The electronic structures and photographic properties of nanometer-sized silver clusters

The electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of nanometer-sized sliver clusters Ag-n (n = 1 to 15) have been examined in the framework of self-consistent-field local density theory SCC-DV-X(x). The results show that there is a quantum size effect in Ag-n clusters, which can be observed as a red shift in the absorption threshold and semiconductor-conductor transition with increasing n. Based on the molecular orbital energies we studied the microscopical mechanisms of the transition point from lower efficiency step to higher efficiency step in Intent image growth. The results also show that there are positive charges on the surface silver atoms of some large Ag-n clusters, which is favourable for the latent image particles to adsorb developer anion in development.