Composition Formulas of Inorganic Compounds in Terms of Cluster Plus Glue Atom Model

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The present paper attempts to identify the molecule-like structural units in inorganic compounds, by applying the so-called “cluster plus glue atom model”. This model, originating from metallic glasses and quasi-crystals, describes any structure in terms of a nearest-neighbor cluster and a few outer-shell glue atoms, expressed in the cluster formula [cluster](glue atoms). Similar to the case for normal molecules where the charge transfer occurs within the molecule to meet the commonly known octet electron rule, the octet state is reached after matching the nearest-neighbor cluster with certain outer-shell glue atoms. These kinds of structural units contain information on local atomic configuration, chemical composition, and electron numbers, just as for normal molecules. It is shown that the formulas of typical inorganic compounds, such as fluorides, oxides, and nitrides, satisfy a similar octet electron rule, with the total number of valence electrons per unit formula being multiples of eight.
Funding Information
  • Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (2016YFC0700804)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (11674045, 51761010)
  • Special Glass Key Laboratory of Hainan Province, Hainan University

This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit: