Photoelectron spectroscopy of phenyldihalophosphites

In order to explain the reactivity of aryldihalophosphites towards halophosphomum salts, photoelectron spectra of PhOPX₂ (X=F, Cl) were studied. Electron densities of boundary molecular orbitals (MO) for these compounds were calculated using the MNDO method and analyzed. Replacement of F by Cl was shown to substantially affect the orbital. When X= Cl, this MO embraces the whole of the OPX₂ moiety whereas for X=F it is localized on the P-O bond.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 323–324, February, 1993.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of chemisorbed atoms

We outline a theory of UV and higher-energy photoemission spectroscopy of chemisorbed atoms, that aims at the accurate calculation of inner electron binding energies and photoabsorption cross sections by including solid state and localized relativistic and correlation effects. It is based on an “atom on (in) solids” approach where one first extracts a surface potential and then uses it in a coupled Hartree–Fock theory to obtain self-consistently the shifts and splittings of atomic levels. A first application of this theoretical program has been carried out on Na on the Al(100) system, by calculating from first principles the binding energies of the Na 1s and 2s electrons. For a coverage of 1.23 × 10¹⁴ adatoms/cm² we find BE (1s) = 1075.2 eV and BE (2s) = 66.2 eV. Also, the Na 2p orbitals are found to split in the cylindrical symmetry by about 0.2 eV.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of radical anions

The photoelectron spectroscopy of a number of radical anions has been investigated. We find the following electron affinities: EA(C₃) =1.981 ±0.020 eV, EA(C₃H) = 1.858 ±0.023 eV, EA(C₃H₂) = 1.794 ± 0.025 eV, EA(C₃O) = 1.34±0.15 eV, EA(C₃O₂) = 0.85±0.15 eV, EA(C₄O)= 2.05±0.15 eV, and EA(CS₂) = 0.895± 0.020 eV. The structure and bonding for each of these ions is discussed.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of silver clusters

A comparison of x-ray photoemission from Ag clusters deposited on polygraphite and highly oriented pyrolitic graphite shows the influence of the support both on the valence band and on the core 3d level of the metal. Positive shifts have been obtained with respect to the bulk for the Fermi edge and the 3d peaks depending on the number of silver atoms deposited on the substrates. When the deposition is very small (cluster regime) the positive shifts of the binding energies are quite different for different substrates and cannot have a common origin. In contrast with recent work, we show that several effects contribute to these shifts: initial state effects like charge redistribution as well as final state effects like the hole-electron interaction.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy and UV/Vis-photoabsorption spectroscopy of isolated clusters

Experimental innovations have allowed for the application of rather conventional spectroscopic molecular beam techniques to the study of electronic properties of molecular beam isolated neutral aggregates. Recent results for mercury clusters obtained by photoelectron spectroscopy and photoabsorption spectroscopy will be discussed. The experimentally available data for mercury clusters indicate a size dependent gradual evolution of metallic bulk properties in the approximate size region between 13 and 70 atoms.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of phosphorus hydride anions

Negative-ion photoelectron spectroscopy is applied to the PH-, PH2-, P2H-, P2H2-, and P2H3-molecular anions. Franck-Condon simulations of the photoelectron spectra are used to analyze the spectra and to identify various P2H(n)- species. The simulations employ density-functional theory calculations of molecular geometries and vibrational frequencies and normal modes, and coupled-cluster theory calculations of electron affinities. The following electron affinities are obtained: EA0(PH) = 1.027 +/- 0.006 eV, EA0(PH2) = 1.263 +/- 0.006 eV, and EA0(P2H) = 1.514 +/- 0.010 eV. A band is identified as a mixture of trans-HPPH- and cis-HPPH-. Although the trans and cis bands cannot be definitively assigned from experimental information, using theory as a guide we obtain EA0(trans-HPPH)= 1.00 +/- 0.01 eV and EA0(cis-HPPH) = 1.03 +/- 0.01 eV. A weak feature tentatively assigned to P2H3- has a vertical detachment energy of 1.74 eV. The derived gas-phase acidity of phosphine is delta(acid)G298(PH3) < or = 1509.7 +/- 2.1 kJ mo1(-1).     

Photoelectron imaging spectroscopy of nitroethane anions

We present low-energy velocity map photoelectron imaging results for bare and Ar solvated nitroethane anions. We report an improved value for the adiabatic electron affinity of nitroethane of (191 ± 6) meV which is used to obtain a C-NO(2) bond dissociation energy of (0.589 ± 0.019) eV in nitroethane anion. We assign a weak feature at (27 ± 5) meV electron binding energy to the dipole-bound anion state of nitroethane. Photoelectron angular distributions exhibit increasing anisotropy with increasing kinetic energies. The main contributions to the photoelectron spectrum of nitroethane anion can be assigned to the vibrational modes of the nitro group. Transitions involving torsional motion around the CN bond axis lead to strong spectral congestion. Interpretation of the photoelectron spectrum is assisted by ab initio calculations and Franck-Condon simulations.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of HC4N-

