Electronic shell structure in the ionization potentials of copper clusters

✍ Scribed by Mark B. Knickelbein

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 511 KB
• Volume: 192
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2614
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2614(92)85440-l

✦ Synopsis

The ionization potentials ( IPs) of copper clusters (Cu,) up to 150 atoms have been bracketed using laser photoionization.

Large decreases in IP at n = 2, 8, 20, 30, 34, 40 and 60 atoms are observed, as well as a strong odd-even alternation extending beyond 100 atoms. These features correspond to electronic shell and subshell closings predicted for systems of n valence electrons confined to spherical or spheroidal potentials. The decreases in IP expected to accompany shell closings at n= 58 and 92 are absent, however, and a new set of local extrema are observed, including local maxima at n=57 and 88-91 and minima at n=49 and 92. The possibility of perturbations to the electronic energy level structure due to geometric packing constraints is discussed.