Semi-Metal Clusters: Laser Vaporization and Photoionization of Antimony and Bismuth

摘要

Gas phase metal clusters of antimony, bismuth, or antimony bismuth alloys are prepared by laser vaporization and probed with UV laser photoionization in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Unusual size distributions are observed, ending at five atom clusters. Fragmentation processes are extremely efficient at 193 nm for tetramer species regardless of elemental composition. Striking similarities in cluster stability and fragmentation patterns in these systems suggest that bonding is dominated by contributions from valence s and p electrons.