We report the 364-nm photoelectron spectrum of HC(4)N(-). We observe electron photodetachment from the bent X(2)A" state of HC(4)N(-) to both the near-linear X(3)A" and the bent ? (1)A' states of neutral HC(4)N. We observe an extended, unresolved vibrational progression corresponding to X(3)A" ← X(2)A" photodetachment, and we measure the electron affinity (EA) of the X(3)A" state of HC(4)N to be 2.05(8) eV. Photodetachment to the bent ? (1)A' state results in a single intense origin peak at a binding energy of 2.809(4) eV, from which we determine the singlet-triplet splitting (ΔE(ST)) of HC(4)N: 0.76(8) eV. For comparison and to aid in the interpretation of the HC(4)N(-) spectrum, we also report the 364-nm photoelectron spectra of HCCN(-) and DCCN(-). Improved signal-to-noise over the previous HCCN(-) and DCCN(-) photoelectron spectra allows for a more precise determination of the EAs and ΔE(ST)s of HCCN and DCCN. The EAs of HCCN and DCCN are measured to be 2.001(15) eV and 1.998(15) eV, respectively; ΔE(ST)(HCCN) is 0.510(15) eV and ΔE(ST)(DCCN) is 0.508(15) eV. These results are discussed in the context of other organic carbene chains.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of nickel-benzene cluster anions

(Nickel)(n)(benzene)(m) (-) cluster anions were studied by both mass spectrometry and anion photoelectron spectroscopy. Only Ni(n)(Bz)(m) (-) species for which n > or =m were observed in the mass spectra. No single-nickel Ni(1)(Bz)(m) (-) species were seen. Adiabatic electron affinities, vertical detachment energies, and second transition energies were determined for (n,m)=(2,1), (2,2), (3,1), and (3,2). For the most part, calculations on Ni(n)(Bz)(m) (-) species by B. K. Rao and P. Jena [J. Chem. Phys. 117, 5234 (2002)] were found to be consistent with our results. The synergy between their calculations and our experiment provided enhanced confidence in the theoretically implied magnetic moments of several nickel-benzene complexes. The magnetic moments of small nickel clusters were seen to be extremely sensitive to immediate molecular environmental effects.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of hydrated adenine anions

We report the observation of hydrated adenine anions, A(-)(H(2)O)(n), n=1-7, and their study by anion photoelectron spectroscopy. Values for photoelectron threshold energies, E(T), and vertical detachment energies are tabulated for A(-)(H(2)O)(n) along with those for hydrated uracil anions, U(-)(H(2)O)(n), which are presented for comparison. Analysis of these and previously measured photoelectron spectra of hydrated nucleobase anions leads to the conclusion that threshold energies significantly overstate electron affinity values in these cases, and that extrapolation of hydrated nucleobase anion threshold values to n=0 leads to incorrect electron affinity values for the nucleobases themselves. Sequential shifts between spectra, however, lead to the conclusion that A(-)(H(2)O)(3) is likely to be the smallest adiabatically stable, hydrated adenine anion.     

Photoelectron emission spectroscopy of liquid water

The threshold energy E_t = 10.06 eV (0.002 eV standard deviation) is determined for photoelectron emission by liquid water and is correlated with E_t = 8.45 eV for OH^? (aq). Free energy changes and standard reduction potentials are calculated for both emission processes. Reorganization free energies are correlated to solvation free energies for H₂O⁺(aq) and OH^?(aq).     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of hydrated hexafluorobenzene anions

We present a synergetic experimental/theoretical study of hydrated hexafluorobenzene anions. Experimentally, we measured the anion photoelectron spectra of the anions, C6F6(-)(H2O)n (n=0-2). The spectra show broad peaks, which shift to successively higher electron binding energies with the addition of each water molecule to the hexafluorobenzene anion. Complementing these results, we also conducted density functional calculations which link adiabatic electron affinities to the optimized geometric structures of the negatively charged species and their neutral counterparts. Neutral hexafluorobenzene-water complexes are not thought to be hydrogen bonded. In the case of C6F6(-)(H2O)1, however, its water molecule was found to lie in the plane of the hexafluorobenzene anion, bound by two O-H...F ionic hydrogen bonds. Whereas in the case of C6F6(-)(H2O)2, both water molecules also lie in the plane of and are hydrogen bonded to the hexafluorobenzene anion but on opposite ends. This study and that of Schneider et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 127, 114311 (2007), preceding paper] are in agreement regarding the geometry of C6F6(-)(H2O)1.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy and substituent effects in halonaphthalenes

The electronic structure of two isomeric dibromonaphthalenes (C(10)H(6)Br(2)) has been investigated by HeI/HeII photoelectron spectroscopy. The spectra were assigned by Green's functions calculations and comparison with the spectra of related dibromobenzenes (C(6)H(4)Br(2)). The analysis of pi-orbital and halogen lone pair ionization energies, enabled us to determine the magnitude of bromine-bromine intramolecular interactions and distinguish between through-bond and through-space type interactions. We also discuss the halogen-halogen interactions in other polynuclear aromatics.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of heterocycles. Azaindenes and azaindolizines

