiting potential for the formation of CH4 and CH3OH. However, it was found that clusters that are either a distorted motif or contain vacancy defects yielded the best activity and provide an interesting synthesis target for future experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey R Weal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
- The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Kristinn Ingi Guðmundsson
- Science Institute and Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Iceland, VR-III, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Frank D Mackenzie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
- The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - John R Whiting
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
- The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Nicholas B Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
- The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Egill Skúlason
- Science Institute and Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Iceland, VR-III, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Anna L Garden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
- The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
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3
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Pena LB, Da Silva LR, Da Silva JLF, Galvão BRL. Underlying mechanisms of gold nanoalloys stabilization. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:244310. [PMID: 38153152 DOI: 10.1063/5.0180906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gold nanoclusters have attracted significant attention due to their unique physical-chemical properties, which can be tuned by alloying with elements such as Cu, Pd, Ag, and Pt to design materials for various applications. Although Au-nanoalloys have promising applications, our atomistic understanding of the descriptors that drive their stability is far from satisfactory. To address this problem, we considered 55-atom model nanoalloys that have been synthesized by experimental techniques. Here, we combined data mining techniques for creating a large sample of representative configurations, density functional theory for performing total energy optimizations, and Spearman correlation analyses to identify the most important descriptors. Among our results, we have identified trends in core-shell formation in the AuCu and AuPd systems and an onion-like design in the AuAg system, characterized by the aggregation of gold atoms on nanocluster surfaces. These features are explained by Au's surface energy, packing efficiency, and charge transfer mechanisms, which are enhanced by the alloys' preference for adopting the structure of the alloying metal rather than the low-symmetry one presented by Au55. These generalizations provide insights into the interplay between electronic and structural properties in gold nanoalloys, contributing to the understanding of their stabilization mechanisms and potential applications in various fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas B Pena
- Departamento de Química, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, 30421-169 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Lucas R Da Silva
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, P.O. Box 780, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Juarez L F Da Silva
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, P.O. Box 780, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Breno R L Galvão
- Departamento de Química, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, 30421-169 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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4
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Abstract
A significant challenge in the development of functional materials is understanding the growth and transformations of anisotropic colloidal metal nanocrystals. Theory and simulations can aid in the development and understanding of anisotropic nanocrystal syntheses. The focus of this review is on how results from first-principles calculations and classical techniques, such as Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations, have been integrated into multiscale theoretical predictions useful in understanding shape-selective nanocrystal syntheses. Also, examples are discussed in which machine learning has been useful in this field. There are many areas at the frontier in condensed matter theory and simulation that are or could be beneficial in this area and these prospects for future progress are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen A Fichthorn
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Physics The Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania 16803 United States
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5
