The kinetics of reactions of nickel clusters with hydrogen and deuterium

The kinetics of reactions of nickel clusters with hydrogen and deuterium are studied in a laser-vaporization cluster source coupled to a continuous-flow reactor. The abslute rate constants for the addition of the first H₂ (D₂) molecule to nickel clusters Ni _n (n=7→36 for H₂ andn=7→60 for D₂) have been measured. Rate constants are found to be only weakly dependent onn forn≧14, showing a gradual increase with size that scales approximately withn ^(2/3), i.e., the cluster geometrical cross section. Reaction probabilities for clusters in this size range are approximately 0.6 for H₂ and 0.3 for D₂. Belown=14, there is a stronger dependence of reactivity on size, with Ni₉ being far less reactive than any other cluster studied. These results are compared to bulk nickel studies, and a discussion of possible correlation of reactivity to cluster structure is presented.