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Abstract:
The reactivity of Cu clusters with a mean particle size of 4.50 {+-} 1.25 nm was studied with respect to oxidation at ambient pressure and temperature. Pure Cu clusters of this size range show icosahedral and decahedral structures with slightly changed bond lengths compared to the bulk. Small amounts of additional O{sub 2}, which were added during cluster nucleation, led to changes in the structure exhibiting, thereby, Cu bulk data. This structure is stabilized through the incorporation of small amounts of oxygen in the Cu clusters. The cubic clusters are less active when compared with the icosahedral and decahedral particles; the latter two mainly consist of deformed (111) net planes at the surface. The final state of oxidation is the Cu{sub 2}O cuprite structure. Intermediate states must be attributed to as yet nonidentified suboxides