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Lourenço MP, Hostaš J, Herrera LB, Calaminici P, Köster AM, Tchagang A, Salahub DR. GAMaterial-A genetic-algorithm software for material design and discovery. J Comput Chem 2023; 44:814-823. [PMID: 36444916 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.27043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Genetic algorithms (GAs) are stochastic global search methods inspired by biological evolution. They have been used extensively in chemistry and materials science coupled with theoretical methods, ranging from force-fields to high-throughput first-principles methods. The methodology allows an accurate and automated structural determination for molecules, atomic clusters, nanoparticles, and solid surfaces, fundamental to understanding chemical processes in catalysis and environmental sciences, for instance. In this work, we propose a new genetic algorithm software, GAMaterial, implemented in Python3.x, that performs global searches to elucidate the structures of atomic clusters, doped clusters or materials and atomic clusters on surfaces. For all these applications, it is possible to accelerate the GA search by using machine learning (ML), the ML@GA method, to build subsequent populations. Results for ML@GA applied for the dopant distributions in atomic clusters are presented. The GAMaterial software was applied for the automatic structural search for the Ti6 O12 cluster, doping Al in Si11 (4Al@Si11 ) and Na10 supported on graphene (Na10 @graphene), where DFTB calculations were used to sample the complex search surfaces with reasonably low computational cost. Finally, the global search by GA of the Mo8 C4 cluster was considered, where DFT calculations were made with the deMon2k code, which is interfaced with GAMaterial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maicon Pierre Lourenço
- Departamento de Química e Física - Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde - CCENS - Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Jiří Hostaš
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Physics and Astronomy, CMS Centre for Molecular Simulation, IQST Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, Quantum Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lizandra Barrios Herrera
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Physics and Astronomy, CMS Centre for Molecular Simulation, IQST Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, Quantum Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | | | - Alain Tchagang
- Digital Technologies Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dennis R Salahub
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Physics and Astronomy, CMS Centre for Molecular Simulation, IQST Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, Quantum Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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6
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Clabaut P, Beisert M, Michel C, Steinmann SN. Beyond single-crystal surfaces: The GAL21 water/metal force field. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:194705. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0130368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Solvent effects are notoriously difficult to describe for metallic nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we introduce GAL21 which is the first pairwise additive force field that is specifically designed to modulate the near chemisorption energy of water as a function of the coordination numbers of the metallic atoms. We find a quadratic dependence to be most suitable for capturing the dependence of the adsorption energy of water on the generalized coordination number (GCN) of the metal atoms. GAL21 has been fitted against DFT adsorption energies for Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Pd, Pt, and Co on 500 configurations and validated on about 3000 configurations for each metal, constructed on five surfaces with GCNs varying from 2.5 to 11.25. Depending on the metals, the root mean square deviation is found between 0.7 kcal mol−1 (Au) to 1.6 kcal mol−1 (Ni). Using GAL21, as implemented in the open-source code CP2K, we then evaluate the solvation energy of Au55 and Pt55 NPs in water using thermodynamic integration. The solvation free energy is found to be larger for Pt than for Au and systematically larger than 200 kcal mol−1, demonstrating the large impact of solvent on the surface energetics of NPs. Still, given that the amorphous NPs are both, the most stable and the most solvated ones, we do not predict a change in the preferred morphology between the gas-phase and in water. Finally, based on a linear regression on three sizes of NPs (from 38 to 147), the solvation energy for Au and Pt surface atoms is found to be −5.2 and −9.9 kcal mol−1, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Clabaut
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie UMR 5182, 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Matthieu Beisert
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie UMR 5182, 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Carine Michel
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie UMR 5182, 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Stephan N. Steinmann
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie UMR 5182, 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
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7
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Richardi J, Fadigas M. ReaxFF Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Large Gold Nanocrystals. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:2521-2529. [PMID: 35324184 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c01211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A systematic study of gold nanocrystals is carried out using molecular dynamics simulations with reactive force fields. The nanocrystal size is varied between 2 and 10 nm with methane and butane thiolate as ligands. The reactive force fields allow investigation of the formation of staples. The simulations explain several experimental observations such as the number of staples per thiolate of about 40% and the occupation of the top adsorption sites on the facets. They also show that the frequency of staples is increased on the edges, which leads to a desorption of gold atoms from the nanocrystal edges. In contrast to previous nonreactive simulations, no difference between the distances of the ligands on the nanocrystal edges and facets is observed. Except for the 2 nm particles, the nanocrystal size and the alkane chain length of the ligands have only a small influence on the nanocrystal properties. The occupation of adsorption sites and staple frequencies are very slowly converging properties, taking more than ns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Richardi
