Stability and thermal evolution of transition metal and silicon clusters

The results of computer simulation studies of transition metal and silicon clusters published in the last decade are summarized. Comparative analysis of the stability and thermal evolution of nanoclusters is performed depending on the preparation method, type of bonds, atom packing, coherence of the constituent nanofragments, surface morphology and change in the relationship between the short- and long-range ordering with increasing size. Taking account of the substrate nature and dimensionality of the cluster disperse systems being simulated, most important structure-dependent kinetic and mechanical characteristics are discussed, including specific temperature ranges of disordering corresponding to isomerization and quasi-melting. The bibliography includes 263 references.