Collision-induced electron detachment of carbon clusters

The collisional electron detachment process of carbon cluster anions containing from 2 to 72 atoms was investigated on the collision with a MoS₂ surface. The detachment efficiency was classified into several groups and is most likely to reflect the structures or the isomer contents of the incident cluster anions. The cluster anions produced via laser-vaporization of graphite showed quite a larger detachment efficiency than the fullerene C ₆₀ ^- and its fragment anions. The major isomers of these cluster anions were suggested to be chains or rings.