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, LCT, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Marie Fadigas
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, LCT, 75005 Paris, France
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8
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Cao L, Guo Y, Han W, Xu W, Sai L, Fu J. Artificial neural network potential for Au 20clusters based on the first-principles. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2022; 34:174005. [PMID: 35086072 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac4f7d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The search of ground-state structures (GSSs) of gold (Au) clusters is a formidable challenge due to the complexity of potential energy surface (PES). In this work, we have built a high-dimensional artificial neural network (ANN) potential to describe the PES of Au20clusters. The ANN potential is trained through learning the GSS search process of Au20by the combination of density functional theory (DFT) method and genetic algorithm. The root mean square errors of energy and force are 7.72 meV atom-1and 217.02 meV Å-1, respectively. As a result, it can find the lowest-energy structure (LES) of Au20clusters that is consistent with previous results. Furthermore, the scalability test shows that it can predict the energy of smaller size Au16-19clusters with errors less than 22.85 meV atom-1, and for larger size Au21-25clusters, the errors are below 36.94 meV atom-1. Extra attention should be paid to its accuracy for Au21-25clusters. Applying the ANN to search the GSSs of Au16-25, we discover two new structures of Au16and Au21that are not reported before and several candidate LESs of Au16-18. In summary, this work proves that an ANN potential trained for specific size clusters could reproduce the GSS search process by DFT and be applied in the GSS search of smaller size clusters nearby. Therefore, we claim that building ANN potential based on DFT data is one of the most promising ways to effectively accelerate the GSS pre-screening of clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingzhi Cao
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibo Guo
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhua Han
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenwu Xu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Linwei Sai
- College of Science, Hohai University, Changzhou 213022, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Fu
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
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9
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Exploring energy landscapes at the DFTB quantum level using the threshold algorithm: the case of the anionic metal cluster Au$$_{20}^{-}$$. Theor Chem Acc 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00214-021-02748-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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10
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Chen D, Kang PL, Liu ZP. Active Site of Catalytic Ethene Epoxidation: Machine-Learning Global Pathway Sampling Rules Out the Metal Sites. ACS Catal 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c02029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dongxiao Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Material, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Science, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Pei-Lin Kang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Material, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Science, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhi-Pan Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Material, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Science, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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11
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12
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Lai SK, Lim CC. Neutral gold clusters studied by the isothermal Brownian-type molecular dynamics and metadynamics molecular dynamics simulations. J Comput Chem 2021; 42:310-325. [PMID: 33336370 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.26457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The DFTB theory was combined with the isothermal Brownian-type molecular dynamics (MD) and metadynamics molecular dynamics (MMD) algorithms to perform simulation studies for Au clusters. Two representative DFTB parametrizations were investigated. In one parametrization, the DFTB-A, the Slater-Koster parameters in the DFTB energy function were determined focusing on the ionic repulsive energy part, Erep and the other, the DFTB-B, due attention was paid to the electronic band-structure energy part, Eband . Minimized structures of these two parametrizations were separately applied in MD and MMD simulations to generate unbiased and biased trajectories in collective variable (CV) space, respectively. Here, we found the MD simulations monitored at 300 K manifest fluxional characteristics in planar cluster Au9 /DFTB-A, but give no discernible tracts of fluxionality for planar Au8 /DFTB-A and Au8 /DFTB-B, for nonplanar Au10 /DFTB-A and, to some extent, for nonplanar Au9 /DFTB-B; they are plausibly being hindered by higher-than kB T energy barriers. Very recent FIR-MPD spectroscopy measurements, however, were reported to have detected at 300 K both the planar and nonplanar neutral Aun clusters in the size range 5 ≤ n ≤ 13. The failure of MD simulations has prompted us to apply the MMD simulation and construct the free energy landscape (FEL) in CV space. Through scrutinizing the FELs of these clusters and their associated structures, we examine the relative importance of Erep /DFTB-A and Eband /DFTB-B in unraveling the covalent-like behavior of valence electrons in Aun . Most important of all, we shall evaluate the DFTB parametrization in MMD strategy through comparing extensively the simulation data recorded with the gas-phase experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- San Kiong Lai
- Complex Liquids Laboratory, Department of Physics, National Central University, Chungli, 320, Taiwan
| | - Chong Chiat Lim
- Complex Liquids Laboratory, Department of Physics, National Central University, Chungli, 320, Taiwan
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13
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Lim CC, Lai SK. Enantiomeric Transitions in the Chiral Cluster Au 15 Studied by a Reaction Coordinate Deduced from Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem A 2020; 124:8679-8691. [PMID: 32986413 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.0c05099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A recently developed modified basin hopping (MBH) optimization algorithm, combined with an energy function calculated by the semiempirical density functional tight-binding (DFTB) theory, was applied to determine the lowest-energy structures of Aun clusters with size n = 3-20. It was predicted from the DFTB/MBH optimization algorithm calculations that clusters Au10, Au15, and Au18 exhibit chiral properties; i.e., each of these three clusters possesses the same energy value and associated with it are two nonsuperposable mirror-image clusters. In the potential energy landscape, there thus exist multidimensional barriers separating the two enantiomers, and this lowest-energy double-well morphology is surrounded by potential-energy minima of higher energies. In this paper, we have chosen to study the chiral cluster Au15 by employing an isothermal Brownian-type molecular dynamics simulation to discern in greater detail its conformational transition from one enantiomer, say left, to its right counterpart. To facilitate our analysis of the simulation data, we transpose the multidimensional configurational space description to a lower dimensional collective variable (CV) space spanned by two geometry-relevant CVs. The thermally driven progression and mechanism of enantiomeric transitions between the left and right enantiomers will be our main focus, and the strategy is to dissect the time development of the CVs collected from different sets of independent simulation runs. From simulation data, we found that an understanding of the dynamics of enantiomeric transitions needs first to seek out the left and right enantiomers through a molecular modeling and visualizing program, then to ferret out and identify between the left and right enantiomers a symmetrical structure, and finally to define from the latter a reaction coordinate. We showed in this work that this single reaction coordinate is predictive in unraveling the left ⇌ right enantiomeric transition events, providing a specific inkling of the transition time span and its associated distribution which can be checked further for its reasonableness by the autocorrelation function and a vibrational analysis, all of which shed light on the mechanisms of transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Chiat Lim
- Complex Liquids Laboratory, Department of Physics, National Central University Chungli 320, Taiwan
| | - San Kiong Lai
- Complex Liquids Laboratory, Department of Physics, National Central University Chungli 320, Taiwan
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14
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Galvão BRL, Viegas LP, Salahub DR, Lourenço MP. Reliability of semiempirical and DFTB methods for the global optimization of the structures of nanoclusters. J Mol Model 2020; 26:303. [PMID: 33064203 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-020-04484-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we explore the possibility of using computationally inexpensive electronic structure methods, such as semiempirical and DFTB calculations, for the search of the global minimum (GM) structure of chemical systems. The basic prerequisite that these inexpensive methods will need to fulfill is that their lowest energy structures can be used as starting point for a subsequent local optimization at a benchmark level that will yield its GM. If this is possible, one could bypass the global optimization at the expensive method, which is currently impossible except for very small molecules. Specifically, we test our methods with clusters of second row elements including systems of several bonding types, such as alkali, metal, and covalent clusters. The results reveal that the DFTB3 method yields reasonable results and is a potential candidate for this type of applications. Even though the DFTB2 approach using standard parameters is proven to yield poor results, we show that a re-parametrization of only its repulsive part is enough to achieve excellent results, even when applied to larger systems outside the training set.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breno R L Galvão
- Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, CEFET-MG, Av. Amazonas 5253, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30421-169, Brazil.
