In this work, an unbiased global search with a homemade genetic algorithm was performed to investigate the structural evolution and electronic properties of Snx - (x=21-35) clusters with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. All the ground-state structures for all these Snx - (x=21-35) clusters have been confirmed by the comparison of the experimental and simulated photoelectron spectra (PESs). It has been revealed that all Snx - (x=21-35) clusters are tricapped trigonal prism (TTP)-based structures consisting of two (for sizes x=21-28) or three (for x=29-35) TTP units, with the remaining atoms adsorbed on the surface or inserted between TTP units. The gradually decreasing HOMO-LUMO gaps indicate that these clusters are undergoing semiconductor-to-metal transformation. The average binding energies show that the structural stabilities of Snx - clusters are not as good as that of silicon and germanium clusters. It found that sizes x=23, 25, 29, 33 show high relative stability.
Keywords: Tin clusters; genetic algorithm; photoelectron spectra; structural evolution density functional theory.
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