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Large-scale atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide an exceptional opportunity to advance the fundamental understanding of carbon under extreme conditions of high pressures and temperatures. However, the fidelity of these simulations depends heavily on the accuracy of classical interatomic potentials governing the dynamics of many-atom systems. This study critically assesses several popular empirical potentials for carbon, as well as machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs), in their ability to simulate a range of physical properties at high pressures and temperatures, including the diamond equation of state, its melting line, shock Hugoniot, uniaxial compressions, and the structure of liquid carbon. Empirical potentials fail to accurately predict the behavior of carbon under high pressure–temperature conditions. In contrast, MLIPs demonstrate quantum accuracy, with Spectral Neighbor Analysis Potential (SNAP) and atomic cluster expansion (ACE) being the most accurate in reproducing the density functional theory results. ACE displays remarkable transferability despite not being specifically trained for extreme conditions. Furthermore, ACE and SNAP exhibit superior computational performance on graphics processing unit-based systems in billion atom MD simulations, with SNAP emerging as the fastest. In addition to offering practical guidance in selecting an interatomic potential with a fine balance of accuracy, transferability, and computational efficiency, this work also highlights transformative opportunities for groundbreaking scientific discoveries facilitated by quantum-accurate MD simulations with MLIPs on emerging exascale supercomputers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physics-based, atom-centered machine learning (ML) representations have been instrumental to the effective integration of ML within the atomistic simulation community. Many of these representations build off the idea of atoms as having spherical, or isotropic, interactions. In many communities, there is often a need to represent groups of atoms, either to increase the computational efficiency of simulation via coarse-graining or to understand molecular influences on system behavior. In such cases, atom-centered representations will have limited utility, as groups of atoms may not be well-approximated as spheres. In this work, we extend the popular Smooth Overlap of Atomic Positions (SOAP) ML representation for systems consisting of non-spherical anisotropic particles or clusters of atoms. We show the power of this anisotropic extension of SOAP, which we deem AniSOAP, in accurately characterizing liquid crystal systems and predicting the energetics of Gay–Berne ellipsoids and coarse-grained benzene crystals. With our study of these prototypical anisotropic systems, we derive fundamental insights on how molecular shape influences mesoscale behavior and explain how to reincorporate important atom–atom interactions typically not captured by coarse-grained models. Moving forward, we propose AniSOAP as a flexible, unified framework for coarse-graining in complex, multiscale simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an Atomic Cluster Expansion (ACE) machine learned potential developed for high-fidelity atomistic simulations of hydrocarbons, targeting pressures and temperatures near and above supercritical fluid regimes for molecular fluids. A diverse set of stoichiometries were covered in training, including 1:0 (pure carbon), 1:4 (methane), and 1:1 (benzene), and rich bonding environments sampled at supercritical temperatures, hydrogen rich, reactive mixtures where metastable stoichiometries arise, including 1:2 (ethylene) and 1:3 (ethane). A high-fidelity training database was constructed by performing large-scale quantum molecular dynamic simulations [density functional theory (DFT) MD] of diamond, graphite, methane, and benzene. A novel approach to selecting structures from DFT MD is also presented, which allows for the rapid selection of unique DFT MD frames from complex trajectories. Comparisons to DFT and experimental data demonstrate that the presented ACE potential accurately reproduces isotherms, carbon melting curves, radial distribution functions, and shock Hugoniots for carbon and hydrocarbon systems for pressures up to 100 GPa and temperatures up to 6000 K for hydrocarbon systems and up to 9000 K for pure carbon systems. This work delivers a potential that can be used for accurate, large-scale simulations of shocked hydrocarbons and demonstrates a methodology for fitting and validating machine learning interatomic potentials to complex molecular environments, which can be applied to energetic materials in future works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomistic simulations often rely on interatomic potentials to access greater time and length scales than those accessible to first-principles methods, such as density functional theory. However, since a parameterized potential typically cannot reproduce the true potential energy surface of a given system, we should expect a decrease in accuracy and increase in error in quantities of interest calculated from these simulations. Quantifying the uncertainty on the outputs of atomistic simulations is thus an important, necessary step so that there is confidence in the results and available metrics to explore improvements in said simulations. Here, we address this research question by forming ensembles of atomic cluster expansion potentials, and using conformal prediction with ab initio training data to provide meaningful, calibrated error bars on several quantities of interest for silicon: the bulk modulus, elastic constants, relaxed vacancy formation energy, and the vacancy migration barrier. We evaluate the effects on uncertainty bounds using a range of different potentials and training sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point Group (PG) symmetries play a fundamental role in many aspects of theoretical chemistry and computational materials science. With the objective to automatize the search of PG symmetry operations of generic atomic clusters, we present a new algorithm called Symmetry Operation FInder (SOFI). SOFI addresses the problem of identifying PG symmetry by framing it as a degenerate shape-matching problem, where the multiple solutions correspond to distinct symmetry operations. The developed algorithm is compared against three other algorithms dedicated to PG identification on a large set of atomic clusters. The results, along with some illustrative use cases, showcase the effectiveness of SOFI. The SOFI algorithm is released as part of the iterative rotations and assignments library, accessible at https://github.com/mammasmias/IterativeRotationsAssignments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a four-component relativistic unitary coupled cluster method for atoms and molecules. We have used commutator-based non-perturbative approximation using the "Bernoulli expansion" to derive an approximation to the relativistic unitary coupled cluster method. The performance of the full quadratic unitary coupled-cluster singles and doubles method (qUCCSD), as well as a perturbative approximation variant (UCC3), has been reported for both energies and properties. It can be seen that both methods give results comparable to those of the standard relativistic coupled cluster method. The qUCCSD method shows better agreement with experimental results due to the better inclusion of relaxation effects. The relativistic UCC3 and qUCCSD methods can simulate the spin-forbidden transition with easy access to transition properties. A natural spinor-based scheme to reduce the computational cost of relativistic UCC3 and qUCCSD methods has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, natural orbital functional (NOF) approximations