Structures of CdSe and CdS Nanoclusters from Ab Initio Random Structure Searching

The possible structures of (CdSe) n and (CdS) n ( n up to 34) nanoclusters were systematically studied using the ab initio random structure searching (AIRSS) method. We have been able to find stable, symmetric nanoclusters not previously discovered; using the computed pair distribution functions, we have put forward a hypothesis for the increased stability of these clusters. We have also been able to investigate structural features of the transformation to the bulk: for (CdS) n with n < 16 and (CdSe) n with n < 21, structures based on rings and cages with coordination number up to 3 are favored, while for larger n, the minimum-energy structures are more bulklike with an average coordination number larger than 3. This indicates a gradual transformation from a cagelike structure to a bulklike structure as the number of atoms increases. One striking finding was that for any value of n, the range of structures formed a continuous distribution of cluster energies rather than there being significant energy differences between them. This work created an extensive database of benchmarks and candidate structures for these systems.