Size effects on the electron energy spectra of aluminium clusters

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The electron states of free aluminium clusters with 13, 55 and 147 atoms are studied through simple (tight-binding) model calculations. The parametrisation scheme is derived from a fitting to the bulk band structure and reproduces well the results of ab initio calculations for surface electron states. The cluster electron states are investigated through the local density of states calculated at different inequivalent sites of both cuboctahedral and icosahedral arrangements. They turn out to depend only to a minor extent on the specific site, but to vary significantly with size and structure. The findings are compared with previous results for transition-metal clusters.