Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.101, No.6, 4526-4535, 1994
Laser Ionization Mass-Spectrometry of Homogeneous and Binary Molecular Clusters of Nitric-Oxide
A potpourri of binary heteroclusters of the form (NO)(m)(Y)(n) has been investigated by coexpansion of the two components (along with argon) in a supersonic nozzle. They are subsequently ionized by picosecond, nonresonant, two-photon absorption and characterized by mass spectrometry. Neat (NO)(m)(+) clusters exhibit an odd-even intensity alternation which is attributed to electron pairing effects. A varied set of partners for the binary nitric oxide clusters includes N2O, NO2, H2O, CO2, CS2, SO2, and SF6. The observed cluster distributions are discussed in terms of cluster formation and decay mechanisms and relative bond strengths. Possible structures for some especially stable species act discussed. Of special interest are the observations of especially stable (NO)(3)(+)(Y)(n) compounds where Y represents the isovalent N2O, CO2, or CS2 partners. SF6 and its clusters also form notably stable clusters with the nitric oxide trimer ion.
Keywords:BEAM PHOTO-IONIZATION;MULTIPHOTON IONIZATION;VANDERWAALS MOLECULES;PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY;METASTABLE POLYMERS;NITROGEN-OXIDES;GAS-PHASE;WATER CLUSTERS;MAGIC NUMBERS;IONS