have emerged as prominent tools for characterizing electron correlation. Despite their effectiveness, these approaches, which rely on natural orbitals and their associated occupation numbers, often require hybridization with other methods to fully account for all correlation effects. Recently, a global NOF (GNOF) has been proposed [Piris, Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 233001 (2021)] to comprehensively address both dynamic and static correlations. This study evaluates the performance of GNOF on strongly correlated model systems, including comparisons with highly accurate Full Configuration Interaction calculations for hydrogen atom clusters in one, two, and three dimensions. Additionally, the investigation extends to a BeH2 reaction, involving the insertion of a beryllium atom into a hydrogen molecule along a C2v pathway. According to the results obtained using GNOF, consistent behavior is observed across various correlation regions, encompassing a range of occupations and orbital schemes. Furthermore, distinctive features are identified when varying the dimensionality of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a method to compute photon–matter interaction and atomic dynamics with x-ray lasers using a hybrid code based on classical molecular dynamics and collisional-radiative calculations. The forces between the atoms are dynamically determined based on changes to their electronic occupations and the formation of a free electron cloud created from the irradiation of photons in the x-ray spectrum. The rapid transition from neutral solid matter to dense plasma phase allows the use of screened potentials, reducing the number of non-bonded interactions. In combination with parallelization through domain decomposition, the hybrid code handles large-scale molecular dynamics and ionization. This method is applicable for large enough samples (solids, liquids, proteins, viruses, atomic clusters, and crystals) that, when exposed to an x-ray laser pulse, turn into a plasma in the first few femtoseconds of the interaction. We present four examples demonstrating the applicability of the method. We investigate the non-thermal heating and scattering of bulk water and damage-induced dynamics of a protein crystal using an x-ray pump–probe scheme. In both cases, we compare to the experimental data. For single particle imaging, we simulate the ultrafast dynamics of a methane cluster exposed to a femtosecond x-ray laser. In the context of coherent diffractive imaging, we study the fragmentation as given by an x-ray pump–probe setup to understand the evolution of radiation damage in the time range of hundreds of femtoseconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal orientation and the temperature of the substrate are crucial factors that influence clusters deposition and, consequently, the properties of thin films. In this study, the molecular dynamics simulation method was employed to investigate the deposition of Cu55 clusters on Fe(001), Fe(011), and Fe(111) substrates with varying crystal orientations. The incident energies used ranged from 0.1 to 20.0 eV/atom, and the substrates were maintained at temperatures of 300, 500, and 800 K. Analysis of cluster and substrate atom snapshots, along with the physical properties of clusters, revealed how the crystal orientation of Fe substrates affects the morphology and structure of the cluster at different temperatures. Additionally, specific microscopic mechanisms responsible for these effects were identified. The simulation results demonstrate that the crystal orientation of Fe substrate significantly influences the deposition of Cu55 clusters. The structures of the clusters on the three crystal substrates undergo similar changes as the substrate temperature increases, with the Cu55 clusters on the Fe(111) substrate exhibiting the most significant changes in response to the temperature rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts were shown to be very sensitive to the basis set used at the geometry optimization stage. Commonly used energy-optimized basis sets for a phosphorus atom containing only one polarization d-function were shown to be unable to provide correct equilibrium geometries for the calculations of phosphorus chemical shifts. The use of basis sets with at least two polarization d-functions on a phosphorus atom is strongly recommended. In this paper, an idea of creating the basis sets purposed for the geometry optimization that provide the least possible error coming from the geometry factor of accuracy in the resultant NMR shielding constants is proposed. The property-energy consisted algorithm with the target function in the form of the molecular energy gradient relative to P–P bond lengths was applied to create new geometry-oriented pecG-n (n = 1, 2) basis sets for a phosphorus atom. New basis sets have demonstrated by far superior performance as compared to the other commonly used energy-optimized basis sets in massive calculations of 31P NMR chemical shifts carried out at the gauge-including atomic orbital-coupled cluster singles and doubles/pecS-2 level of the theory by taking into account solvent, vibrational, and relativistic corrections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal transport in wurtzite aluminum nitride (w-AlN) significantly affects the performance and reliability of corresponding electronic devices, particularly when lattice strains inevitably impact the thermal properties of w-AlN in practical applications. To accurately model the thermal properties of w-AlN with high efficiency, we develop a machine learning interatomic potential based on the atomic cluster expansion (ACE) framework. The predictive power of the ACE potential against density functional theory (DFT) is demonstrated across a broad range of properties of w-AlN, including ground-state lattice parameters, specific heat capacity, coefficients of thermal expansion, bulk modulus, and harmonic phonon dispersions. Validation of lattice thermal conductivity is further carried out by comparing the ACE-predicted values to the DFT calculations and experiments, exhibiting the overall capability of our ACE potential in sufficiently describing anharmonic phonon interactions. As a practical application, we perform a lattice dynamics analysis using the potential to unravel the effects of biaxial strains on thermal conductivity and phonon properties of w-AlN, which is identified as a significant tuning factor for near-junction thermal design of w-AlN-based electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscale magnesium clusters are important potential hydrogen storage materials, and density functional theory (DFT) is mainly used for their theoretical investigation. The results of the coupled-cluster theory at the singles and doubles level with a perturbative treatment of triples [CCSD(T)] were employed previously to choose proper exchange–correlation (XC) functionals in DFT calculations for magnesium clusters, but it is too expensive to be applied to Mgn with n > 7. The diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) method is employed in this work to study magnesium clusters up to nanosize. The error of atomization energies with DMC using single-determinant-Jastrow (SDJ) trial wavefunctions has been shown to be somewhat larger than that of CCSD(T) for many molecules. However, cohesive energies with DMC using SDJ for Mgn with n ≤ 7 are in excellent agreement with those of CCSD(T) using the aug-cc-pVQZ basis set, with a difference of less than 1 kcal/mol. DMC results are employed to investigate the performance of different XC functionals on magnesium clusters. Our results indicate that the PBE0 functional is the best XC functional for determining the lowest-energy isomer when compared with DMC results, while the RPBE functional is the best XC functional for calculating cohesive energies per atom of these magnesium