On the influence of exact exchange on transition metal superatoms

The electronic structure of A(7 (c)) (A = Hg, Pd, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu; C = 0, +/- 1, +/- 2) clusters has been determined using density functional theory methods. The A(7 (c)) (A = Hg, Pd, Cr, Cu; C = 0, +/- 1, +/- 2) clusters all conform to the existing superatomic model, with a sufficiently stabilised local structure to prevent perturbation upon the introduction of exact exchange to the exchange correlation functional. For the A(7 (c)) (A = Mn, Fe, Ni; C = 0, +/- 1, +/- 2) clusters the incorporation of exact exchange separates the atomic s- and d-electrons, leading to a net increase in the number of superatomic electrons. Conversely the incorporation of exact exchange into the exchange correlation functional decreases the number of superatomic electrons for the V-7 (c) (C = 0, +/- 1, +/- 2) clusters, owing to the radial extension of the d-orbitals influencing their ability to contribute into superatomic shells.