"n-Doping" of deltahedral Zintl ions

We report a simple and efficient method for replacing germanium atoms in deltahedral Ge(9)(4-) clusters with Sb or Bi. While reactions of Ge(9)(4-) with EPh(3) (E = Sb, Bi) at room temperature are known to produce mono- and disubstituted clusters [Ph(2)E-Ge(9)-Ge(9)-EPh(2)](4-) and [Ph(2)E-Ge(9)-EPh(2)](2-), respectively, at elevated temperatures or with sonication they result in exchange of Ge cluster atoms with Sb or Bi. Structurally characterized from such reactions are the novel "n-doped" deltahedral Zintl ions [(EGe(8))-(Ge(8)E)](4-), (Sb(2)Ge(7))(2-), and [(SbGe(8))-SbPh(2)](2-).     

Alkali-hydride water cluster ions

Using a CO₂ laser we have desorbed LiOH and NaOH from a solid target into an expanding inert gas jet pulse. Subsequently the beam was ionized by photons from a UV laser. Surprisingly, we observed in mass spectra metal water clusters and metal-hydride water clusters. For the metals M=Li, Na we find that the [M(H₂O)_n]⁺ peaks are dominant for small clusters, while for large clusters (n>20) the [MH(H₂O)_n]⁺ peaks are dominant. This indicates that the clathrate (H₂O)₂₀ may play an important role in the formation of metallo-water clusters.     

Surface induced reactions of cluster ions

First results are presented from a new apparatus, consisting of a supersonic beam for generating neutral clusters, a variable energy electron gun for ionizing the clusters, and a tandem mass spectrometer set-up for studying surface induced reactions of mass and energy selected cluster ions. Rare gas cluster ions, fragment ions from SF₆, benzene ions and benzene cluster ions have been investigated so far. Cluster ion dissociation, intracluster ion molecule reactions and surface reactions with adsorbed hydrocarbons have been shown to be important reaction channels for these ion-surface collision at energies ranging from a few eV to 500 eV. The surface induced fragmentation spectrum is demonstrated to be a useful tool for probing binding energy and structure of cluster ions.     

Theoretical investigations of proton-bound cluster ions

Several proton-bound cluster ions have been studied by means of coupled cluster calculations with large basis sets. Among these are complexes of a krypton or xenon atom with the cations HCO+, HN2+ and HNCH+. Various spectroscopic properties have been calculated in all cases. Effects of vibrational anharmonicity are particularly pronounced for the intramolecular stretching vibrations of Kr...HN2+ and Xe...HN2+. The proton stretching vibration of (N2)H+(N2) is predicted around 800 cm-1, with a large transition dipole moment of 1.15 D. Both (N2)H+(N2) and (HCN)H+(NCH) have linear centrosymmetric equilibrium structures. Those of (OC)H+(CO) and (HCC-)H+(CCH-) are asymmetric with barrier heights to the centrosymmetric saddle points of 382 and 2323 cm-1, respectively. The dissociation energy of the anionic complex Cl-...HCCH is calculated to be Do = 3665 cm-1, 650 cm-1 larger than the corresponding value for Br-...HCCH. The complex between a fluoride ion and acetylene is more strongly bound and shows strongly anharmonic behaviour, similar to the bihalides FHF- or ClHCl-. Strong Fermi resonance interaction is predicted between nu 3 (approximately proton stretch) and 2 nu 4 (first overtone of intermolecular stretch).     

Reactions of bare aluminum cluster ions

Absolute cross sections for reaction of aluminum atomic, dimer and trimer ions with oxygen, water and ethylene are reported. For all three reactions the dimer ion is by far the most reactive at low collision energies. The atomic ion is four to ten times less reactive and the trimer is non-reactive within our sensitivity. At higher collision energies the dimer reactivity drops and in some cases the atomic and trimer ion reactivities increase. Extensive fragmentation of the cluster ions is observed at collision energies above 3.0 eV.     

Reactivity of niobium-carbon cluster ions with hydrogen molecules in relation to formation mechanism of Met-Car cluster ions

It is known that a niobium-carbon Met-Car cluster ion (Nb 8C 12 (+)) and its intermediates (Nb 4C 4 (+), Nb 6C 7 (+), etc.) are selectively formed by the aggregation of the Nb atoms in the presence of hydrocarbons. To elucidate the formation mechanism, we prepared Nb n C m (+) with every combination of n and m in the gas phase by the laser vaporization technique. The reactivity of Nb n C m (+) with H 2 was examined under the multiple collision condition, finding that Nb n C m (+) between Nb 2C 3 (+) and Nb 8C 12 (+) are not reactive with H 2. On the basis of the H 2 affinity of Nb n C m (+) experimentally obtained, we propose a dehydrogenation-controlled formation mechanism of niobium-carbon Met-Car cluster ions.     

