Bimetallic clusters as model systems for the alloy formation

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Rolf Schäfer
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2010 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 167644670

A variation of the chemical composition opens up new possibilities to control the chemical- and physical behaviour of small clusters. Since still little is known so far about such nanoalloys, the geometric, energetic, dielectric, magnetic, and optical properties of alloyed clusters are going to be investigated systematically in the research project presented here. The formation of the bimetallic clusters in the gas phase is first followed by mass spectrometry, which already provides important hints on the stability of individual clusters compositions. The geometric and electronic structure of particularly stable cluster species is then studied by quantum-chemical methods. A comparison of these results with electric and magnetic beam deflection experiments as well as optical absorption spectra can not only identify lowest energy structural isomers, but also draw important conclusions about the magnetic and optical behavior of nanoalloys and the chemical bonding characteristics between different atoms of the alloy particles. The investigations allow to essentially understand and to follow the transititon from single atoms to mesoscopic length scales and thus help to explore potential applications of nanoalloys.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Participating Persons: Professorin Dr. Barbara Albert; Professor Dr. Robert Berger; Professor Roy L. Johnston, Ph.D.