Dipole excitation of Na clusters with a non-local energy density functional

The elementary dipole excitations of the ionized clusters Na ₉ ⁺ , Na ₂₁ ⁺ and Na ₄₁ ⁺ are investigated by solving the equations of the Random-Phase Approximation. The ground and excited states are described using the jellium model for the ionic background and a non-local energy density functional for the valence electrons. Non-local effects are specifically analyzed. The excitation energies thus obtained approach better than those of the Local Density Approximation both the full Hartree-Fock and the experimental results.     

On ionisation induced unimolecular dissociation of sodium clusters

Fragmentation of sodium cluster ions (Na _x ⁺ ,x<42) was studied via photoionisation of neutral precursors. Expansions of metal vapor out of cylindrical and conical nozzles yielded supersonic beams with differing cluster compositions. Measurements of photoionisation efficiency curves in the 3–6 eV range for both types of expansion allow quantitative separation of direct ionisation and unimolecular dissociation contributions to specific ion signals. Data for Na ₈ ⁺ and Na ₇ ⁺ are analysed to yield lower limits on bond energies. Results obtained for larger clusters are also discussed.     

Gemischt quantenmechanisch-statistische Modellrechnungen nach der Einzentrenmethode an Wasserstoffverbindungen tetraedrischer Symmetrie von Elementen der III., IV. und V. Hauptgruppe

Using a one-center-method, treating the inner shells statistically, the valence-shell, however, by quantum mechanics, the equilibrium internuclear distances and total molecular energies have been computed for CH₄, SiH₄, GeH₄, SnH₄, PbH₄, BH ₄ ^? , AlH ₄ ^? , GaH ₄ ^? , InH ₄ ^? , TlH ₄ ^? , NH ₄ ⁺ , PH ₄ ⁺ , AsH ₄ ⁺ , SbH ₄ ⁺ , and BiH ₄ ⁺ . The results are in good agreement with experimental data as well as with theoretical values.     

Statistische Modellrechnungen an zweiatomigen Alkalimetallmolekülen und -molekülionen

Using a statistical shell-model, the equilibrium internuclear distances and total molecular energies have been computed for Li ₂ ⁺ , Li₂, Na ₂ ⁺ and Na₂. The results are in good agreement with experimental data.     

Bimetallic cluster cations ejected from a liquid metal ion source: Li-Na and Li-Mg

Cluster ions of alloys (Li-Na, Li-Mg) have been produced by a liquid metal ion source (LMIS), and analyzed by mass spectrometry. For the Li-Na system, bimetallic clusters with various compositions were formed, and dominant bimetallic species were Na₂Li⁺, NaLi⁺, NaLi ₂ ⁺ and NaLi ₈ ⁺ with this sequence of ion intensity. These clusters are systems containing 2 or 8 valence electrons except for NaLi⁺. For the Li-Mg, observed bimetallic clusters were limited to only three species (MgLi⁺, MgLi ₂ ⁺ and Mg₂Li⁺), but unexpectedly small multiply charged homonuclear clusters, Mg ₂ ²⁺ and Mg ₃ ²⁺ , were observed.     

Analysis of optical absorption spectra of transition metal cluster ions by the spin-polarized DV-Xα method

Optical absorption spectra of cobalt cluster ions, Co _n ⁺ , and vanadium cluster ions, V _n ⁺ , were analyzed by a theoretical calculation based on the spin-polarized DV-Xα method, and their electronic and geometric structures were obtained. Relative absorption cross section associated with each electronic transition was calculated; the calculation enables a qualitative comparison of calculated spectrum with a measured one not only in its transition energy but also in its intensity profile. This analysis shows that Co ₄ ⁺ , Co ₃ ⁺ , and V ₄ ⁺ have, respectively, a tetrahedral structure with a bond distance of 2.00Å, an equilateral triangle with a bond distance of 2.30Å, and a distorted tetrahedral structure with five bonds having a distance of 2.34 Å and one of 2.89Å. The differences in the population between majority and minority spins (spin-difference) evaluated from the electronic structure thus obtained were 2.0, 1.7, and zero per atom in Co ₃ ⁺ , Co ₄ ⁺ , and V ₄ ⁺ , respectively. These spin differences indicate a ferromagnetic and an antiferromagnetic spin-coupling in the cobalt and vanadium cluster ions, respectively.     

Helium cluster ions RgHe x + (Rg=Ne,Ar and Kr,x≦14) formed in a drift tube cooled by liquid helium

Rare gas ions Ne⁺, Ar⁺ and Kr⁺ are injected into a drift tube which is filled with helium gas and cooled by liquid helium. Helium cluster ions RgHe _x ⁺ (Rg=Ne, Ar and Kr,x≦14) are observed as products. Information regarding the stability of RgHe _x ⁺ is obtained from drift field dependence of the size distribution of the clusters, and magic numbers are determined. The magic numbers arex=11 and 13 for NeHe _x ⁺ andx=12 for ArHe _x ⁺ and KrHe _x ⁺ . NeHe _x ⁺ , Ar⁺ and Kr⁺ are proposed as the core ions for NeHe ₁₃ ⁺ , ArHe ₁₂ ⁺ and KrHe ₁₂ ⁺ , respectively.     

Nucleophilic assistance in methane activation by superelectrophiles with halogen-centered cationic sites

Simulation of fragments of potential energy surface for systems CH₄ + CBr ₃ ⁺ , CH₄ + CBr ₃ ⁺ AlBr ₄ ^? , CH₄ + CCl ₃ ⁺ AlCl ₄ ^? , and CH₄ + CCl ₃ ⁺ Al₂Cl ₇ ^? was performed by DFT-B3LYP and DFT-PBE methods. The important role of nucleophilic assistance in methane halogenation by these superelectrophiles was confirmed. These reactions occur with a synchronous hydride transfer from methane to the electrophile within the cyclic transition states in linear C-H-C fragment of the rings and a generation of a C-Hlg bond between the carbon atom of the arising methyl group and the halogen atom of the electrophile. The nucleophilic assistance from the unshared electron pair of this halogen atom provides the lowering of the potential barriers to methane halogenation by complexes CBr ₃ ⁺ AlBr ₄ ^? , CCl ₃ ⁺ AlCl ₄ ^? , and CCl ₃ ⁺ Al₂Cl ₇ ^? to the values of the order of 20 kcal mol^?1. These essential features of the mechanism of methane halogenation are independent of the halogen nature and are retained on going from the model electrophiles to the real ones.     

Extraction-photometric selective determination of trace perchlorates in potable waters

A method is proposed for the selective photometry determination of perchlorates in potable water with a detection limit of 2×10^?3 mg/L is proposed based on the extraction of its ion pair with the astrafloxin cation and absorbance measurements at 540 nm. The following ratios of matrix ions are acceptable (in parentheses): ClO^?, ClO ₂ ^? , ClO ₃ ^? , BrO ₃ ^? (500); I^? (1000); IO ₃ ^? (7000); HCO ₃ ^? , Cl^?,SO ₄ ^2? , NO ₃ ^? , Br^?, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ (10000). The relative error of determination for ClO ₄ ^? is 20% in the range 4 × 10^-3-1 × 10^?2 mg/L and 10% in the range 1 × 10^-2–5 × 10^?2 mg/L.     

The Jellium—Atom quasimolecular model for the investigation of charge transfer in alkali-cluster-ion/alkali-atom interactions: the Na 19 + /Na system

The potential energy curves of the Na ₁₉ ⁺ /Na quasimolecular (Jellium—Atom)⁺ system determined by Guissani and Sidis [3] are used to calculate the vibrational energy levels of a sodium atom stuck to a Na ₁₉ ⁺ Jellium-like cluster and to determine excitation and charge transfer cross sections in Na ₁₉ ⁺ + Na collisions in the 0.2 10⁷ cm/s < v < 1.5 10⁷ cm/s velocity range.     

Chemisorption and chemical reactions on size selected clusters

Low energy ion beam techniques have been used to perform a detailed study of the reactions of Al ₂₅ ⁺ and Si ₂₅ ⁺ with a range of simple molecules (D₂, CH₄, O₂, C₂H₄, CO and N₂). The reactions were studied over a center of mass collision energy range from 0.2eV up to 7eV. Activation barriers for chemisorption onto the clusters were deduced from the experimental results. The activation barriers for chemisorption on Al ₂₅ ⁺ and Si ₂₅ ⁺ are generally similar and show a qualitative correlation with the electronic properties of the reactant molecule. However, the products of the chemical reactions of Al ₂₅ ⁺ and Si ₂₅ ⁺ which result from cluster fragmentation are quite different. Si ₂₅ ⁺ shows a tendency to undergo fission as observed in a number of recent studies of the dissociation of the bare clusters.     

Shell correction study of fission of doubly charged silver clusters

Fission of doubly charged silver clusters is investigated by the method of shell corrections. The following fission events are considered: Ag ₂₂ ²⁺ → Ag _n ⁺ + Ag _{22 ?n} ⁺ , (n=11, 10, 9, 8); Ag ₂₁ ²⁺ → Ag _n ⁺ + Ag _{21 ?n} ⁺ , (n=10, 9, 8, 7); Ag ₁₈ ²⁺ → Ag _n ⁺ + Ag _{18 ?n} ⁺ , (n=9, 8, 7, 6). It is found that the shell correction energy is comparable to or larger than the deformation energy of the liquid drop. Threshold energies for the fission events are calculated and compared with the experimental abundance spectra obtained by Katakuse et al. (1990). Correspondence between the calculated threshold energies with the shell corrections and the experimental abundance is very good, showing products from lower threshold fission channels yield more abundance. The threshold energies without the shell corrections are almost constant irrespective of the fission channels and cannot explain the experimental abundance. Abundance of some products are too small to be accounted for only by the threshold energies. The low abundance of those products may be explained by the presence of competing fission channels that have similar minimal energy paths. It is found in fission of Ag ₁₈ ²⁺ that the shell correction overwhelms the Coulomb energy and the fission channel to Ag₈ + Ag ₁₀ ²⁺ is preferred over the fission channel to Ag ₈ ⁺ + Ag ₁₀ ⁺ .     

