Structure, thermodynamics, and rearrangement mechanisms in gold clusters-insights from the energy landscapes framework.

ABSTRACT: We consider finite-size and temperature effects on the structure of model Au_N 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 comp

SUBMITTER: Schebarchov D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5901115 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature