The growth of ionic crystals based on the halogenation of copper cluster anions.
We investigated the halogenation reactivity of copper cluster anions produced via a magnetron-sputter source after introduction into a fast-flow tube reaction apparatus simultaneously with chlorine gas. Interesting cluster products corresponding to [Cu(n)Cl(n+1)](-) (n = 1-6) were observed with notable stability, and the mass distribution of these clusters exhibits an exponential decay with increasing values of n. Reaction kinetics analysis is provided on the gas-phase reactivity of copper cluster anions with chlorine. First-principle calculations suggest a series of cubic-like structures for these species similar to the structure of alkali halide clusters due to their similar electronic configurations. These structures act as a starting point in the formation of ionic crystals.
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
Zhixun
Z
Luo
Jordan C
JC
Smith
W Hunter
WH
Woodward
A W
AW
Castleman