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Alkali metal‐doped boron clusters have captured much attention because of their novel electronic properties and structural evolution. In the study of RbBn0/− (n = 2–12) clusters, the minimum global search of the potential energy surface and structure optimization at the level of PBE1PBE by using the CALYPSO method and Gaussian package coupled with DFT calculation; the geometrical structures and electronic properties are systematically investigated. At n = 8, the ground‐state structures are composed of an Rb atom above B atoms, forming a structurally stable pagoda cone. By stability analysis and charge transfer calculation, the RbB8− cluster shows more stability. It found that s‐p hybridization between Rb atom and B atoms as well as s‐p hybridization between B atoms is one of the reasons for the outstanding stability exhibited in the RbB80/− clusters by using DOS and HOMO–LUMO orbital contour maps. The chemical bonding of the RbB80/− groups was analyzed by using the AdNDP method, and B atoms with larger numbers readily form multi‐center chemical bonds with the Rb atom. From the results of the bonding analysis, the interaction between the Rb atom and B atoms strengthens the stability of the RbB80/− clusters. It is hoped that this work provides a direction for experimental manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we used CALYPSO program which is conjuncted with DFT to investigate Li doped small-sized neutral Bn clusters. From ground-state and low energy structures, the properties and geometric significance of Li-doped boron clusters are greatly affected. Except for LiB9, which adds a B atom on preceding LiB8 boron wheel, the ground-state clusters of LiBn are formed by replacing the terminal boron atom of the Bn+1 clusters in the same size with a Li atom or by adding a Li atom to the Bn clusters. The transition point from 2 to 3D configuration of LiBn clusters appears at n = 5. The stability of LiBn clusters was analyzed by calculating the average binding energy, Gibbs free energy, first-order differential energy, second-order differential energy, HOMO–LUMO gap (the energy gap between the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) and charge transfer. The results show that the LiB11 cluster with excellent symmetry and planar structure is the relative most stable structure. Molecular orbital and chemical bonding analysis indicated that the main reason for the stability of the LiB11 cluster is mainly due to the strong s-p bonding of B–B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the geometric structure and physicochemical properties of Li2Bn0/− (n = 1–12) clusters were investigated using CALYPSO structure prediction software in combination with density functional theory at B3LYP/6-311G level. The results suggest that the doping of Li atoms has a significant effect on the ground state geometry of the Bn clusters. The stability changes with the increase in the number of boron atoms. Then two stable ground state structures, Li2B8 and Li2B9−, are selected for further analyzing their molecular orbitals and bonding properties. It is demonstrated that the stability of the Li2Bn0/− (n = 1–12) clusters originates from the s–p hybridization between B–B and Li–B. It is expected that this work can provide some references for future research on boron-based nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elastic anisotropy and thermodynamic properties of the recently synthesized Pnnm-CN have been investigated using first-principles calculations under high temperature and high pressure. The calculated equilibrium crystal parameters and normalized volume dependence of the resulting pressure agree with available experimental and theoretical results. Within the considered pressure range of 0–90 GPa, the dependences of the bulk modulus, Young’s modulus, and shear modulus on the crystal orientation for Pnnm-CN have been systematically studied. The results show that the Pnnm-CN exhibits a well-pronounced elastic anisotropy. The incompressibility is largest along the c-axis. For tension or compression loading, the Pnnm-CN is stiffest along [001] and the most obedient along [100] direction. On the basis of the quasi-harmonic Debye model, we have explored the Debye temperature, heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficient, and Grüneisen parameters within the pressure range of 0–90 GPa and temperature range of 0–1600K.

