Theoretical and experimental characterization of structures of MnAu nanoclusters in the size range of 1-3 nm

Rulong Zhou, Xiaohui Wei, Kai He, Jeffrey E. Shield, David J. Sellmyer, Xiao Cheng Zeng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Relative stabilities of MnAu magic-number nanoclusters with 55, 147, 309, and 561 atoms and highly symmetric morphologies (cuboctahedron, icosahedron, onion-like, and core-shell, respectively) are investigated based on density functional theory methods. Through an extensive search, spin arrangements on Mn atoms that give rise to lowest-energy clusters are predicted. The antiferromagnetic spin configurations are found to be the most favorable for all morphologies investigated. The energy rankings among MnAu nanoclusters with the same size and Mn/Au ratio but different morphologies are also determined. The L1 0 structure is found to be increasingly favorable as the size increases from 1.0 to 2.9 nm, consistent with experimental measurements of MnAu nanoparticles in the size range of 1.8-4.6 nm. The decahedron L1 0 morphology is found to be energetically more preferred when the Mn/Au ratio is close to 1:2, whereas the cuboctahedron L1 0 morphology is more preferred when the Mn/Au ratio is close to 1:1. The calculated lattice constants are in excellent agreement with high-resolution TEM measurements for MnAu nanoparticles of similar size. Magnetic states of MnAu nanoclusters are predicted to be stable at room temperature based on estimated Curie or Neél temperature.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9966-9976
Number of pages11
JournalACS Nano
Volume5
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 27 2011

Keywords

  • L1 morphology
  • MnAu nanoclusters
  • antiferromagnetic
  • density functional theory
  • high-resolution TEM measurements
  • magic-number clusters

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • General Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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