clusters with a mean absolute error of 0.5 kcal/mol. These XC functionals are expected to provide reasonable results for even larger magnesium clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce ACEpotentials.jl, a Julia-language software package that constructs interatomic potentials from quantum mechanical reference data using the Atomic Cluster Expansion [R. Drautz, Phys. Rev. B 99, 014104 (2019)]. As the latter provides a complete description of atomic environments, including invariance to overall translation and rotation as well as permutation of like atoms, the resulting potentials are systematically improvable and data efficient. Furthermore, the descriptor's expressiveness enables use of a linear model, facilitating rapid evaluation and straightforward application of Bayesian techniques for active learning. We summarize the capabilities of ACEpotentials.jl and demonstrate its strengths (simplicity, interpretability, robustness, performance) on a selection of prototypical atomistic modelling workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique physical properties of carbyne, a novel carbon nanostructure, have attracted considerable interest in modern nanotechnology. While carbyne synthesis has been accomplished successfully using diverse techniques, the underlying mechanisms governing the carbon monoxide-dependent catalytic synthesis of endohedral carbyne remain poorly understood. In this simulation-based study, we investigate the synthesis of endohedral carbyne from carbon and carbon monoxide radicals in the presence of a nickel catalyst inside double-walled carbon nanotubes with a (5,5)@(10,10) structure. The outcome of our investigation demonstrates that the incorporation of the carbon atom within the Nin@(5,5)@(10,10) model system initiates the formation of an elongated carbon chain. In contrast, upon the introduction of carbon monoxide radicals, the growth of the carbyne chain is inhibited as a result of the oxidation of endohedral nickel clusters by oxygen atoms after the initial steps of nucleation. Our findings align with prior theoretical, simulation, and experimental investigations, reinforcing their consistency and providing valuable insights into the synthesis of carbyne-based nanodevices that hold promising potential for future advancements in nanotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

$ ({\rm La}_2 {\rm O}_3)_{\rm n} $ (La 2 O 3) n (n=1-5) clusters have been computationally studied using DFT and TDDFT with B3LYP functional under hybrid GGA approximation and LANL2DZ basis set. The doping effect of various elements like Ba, Y and Hf on the structural, electronic and non-linear optical (NLO) properties of $ ({\rm La}_2 {\rm O}_3)_{\rm n} $ (La 2 O 3) n clusters has been studied for finding their optoelectronic applications. Different optimised geometries of $ ({\rm La}_2 {\rm O}_3)_{\rm n} $ (La 2 O 3) n and Ba, Y and Hf doped $ ({\rm La}_2 {\rm O}_3)_{\rm n} $ (La 2 O 3) n clusters have been obtained. HOMO-LUMO gap $ (\Delta \mathcal {E}) $ (Δ E) and chemical hardness (τ) of $ ({\rm La}_2 {\rm O}_3)_{\rm n} $ (La 2 O 3) n clusters decreases significantly with doping of Ba, Y and Hf atoms making these clusters very reactive. Refractive index and the absorption in UV–VIS region of electromagnetic spectra of Ba, Y and Hf doped $ ({\rm La}_2 {\rm O}_3)_{\rm n} $ (La 2 O 3) n clusters increases as compared to $ ({\rm La}_2 {\rm O}_3)_{\rm n} $ (La 2 O 3) n clusters making these clusters suitable to be used as additives in the manufacturing of various types of glasses. Also, dielectric constant (ϵ) of Ba, Y and Hf doped $ ({\rm La}_2 {\rm O}_3)_{\rm n} $ (La 2 O 3) n clusters increases finding their applications to be used in the oxide layer of MOSFETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The charging behavior of molecular Au clusters protected by alkanethiolate (SCnH2n+1=SCn) is, under electrochemical conditions, significantly affected by the penetration of solvents and electrolytes into the SCn layer. In this study, we estimated the charging energy EC(n) associated with [PtAu24(SCn)18]−+e−→[PtAu24(SCn)18]2− (n=4, 8, 12, and 16) in vacuum using mass‐selected gas‐phase anion photoelectron spectroscopy of [PtAu24(SCn)18]z (z=−1 and −2). The EC(n) values of PtAu24(SCn)18 in vacuum are significantly larger than those in solution and decrease with n in contrast to the behavior reported for Au25(SCn)18 in solution. The effective relative permittivity (ϵm*) of the SCn layer in vacuum is estimated to be 2.3–2.0 based on the double‐concentric‐capacitor model. Much smaller ϵm* values in vacuum than those in solution are explained by the absence of solvent/electrolyte penetration into the monolayer. The gradual decrease of ϵm* with n is ascribed to the appearance of an exposed surface region due to the bundle formation of long alkyl chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of atom clusters and single atoms into a unified system represents a desirable approach for attaining enhanced catalytic performance. Nonetheless, the controllable synthesis of a single‐atom and nanocluster integrated system (SA‐NC) faces considerable challenges, and the mechanisms underlying the catalytic activity remain poorly understood. In this research, a cobalt‐based catalyst containing both coordinatively unsaturated single‐atom (CoN3) and small nanoclusters (Co@SA‐NC) is synthesized. The Co@SA‐NC not only facilitates charge and mass transfer due to the interconnected long‐range micromorphology, thus endowing efficient oxygen electrocatalytic reaction (ORR/OER), but also undergoes surface reconfiguration upon OH adsorption at high potentials in alkaline ORR/OER conditions. More appealingly, this OH‐involved reconfigured adaptive structure promotes optimization of energy barriers owing to the dynamic regulation from the bridged OH between Co single‐atom and cluster in the whole reaction process. Specific to the application metrics, a zinc–air battery assembled using the Co@SA‐NC catalyst exhibit targeted power density enhancement with 270 mW cm−2 in an alkaline medium. This work offers an effective insight into the study of SA‐NC catalytic reaction pathways for efficient ORR/OER catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth (Bi) has attracted widespread attention for sodium storage due to its high electronic/ionic conductivity, suitable reaction potential, and theoretical capacity (386 mAh g−1). However, Bi electrodes have a relatively high volumetric expansion ratio, which constrains their high capacity and affects the battery's cycle performance. Herein, a highly dispersed Bi atomic cluster is controllably prepared anchored on a porous TiO2 substrate through in situ segregation from Bi4Ti3O12 (TiO2/BiAC). The highly dispersed Bi clusters can serve as an “Ionic sponge” and accommodate more Na+ without causing excessive stress. Additionally, it aids in the decomposition of NaPF6, leading to the formation of a durable solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer rich in inorganic components. As expected, TiO2/BiAC exhibits excellent sodium storage performance in terms of cycling stability (346 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles@ 1A g−1) and rate capability (231 mAh g−1 @ 100 A g−1). The pouch cell is further assembled and exhibits a specific capacity of 1.2 Ah after 200 cycles. This discovery presents a new method for developing efficient anode materials and is essential for steering the advancement of anode materials with fast charge–discharge capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries stand out as a promising candidate for future energy storage, characterized by their notable energy density and affordability. However, the impediments raised by polysulfide shuttling and sluggish reaction kinetics pose substantial challenges to the widespread implementation of this technology. Herein, a unique Fe–Co bimetallic single‐atom‐cluster catalyst (FeCo‐SACC) for Li–S batteries are developed. The synergistic integration of single atoms and clusters guarantees not only a commendable specific catalytic activity but also a high metal loading of up to 25 wt%. Meanwhile, the intermetallic interactions regulate the electronic structure, enabling higher sulfur affinity and faster conversion kinetics. The unique 3D‐ordered mesoporous (3DOM) carbon architecture further affords conducive sulfur accommodation, efficient active site exposure, and facile ion/mass transfer. As a result, facile and stable sulfur electrochemistry is realized, contributing to excellent cyclability over 1000 cycles and rate capability up to 5 C. Decent cell performances can still be achievable under practical criteria, e.g., high sulfur loading of 15 mg cm−2, lean electrolyte of 4.6 µL mg−1, and 1.91‐Ah pouch configuration. This work establishes a novel paradigm for the development of advanced sulfur electrocatalysts and high‐performance Li–S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a global optimization program named PGA based on particle swarm optimization algorithm coupled with genetic operators for the structures of atomic clusters. The effectiveness and efficiency of the PGA program can be demonstrated by efficiently obtaining the tetrahedral Au20 and double‐ring tubular B20, and identifying the ground state ZrSi17–20−$$ {\mathrm{ZrSi}}_{17\hbox{--} 20}^{-} $$ clusters through the comparison between the simulated and the experimental photoelectron spectra (PESs). Then, the PGA was applied to search for the global minimum structures of Mgn−$$ {\mathrm{Mg}}_n^{-} $$ (n = 3–30) clusters, new structures have been found for sizes n = 6, 7, 12, 14, and medium‐sized 21–30 were first determined. The high consistency between the simulated spectra and the experimental ones once again demonstrates the efficiency of the PGA program. Based on the ground‐state structures of these Mgn−$$ {\mathrm{Mg}}_n^{-} $$ (n = 3–30) clusters, their structural evolution and electronic properties were subsequently explored. The performance on Au20, B20, ZrSi17–20−$$ {\mathrm{ZrSi}}_{17\hbox{--} 20}^{-} $$, and Mgn−$$ {\mathrm{Mg}}_n^{-} $$ (n = 3–30) clusters indicates the promising potential of the PGA program for exploring the global minima of other clusters. The code is available for free upon request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing atomically dispersed metal on nitrogen‐doped carbon (M─N─C) catalyst provides a promising strategy to convert CO2 into high‐valued chemicals and achieve artificially closed carbon cycles. However, it is challenging to tune the structure and coordination of N─M bond that further improve the intrinsic activity and selectivity of CO2RR. Herein, CuNi atomic clusters embedded in Ni/Cu dual atomic sites catalysts (CuNiAC@Ni/Cu─N─C) are designed and successfully manipulated to regulate the coordination environment for M─N─C catalysts to enhance the CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR). The most active configuration in CuNiAC@Ni/Cu─N─C catalyst is CuNi atomic cluster connected with 2N‐bridged (Ni‐Cu)N5, in which two N atoms are shared with NiN4 and CuN3 moieties verified by both systematic advanced characterizations and density function theory (DFT) calculations. The results have revealed the integration between CuNi atomic cluster and N4Ni/CuN3 dual‐metal atomic sites that optimize the electronic redistribution and narrow the bandgap, thereby decreasing the energy barrier of the potential determination step and promoting CO production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing Sb atomic clusters with obvious size effect in Sb/C composites has great potential for boosting electrochemical reactivity toward ultrahigh rate and long‐term sodium storage. However, how to balance the contradiction between ultra‐small size of Sb atomic clusters and high loading in a specific Sb/C composite is an unprecedented challenge. Here, a facile in situ vaporization‐reduction strategy is presented for preparing Sb atomic clusters@N, S co‐doped carbon networks (Sb ACs@NSC). Featuring the high content of Sb atomic clusters (45.30 wt%, ICP) with superior electrochemical activity, robust Sb─O─C bond and N, S co‐doped conductive carbon matrix, the Sb ACs@NSC electrode possessed ultrafast electrochemical kinetics and impressive long‐term cycling stability for providing unprecedented rate capability of 245.7 mAh g−1 at ultrahigh rate of 80 A g−1 and maintaining highlighted capacity of 306.7 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles under 10 A g−1, outperforming all reported Sb‐based materials for SIBs. The DFT calculations further revealed that the Sb─O─C bond and N, S co‐doped carbon matrix are beneficial for stable adsorption capabilities and fast electrochemical kinetics of Na+. The designing compromised dense Sb atomic clusters and powerful interface bond will light on developing advanced atomic materials for energy storage and conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review analyzes the literature data and the results of studies of the Pt/CeO2‐based catalysts that are capable of providing the low‐temperature CO oxidation (LTO CO). The review summarizes the catalytic characteristics and the main properties of Pt/CeO2‐based catalysts necessary for the low‐temperature oxidation at T<50 °C. Analysis of the literature data on the use of physical methods of investigation and their correlation with the activity of Pt/CeO2 catalysts allowed us to conclude that the main active forms of platinum are small metallic clusters, single atoms Pt2+‐SA and oxide clusters PtOx interacting with ceria nanoparticles. It has been established that the most active forms are PtOx clusters, which provide a high reaction rate in the temperature range from −50 to +50 °C. Forms of ionic Pt2+ with different coordination with oxygen ensure the activity of catalysts starting at temperatures above 100 °C. Finally, small metallic clusters occupy an intermediate position, providing activity above 0 °C, but their instability and gradual transition to the oxidized state Pt2+/PtOx are noted. At the conclusion of the review, the results of mathematical modeling demonstrate the correct kinetics description of the low‐temperature CO oxidation based on the Mars‐van Krevelen and associative mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a method for evaluating the accuracies of the local properties of DFT functionals in detail using a clustering method based on machine learning and structural/electronic descriptors. We generated 36 clusters consistent with human intuition using 30,436 carbon atoms from the QM9 dataset. The results were used to evaluate 13C NMR chemical shifts calculated using 84 DFT functionals. Carbon atoms were grouped based on their similar environments, reducing errors within these groups. This enables more accurate assessment of the accuracy using a specific DFT functional. Therefore, the present atomic clustering provides more detailed insight into accuracy verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arrays of superparamagnets—SPMAs—with direct exchange interaction between superparamagnetic particles—SPMs (e.g., magnetized atomic nuclei or clusters)—are shown to exhibit ferromagnetic type of supermoment coupling and superferromagnetic—SFM—structure. As a result the SPMAs display jerky magnetodynamics with sharp discontinuities in the magnetization process. Such stepwise features in magnetodynamics originate magnetoemission bursts. We argue that such SPMA features are well suited for applications in magnetoresistive sensor technologies. The disorder in magnetic SPMAs improves the detection ability at considered parameters. Novel SFM properties could provide further possibilities for magnetoresistor applications and probing the dense matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All