Formation of O 2 − in charge transfer collisions of fast molecular hydrogen ions with O2 molecules

Cross sections for the production of O ₂ ^? in charge transfer collisions of fast molecular hydrogen ions (H ₂ ⁺ , D ₂ ⁺ , H ₃ ⁺ , and D ₃ ⁺ of 10 to 140 keV kinetic energy) with O₂ molecules have been determined by means of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer analysing the slow negative product ions from the collisions. Within the measuring accuracy equivelocity H ₂ ⁺ and D ₂ ⁺ ions have the same cross sections for the generation of O ₂ ^? . The projectile velocity dependence curve of the cross section passes through a broad maximum with a peak value of about 6.5×10^?18 cm² around the Bohr velocity (25 keV/u) before showing an asymptotic decrease still within the limited energy range under investigation that is in inverse proportion to the square of velocity. Throughout the examined energy range H ₃ ⁺ ions yield a cross section which is about 1.4 times larger than that of H ₂ ⁺ ions of the same velocity. The fragment ion O^? has been found to appear with cross sections between 10^?19 and 10^?18 cm² upon collisional excitation in the energy range under investigation, with ever decreasing intensity when the energy of the positive hydrogen ions, the proton included, was increased.     

Ab initio calculation of the vertical excitation energies of small helium cluster ions

Quantum chemical ab initio calculations have been performed for the vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths of all low-lying electronically excited states of small helium cluster ions, He _n ⁺ ,n=2, ..., 7. The geometrical structures of the ions were fixed at the equilibrium geometries of the respective ground states, for He ₄ ⁺ and He ₅ ⁺ also one alternative structure was considered. The low-lying excited states can be classified into two categories: the electronic transition can occur either within the central He ₂ ⁺ or He ₃ ⁺ unit or from the peripheral weakly bound He atoms to this unit. The latter transitions are very weak (f≈0.001), closely spaced, with vertical excitation energies of about 5.7 eV. The He ₂ ⁺ and He ₃ ⁺ units have strong transitions at 9.93 and 5.55 eV, respectively; these transitions are only slightly blue-shifted if He ₂ ⁺ or He ₃ ⁺ are placed as “chromophores” into the centre of a larger He _n ⁺ cluster. The large difference in the vertical excitation energy of the strong transition should enable an experimental decision of the question whether the cluster ions have He ₂ ⁺ or He ₃ ⁺ cores.     

Production and characterization of thermally-annealed large clusters by high-pressure laser-vaporization technique

We have developed a high-pressure laser-vaporization cluster source, which enables us to produce large, annealed clusters. Large carbon clusters up to C ₂₀₀₀ ⁺ , annealed sodium fluoride clusters of Na⁺(NaF)_n, and ammonium iodide clusters of NH ₄ ⁺ (NH₄I)_n have been produced by this technique. Annealed ammonium iodide clusters show a transition from hydrogen bonded complexes to ionic crystals as the cluster size increases. The characterization of the present technique and the production processes of the large, annealed clusters are discussed.     

Formation of helium cluster ions HHe x + (x≦14) and H3He x + (x≦13) in a very low temperature drift tube

The formation of cluster ions when hydrogen molecular ions H ₂ ⁺ and H ₃ ⁺ are injected into a drift tube filled with helium gas at 4.4 K has been investigated. When H ₂ ⁺ ions are injected, cluster ions HHe _x ⁺ (x≦14) are produced. No production of H₂He _x ⁺ ions is observed. When H ₃ ⁺ ions are injected, cluster ions HHe _x ⁺ (x≦14) are produced as well as H₃He _x ⁺ (x≦13), and very small signals corresponding to H₂He _x ⁺ (3≦x≦10) are observed. Information on the stability of HHe _x ⁺ and H₃He _x ⁺ is derived from the drift field dependence of the cluster size distributions. The cluster sizex=13 is found to be a magic number for HHe _x ⁺ , and for H₃He _x ⁺ ,x=10 and 11.     

