Quasi-Chalcogen Characteristics of Al₁₂Be: A New Member of the Three-Dimensional Periodic Table

Abstract

The creative concept of superatom brings a new dimension to the conventional periodic table, which has been gradually enriched by both theoretical and experimental research. In this article, we propose a new member, namely, Al12Be, to the superatom family. The amazing similarity between the Al12Be cluster and the chalcogen elements makes the former an excellent superatom counterpart of the latter. In addition, Al12Be exhibits more exothermic first electron affinity (EA) and less endothermic second EA values due to its size advantage over the chalcogen atoms, showing the superatom superiority in this respect. The stable compounds formed between Al12Be and other atoms, such as carbon, beryllium, calcium, and lithium, provide further evidence to support the quasi-chalcogen identity of Al12Be.