Molecular dynamics study of the melting behaviour of seven-atom clusters of fcc transition and noble metals on the (111) surface of the same metal using the embedded atom model

Using the Voter and Chen version of the embedded atom model, we performed molecular dynamics simulations to analyse the phase change behaviour of X-7 clusters on the X(111) surface (X = Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au). Our calculations show that all the supported clusters undergo well-defined melting transitions preceded by loss of shape. However, there are significant differences among these metals as regards the mechanism of pre-melting cluster diffusion on the (111) surface. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.