Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy on the linear conformer of negatively charged carbon clusters C n− (10≤ n≤16)

Abstract

A photoelectron spectroscopy technique was successfully applied to the detection and characterization of a linear conformer of negatively-charged carbon clusters from C 10 − to C 16 −. By controlling the laser fluence for vaporization it was found that the fraction of a linear conformer was enriched. The presence of the linear form up to C 16 − was confirmed by the photoelectron spectroscopic evidences. On the basis of the present observations, it was also found that the observed vertical electron affinity up to C 16 shows a distinct even–odd alternation, converging into the asymptotic value of ca. 5.0 eV.