Formation of Dianions in Helium Nanodroplets |
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| Authors: | Andreas Mauracher Matthias Daxner Stefan E. Huber Johannes Postler Michael Renzler Stephan Denifl Paul Scheier Andrew M. Ellis |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universit?t Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck (Austria);2. Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH (UK) |
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| Abstract: | The formation of dianions in helium nanodroplets is reported for the first time. The fullerene cluster dianions (C60)n2? and (C70)n2? were observed by mass spectrometry for n≥5 when helium droplets containing the appropriate fullerene were subjected to electron impact at approximately 22 eV. A new mechanism for dianion formation is described, which involves a two‐electron transfer from the metastable He? ion. As well as the prospect of studying other dianions at low temperature using helium nanodroplets, this work opens up the possibility of a wider investigation of the chemistry of He?, a new electron‐donating reagent. |
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| Keywords: | density functional calculations doubly charged anions electron transfer fullerenes helium nanodroplets |
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