Distorted icosahedral cage structure of ${\mathrm{Si}}_{60}$ clusters

Using full-potential linear-muffin-tin-orbital molecular-dynamics method, we have performed calculations on the structure and the binding energy of cluster ${\mathrm{Si}}_{60}.$ It is found that the stable structure for ${\mathrm{Si}}_{60}$ cluster is a distorted truncated icosahedron, with $T_h$ symmetry. Its fullerene cage structure remains, but it looks like a puckered ball. The lower symmetry and four distinct Si-Si bond lengths make the structure different from that with $I_h$ symmetry and two C-C bond lengths in ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}.$