Magnetic properties of icosahedral copper-coated cobalt clusters

The structural and magnetic properties of Cu-coated Cc clusters are investigated with empirical genetic algorithm simulation and a spin-polarized spd tight-binding model Hamiltonian. In some specific stoichiometric compositions, icosahedral Co-n (n = 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 19, 55) clusters perfectly coated with A Cu monolayer or dual layer are obtained. The outer Cu layers lead to significant modification of the magnetic moment of the Co core, depending on the structure and thickness of the Cu layers. The interaction between Cu and Co atoms induces a nonzero magnetic moment for Cu atoms.