artificial materials used for implantation into an organism cause a foreign body reaction. This is an obstacle for a number of medical technologies. In this work, we investigated the effect of high-energy ion bombardment on polyurethane for medical purposes and the reaction of body tissues to its insertion into the mouse organism. An analysis of the cellular response and shell thickness near the implant showed a decrease in the foreign body reaction for implants treated with high-energy ions compared to untreated implants. The decrease in the reaction is associated with the activation of the polyurethane surface due to the formation on the surface layer of condensed aromatic clusters with unbonded valences on the carbon atoms at the edges of such clusters and the covalent attachment of the organism's own proteins to the activated surface of the implant. Thus, immune cells do not identify the implant surface coated with its own proteins as a foreign body. The deactivation of free valences at the edges of aromatic structures due to the storage of the treated implant before surgery reduces surface activity and partially restores the foreign body response. For the greatest effect in eliminating a foreign body reaction, it is recommended to perform the operation immediately after treating the implant with high-energy ions, with minimal contact of the treated surface with any materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a Pt-group element, Pd has been regarded as one of the alternatives to Pt-based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we performed density functional theory (DFT) computations to explore the most stable structures of PdxBy (x = 6, 19, 44), revealed the in situ structural reconstruction of these clusters under acidic conditions, and evaluated their HER activity. We found that the presence of B can prevent underpotential hydrogen adsorption and activate the H atoms on the cluster surface for the HER. The theoretical calculations show that the reaction barrier for the HER on ~1 nm sized Pd44B4 can be as low as 0.36 eV, which is even lower than for the same-sized Pt and Pd2B nanoparticles. The ultra-high HER activity of sub-nanosized PdxBy clusters makes them a potential new and efficient HER electro-catalyst. This study provides new ideas for evaluating and designing novel nanocatalysts based on the structural reconstruction of small-sized nanoparticles in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chirality is one of the fundamental properties of molecules traditionally constructed from atoms. Here, we report for the first time the successful construction of asymmetric chiral structures utilizing highly symmetric endohedral metallofullerene superatoms based on their own bonding properties. Specifically, stable mirror‐symmetric sinister and rectus structures are obtained by selecting a superatom capable of forming four chemical bonds as the chiral center. Further analysis shows that the chiral vibration frequency of superatomic assemblies can be as low as a few wavenumbers, which greatly expands the range of chiral spectra compared to atom‐based molecules. We term this type of chirality based on superatoms as "superatomic‐based chirality". It is anticipated that this work will significantly expand the variety of chiral structures at the atomic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, vacuum annealing has been adopted to introduce atomic cluster micro-regions inside Gd-based metallic microfibers to further explore the effect of the structural changes on the magnetocaloric properties and the mechanism which is systematically expressed. The experimental results indicate that the as-prepared Gd-based metallic microfibers have favorable amorphous formation ability and thermal stability. After annealing @ 380 °C, the maximum magnetic entropy change −ΔSmmax, refrigerating capacity (RC), and relative cooling power (RCP) values of the Gd-based metallic microfibers are 7.20 J/kg·K, 459.4 J/kg, and 588.7 J/kg, respectively. Combined with the transmission electron microscopy analysis results, the internal organizational order of the annealed microfibers is significantly altered, and the atomic clusters formed in localized regions, which reduce the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the microfibers. While under the uni-action of an external magnetic field, the magnetic moment rotation state and magnetic domain structure distribution of the micro-region atoms will be changed obviously, thereby changing the general magnetic properties and magnetocaloric properties of the metallic microfibers. The above research results can promote the engineering application of Gd-based metallic microfibers in the field of magnetic refrigeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic clusters typically exhibit distinctive electronic structures and physicochemical properties. However, as the size decreases, their ability to adsorb and dissociate water also diminishes, thereby affecting chemical reactions involving water molecules. Enhancing the adsorption and dissociation capabilities of atomic clusters towards water molecules and elucidating the mechanisms underlying their performance enhancement have become important research directions. Herein, employing the carrier-anchored strategy, Ru-O-Ru atomic clusters were prepared and displayed excellent activity and durability in the hydrogen evolution reaction. Specifically, the Ru-O-Ru atomic clusters exhibited only 86 mV overpotential at 100 mA·cm−2 and superior membrane-electrode-assembly activity than commercial Ru/C catalyst. Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic measurements revealed that the modification of oxygen in Ru-O-Ru units promoted the reorientation of water molecules from a H-up orientation to H-down, therefore, enhanced the formation of strong hydrogen-bond network of interfacial water on the surface of Ru-O-Ru clusters, leading to enhanced adsorption and dissociation of water and accelerated Volmer step. Those findings provide a potential strategy and deep insights for the development of atomic clusters in electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial engineering of synergistic catalysts is one of the keys to achieving multiple proton‐coupled electron transfer processes in nitrate‐to‐ammonia conversion. Herein, by joining ultrathin nickel‐based metal–organic framework (denoted Ni‐MOF) nanosheets with few‐layered hydrogen‐substituted graphdiyne‐supported copper single atoms and clusters (denoted HsGDY@Cu), a tandem catalyst of Ni‐MOFs@HsGDY@Cu with dual‐active interfaces was developed for the concerted catalysis of nitrate‐to‐ammonia. In such a system, the sandwiched HsGDY layer could serve as a bridge to connect the coordinated unsaturated Ni2+ sites with Cu single atoms/clusters in a limited range of 0 to 3.6 nm. From Ni2+ to Cu, via the hydrogen spillover process, the hydrogen radicals (H⋅) generated at the unsaturated Ni2+ sites could migrate across HsGDY to the Cu sites to participate in the transformation of *HNO3 to NH3. From Cu to Ni2+, bypassing the higher reaction energy for *HNO3 formation on the Ni2+ sites, the NO2− detached from the Cu sites could diffuse onto the unsaturated Ni2+ sites to form NH3 as well. The combined results make this hybrid a tandem catalyst with dual active sites for the catalysis of nitrate‐to‐ammonia conversion with improved Faradaic efficiency at lower overpotentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly efficient and ultrastable electrocatalysts for hydrogen generation from water/real seawater faces huge challenges. Herein, porous carbon-supported amorphous RuPt nanoclusters (Ru5.67Pt/PC) achieve mass activities of 42.28/10.93 A mgPt−1 and ultralong cycling stability in alkaline water/seawater because of the unique cluster structure and atomic Ru–Pt dual sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first step in comprehending the properties of Au10 clusters is understanding the lowest energy structure at low and high temperatures. Functional materials operate at finite temperatures; however, energy computations employing density functional theory (DFT) methodology are typically carried out at zero temperature, leaving many properties unexplored. This study explored the potential and free energy surface of the neutral Au10 nanocluster at a finite temperature, employing a genetic algorithm coupled with DFT and nanothermodynamics. Furthermore, we computed the thermal population and infrared Boltzmann spectrum at a finite temperature and compared it with the validated experimental data. Moreover, we performed the chemical bonding analysis using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) approach and the adaptive natural density partitioning method (AdNDP) to shed light on the bonding of Au atoms in the low-energy structures. In the calculations, we take into consideration the relativistic effects through the zero-order regular approximation (ZORA), the dispersion through Grimme's dispersion with Becke–Johnson damping (D3BJ), and we employed nanothermodynamics to consider temperature contributions. Small Au clusters prefer the planar shape, and the transition from 2D to 3D could take place at atomic clusters consisting of ten atoms, which could be affected by temperature, relativistic effects, and dispersion. We analyzed the energetic ordering of structures calculated using DFT with ZORA and single-point energy calculation employing the DLPNO-CCSD(T) methodology. Our findings indicate that the planar lowest energy structure computed with DFT is not the lowest energy structure computed at the DLPN0-CCSD(T) level of theory. The computed thermal population indicates that the 2D elongated hexagon configuration strongly dominates at a temperature range of 50–800 K. Based on the thermal population, at a temperature of 100 K, the computed IR Boltzmann spectrum agrees with the experimental IR spectrum. The chemical bonding analysis on the lowest energy structure indicates that the cluster bond is due only to the electrons of the 6 s orbital, and the Au d orbitals do not participate in the bonding of this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weak doping can broaden, shift, and quench plasmon peaks in nanoparticles, but the mechanistic intricacies of the diverse responses to doping remain unclear. In this study, we used the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) to compute the excitation properties of transition-metal Pd- or Pt-doped gold and silver atomic arrays and investigate the evolution characteristics and response mechanisms of their plasmon peaks. The results demonstrated that the Pd or Pt doping of the off-centered 10 × 2 atomic arrays broadened or shifted the plasmon peaks to varying degrees. In particular, for Pd-doped 10 × 2 Au atomic arrays, the broadened plasmon peak significantly blueshifted, whereas a slight red shift was observed for Pt-doped arrays. For the 10 × 2 Ag atomic arrays, Pd doping caused almost no shift in the plasmon peak, whereas Pt doping caused a substantial red shift in the broadened plasmon peak. The analysis revealed that the diversity in these doping responses was related to the energy positions of the d electrons in the gold and silver atomic clusters and the positions of the doping atomic orbitals in the energy bands. The introduction of doping atoms altered the symmetry and gap size of the occupied and unoccupied orbitals, so multiple modes of single-particle transitions were involved in the excitation. An electron transfer analysis indicated a close correlation between excitation energy and the electron transfer of doping atoms. Finally, the differences in the symmetrically centered 11 × 2 doped atomic array were discussed using electron transfer analysis to validate the reliability of this analytical method. These findings elucidate the microscopic mechanisms of the evolution of plasmon peaks in doped atomic clusters and provide new insights into the rational control and application of plasmons in low-dimensional nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Fundamental principles for designing synergistic composite catalysts are reviewed. The synergistic effect between various active sites, promoting electrocatalytic performance in different reactions are highlighted. The challenges and perspectives for multiple active sites catalysts are discussed. Combining single atoms with clusters or nanoparticles is an emerging tactic to design efficient electrocatalysts. Both synergy effect and high atomic utilization of active sites in the composite catalysts result in enhanced electrocatalytic performance, simultaneously provide a radical analysis of the interrelationship between structure and activity. In this review, the recent advances of single-atomic site catalysts coupled with clusters or nanoparticles are emphasized. Firstly, the synthetic strategies, characterization, dynamics and types of single atoms coupled with clusters/nanoparticles are introduced, and then the key factors controlling the structure of the composite catalysts are discussed. Next, several clean energy catalytic reactions performed over the synergistic composite catalysts are illustrated. Eventually, the encountering challenges and recommendations for the future advancement of synergistic structure in energy-transformation electrocatalysis are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tailoring the electronic and optical properties of nitride‐based alloys for optoelectronic device applications in the ultraviolet and red spectral range has attracted significant attention in recent years. Adding boron nitride (BN) to indium gallium nitride (In,Ga)N alloys can help to control the lattice mismatch between (In,Ga)N and GaN and may thus allow to reduce strain‐related defect formation. However, understanding of the impact of BN on the electronic properties of III‐N alloys, in particular the influence of experimentally observed boron atom clustering, is sparse. This work presents first‐principles calculations investigating the electronic properties of highly mismatched (B,In)N alloys with boron contents between 2% and 7%. Special attention is paid to the impact of the alloy microstructure. While the results show that the lattice constants of such alloys largely agree with lattice constants determined from a Vegard approximation, the electronic structure strongly depends on the local boron atom configuration. For instance, if boron atoms are dispersed throughout the structure and are not sharing nitrogen atoms, the band gap of (B,In)N alloys is largely unaffected and stays close to the gap of pristine InN. However, in the case of boron atom clustering, i.e., when boron atoms are sharing nitrogen atoms, the band gap can be strongly reduced, often leading to a metallic state in (B,In)N alloys. These strong band gap reductions are mainly driven by carrier localization effects in the valence band. Our calculations thus show that the electronic structure of (B,In)N alloys strongly depends on the alloy microstructure and that boron atom clustering plays an important role in understanding the electronic and optical properties of these emerging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-equilibrium melting of Na crystals at high heating rates and the evolutions of the atomic clusters are studied by the MD method and PTM analysis. Results show that as the heating rate rises from 1 × 1011 K/s to 2 × 1013 K/s, the non-equilibrium melting temperature of Na increases non-linearly from 417 K to 480 K, the melting temperature difference experienced increases from 7 K to 27 K, while the melting time decreases from 70 ps to 1 ps. Through the PTM analysis, it is found that some BCC clusters transform into the disordered Other clusters through intermediate HCP and FCC clusters