Structural and magnetic properties of Ti12M clusters (M=Sc to Zn)

• Position of dopant depends on the interaction between central and surface atoms.
• Substitution of M(M=V, Fe, Co, Ni) for central or surface Ti enhances stability.
• Because of electronic and geometric closed shells, Ti12Ni is magic cluster.
• Valence electrons fill MOs in terms of Hund's rule of maximum spin.

The geometries, electronic, and magnetic properties of the 3d atom doped icosahedron (ICO) Ti12M (M=Sc to Zn), where a dopant atom replaces either the centra l(Ti12Mc) or surface (Ti12Ms) Ti atom in ICO Ti13 cluster, have been systematically investigated by using the density functional theory. The structures of all the optimized Ti12Mc and Ti12Ms clusters are distorted ICO. Sc, Ni, Cu, and Zn atoms prefer to displace surface Ti atom, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe atoms prefer to displace central Ti atom. The position of impurity atom depends on the strength of the interaction between the central atom and the surface atoms. As compared to the pure Ti13 cluster, Ti12Mc and Ti12Ms (M=V, Fe, Co, and Ni) clusters are more stable, Ti12Mc and Ti12Ms (M=Sc, Cr, Mn, Cu, and Zn) are less stable. Both Ti12Nis and Ti12Nic are magic clusters, which originate from their electronic as well as geometric closed shells. Because the exchange interaction prevails over the crystal field in Ti12M clusters, the valence electrons fill molecular orbitals in terms of Hund’s rule of maximum spin.