Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2014
Journal/Book/Conference Title
The Journal of Chemical Physics
Volume
140
Issue
12
DOI of Original Publication
10.1063/1.4869104
Date of Submission
October 2015
Abstract
Through a synergetic combination of anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory based calculations, we have investigated the extent to which the aluminum moieties within selected magnesium-aluminum clusters are Zintl anions. Magnesium-aluminum cluster anions were generated in a pulsed arc discharge source. After mass selection, photoelectron spectra of Mg m Al n − (m, n = 1,6; 2,5; 2,12; and 3,11) were measured by a magnetic bottle, electron energy analyzer. Calculations on these four stoichiometries provided geometric structures and full charge analyses for the cluster anions and their neutral cluster counterparts, as well as photodetachment transition energies (stick spectra). Calculations revealed that, unlike the cases of recently reported sodium-aluminum clusters, the formation of aluminum Zintl anion moieties within magnesium-aluminum clusters was limited in most cases by weak charge transfer between the magnesium atoms and their aluminum cluster moieties. Only in cases of high magnesium content, e.g., in Mg 3 Al 11 and Mg 2 Al 12 −, did the aluminum moieties exhibit Zintl anion-like characteristics.
Rights
Wang, H., Ko, Y., Zhang, X., et al. The viability of aluminum Zintl anion moieties within magnesium-aluminum clusters. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 140, 124309 (2014). Copyright © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.
Is Part Of
VCU Physics Publications
Comments
Originally published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4869104