A highly distorted open-shell endohedral Zintl cluster: [Mn@Pb12]3-

Reaction of an ethylenediamine (en) solution of K(4)Pb(9) and 2,2,2-crypt (4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane) with a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of Mn(3)(Mes)(6) (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) yielded the anionic cluster [Mn@Pb(12)](3-). This species was observed in the positive and negative ion-mode electrospray mass-spectra of the crude reaction mixture. The crystalline samples obtained from such solutions allowed us to confirm the composition of the sample as [K(2,2,2-crypt)](3)[Mn@Pb(12)]·1.5en (1). Because of numerous issues related to crystal sample quality and crystallographic disorder a high-quality crystal structure solution could not be obtained. Despite this, however, the data collected permit us to draw reasonable conclusions about the charge and connectivity of the [Mn@Pb(12)](3-) cluster anion. Crystals of 1 were further characterized by elemental analysis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations on such a system reveal a highly distorted endohedral cluster anion, consistent with the structural distortions observed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The cluster anions are considerably expanded compared to the 36-electron closed-shell analogue [Ni@Pb(12)](2-) and, moreover, exhibit significant low-symmetry distortions from the idealized icosahedral (I(h)) geometry that is characteristic of related endohedral clusters. Our computations indicate that there is substantial transfer of electron density from the formally Mn(-I) center to the low-lying vacant orbitals of the [Pb(12)](2-) cage.     

Collisional process involving atomic cluster ions

Collision of Ar cluster ions, Ar _n ⁺ (n=3–16), with He and Ne atoms was investigated by use of mass spectroscopic techniques. The cross sections for the production of Ar _n ⁺ (nn) were measured as functions of the size of the parent cluster ion and the collision energy (0.1–10 eV in the center-of-mass frame). These results were analyzed in the scheme of hard-sphere spectator collision with RRK theory. It was concluded that the reaction proceeds via collisional excitation of the parent cluster ion and following sequential loss of the constituent Ar atoms.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     

Reactions of platinum cluster ions with benzene

In this work, the cation and anion products of the reactions between platinum clusters produced by laser ablation and the benzene molecules seeded in argon have been studied using a high-resolution reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (RTOFMS). The dominant cation products are [C(6n)H(6n - k)](+) and [Pt(m)(C(6)H(6))(n)](+) complexes, while the dominant anion products are dehydrogenated species, [C(6)H(5)PtH](-), [PtC(12)H(k)](-) and [Pt(m)C(6)H(4) . . . (C(6)H(6))(n)](-), etc. Some important intermediate structures ([PtC(6)H(6)](+), [Pt(C(6)H(6))(2)](+), [Pt(2)(C(6)H(6))(3)](+), [C(6)H(5)PtH](-), [Pt(2)C(6)H(4)](-), [Pt(3)C(6)H(4)](-) and [Pt(4)C(6)H(4)](-)) have been analyzed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Different reaction mechanisms are proposed for platinum cluster cations and anions with benzene, respectively.     

Photofragmentation of mass resolved carbon cluster ions

The results of a detailed study of the photodissociation of carbon cluster ions, C ₃ ⁺ to C ₂₀ ⁺ , are presented and discussed. The experiments were performed using internally cold cluster ions derived from pulsed laser evaporation of a graphite target rod in a helium buffer gas followed by supersonic expansion. The mass selected clusters were photodissociated using 248 nm and 351 nm light from an excimer laser. Photofragment branching ratios, photodissociation cross sections and data on the laser fluence dependence of photodissociation are reported. For almost all initial clusters, C _n ⁺ , the dominant photodissociation pathway was observed to be loss of a C₃ unit to give a C _n?3 ⁺ ion. This observation is interpreted as indicating that dissociation occurs by a statistical unimolecular process rather than by direct photodissociation. The photodissociation was found to be linear with laser fluence forn>5 with 248 nm and 351 nm light; quadratic forn=5 for 248 nm and 351 nm; and linear forn=4 at 248 nm. Dissociation energies for the carbon cluster ions implied by these results are discussed. The photodissociation cross sections were found to change dramatically with cluster size and with the wavelength of the photodissociating light.     

