Search results for "cobalt nanoclusters"

Surface Chemistry Controls Magnetism in Cobalt Nanoclusters

2016

Magnetic properties of Co13 and Co55 nanoclusters, passivated by surface ligand shells that exhibit varying electronic interactions with the metal, are studied using density functional theory. The calculations show that the chemical nature of the bond between the ligand and the metal core (X-type or L-type) impacts the total magnetic moment of Co nanoclusters dramatically. Furthermore, the chemical identity of the ligand within each binding motif then provides a fine handle on the exhibited magnetic moment of the cluster. Thus, ligand shell chemistry is predicted to not only stabilize Co nanoclusters, but provide a powerful approach to control their magnetic properties, which combined enabl…