Photodissociation of small group-11 metal cluster ions: fragmentation pathways and photoabsorption cross sections

Noble metal cluster ions Cu(n)(+), Ag(n)(+) and Au(n)(+) (n = 3-21) have been stored in a Penning trap and photodissociated by low intensity laser pulses of 10 ns at photon energies of 3.49 eV and 4.66 eV. The fragmentation pathways, neutral monomer and dimer evaporation, have been monitored as a function of cluster size, excitation energy and element. It is found that the behavior of the branching ratio between monomer and dimer evaporation as a function of excitation energy depends on the metal under investigation. In particular, the slope of the energy dependence is positive for silver but negative for gold and copper cluster ions. Furthermore, photoabsorption cross sections are determined from observed total fragment yields in single-photon dissociation.     

氧硫化碳在230 nm光激发下的S(~3P)解离通道

在230nm激光激发下,氧硫化碳(OCS)分子迅速解离生成振动基态但高转动激发的CO(X~1∑_g~+,v=0,J=42-69)碎片,并通过共振增强多光子电离技术实现其离子化。通过检测处于J=56-69转动激发态CO碎片的离子速度聚焦影像,我们获得了各转动态CO碎片的速度分布和空间角度分布,其中包含了S(1D)+CO的单重态和S(~3P_J)+CO三重态解离通道的贡献。不同的转动态CO碎片对应三重态产物通道的量子产率略有不同,经加权平均我们得到230 nm附近光解OCS分子中S(3P)解离通道的量子产率为4.16%。结合高精度量化计算的OCS分子势能面和吸收截面的信息,我们获得了OCS光解的三重态解离机理,即基态OCS(X~1A')分子吸收一个光子激发到弯曲的A~1A'态之后,通过内转换跃迁回弯曲构型的基电子态,随后在C-S键断裂过程中与2~3A"(c~3A")态强烈耦合并沿后者势能面绝热解离。     

Theoretical studies of third-order nonlinear optical response for B12N12, B24N24 and B36N36 clusters

In this paper, we have calculated the third-order nonlinear optical polarizabilities corresponding to three optical processes: third-harmonic generation (THG), electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation (EFISHG) and degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) for B₁₂N₁₂, B₂₄N₂₄ and B₃₆N₃₆ clusters. The calculations have been performed by employing ab initio time-dependent density functional theory combined with sum-over-states method (SOS//TDDFT). We obtained the similar dynamic behavior of third-order NLO polarizabilities for three BN clusters. At input photon energy below 1.25 eV, the resonance enhancements of response haven't occurred. This is due to the fact that the calculated BN clusters have the large transition energy. B₂₄N₂₄ cluster has the larger transition dipole moments and the third-order polarizabilities of B₂₄N₂₄ are much larger than those of B₁₂N₁₂ and B₃₆N₃₆. We also estimate the static third-order optical susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ for BN fullerene materials from the average static third-order polarizability <γ>. The static χ⁽³⁾ of B₂₄N₂₄ fullerene materials are 1.36×10⁻¹⁴ esu for three NLO processes.     

Unimolecular dissociation of trivalent metal cluster ions (Al n + , Ga n + , In n + ): evidence for a transition from covalent to metallic bonding

Unimolecular dissociation of aluminum, gallium and indium clusters is investigated. Small sizes dissociate into two channels: either the evaporation of a neutral or a charged monomer. Above a given size n _c, only dissociation of a neutral atom subsists. The evaporation of a charged monomer is characteristic of trivalent metal clusters and is consistent with the size evolution of the ionization potential towards the atomic value. The experiments are interpreted in the framework of the statistical R.R.K. model. For smaller sizes (n < n _c), as two evaporation processes are in competition, we have evaluated cluster relative dissociation energies and ionization potentials. The competition between the two evaporation channels is well mirrored by the evolution of the ionization potentials independently measured by near-threshold photoionization experiments. For gallium, our measurements have revealed that the covalent to metal transition occurs for larger sizes (n = 30–50 atoms) than for aluminum clusters.     

Elaboration of hybrid nanocluster materials by solution chemistry

The [(M₆L₁₂ⁱ)L₆^a]ⁿ⁻ and [(M₆L₈ⁱ)L₆^a] units (a = apical, i = inner) constitute the basic building blocks in the octahedral cluster chemistry. Nano-sized metallic clusters are easily obtained by solid state synthesis with transition elements associated with halogen or chalcogen. The intrinsic properties of M₆ cluster units—one or two electron reversible redox process, magnetism and luminescence—depend on the nature of the metal and ligands. The solubilisation of M₆ solid state compounds provides [(M₆L₁₂ⁱ)L₆^a]ⁿ⁻ or [(M₆L₈ⁱ)L₆^a]ⁿ⁻ building blocks with individual properties that can be further used for the design of hybrid organic/inorganic materials. Several examples of solid state precursors are presented as well as substitution reactions of apical ligands in solution. Indeed, hexacyano M₆ clusters are obtained by direct reaction of solid state precursors in aqueous KCN solutions. Low dimensional frameworks are subsequently obtained by recrystallisation of hexacyano M₆ clusters with transition elements. The functionalisation of cluster proceeds in two steps. The first one consists in the replacement of apical halogens of cluster unit precursors by labile groups as CF₃SO₃ (triflate) or solvent molecules after solution reaction. The second one consists in the substitution of the labile groups by functionalised phenolate or pyridine ligands.     

Vibrational predissociation of OCS clusters excited near the ν3 vibration of the monomer

OCS clusters have been produced in a supersonic beam. Dissociation spectra for these clusters have been measured with a diode laser and a bolometer detector. Two sets of results are presented: (1) Results for large clusters with discrete sampling through a range of 80 cm⁻¹ around the ν₃ monomer absorption. In this group the size distribution of the clusters is varied with the stagnation pressure in the source. Broad spectra are obtained (between 20 and 40 cm⁻¹ depending on the pressure) with a maximum blueshift of 12 cm⁻¹ from the monomer absorption. (2) Results for small clusters with a continuous scan. Here narrow (≈ 50 MHz) dissociation lines are observed, if the beam parameters are chosen so as to produce dimers preferentially.     

Transport phenomenon as a function of counter and co-ions in solution: chronopotentiometric behavior of anion exchange membrane in different aqueous electrolyte solutions

Anion exchange membrane has been investigated in different electrolyte solutions by chronopotentiometry to explore the influence of co-ion and counterion of the exchange group of the membrane, on the transport phenomena. Chloride, nitrate, sulfate and acetate in sodium salts were used as counterions and sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium in chloride salts were used as co-ions. The membrane showed a potential drop (E₀) in all these electrolytes when a constant current was applied across it, which remained constant for a period less than τ, called the transition time and rose gradually to a maximum (E_max) value. The parameters such as τ, E₀ and E_max and the potential jump (ΔE) and τ and the inflection zone (Δt) along the time axis have been measured and compared at an applied current density (I) of 10 mA cm⁻² in 10 mM solutions. The values of τ^1/2/z_A[A₀] or τ^1/2/z_C[C₀], with or , E₀ and ΔE with or (where r_A and r_C are the ionic radii of counter and co-ions, respectively) have been correlated. Permselectivity (P) and transference number of the membrane with respect to each one of the above electrolytes have been evaluated and discussed.     

The effective temperature of Peptide ions dissociated by sustained off-resonance irradiation collisional activation in fourier transform mass spectrometry

A method for determining the internal energy of biomolecule ions activated by collisions is demonstrated. The dissociation kinetics of protonated leucine enkephalin and doubly protonated bradykinin were measured using sustained off-resonance irradiation (SORI) collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer. Dissociation rate constants are obtained from these kinetic data. In combination with Arrhenius parameters measured with blackbody infrared radiative dissociation, the "effective" temperatures of these ions are obtained. Effects of excitation voltage and frequency and the ion cell pressure were investigated. With typical SORI-CAD experimental conditions, the effective temperatures of these peptide ions range between 200 and 400 degrees C. Higher temperatures can be easily obtained for ions that require more internal energy to dissociate. The effective temperatures of both protonated leucine enkephalin and doubly protonated bradykinin measured with the same experimental conditions are similar. Effective temperatures for protonated leucine enkephalin can also be obtained from the branching ratio of the b(4) and (M + H - H(2)O)(+) pathways. Values obtained from this method are in good agreement with those obtained from the overall dissociation rate constants. Protonated leucine enkephalin is an excellent "thermometer" ion and should be well suited to establishing effective temperatures of ions activated by other dissociation techniques, such as infrared photodissociation, as well as ionization methods, such as matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization.     

八电子Pd4四面体团簇的电子结构稳定性分析

基于理论计算,我们报道了T_d对称性的[Pd₄(μ₃-SbH₃)₄(SbH₃)₄]团簇及一系列类似物的结构与成键。成键分析表明：每个Pd原子都是sp³杂化,其10个价电子与四个配体提供的8个价电子,满足18电子规则。并且,每个Pd原子与四个桥连的SbH₃配体可以形成四个离域的四中心两电子超级σ键或八中心两电子键。一方面,根据超原子网络模型,这个钯团簇可以描述成四个2电子的超原子网络。另一方面,凝胶模型表明,它可以合理化的作为电子组态是1S²1P⁶的8电子超原子。与此同时,d¹⁰…d¹⁰闭壳层相互作用在稳定Pd₄四面体结构中起到了关键性的作用。密度泛函理论计算表明：T_d对称性[Pd₄(μ₃-SbH₃)₄(SbH₃)₄]团簇表现出高度稳定性,具有充满的电子壳层,大的HOMO-LUMO带隙(2.84 eV)以及负的核独立化学位移(NICS)值。此外,基于[Pd₄(μ₃-SbH₃)₄(SbH₃)₄]结构与成键模式,我们设计了一系列稳定的类似物,其有可能被实验合成出来。     

The quadratic coupled cluster doubles model

Beginning from the bi-variational expression for the standard coupled cluster doubles (CCD) energy, we propose including a term quadratic in the left operator, . As this makes the left-hand and right-hand wave functions more similar, the resulting functional should better approximate the variational expression. The energy given by the quadratic functional is extensive and the stationary equations may be solved in O(N⁶) time. These equations have been implemented and the potential energy surfaces for HF dissociation, H₂O double dissociation and N₂ dissociation are examined. It is found that the quadratic functional effectively reproduces the fully variational results in all cases.     

溴代烷烃与活性氮的反应发光研究

在流动余辉装置上, 利用N₂空心阴极放电制备活性氮, 研究了活性氮与溴代烷烃(CHBr₃、CH₂Br₂、C₂H₅Br、C₄H₉Br) 反应的化学发光.上述所有反应中, 在550～750 nm波段均观察到了较强的NBr (b¹Σ+→X³Σ^-)跃迁发射谱. 同时在活性氮与CHBr₃和CH₂Br₂的反应中, 在流动管下游还观察到了CN (A²π, B²π→X²Σ⁺)的发射谱. 验证性的实验表明, 激发态NBr (b¹Σ⁺)是由二步过程形成: N(⁴S)与溴代烷烃反应生成NBr (X³Σ^-), 再通过N₂ (A ³Σ_u⁺)分子能量转移到激发态NBr (b¹Σ⁺); 而激发态的CN是通过N(⁴S) + CBr→CN(A, B) + Br过程形成的.     

Multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry of metal cationized leucine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin amide

We have examined the multi-stage collision induced dissociation (CID) of metal cationized leucine enkephalin, leucine enkephalin amide, and the N-acetylated versions of the peptides using ion trap mass spectrometry. In accord with earlier studies, the most prominent species observed during the multi-stage CID of alkali metal cationized leucine enkephalin are the [b(n) + 17 + Cat]+ ions. At higher CID stages (i.e. >MS(4)), however, dissociation of the [b2 + 17 + Cat]+ ion, a cationized dipeptide, results in the production of [a(n) -1 + Cat]+ species. The multi-stage CID of Ag+ cationized leucine enkephalin can be initiated with either the [b(n) -1 + Ag]+ or [b(n) + 17 + Ag]+ ions produced at the MS/MS stage. For the former, sequential CID stages cause, in general, the loss of CO, and then the loss of the imine of the C-terminal amino acid, to reveal the amino acid sequence. Similar to the alkali cationized species, CID of [b2 -1 + Ag]+ produces prominent [a(n) -1 + Ag]+ ions. The multi-stage CID of argentinated peptides is reminiscent of fragmentation observed for protonated peptides, in that a series of (b(n)) and (a(n)) type ions are generated in sequential CID stages. The Ag+ cation is similar to the alkali metals, however, in that the [b(n) + 17 + Ag]+ product is produced at the MS/MS and MS3 stages, and that sequential CID stages cause the elimination of amino acid residues primarily from the C-terminus. We found that N-acetylation of the peptide significantly influenced the fragmentation pathways observed, in particular by promoting the formation of more easily interpreted (in the context of unambiguous sequence determination) dissociation spectra from the [b2 + 17 + Li]+, [b2 + 17 + Na]+ and [b2 -1 + Ag]+ precursor ions. Our results suggest, therefore, that N-acetylation may improve the efficacy of multi-stage CID experiments for C-terminal peptide sequencing in the gas phase. For leucine enkephalin amide, only the multi-stage CID of the argentinated peptide allowed the complete amino acid sequence to be determined from the C-terminal side.     

Experimental studies on the transition from xerogels to glasses for the system SiO2-PbO-B2O3 with added DMSO using the thermal-mass spectroscopy coupling technique

The thermal-mass spectroscopy coupling technique (TG-DTA-MS) was used to study the thermal decomposition behaviour of the transition from xerogels to glasses for the gradient refractive index materials SiO₂-PbO-B₂O₃ with added dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). Compared with the TG-DTA-MS results for C₂H₅OH-system xerogels, the MS curves for DMSO-system xerogels show (in addition to CH⁺₃ (m/z, 15)) the CH₃O⁺ (m/z, 31), C₂H₅O⁺ (m/z, 45), [(CH₃)₂SO]⁺ (m/z, 78), etc., positive-ion mass spectrum peaks. This indicates that adding DMSO enables many residual OR groups to remain in the forming xerogels. This was beneficial for the condensation of the incompletely hydrolysed product and for preventing cracking of the xerogels. A preliminary study on the mechanism of thermal decomposition for DMSO-system xerogels is also given in this paper.     

Photodissociation of vanadium, niobium, and tantalum oxide cluster cations

Transition-metal oxide clusters of the form M(n)O(m) (+)(M=V,Nb,Ta) are produced by laser vaporization in a pulsed nozzle cluster source and detected with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Consistent with earlier work, cluster oxides for each value of n produce only a limited number of stoichiometries, where m>n. The cluster cations are mass selected and photodissociated using the second (532 nm) or third (355 nm) harmonic of a Nd:YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) laser. All of these clusters require multiphoton conditions for dissociation, consistent with their expected strong bonding. Dissociation occurs by either elimination of oxygen or by fission, repeatedly producing clusters having the same specific stoichiometries. In oxygen elimination, vanadium species tend to lose units of O(2), whereas niobium and tantalum lose O atoms. For each metal increment n, oxygen elimination proceeds until a terminal stoichiometry is reached. Clusters having this stoichiometry do not eliminate more oxygen, but rather undergo fission, producing smaller M(n)O(m) (+) species. The smaller clusters produced as fission products represent the corresponding terminal stoichiometries for those smaller n values. The terminal stoichiometries identified are the same for V, Nb, and Ta oxide cluster cations. This behavior suggests that these clusters have stable bonding networks at their core, but additional excess oxygen at their periphery. These combined results determine that M(2)O(4) (+), M(3)O(7) (+), M(4)O(9) (+), M(5)O(12) (+), M(6)O(14) (+), and M(7)O(17) (+) have the greatest stability for V, Nb, and Ta oxide clusters.     

Thermal dissociation of the protein homodimer ecotin in the gas phase

The influence of charge on the thermal dissociation of gaseous, protonated, homodimeric, protein ecotin ions produced by nanoflow electrospray ionization (nanoES) was investigated using the blackbody infrared radiative dissociation technique. Dissociation of the protonated dimer, (E₂ + nH)ⁿ⁺ E₂ⁿ⁺ where n = 14–17, into pairs of monomer ions is the dominant reaction at temperatures from 126 to 175 °C. The monomer pair corresponding to the most symmetric charge distribution is preferred, although 50–60% of the monomer product ions correspond to an asymmetric partitioning of charge. The relative abundance of the different monomer ion pairs produced from E₂¹⁴⁺, E₂¹⁵⁺, and E₂¹⁶⁺ depends on reaction time, with the more symmetric charge distribution pair dominating at longer times. The relative yield of monomer ions observed late in the reaction is independent of temperature indicating that proton transfer between the monomers does not occur during dissociation and that the different monomer ion pairs are formed from dimer ions which differ in the distribution of charge between the monomers. For E₂¹⁷⁺, the yield of monomer ions is independent of reaction time but does exhibit slight temperature dependence, with higher temperatures favoring the monomers corresponding to most symmetric charge distribution. The charge distribution in the E₂¹⁵⁺ and E₂¹⁶⁺ dimer ions influences the dissociation kinetics, with the more asymmetric distribution resulting in greater reactivity. In contrast, the charge distribution has no measurable effect on the dissociation kinetics and energetics of the E₂¹⁷⁺ dimer.     

