Stable disordered structures of vanadium clusters

Tight-binding and self-consistent tight-binding molecular dynamics are performed to determine the stable structures of V_nn (n = 2-17, 55, 147 and 309). The globally optimized structures of V₂-V₉ are in good agreement with first-principles results. For V₁₅-V₃₀₉, amorphous-like disordered structures are found. The stability of the disordered clusters are discussed from the viewpoint of the local energy distribution in V₅₅.