title: Communication: Striking dependence of diffusion kinetics in Ag-Cu nanoalloys upon composition and quantum effects.
abstract: The kinetics of elemental inter-diffusion in Ag-Cu nanoalloys of 32-34 atoms around 80:20 composition is theoretically investigated by combining analytic-potential and first-principles calculations. An extremely varied behavior is found, with transformation times ranging from tens of nanoseconds to weeks at room temperature in a narrow interval of size and composition, also depending on quantum effects in magic clusters. Predictions are consistent with time-of-flight experiments and suggest their interpretation in a new light.
authors.affiliation: CNR-ICCOM and IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asgari
authors.affiliation: CNR-ICCOM and IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Negreiros
authors.affiliation: CNR-ICCOM and IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sementa
authors.affiliation: CNR-ICCOM and IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barcaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Tehran, 14155 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behnejad
authors.affiliation: CNR-ICCOM and IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fortunelli