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Main Authors: Liu, Hongsheng, Zhao, Luneng, Li, Yaning, Chang, Yuan, Qiu, Shi, Wang, Xiao, Gao, Junfeng, Ding, Feng
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.21067
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author Liu, Hongsheng
Zhao, Luneng
Li, Yaning
Chang, Yuan
Qiu, Shi
Wang, Xiao
Gao, Junfeng
Ding, Feng
author_facet Liu, Hongsheng
Zhao, Luneng
Li, Yaning
Chang, Yuan
Qiu, Shi
Wang, Xiao
Gao, Junfeng
Ding, Feng
contents The evolution of cluster structure with size and the critical size for the transition from cluster to nanocrystal have long been fundamental problems in nanoscience. Due to limitations of experimental technology and computational methods, the exploration of the continuous evolution of clusters towards nanocrystal is still a big challenge. Here, we proposed a machine learning force field (MLFF) that can generalize well to various copper systems ranging from small clusters to large clusters and bulk. The continuous evolution of copper clusters CuN towards nanocrystal was revealed by investigating clusters in a wide size range (7 <= N <= 17885) based on MLFF simulated annealing. For small CuN (N < 40), electron counting rule plays a major role in stability. For large CuN (N > 80), geometric magic number rule plays a dominant role and the evolution of clusters is based on the formation of more and more icosahedral shells. For medium size CuN (40 <= N <= 80), both rules contribute. The critical size from cluster to nanocrystal was calculated to be around 8000 atoms (about 6 nm in diameter). Our work terminates the long-term challenge in nanoscience, and lay the methodological foundation for subsequent research on other cluster systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_21067
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle From cluster to nanocrystal: the continuous evolution and critical size of copper clusters revealed by machine learning
Liu, Hongsheng
Zhao, Luneng
Li, Yaning
Chang, Yuan
Qiu, Shi
Wang, Xiao
Gao, Junfeng
Ding, Feng
Materials Science
The evolution of cluster structure with size and the critical size for the transition from cluster to nanocrystal have long been fundamental problems in nanoscience. Due to limitations of experimental technology and computational methods, the exploration of the continuous evolution of clusters towards nanocrystal is still a big challenge. Here, we proposed a machine learning force field (MLFF) that can generalize well to various copper systems ranging from small clusters to large clusters and bulk. The continuous evolution of copper clusters CuN towards nanocrystal was revealed by investigating clusters in a wide size range (7 <= N <= 17885) based on MLFF simulated annealing. For small CuN (N < 40), electron counting rule plays a major role in stability. For large CuN (N > 80), geometric magic number rule plays a dominant role and the evolution of clusters is based on the formation of more and more icosahedral shells. For medium size CuN (40 <= N <= 80), both rules contribute. The critical size from cluster to nanocrystal was calculated to be around 8000 atoms (about 6 nm in diameter). Our work terminates the long-term challenge in nanoscience, and lay the methodological foundation for subsequent research on other cluster systems.
title From cluster to nanocrystal: the continuous evolution and critical size of copper clusters revealed by machine learning
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.21067