Projects about magnesium-based doped of transition metal have constantly attracted much attention in cluster science, while the research of Co, Fe, Ni doped Mid-Sized Mg16 clusters has not been reported. Here, the geometric construction and electronic properties of neutral and negative Mg16X (X = Co, Fe, Ni) clusters were researched by unbiased CALYPSO structure search codes and subsequent DFT calculations at the B3PW91 level. The results show that Fe and Co atoms are more likely to replace the central bits of the caged Mg170/− cluster, but the excellent and stable configuration of the Mg170/− cluster is perfectly maintained. Simultaneously, the doping of Co and Fe can cause the cluster to produce the corresponding magnetic moment. The caged Mg16Co− clusters with a central Co atom have good binding energy, local charge transfer and HOMO–LUMO gap according to stability analysis, which indicates that Mg16Co− clusters has better relative stability. In addition, it is found that there is an intense interaction between Mg-3s, p and Co-3d AO (molecular orbitals) through the analysis of molecular orbitals and adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP), which may be the main reason for the high stability of Mg16Co− clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the unbiased crystal structure analysis by particle swarm optimisation (CALYPSO) combined with the density functional theory (DFT) method were used to perform a structure search for neutral Cs2Bn (n = 1–12) clusters, as well as the corresponding global minimum of the potential energy surface were determined. The ground-state structures of the Cs2Bn (n = 1–12) clusters have four types of geometries: planar, arch bridge, double pyramid, and shield shape. Subsequently, the relative stability of the ground-state structures was systematically analysed based on three effective rules, which indicates that the C7V Cs2B8 with a double pyramid structure has unusual stability. The results of the molecular orbitals (MOs) and density of states analysis (DOS) show that the B-2s and 2p atomic orbitals of Cs2B8 are the main components of MOs. In addition, from the results of adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP) and localised orbital locator (LOL), it can be seen that the excellent stability of Cs2B8 originates from the delocalised large π bonds with aromaticity and the s–p bonding of B–B. Our results reveal the structural growth mode of Cs2Bn clusters and enrich the chemical bonding properties of boron-based clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Divalent metal clusters, such as alkaline-earth metal clusters, have drawn extensive attention because of the appealing size-evoked nonmetal-to-metal transition and attractive characters related to the size, shape, and doping of clusters. Herein, the structural properties of small-size neutral and anionic Mgn+1 and BaMgn (n = 2–10) clusters are investigated thoroughly through a combination of the CALYPSO software package and DFT optimization. The final calculation results indicate that with the increase in Mg atom number, Ba atoms are inclined to substitute Mg atoms located at the skeleton convex cap. What is worth mentioning is that BaMg9 cluster which presents tower framework possesses excellent stability in specified size range on account of the detailed analysis of bond energy, second-order energy difference, and the charge transfer. In addition, the analysis of the bonding characteristics manifests that the strong s–p interaction between Ba and Mg atomic orbitals is conducive to the improvement in the stability of BaMg9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimetallic clusters have received extensive attention due to the changes in their properties and structures. Therefore, the structure and electronic configuration of medium-size Sr-doped magnesium clusters were studied in this work. The CALYPSO (crystal structure analysis by particle swarm optimization) algorithm and DFT (density functional theory) were applied to search, correct energy, and optimize geometry for stable low-energy structures. We described the structural evolution and characteristics of SrmMgn0/− (m = 1,2; n = 10–15) clusters, and found that a few ground-state isomers can maintain the same structure framework as the corresponding pure magnesium clusters. Through relative stability analysis, the SrMg13− cluster with a pyramid shape and Sr2Mg11 cluster with a pagoda-like shape were determined to be the most stable structures. Further analysis of the molecular orbitals and bonding characteristics of SrMg13− and Sr2Mg11 clusters also revealed a strong interaction between Sr and Mg atoms and the s–p bonding of Mg–Mg, which may be the main reason for the high stability of these clusters. We hope that this study will provide guidance for future doping of pure magnesium clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the electronic structure, optical properties and thermoelectric properties of the GeI2 monolayer are calculated by the first principles with the Boltzmann transport equation. The monolayer is calculated as an indirect band gap semiconductor with an indirect band gap of a value 2.19 eV. This GeI2 monolayer is good for absorbing low-energy photons, and it is insensitive to high-energy photons. The material is stable at temperatures up to 600 K, so we calculated the thermal conductivity (KL), Seebeck coefficient (S), power factor (PF) and thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of the GeI2 monolayer at various carrier concentrations from 300 to 600 K. Due to the lower group velocity, the GeI2 monolayer has a lower thermal conductivity of 0.48 W/m K at 300K. In P-type doping, the power factor can up to 0.11 mW/m K2, and its ZT value is 4.04 at 600 K of the GeI2 monolayer, indicating that the GeI2 monolayer is a potential thermoelectric material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]