Abstract
AbstractThe self‐assembly of salt nanocrystals from chemical reactions inside liquid helium is reported for the first time. Reaction is initiated by an electron impacting a helium nanodroplet containing sodium atoms and SF6 molecules, leading to preferential production of energetically favorable structures based on the unit cell of crystalline NaF. These favorable structures are observed as magic number ions (anomalously intense peaks) in mass spectra and are seen in both cationic and anionic channels in mass spectra, for example, (NaF)nNa+ and (NaF)nF−. In the case of anions the self‐assembly is not directly initiated by electrons: the dominant process involves resonant electron‐induced production of metastable electronically excited He− anions, which then initiate anionic chemistry by electron transfer.
Highlights
The self-assembly of salt nanocrystals from chemical reactions inside liquid helium is reported for the first time
Part of the motivation to study these species is to see if the threedimensional structures of the crystalline salts are retained in relatively small clusters. Such information can be derived from mass spectrometry through the observation of anomalously intense peaks
The general finding, whether detecting cations or anions, is that enhanced signal intensity is seen for cluster ions of composition consistent with one or more complete unit cells
Summary
The self-assembly of salt nanocrystals from chemical reactions inside liquid helium is reported for the first time. Reaction between sodium and SF6 can be triggered by electron impact on the droplet, leading to a rich range of cationic and anionic salt clusters.
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