The HeI photoelectron (PE) spectra of indole ( 1 ), benzimidazole ( 2 ), indazole ( 3 ), 3-chloro-indazole ( 4 ), imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine ( 5 ), 6-chloroimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine ( 6 ), 2-phenyl-imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine ( 7 ), 2-phenyl-6-chloroimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine ( 8 ), tetrazolo[1,2-a]-pyridine ( 9 ) and 8-cyanotetrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine ( 10 ) have been recorded. The spectra of 2–10 are of special interest for studying lone pair interactions. The assignment of the PE spectra submitted here, conjointly with the electronic structure of the studied compounds is discussed on the basis of molecular orbital calculations.     

Photoelectron imaging spectroscopy and theoretical investigation of ZrSi

The photoelectron spectrum of ZrSi(-) has been measured at two different photon energies: 2.33 eV and 3.49 eV, providing electron binding energy and photoelectron angular distribution information. The obtained vertical detachment energy of ZrSi(-) is 1.584(14) eV. The neutral ground and excited state terms are assigned based on experimental and theoretical results. The ground state of ZrSi is tentatively assigned as a (3)Σ(+) state with a configuration of 1σ(2) 1π(4) 1δ(0) 2σ(1) 3σ(1). A low lying (3)Π(i) neutral excited state is identified to be 0.238 eV (1919 cm(-1)) above the ground state. The anion ground state is designated as a (2)Σ(+) state with a 1σ(2) 1π(4) 1δ(0) 2σ(2) 3σ(1) valence electron configuration. A Franck-Condon (FC) simulation of the photoelectron spectrum has been carried out. For the (3)Σ(+) ← (2)Σ(+) band, theoretically calculated bond lengths and frequencies are used in the FC calculation which give good agreement with experiment, while for the (3)Π(i) ← (2)Σ(+) band, the ZrSi bond length is estimated from the FC spectrum. Comparisons are made with previously published theoretical studies and inconsistencies are pointed out. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first spectroscopic information on the transition metal-silicon diatomic, ZrSi.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy without photoelectrons: twenty years of ZEKE spectroscopy

Zero Kinetic Energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy, originally developed as a high resolution form of photoelectron spectroscopy, promised a means to the unambiguous determination of ionic (ro)vibrational states. Since its original development, it has spawned numerous methodological offshoots and has become one of the default methods of choice for high resolution spectroscopy of the ion. This tutorial review describes the historical development of the method, provides some insight into how it works and assesses the impact of the technique by reviewing some of the highlights of the past 20 years as well as some of the more recent developments and applications.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of jet-cooled aluminium cluster anions

Aluminium cluster anions (Al _n ^? ) are produced by laser vaporization without additional ionization and cooled by supersonic expansion. Photoelectrons from mass-identified anion bunches (n=2...25) are detached by laser light (hv=3.68 eV) and undergo energy analysis in a magnetic bottle-type time-of-flight spectrometer. The measurements provide information about the electronic excitation energies from ionic ground states to neutral states of the clusters. In contrast to bulk aluminium these cluster photoelectron spectra partially have well-resolved bands which originate from low-lying excited bands. For small clusters, especially the aluminium dimer and trimer, quantum-chemical calculations will be compared to the measurements. The electron affinity size dependence of larger clusters shows conclusive evidence for “shell” effects.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of transition metal-sulfur cluster anions

Metal (M)-sulfur cluster anions (M = Ag, Fe and Mn) have been studied using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) with a magnetic-bottle type time-of-flight electron spectrometer. The M_nS _m ^? cluster anions were formed in a laser vaporization cluster source. For Ag-S, the largest coordination number of Ag atoms (n _max) is generally expressed as n _max =2m ? 1 in each series of the number of S atoms (m). For Fe?S and Mn?S, it was found that the stable cluster ions are the ones with compositions of n=m and n=m±1. Their electron affinities were measured from the onset of the PES spectrum. For Ag?S, the EAs of Ag₁S_m are small and around 1 eV, whereas those of Ag_nS_m (_n ≥ 2) become large above 2 eV. The features in the mass distribution and PES suggest that Ag₂S unit is preferentially formed with increasing the number of Ag atoms. For Fe?S and Mn?S, the PES spectra of Fe_nS _m ^? /Mn_nS _m ^? show a unique similarity at n ≥ m, indicating that the Fe/Mn atom addition to Fe_nS _n ^? /Mn_nS _n ^? has little effect on the electronic property of Fe_nS_n/Mn_nS_n. The PES spectra imply that the Fe_nS_n cluster is the structural framework of these clusters, as similarly as the determined structure of the Fe_nS_n cluster in nitrogenase enzyme.