Atomic clusters: Building blocks for a class of solids

Abstract

Atomic clusters with suitable size and composition can be designed to mimic the chemistry of atoms in the Periodic Table. These clusters which can be viewed as ``super atoms'' could then form the building blocks for a class of solids with unique structural, electronic, optical, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties. Using density-functional calculations, we outline the design principles for these clusters and describe the role of geometry and electronic shell structure on cluster-cluster interaction.