title: DFT global optimisation of gas-phase and MgO-supported sub-nanometre AuPd clusters.
abstract: The Birmingham Parallel Genetic Algorithm (BPGA) has been adopted for the global optimization of free and MgO(100)-supported Pd, Au and AuPd nanocluster structures, over the size range N = 4-10. Structures were evaluated directly using density functional theory, which has allowed the identification of Pd, Au and AuPd global minima. The energetics, structures, and tendency of segregation have been evaluated by different stability criteria such as binding energy, excess energy, second difference in energy, and adsorption energy. The ability of the approach in searching for putative global minimum has been assessed against a systematic homotop search method, which shows a high degree of success.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. r.l.johnston@bham.ac.uk and Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq.
authors.forename: Heider A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. r.l.johnston@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jack B A
authors.initials: JBA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. r.l.johnston@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Roy L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Johnston