Translational energy losses of LiF cluster ions

Translation energy loss (TEL) values have been measured in the collision-induced fragmentation of Li₆F₅⁺ cluster ions. TEL values varied between 1 and 8 eV in single collisions and showed a strong dependence on the centre-of-mass (com) collision energy. At large com collision energies (>800 eV) the TEL was small (?1.5 eV) and is explained by internal excitation. At lower com collision energies, TEL values were larger (up to 8 eV), and these are explained in terms of kinetic energy uptake by the target gas. TEL values observed using LiF and CsI clusters are compared.     

Reactions of lead cluster ions with acetone

Reactions of lead cluster cations and anions with acetone have been studied using a homemade reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Association with acetone to form Pb(k)(CH(3)COCH(3))(n)(+), high-energy pathway reactions forming Pb(k)CH(3)(+), and intraheterocluster reaction of Pb(k)(CH(3)COCH(3))(n+1)(+) to give Pb(k)CH(3)(CH(3)COCH(3))(n)(+) were the main reaction pathways for lead cluster cations with acetone. Decomposition of acetone by Pb(k)(-) to give Pb(k)C(m)(-) ions and their further association with acetone, Pb(k)C(m)(CH(3)COCH(3))(-), were the dominant reactions of lead cluster anions with acetone. Pb(7)(-), Pb(10)(-), and Pb(k)C(5)(-) were 'magic numbers' with special structural stabilityin Pb(k)(-) and Pb(k)C(m)(-), respectively. In addition, Pb(k)H(-), CH(2)COCH(3)(CH(3)COCH(3))(n)(-) and Pb(k)CH(2)COCH(3)(CH(3)COCH(3))(n)(-) were also observed in the reaction of lead cluster anions. Some reaction mechanisms are proposed for these reactions. To investigate the isotope effect for the reaction of lead cluster cations and anions with acetone and to verify the structural assignments of the observed ions, reactions of lead cluster cations and anions with deuterated acetone-d(6) were also performed.     

Threshold electron spectra of semiconductor cluster ions

A simple threshold electron analyzer was constructed and laser photodetachment threshold electron spectra of Si^– and Si ₄ ^– were measured.     

Metastable dissociation dynamics of molecular cluster ions

Metastable uni-cluster dissociation for several hydrogen-bonded and van der Waals cluster ions are observed via resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization reflectron time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. All of the cluster ions studied show evaporation of a single molecule from the respective parent cluster ions as dominant metastable decay processes. Furthermore, the averaged metastable evaporation rate constants (k _evap) of these cluster ions in a fixed time domain of 0.2–50 µs are obtained by analyzing the relative intensity of metastable ion peaks due to evaporation in the acceleration and the field-free drift regions of the TOF mass spectrometer. An intensity anomaly in some of the observed metastable ion peaks, indicative of magic number stability of the cluster ion, is also presented.     

Gas phase analogs of stable sodium-tin Zintl ions: anion photoelectron spectroscopy and electronic structure

Mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy together with first principles theoretical calculations have been used to study the electronic and geometric properties of the following sodium-tin, cluster anion/neutral cluster combinations, (Na(n)Sn(4))(-)/(Na(n)Sn(4)), n = 0-4 and (NaSn(m))(-)/(NaSn(m)), m = 4-7. These synergistic studies found that specific Zintl anions, which are known to occur in condensed Zintl phases, also exist as stable moieties within free clusters. In particular, the cluster anion, (Na(3)Sn(4))(-) is very stable and is characterized as (Na(+))(3)(Sn(4))(-4); its moiety, (Sn(4))(-4) is a classic example of a Zintl anion. In addition, the cluster anion, (NaSn(5))(-) was the most abundant species to be observed in our mass spectrum, and it is characterized as Na(+)(Sn(5))(2-). Its moiety, (Sn(5))(2-) is also known to be present as a Zintl anion in condensed phases.     

A Penning trap for studying cluster ions

We propose to use a Penning trap for spectroscopy of stored cluster ions. A similar device has been built for the purpose of mass measurements of short-lived nuclei produced at the on-line isotope separator ISOLDE/CERN. A resolving power of 500,000 in a mass measurement of³⁹K and an accuracy of 2 × 10^?7 for the⁸⁵Rb/³⁹K mass ratio were obtained. An efficiency for in-flight capture as high as 70% was achieved. The method provides very high sensitivity since typically only 10 to 100 ions are stored in the trap. We intend to perform laser spectroscopy on trapped Na clusters as a first application of the trap technique.     