| | - Luís P Viegas
- Coimbra Chemistry Center and Chemistry Department, University of Coimbra, 3004-535, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Dennis R Salahub
- Department of Chemistry, CMS - Centre for Molecular Simulation, IQST - Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Maicon P Lourenço
- Departamento de Química e Física, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde (CCENS), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo, 29500-000, Brazil
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15
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Dulong C, Madebene B, Monti S, Richardi J. Optimization of a New Reactive Force Field for Silver-Based Materials. J Chem Theory Comput 2020; 16:7089-7099. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c00480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clement Dulong
- CNRS, De la Molécule aux Nano-Objets: Réactivité, Interactions Spectroscopies, MONARIS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Madebene
- CNRS, De la Molécule aux Nano-Objets: Réactivité, Interactions Spectroscopies, MONARIS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Susanna Monti
- Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds, CNR-ICCOM, via G. Moruzzi 1, I-56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Johannes Richardi
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, LCT, Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France
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16
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Zhang J, Glezakou VA, Rousseau R, Nguyen MT. NWPEsSe: An Adaptive-Learning Global Optimization Algorithm for Nanosized Cluster Systems. J Chem Theory Comput 2020; 16:3947-3958. [PMID: 32364725 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.9b01107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Global optimization constitutes an important and fundamental problem in theoretical studies in many chemical fields, such as catalysis, materials, or separations problems. In this paper, a novel algorithm has been developed for the global optimization of large systems including neat and ligated clusters in the gas phase and supported clusters in periodic boundary conditions. The method is based on an updated artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm method, that allows for adaptive-learning during the search process. The new algorithm is tested against four classes of systems of diverse chemical nature: gas phase Au55, ligated Au82+, Au8 supported on graphene oxide and defected rutile, and a large cluster assembly [Co6Te8(PEt3)6][C60]n, with sizes ranging between 1 and 3 nm and containing up to 1300 atoms. Reliable global minima (GMs) are obtained for all cases, either confirming published data or reporting new lower energy structures. The algorithm and interface to other codes in the form of an independent program, Northwest Potential Energy Search Engine (NWPEsSe), is freely available, and it provides a powerful and efficient approach for global optimization of nanosized cluster systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | | | - Roger Rousseau
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Manh-Thuong Nguyen
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
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17
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Spiegelman F, Tarrat N, Cuny J, Dontot L, Posenitskiy E, Martí C, Simon A, Rapacioli M. Density-functional tight-binding: basic concepts and applications to molecules and clusters. ADVANCES IN PHYSICS: X 2020; 5:1710252. [PMID: 33154977 PMCID: PMC7116320 DOI: 10.1080/23746149.2019.1710252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The scope of this article is to present an overview of the Density Functional based Tight Binding (DFTB) method and its applications. The paper introduces the basics of DFTB and its standard formulation up to second order. It also addresses methodological developments such as third order expansion, inclusion of non-covalent interactions, schemes to solve the self-interaction error, implementation of long-range short-range separation, treatment of excited states via the time-dependent DFTB scheme, inclusion of DFTB in hybrid high-level/low level schemes (DFT/DFTB or DFTB/MM), fragment decomposition of large systems, large scale potential energy landscape exploration with molecular dynamics in ground or excited states, non-adiabatic dynamics. A number of applications are reviewed, focusing on -(i)- the variety of systems that have been studied such as small molecules, large molecules and biomolecules, bare orfunctionalized clusters, supported or embedded systems, and -(ii)- properties and processes, such as vibrational spectroscopy, collisions, fragmentation, thermodynamics or non-adiabatic dynamics. Finally outlines and perspectives are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernand Spiegelman
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS)and CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Nathalie Tarrat
- CEMES, Université de Toulouse (UPS), CNRS, UPR8011, Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jérôme Cuny
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS)and CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Leo Dontot
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS)and CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Evgeny Posenitskiy
- Laboratoire Collisions Agrégats et Réactivité LCAR/IRSAMC, UMR5589, Université de Toulouse (UPS) and CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Carles Martí
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS)and CNRS, Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie, UMR5182, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université de Lyon and CNRS, Lyon, France
| | - Aude Simon
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS)and CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Mathias Rapacioli
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS)and CNRS, Toulouse, France
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Rapacioli M, Spiegelman F, Tarrat N. Evidencing the relationship between isomer spectra and melting: the 20- and 55-atom silver and gold cluster cases. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:24857-24866. [PMID: 31539012 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03897c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The present work highlights the links between melting properties and structural excitation spectra of small gold and silver clusters. The heat capacity curves are computed for Ag20, Au20, Ag55, Au55 and their ions, using a parallel-tempering molecular dynamics scheme to explore the density functional based tight binding (DFTB) potential energy surfaces and the multiple histogram method. It is found that clusters having very symmetric lowest energy structures (Au20, Ag55 and their ions) present sharp or relatively sharp solid-to-liquid transitions and large melting temperatures, important structural excitation energies and a discrete isomer spectrum. Opposite trends are observed for less ordered clusters (Ag20, Au55 and their ions). Regarding the structural evolution with temperature, very symmetric clusters exhibit minor evolution up to the starting melting temperature. The present study also highlights that, in contrast with the case of Au20, a single electron excess or deficiency is not determinant regarding the melting characteristics, even quantitatively, for clusters containing 55 atoms, for gold as for silver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Rapacioli
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS) and CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France.
