Clusters are of interest for a number of reasons. Firstly, they lie between the quantum regime of small molecules with discrete energy levels and the classical regime of condensed matter where states are continuous. The study of the evolution of the geometric and electronic structures of clusters and their chemical and physical properties is also of great interest and can aid our understanding of a whole range of topics in condensed matter science. Finally, the high ratio of surface to interior atoms in clusters means that there are many points in common between the chemistry and physics of clusters and the surfaces of solids and liquids. The study of the adsorption and reaction of small molecules on the surfaces of transition metal clusters continues to attract much attention because of its relevance to the field of heterogeneous catalysis.
Theory plays an important role in cluster science.
My research involves the development and application of such theoretical models in an attempt to understand how the electronic and geometric structures of semi-conductor and metallic clusters, and their physical and chemical properties, vary as a function of cluster nuclearity . Recent work in this area includes the use of empirical atomistic potentials to simulate the structures and growth patterns of carbon, silicon, aluminium and iron clusters and the modelling of the magnetism of iron clusters.