dc.description |
Using a laser vaporization/pulsed molecular beam cluster source, Al cluster anions and Al-C mixed cluster anions are produced and recorded by a time of flight mass spectrometer. Mass abundance spectra of the Al cluster anions in the size range from Al<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup> to Al<sub>42</sub><sup>-</sup> show that Al<sub>13</sub><sup>-</sup>, Al<sub>23</sub><sup>-</sup>, Al<sub>35</sub><sup>-</sup>, and slightly, Al<sub>37</sub><sup>-</sup> are local maxima, as predicted by the electronic jellium model. Mixed clusters Al<sub>n</sub>C<sup>-</sup> and Al<sub>n</sub>C<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup> are also shown, among which the most abundant species are Al<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup>, Al<sub>6</sub>C<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup>, Al<sub>7</sub>C<sup>-</sup> and Al<sub>7</sub>C<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup> in the small size range. The formation mechanism of these products is discussed. |