| | - Fernand Spiegelman
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS) and CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France.
| | - Nathalie Tarrat
- CEMES, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 29, rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France.
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Van den Bossche M. DFTB-Assisted Global Structure Optimization of 13- and 55-Atom Late Transition Metal Clusters. J Phys Chem A 2019; 123:3038-3045. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b00927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Chan CH, Poignant F, Beuve M, Dumont E, Loffreda D. A Water Solvation Shell Can Transform Gold Metastable Nanoparticles in the Fluxional Regime. J Phys Chem Lett 2019; 10:1092-1098. [PMID: 30707843 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b03822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Solvated gold nanoparticles have been modeled in the fluxional regime by density functional theory including dispersion forces for an extensive set of conventional morphologies. The study of isolated adsorption of one water molecule shows that the most stable adsorption forms are similar (corners and edges) regardless of the nanoparticle shape and size, although the adsorption strength differs significantly (0.15 eV). When a complete and explicit water solvation shell interacts with gold nanoclusters, metastable in vacuum and presenting a predominance of (100) square facets (ino-decahedra Au55 and Au147), these nanoparticles are found unstable and transform into the closest morphologies exhibiting mainly (111) triangular facets and symmetries. The corresponding adsorption strength per water molecule becomes independent of shape and size and is enhanced by the formation of two hydrogen bonds on average. For applications in radiotherapy, this study suggests that the shapes of small gold nanoparticles should be homogenized by interacting with the biological environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Hui Chan
- Univ Lyon, Ens de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5182, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 , Laboratoire de Chimie, F-69342 Lyon , France
| | - Floriane Poignant
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS5822/IN2P3, IPNL, PRISME, PHABIO, Villeurbanne 69322 , France
| | - Michaël Beuve
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS5822/IN2P3, IPNL, PRISME, PHABIO, Villeurbanne 69322 , France
| | - Elise Dumont
- Univ Lyon, Ens de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5182, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 , Laboratoire de Chimie, F-69342 Lyon , France
| | - David Loffreda
- Univ Lyon, Ens de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5182, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 , Laboratoire de Chimie, F-69342 Lyon , France
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Cuny J, Tarrat N, Spiegelman F, Huguenot A, Rapacioli M. Density-functional tight-binding approach for metal clusters, nanoparticles, surfaces and bulk: application to silver and gold. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2018; 30:303001. [PMID: 29916820 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aacd6c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Density-functional based tight-binding (DFTB) is an efficient quantum mechanical method that can describe a variety of systems, going from organic and inorganic compounds to metallic and hybrid materials. The present topical review addresses the ability and performance of DFTB to investigate energetic, structural, spectroscopic and dynamical properties of gold and silver materials. After a brief overview of the theoretical basis of DFTB, its parametrization and its transferability, we report its past and recent applications to gold and silver systems, including small clusters, nanoparticles, bulk and surfaces, bare and interacting with various organic and inorganic compounds. The range of applications covered by those studies goes from plasmonics and molecular electronics, to energy conversion and surface chemistry. Finally, perspectives of DFTB in the field of gold and silver surfaces and NPs are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Cuny
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques (LCPQ), Université de Toulouse III [UPS] and CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France
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Tarrat N, Rapacioli M, Spiegelman F. Au 147 nanoparticles: Ordered or amorphous? J Chem Phys 2018; 148:204308. [PMID: 29865846 DOI: 10.1063/1.5021785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural aspects of the Au147 cluster have been investigated through a density functional based tight binding global optimization involving a parallel tempering molecular dynamics scheme with quenching followed by geometries relaxation at the Density Functional Theory (DFT) level. The focus is put on the competition between relaxed ordered regular geometries and disordered (or amorphous) structures. The present work shows that Au147 amorphous geometries are relevant low energy candidates and are likely to contribute in finite temperature dynamics and thermodynamics. The structure of the amorphous-like isomers is discussed from the anisotropy parameters, the atomic coordinations, the radial and pair distribution functions, the IR spectra, and the vibrational DOS. With respect to the regular structures, the amorphous geometries are shown to be characterized by a larger number of surface atoms, a less dense volume with reduced coordination number per atom, a propensity to increase the dimension of flat facets at the surface, and a stronger anisotropy. Moreover, all amorphous clusters have similar IR spectra, almost continuous with active frequencies over the whole spectral range, while symmetric clusters are characterized by a few lines with large intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Tarrat
