Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

2004

Journal/Book/Conference Title

The Journal of Chemical Physics

Volume

121

Issue

21

DOI of Original Publication

10.1063/1.1806416

Comments

Originally published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1806416

Date of Submission

October 2015

Abstract

The fast-flow tube reaction apparatus was employed to study the halogenation of aluminum clusters. For reactions with HX (X=Cl, Br, and I), acid-etching pathways are evident, and we present findings for several reactions, whereby AlnX− generation is energetically favorable. Tandem reaction experiments allowed us to establish that for AlnCl−, AlnI−, and AlnI−2, species with n=6, 7, and 15 are particularly resistant to attack by oxygen. Further, trends in reactivity suggest that, in general, iodine incorporation leaves the aluminum clusters’ electronic properties largely unperturbed. Ab initio calculations were performed to better interpret reaction mechanisms and elucidate the characteristics of the products. Lowest energy structures for Al13X− were found to feature icosahedral Al13 units with the halogen atom located at the on-top site. The charge density of the highest occupied molecular orbital in these clusters is heavily dependent on the identity of X. The dependence of reactivity on the clusters’ charge state is also discussed. In addition, we address the enhanced stability of Al13I− and Al13I−2, arguing that the superhalogen behavior of Al13 in these clusters can provide unique opportunities for the synthesis of novel materials with saltlike structures.

Rights

Bergeron, D. E., Castleman, A. W., Morisato, T., et al. Formation and properties of halogenated aluminum clusters. The Journal of Chemical Physics 121, 10456 (2004). Copyright © 2004 AIP Publishing LLC.

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