ISSN:
1089-7690
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
We investigated a series of mono-niobium carbide clusters, NbCn− (n=2–7), using anion photoelectron spectroscopy. Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra were observed for NbC2− and NbC3−, which were both shown to have cyclic C2v structures. Two isomers were observed for NbC4− and NbC5−. The weak and low electron binding energy isomers were shown to be cyclic structures forming a series with NbC2− and NbC3−, and all have similar and low electron binding energies. The main isomers of NbC4− and NbC5−, which possess much higher electron binding energies, were shown to be due to linear structures, which form a series with NbC6− and NbC7−. All the linear NbCn− clusters were observed to have high electron binding energies and exhibit an even–odd alternation, similar to that observed for pure linear carbon clusters in the same size range. A cyclic to linear structural transition was thus observed for the NbCn− clusters from NbC3− to NbC4−, with the cyclic structures favored for the smaller clusters and the linear isomers favored for the larger clusters. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1395556
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