title: Anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional investigation of diniobium-carbon clusters.
abstract: Experimental photoelectron and computational results show diniobium-carbon (Nb(2)C(n)) clusters to coexist in multiple structural isomers: three-dimensional geometries, planar rings, and linear chains. Three-dimensional clusters having up to five carbons are formed preferentially with Nb-Nb bonding, whereas only Nb-C bonding is observed experimentally at six carbons. Clusters consisting of an odd number of atoms are also observed with linear geometries. The larger binary clusters (n > or = 7) display properties similar to those of pure carbon clusters. We provide evidence for niobium substitution of carbon atoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Knappenberger
authors.forename: Andre Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Clayborne
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Reveles
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sobhy
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: U U
authors.initials: UU
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iordanov
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sofo
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Castleman