Density functional and multiphoton ionization studies of N,N-dimethylformamide–(methanol)n clusters

The multiphoton ionization of the hydrogen-bonded clusters N,N-dimethylformamide–(methanol)_n (DMF–(CH₃OH)_n) was studied using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer at the wavelengths of 355 and 532 nm. At both wavelengths, a series of protonated DMF–(CH₃OH)_nH⁺ ions was obtained. The clusters were also investigated by density functional theory B3LYP method in conjunction with basis sets 6-31+G(d,p) and 6-311+G(2d,p). Equilibrium geometries of both neutral and ionic DMF–CH₃OH clusters, and dissociation channels and dissociation energies of the ionic clusters are presented. The results show that when DMF–CH₃OH is vertically ionized and dissociated, DMFH⁺ and CH₃O are the dominant products via proton transfer reaction. A high energy barrier makes another channel corresponding to the production of DMFH⁺ and CH₂OH disfavored. In the DMF–(CH₃OH)H⁺ ion, the proton prefers to link with the O atom of DMF molecule. Variation of atomic charges during proton transfer in hydrogen bond of the protonated cluster DMF–(CH₃OH)H⁺ ion is also discussed.     

Fission barriers for Na N 2+ cluster dissociation

The competition experimentally observed between asymmetric fission and neutral monomer evaporation as dissociation channels of excited doubly charged sodium clusters has been investigated by means of an axially symmetric, fully selfconsistent Kohn-Sham method. Ellipsoidal equilibrium configurations for parent and daughter clusters have been considered using a deformed jellium model.This paper was originally submitted in connection with the 2nd. Int. Conference on Atomic and Nuclear Clusters held in Santorini from 28. June–2. July 1993 and is published here as a regular article after an independent refereeing procedure according to the standards of Z. Phys. D     

Photodissociation of (SO2)m(H2O)n clusters employing femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy

A femtosecond pump-probe technique was employed to study the photodissociation dynamics of (SO2)m(H2O)n clusters in real time for clusters, where m=1, 2 and n as large as 11. The pump (excitation) step occurs through a multiphoton process which populates the dissociative E state as well as a lower-lying bound state of the sulfur dioxide (SO2) chromophore. Dissociation of the SO2 monomer occurs through the E state and the decay is fit to a lifetime of 230 fs. The present study is in agreement with our previous investigations of homogeneous (SO2)m clusters that have shown that cluster formation inhibits the dissociation process owing to a steric effect induced by the cluster environment [K. L. Knappenberger, Jr. and A. W. Castleman, Jr., J. Chem. Phys. 121, 3540 (2004)]. The E state lifetime increases sequentially as a function of cluster size to as much as 668 fs when 11 water molecules solvate the chromophore. We have employed a method to compare the ratio of amplitude coefficients, which reflect a respective component of the mathematical fit, to determine the nature of the wave packet evolution in binary clusters. An increase of this ratio by as much as 440% was observed for large cluster sizes. A preferential ion state charge transfer, rather than dissociation, was observed in binary clusters. The significance of cluster size on evaporation processes has been investigated.     

水助催化氢分子在金纳米粒子上解离的理论研究

金纳米粒子（GNPs）对氢分子（H₂）的解离具有良好的催化活性. 本文研究了水分子对 GNPs 催化 H₂ 解离的影响. 对于H₂在中性和带正电的金簇（Au_n^δ,n=3~5;δ = 0,1）上的反应,考虑当水簇（(H₂O)_m,m = 1, 2, 3, 7）参与反应时 GNPs 催化H₂的解离过程的热力学和动力学. 研究结果表明,水对 H₂ 在GNPs上的解离有助催化的作用,且水簇大小不同,水助催化 H₂ 在金簇上解离的机理也有所不同,其由氢氢键的均裂解离转化为氧化解离. 对两种机理所得的产物,作者计算了它们的 Raman 和 IR 光谱.     

Splay elasticity in an oligomeric liquid crystal

A magnetically-induced Freedericksz transition was used in conjunction with capacitance techniques to determine the splay elastic constant of the 4,4'-dialkoxyphenylbenzoate monomer '5OO5rsquo; [C₅H₁₁OC₆H₄COOC₆H₄OC₅H₁₁] and its dimer. As a function of reduced temperature in the nematic phase, it was found that K₁₁ of the dimer is only about 20 per cent larger than that of the monomer. Moreover, the values of K₁₁/S² versus reduced temperature, where S is the scalar order parameter, are equal to within experimental noise. These results suggest that for short oligomers Meyer's entropic model for splay elasticity in polymer liquid crystals is not applicable. A lowest order correction to the entropic model is suggested, which partially accounts for excluded volume and dispersive effects.