with increasing temperature, and the BCC cluster's reduction rate and the Other cluster's growth rate are getting slower with increasing heating rate. There is a good correspondence between the evolutions of the atomic clusters, the changes of macroscopic physical parameters, and the peaks and valleys of RDF with temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically modified superatoms have emerged as promising candidates in the new periodic table, in which Au13 and its doped M n Au13−n have been widely studied. However, their important counterpart, Ag13 artificial element, has not yet been synthesized. In this work, we report the synthesis of Ag13 nanoclusters using strong chelating ability and rigid ligands, that fills the gaps in the icosahedral superatomic metal clusters. After further doping Ag13 template with different degrees of Au atoms, we gained insight into the evolution of their optical properties. Theoretical calculations show that the kernel metal doping can modulate the transition of the excited-state electronic structure, and the electron transfer process changes from local excitation (LE) to charge transfer (CT) to LE. This study not only enriches the families of artificial superatoms, but also contributes to the understanding of the electronic states of superatomic clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A promising research area in nanomaterials is the use of superatomic clusters as building blocks for creating novel molecules or materials with tailored properties. However, assembling these superatoms into functional materials is challenging, and a thorough understanding of this process is still lacking. In this study, we introduce a new concept called the "superatomic family," which refers to superatoms that share similar valence electron structures but differ in size. We demonstrate this concept with the synthesized [Au6{Ni3(CO)6}4]2− cluster and the designed [Au16{Ni6(CO)10}4]2− and [Au31{Ni10(CO)15}4]5− clusters. These serve as analogs to simple hydrocarbons, such as methane (CH4), silicon hydride (SiH4), and germanium hydride (GeH4). In these supermolecular structures, the central cores of Au6, Au16, and Au31 exhibit the formation of superatomic SP3 hybridized orbitals, which influence the molecular shape and bonding. Moreover, we explored superatomic bonding involving SP3–SP3 hybridized cores, representing a single superatomic bond between members of the superatomic family, analogous to CH3–SiH3 bonds. By integrating the concept of group superatoms into the Lewis structure framework, we present a powerful approach for predicting and engineering cluster properties, thus opening a vast landscape of nanomaterial design possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atomic configurations of the quasicrystal-forming ternary Zr70Cu29Pt1 metallic glass were calculated by the combination of classical molecular dynamics (MD) and ab-initio MD simulations. The binary Zr70Cu30 was prepared by classical MD and then Pt atoms were inserted into the large voids of Zr70Cu30, followed by relaxation using ab-initio MD. The coordination number of Pt atoms increased due to relaxation and reached a level comparable to that of Cu. The obtained structural model of Zr70Cu29Pt1 was analyzed by Voronoi polyhedral analysis modified especially for shell structures. We then compared Pt-centered polyhedra and Bergman-type atomic clusters formed in quasicrystals. The combined method of classical and ab-initio MD simulations is effective for the construction of the complicated structural models for glassy materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐atom catalysis involves loading the active metal onto the carrier's surface as a single‐atom. This atom is primarily bonded to the carrier surface through hetero‐atom bonding. It is important to note that the coordination environment of the metal atoms may not be the same when each dispersed active metal atom has an identical coordination environment on the carrier's surface. The utilization of single‐atom catalysts (SACs) doesn't strictly imply that a solitary metal atom with zero valency functions as the active core. Singular atoms can also engage in distant interactions with other atoms or clusters of atoms on the substrate, like electron transfer, and frequently demonstrate specific charges. The main reason for the high activity of the catalyst is the remote (i.e., long‐range) interaction of the active atom with the surrounding coordination atoms. For this reason, the study of the mechanism of long‐range interactions between multiple single‐atom sites and between single‐atom sites and atomic cluster sites has become an important and urgent task in the design and regulation of single‐atom catalyst performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of aluminum (Al) nanoparticles on the energy release mechanism of high explosives, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on the mechanical response and chemical reaction mechanism of pure 1,3,5‐Trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazinane (RDX) and nano‐aluminized RDX across varying particle velocities using molecular dynamics simulation. The simulation results show that the velocity of the shock wave which is formed in the explosive increases as the velocity of the particle increases. Notably, detonation was absent when the particle velocity was below 3 km/s, but prominently observed beyond this threshold, accompanied by a diminishing delay in reaction time for aluminum particles as particle velocity increased. After detonation, a localized pressure reduction behind aluminum particles was observed, elucidating the diminished detonation efficacy of aluminized explosives. Furthermore, the introduction of aluminum particles led to a deceleration in the RDX reaction rate, with the emergence of aluminum atomic clusters highlighting previously overlooked gas‐phase reactions that necessitate inclusion in detonation modeling for aluminized explosives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High pressure has been recognized as an important tool in molecule and materials research, and thus, it is expected to be used to understand the evolution of electronic states and geometric structures in superatoms. In this work, by studying three characteristic axial compressions on a typical endohedral metallofullerene superatom U@C28 with Td symmetry, we find that the triplet ground electronic state is preserved when the compression moves along the direction that reduces the symmetry to D2d, but the electronic state of the structure compressed along the direction of symmetry reduction to C2v or Cs is transformed into a singlet. The transition is attributed to the distinction in the response of electron spin to different axial compressions, which results in a change in the electron occupation mode of the system. Furthermore, we also confirm the gradual evolution from stereo to near-plane superatoms and the connection between their electron structures. This is reflected in the fact that the electron density distributions of the superatomic molecular orbitals (SAMOs) with extension along the restricted degrees of freedom ( D z 2 , F z 3 SAMOs) gradually contract, and the delocalization destruction of special orbitals is associated with this freedom. In addition, Raman and ultraviolet–visible spectra show a hyperchromic effect and redshift of characteristic peaks during axial compression, which are expected to be used for fingerprinting the superatomic planarization. Therefore, our work provides new insights based on high pressure for future research toward the discovery of physical properties and applications of superatoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel soft template assisted strategy has been constructed to the size-tunable preparation of porous Cu−N−C/Surfactant catalysts successfully. The synergistic effects between the