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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Observation of multiply charged silver-cluster anions
Lutz SchweikhardManuel VogelAlexander Herlertsubject
Materials scienceElectron captureElectron affinityPhysics::Atomic and Molecular ClustersCluster (physics)Ion trapElectronAtomic physicsMass spectrometryPenning trapMolecular physicsAtomic and Molecular Physics and OpticsIondescription
Singly charged silver-cluster anions are produced in a laser vaporization source and transferred into a Penning trap. After size selection the clusters are subjected to an electron bath in the trap, which results in the attachment of further electrons. The relative abundance of dianions or trianions as a function of the clusters' size is analyzed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Silver-cluster dianions are observed for sizes n≥ 24 and trianions for n > 100. In addition, a detailed study of the cluster sizes 24 ?n? 60 shows a pronounced resistance to electron attachment for singly charged anions Agn- with a closed electronic shell, in particular Ag29-, Ag33-, and Ag39-. Both the threshold size for the observation of dianionic silver clusters and the shell effects in the production yield correlate favorably with previous theoretical investigations of the respective electron affinities.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-10-01 | The European Physical Journal D |