Analytical photoion spectroscopy applied to dissociative single and double photoionization of diatomic molecules (H2, N2, O2, CO,and NO)

This work reports the principle, advantage, and limitations of analytical photoion spectroscopy which has been applied to dissociative photoionization processes for diatomic molecules such as H₂, N₂, CO, and NO. Characteristic features observed in the differential photoion spectra are summarized with a focus on (pre)dissociation of(i) multielectron excitation states commonly observed in the inner valence regions,(ii) shape resonances, and(iii) doubly charged parent ions. Possible origins for negative peaks in the differential spectra are discussed. This spectroscopy is applied to the reported photoion branching ratios for D₂ (and H₂ at high energies). The main findings are as follows: (1) The direct dissociation of theX ²Σ _g ⁺ (1sσ _g ) state of D ₂ ⁺ , the two-electron excited state¹Σ _u ⁺ (2pσ _u 2sσ _g ) of D₂, and the²Σ _u ⁺ (2pσ _u ) state of D ₂ ⁺ appear clearly in the differential spectrum, as previously observed for H₂. (2) Decay of H ₂ ⁺ (D ₂ ⁺ ) to H⁺ (D⁺) above 38 eV is due to the direct dissociation of highly excited states of H ₂ ⁺ (D ₂ ⁺ ) such as the²Σ _g ⁺ (2sσ _g ) and high-lying Rydberg states converging on H ₂ ²⁺ (D ₂ ²⁺ ). (3) In the ionization continuum of H ₂ ²⁺ (D ₂ ²⁺ ) peculiar dissociation pathways are observed. The differential photoion spectra for O₂ derived from the reported photoion branching ratios are also presented. The (pre)dissociation of theb ⁴Σ _g ^? ,B ²Σ _g ^? , III²Π _u ,²Σ _u ^? , and^2,4Σ _g ^? states of O ₂ ⁺ appears as the corresponding positive values in the spectra in accord with previous observations. Some other dissociation pathways possibly contributing to the spectra are discussed including dissociative double ionization.     

Fragmentation of clusters induced by collision with a solid surface: comparison of antimony and bismuth cluster ions

Mass-selected antimony cluster ions Sb _n ⁺ (n = 3-12) and bismuth cluster ions Bi _{ntn} ⁺ (n = 3-8) are allowed to collide with the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite at energies up to 350 eV. The resulting fragment ions are analysed in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Two main fragmentation channels can be identified. At low impact energies both Sb _n ⁺ and Bi _n ⁺ cluster ions lose neutral tetramer and dimer units upon collision. Above about 150 eV impact energy Sb ₃ ⁺ becomes the predominant fragment ion of all investigated antimony clusters. The enhanced stability of these fragment clusters can be explained in the framework of the polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory. In contrast, Bi _n ⁺ cluster scattering leads to the formation of Bi ₃ ⁺ , Bi ₂ ⁺ and Bi+ with nearly equal abundances, if the collision energy exceeds 75 eV. The integral scattering yield is substantially higher in this case as compared to Sb _n ⁺ clusters.     

Reactivity of positively charged cobalt cluster ions with CH4, N2, H2, C2H4, and C2H2

Reactivity of positively charged cobalt cluster ions (Co _n ⁺ ,n=2?22), produce by laser vaporization, with various gas samples (CH₄, N₂, H₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₂) were systematically investigated by using a fast-flow reactor. The reactivity of Co _n ⁺ with the various gas samples is qualitatively consistent with the adsorption rate of the gas to cobalt metal surfaces. Co _n ⁺ highly reacts with C₂H₂ as characterized by the adsorption rate to metal surfaces, and it indicates no size dependence. In contrast, the reactions of Co _n ⁺ with the other gas samples indicate a similar cluster size dependence; atn=4, 5, and 10?15, Co _n ⁺ highly reacts. The difference can be explained by the amount of the activation energy for chemisorption reaction. Compared with neutral cobalt clusters, the size dependence is almost similar except for Co ₄ ⁺ and Co ₅ ⁺ . The reactivity enhancement of Co ₄ ⁺ and Co ₅ ⁺ indicates that the cobalt cluster ions are presumed to have an active site for chemisorption atn=4 and 5, induced by the influence of positive charge.     

Octacoordination of the nitrogen atom in M4NO 4 + systems (M = Li, Na, K)

The electronic and geometric structures of M₄NO ₄ ⁺ compounds (M = Li, Na, K) in classical and nonclassical isomeric forms were studied by the ab initio (MP2(full)/6-311+G**) and density functional theory (B3LYP/6-311+G**) methods. For all M atoms, structurally stable nonclassical isomers were found with octacoordinated nitrogen atoms and tetracoordinated oxygen atoms. For Li₄NO ₄ ⁺ , the classical structure with the tetracoordinated nitrogen atom is energetically more stable, whereas nonclassical structures with the octacoordinated nitrogen center are more stable for Na₄NO ₄ ⁺ and K₄NO ₄ ⁺ .