Cu15

Cu15 refers to a cluster composed of fifteen copper atoms. It is a topic of interest in nanoscience and cluster chemistry as a model system for understanding size-dependent properties of copper at the nanoscale. Cu15 is studied to explore how metallic bonding, electronic structure, and reactivity evolve from single atoms to bulk copper.

The geometry of Cu15 depends on charge state and environment. The neutral cluster has been predicted by several computational studies to adopt a distorted, compact arrangement with motifs related to close-packed structures; some results suggest an icosahedral-like core with surface adatoms, while others report low-symmetry configurations that are energetically competitive. Ionized forms such as Cu15+ and Cu15− can favor different geometries, reflecting changes in bonding and electronic structure.

Electronic structure and spectroscopy show that Cu15 exhibits delocalized metallic bonding, with a density of states arising from copper s and d orbitals near the Fermi level. Size-dependent trends affect properties such as ionization potential, electron affinity, and the HOMO-LUMO gap. Experimental investigations in the gas phase, including mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy, provide data on stability, binding energies, and electronic structure for various charge states. Synthesis and preparation often involve laser ablation of copper targets with cooling in a carrier gas to form clusters, which can be studied in the gas phase or isolated in inert matrices for spectroscopic analysis.

Cu15 serves as a model system for nanoscale copper reactivity, catalysis, and electronic properties relevant to nanomaterials and sensors. Insights from Cu15 contribute to broader understanding of copper cluster chemistry and the evolution of properties across Cu_n clusters.