Size-restricted proton transfer within toluene-methanol cluster ions

To understand the interaction between toluene and methanol, the chemical reactivity of [(C6H5CH3)(CH3OH) n=1-7](+) cluster ions has been investigated via tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry and through calculations. Collision Induced Dissociation (CID) experiments show that the dissociated intracluster proton transfer reaction from the toluene cation to methanol clusters, forming protonated methanol clusters, only occurs for n = 2-4. For n = 5-7, CID spectra reveal that these larger clusters have to sequentially lose methanol monomers until they reach n = 4 to initiate the deprotonation of the toluene cation. Metastable decay data indicate that for n = 3 and n = 4 (CH3OH)3H(+) is the preferred fragment ion. The calculational results reveal that both the gross proton affinity of the methanol subcluster and the structure of the cluster itself play an important role in driving this proton transfer reaction. When n = 3, the cooperative effect of the methanols in the subcluster provides the most important contribution to allow the intracluster proton transfer reaction to occur with little or no energy barrier. As n >or= 4, the methanol subcluster is able to form ring structures to stabilize the cluster structures so that direct proton transfer is not a favored process. The preferred reaction product, the (CH3OH)3H(+) cluster ion, indicates that this size-restricted reaction is driven by both the proton affinity and the enhanced stability of the resulting product.     

Proton-bound cluster ions in ion mobility spectrometry

Gaseous oxygen and nitrogen bases, both singly and as binary mixtures, have been introduced into ion mobility spectrometers to study the appearance of protonated molecules, and proton-bound dimers and trimers. At ambient temperature it was possible to simultaneously observe, following the introduction of molecule A, comparable intensities of peaks ascribable to the reactant ion (H₂O)_nH⁺, the protonated molecule AH⁺ and AH⁺ · H₂O, and the symmetrical proton bound dimer A₂H⁺. Mass spectral identification confirmed the identifications and also showed that the majority of the protonated molecules were hydrated and that the proton-bound dimers were hydrated to a much lesser extent. No significant peaks ascribable to proton-bound trimers were obtained no matter how high the sample concentration. Binary mixtures containing molecules A and B, in some cases gave not only the peaks unique to the individual compounds but also peaks due to asymmetrical proton bound dimers AHB⁺. Such ions were always present in the spectra of mixtures of oxygen bases but were not observed for several mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen bases. The dimers, which were not observable, notable for their low hydrogen bond strengths, must have decomposed in their passage from the ion source to the detector, i.e. in a time less than ∼5 ms. When the temperature was lowered to −20 °C, trimers, both homogeneous and mixed, were observed with mixtures of alcohols. The importance of hydrogen bond energy, and hence operating temperature, in determining the degree of solvation of the ions that will be observed in an ion mobility spectrometer is stressed. The possibility is discussed that a displacement reaction involving ambient water plays a role in the dissociation.     

Structures and energetics of small lead cluster ions

By a combination of gas phase ion mobility measurements and relativistic density functional theory calculations with inclusion of spin-orbit coupling, we assign structures of lead cluster cations and anions in the range between 4 and 15 atoms. We find a planar rhombus for the tetramer, a trigonal bipyramid for the pentamer, and a pentagonal bipyramid for the heptamer, independent of charge state. For the hexamer, the cation and anion structures differ: we find an octahedron for the anion while the cation consists of fused tetrahedra. For the octamer, we find in both cases structures based on the pentagonal bipyramid motif plus adatom. For the larger clusters investigated we always find different structures for cations and anions. For example, Pb(12)(-) is confirmed to be a hollow icosahedron while Pb(12)(+) is a truncated filled icosahedron. Pb(13)(+) is a filled icosahedron but Pb(13)(-) is a hollow icosahedron with the additional atom capping a face. In order to get experimental information on the relative stabilities, we investigated the collision induced dissociation mass spectra for the different cluster sizes and charge states, and observe a strong correlation with the calculated fragmentation energies. Up to n = 13 the main fragmentation channel is atom loss; for the larger cluster sizes we observe fission into two large fragments. This channel is dominant for larger anions, less pronounced but clearly present for the cations.     

Collision induced dissociation of stored gold cluster ions

The stability of gold cluster ions Au _n ⁺ (2n23) has been investigated via collision induced dissociation in a Penning trap. Threshold energies and dissociation channels have been determined. The cluster stability exhibits a pronounced odd — even alternation: Clusters with an odd number of atoms,n, are more stable than the even-numbered ones. Enhanced stabilities are found for Au ₃ ⁺ , Au ₉ ⁺ , and Au ₁₉ ⁺ in accordance with the Clemenger-Nilsson and the deformed jellium model of delocalized valence electrons. Excited odd cluster ions withn15 predominantly decay by evaporation of dimers; all others decay by monomer evaporation. From the dissociation channels estimates of the binding energies are deduced.This publication comprises part of the thesis of St. Becker