adjacent Cu ACs and atomically dispersed Cu-N 4 are favorable for manipulating the binding energy of O 2 adsorption and intermediates desorption at the atomic interface of catalysts, resulting in an excellent electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance with a faster kinetics for Cu−N−C/F127 comparable to the commercially available Pt/C catalyst. [Display omitted] In this paper, a novel, simple and mild soft template assisted strategy and further carbonization approach has been constructed to the size-tunable preparation of porous Cu−N−C/Surfactant catalysts successfully. Note that the pluronic F127 has a significant influence on the synthesis of porous Cu−N−C/F127 with the atomically dispersed Cu-N 4 and adjacent Cu atomic clusters (ACs) than other surfactants owing to their particular non-ionic structure. By combining a series of experimental analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the synergistic effects between the adjacent Cu ACs and atomically dispersed Cu-N 4 are favorable for manipulating the binding energy of O 2 adsorption and intermediates desorption at the atomic interface of catalysts, resulting in an excellent electrocatalytic ORR performance with a faster kinetics for Cu−N−C/F127 than those of the Cu−N−C, Cu−N−C/CTAB, Cu−N−C/SDS, and comparable with the commercial Pt/C catalyst. This method not only provides a novel approach for synthesizing highly effective copper based single atom catalysts toward ORR, but also offers an in-depth understanding of the synergisms of adjacent ACs on the Cu single atoms (SAs) for highly effective electrocatalytic ORR and Zn-air Battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Atomically dispersed catalyst with single Cu atom and atomic Ni clusters was prepared. • Cu SA Ni AC /NMHCS achieves a high FE CO of over 90% across a wide potential range. • Cu SA Ni AC /NMHCS shows the highest FE CO of 98 % at − 0.9 V vs. RHE. • Cu SA Ni AC /NMHCS exhibits excellent long-term stability for CO 2 RR to produce CO. • Positively shifted ε d of Ni 3 d orbital contributes to the enhanced CO 2 RR performance. The rational design of catalysts with atomic dispersion and a deep understanding of the catalytic mechanism is crucial for achieving high performance in CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR). Herein, we present an atomically dispersed electrocatalyst with single Cu atom and atomic Ni clusters supported on N-doped mesoporous hollow carbon sphere (Cu SA Ni AC /NMHCS) for highly efficient CO 2 RR. Cu SA Ni AC /NMHCS demonstrates a remarkable CO Faradaic efficiency (FE CO) exceeding 90% across a potential range of −0.6 to −1.2 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and achieves its peak FE CO of 98% at −0.9 V vs. RHE. Theoretical studies reveal that the electron redistribution and modulated electronic structure—notably the positive shift in d-band center of Ni 3 d orbital—resulting from the combination of single Cu atom and atomic Ni clusters markedly enhance the CO 2 adsorption, facilitate the formation of *COOH intermediate, and thus promote the CO production activity. This study offers fresh perspectives on fabricating atomically dispersed catalysts with superior CO 2 RR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectra of rare gas atom clusters containing a single carbon dioxide molecule are observed using a tunable mid-infrared (4.3 µm) source to probe a pulsed slit jet supersonic expansion. There are relatively few previous detailed experimental results on such clusters. The assigned clusters include CO2–Arn with n = 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, and 17, and CO2–Krn and CO2–Xen with n = 3, 4, and 5. Each spectrum has (at least) a partially resolved rotational structure, and each yields precise values for the shift of the CO2 vibrational frequency (ν3) induced by the nearby rare gas atoms, together with one or more rotational constants. These results are compared with theoretical predictions. The more readily assigned CO2–Arn species tend to be those with symmetric structures, and CO2–Ar17 represents completion of a highly symmetric (D5h) solvation shell. Those not assigned (e.g., n = 7 and 13) are probably also present in the observed spectra but with band structures that are not well-resolved and, thus, are not recognizable. The spectra of CO2–Ar9, CO2–Ar15, and CO2–Ar17 suggest the presence of sequences involving very low frequency (≈2 cm−1) cluster vibrational modes, an interpretation which should be amenable to theoretical confirmation (or rejection). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the transient interaction between laser and powder and layer-by-layer rapid melting and solidification, laser additive manufacturing-fabricated metal components can exhibit unique microstructure evolution behaviors and strengthening mechanisms that are normally not available in traditional processes. In this work, a previously unreported rapid hardening behavior at the very early stage of isothermal aging for laser powder bed fusion-processed high-strength Al-5024 alloy was revealed. The microstructures and mechanical properties of specimens aged from 10 min to 120h were systematically analyzed. It showed that the specimens underwent two peak hardening processes during an isothermal aging at 325 °C. The mechanical properties of the specimens including microhardness, yield strength, and elastic modulus were significantly enhanced after an extremely short aging time of 10 min and then reached a secondary peak hardening at an aging time of 4h, where the yield strength of 450 ± 10.3 and 463.2 ± 13.2 MPa were obtained, respectively. The unusual aging responses were attributed to the formation and decomposition of Sc-rich clusters with a high number density of 2.7 × 1023 m−3 and nano-size of 2.71 nm. These clusters were characterized by transmission electron microscopy analyses and further supported by differential scanning calorimetry measurements, where a significantly higher activation energy of 147.6 ± 21.1 kJ/mol corresponding to the precipitation/coarsening process of Al3(Sc,Zr) was measured for rapid hardening specimens. In addition, the relationship between the aging process, the evolution of nano-precipitates, and the mechanical properties was systematically demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single atom alloy AgCu catalysts have attracted great attention, since doping the single Cu atom introduces narrow free-atom-like Cu 3d states in the electronic structure. These peculiar electronic states can reduce the activation energies in some reactions and offer valuable guidelines for improving catalytic performance. However, the geometric tuning effect of single Cu atoms in Ag catalysts and the structure–activity relationship of AgCu catalysts remain unclear. Here, we prepared well-resolved pristine Agn− as well as single atom alloy Agn−1Cu− and Agn−1Au− (n = 7–20) clusters and investigated their reactivity with O2. We found that replacing an Ag atom in Agn− (n = 15–18) with a Cu atom significantly increases the reactivity with O2, while replacement of an Ag with an Au atom has negligible effects. The adsorption of O2 on Agn− or Agn−1Cu− clusters follows the single electron transfer mechanism, in which the cluster activity is dependent on two descriptors, the energy level of α-HOMO (strong correlation) and the α-HOMO–LUMO gap (weak correlation). Our calculation demonstrated that the cluster arrangements caused by single Cu atom alloying would affect the above activity descriptors and, therefore, regulates clusters' chemical activity. In addition, the observed reactivity of clusters in the representative sizes with n = 17–19 can also be interpreted using the symmetry-adapted orbital model. Our work provides meaningful information to understand the chemical activities of related single-atom-alloy catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]