- CEMES, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 29, Rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France
| | - Mathias Rapacioli
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS) and CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Fernand Spiegelman
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS) and CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France
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Rapacioli M, Tarrat N, Spiegelman F. Melting of the Au20 Gold Cluster: Does Charge Matter? J Phys Chem A 2018; 122:4092-4098. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b12522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Rapacioli
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS) and CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Nathalie Tarrat
- CEMES, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France
| | - Fernand Spiegelman
- Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique Quantiques LCPQ/IRSAMC, UMR5626, Université de Toulouse (UPS) and CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France
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Surface-Charge Dependent Orientation of Water at the Interface of a Gold Electrode: A Cluster Study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1515/zpch-2018-1136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
A gold/water interface has been investigated with the DFT-based self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding (SCC-DFTB) method using a cluster model. Born–Oppenheimer molecular-dynamics simulations for mono-, bi-, and trilayers of water on the surface of a Au55 cluster have been computed. We have demonstrated the applicability of this method to the study of the structural and dynamical properties of the gold/water-multilayer interface. The results of the simulations clearly show the charge-dependent orientation and the corresponding polarization of the water sphere around the gold cluster. However, it was also shown that this polarization is restricted almost only to the first solvation shell. This illustrates the rather short-range screening behavior of water. The present study builds the basis for further investigations of metal/electrolyte interfaces on a reliable atomistic level, avoiding the problems of spurious artifacts in models using periodic boundary conditions.
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Schebarchov D, Baletto F, Wales DJ. Structure, thermodynamics, and rearrangement mechanisms in gold clusters-insights from the energy landscapes framework. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:2004-2016. [PMID: 29319705 PMCID: PMC5901115 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr07123j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We consider finite-size and temperature effects on the structure of model AuN clusters (30 ≤ N ≤ 147) bound by the Gupta potential. Equilibrium behaviour is examined in the harmonic superposition approximation, and the size-dependent melting temperature is also bracketed using molecular dynamics simulations. We identify structural transitions between distinctly different morphologies, characterised by various defect features. Reentrant behaviour and trends with respect to cluster size and temperature are discussed in detail. For N = 55, 85, and 147 we visualise the topography of the underlying potential energy landscape using disconnectivity graphs, colour-coded by the cluster morphology; and we use discrete path sampling to characterise the rearrangement mechanisms between competing structures separated by high energy barriers (up to 1 eV). The fastest transition pathways generally involve metastable states with multiple fivefold disclinations and/or a high degree of amorphisation, indicative of melting. For N = 55 we find that reoptimising low-lying minima using density functional theory (DFT) alters their energetic ordering and produces a new putative global minimum at the DFT level; however, the equilibrium structure predicted by the Gupta potential at room temperature is consistent with previous experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Schebarchov
- University Chemical Laboratories, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - F Baletto
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
| | - D J Wales
- University Chemical Laboratories, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
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Carbonnière P, Rérat M, Spiegelman F, Thakkar AJ. Structure prediction of nanoclusters from global optimization techniques: Computational strategies and connection to experiments. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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