Coalescence of three silver nanoclusters: a molecular dynamics study

Coalescence of three identical size nanoclusters, each containing 309 silver atoms interacting through an analytic embedded-atom method (EAM) type potential, is studied by molecular dynamics simulations at various temperatures. The rotation and spontaneous self-organization of all three clusters in the coalescence process are observed. The final low-energy configurations of the coalescing system at low temperatures (T less than or equal to 800 K) are constituted of three particles separated by attached interfaces where edge dislocations are formed, whereas the coalescing at high temperatures (T > 800 K) gives rise to a single-like particle. The melting temperature of the coalescing system is well below that of the free single cluster with the same particle size.