Mass-selected Anions Research Articles

Spectroscopy and dynamics of isolated anions: Versatile instrumentation for photodetachment and photoelectron spectroscopy.

Molecular anions are appealing targets for study because, compared with their neutral and cationic counterparts, they can be probed with conventional laboratory lasers without the need for multiphoton ionization schemes, and they provide spectroscopic details on the corresponding neutral molecules. Here, we describe a section of a modular instrument designed to perform high-throughput photoelectron and photodetachment spectroscopy of gas-phase anions, with future provision for time-resolved and isomer-selective spectroscopy. The instrument framework allows for the incorporation and adaptation of several ion sources, as demonstrated here with plasma (electric) discharge sources providing variable hard to soft ion generation conditions. The generated anions are separated according to their mass-to-charge ratio through time-of-flight mass spectrometry (m/zΔm/z = 500-600) and are focused into a set of perpendicular velocity-map imaging electrodes (ΔEE≈4%), where mass-selected anions are probed using laser light and the ejected electrons are velocity-map imaged. Instrument performance is demonstrated through the acquisition of photodetachment and photoelectron spectra for CH2CN-, showing sharp resonances in the vicinity of the detachment threshold assigned to rovibrational states of a dipole-bound anion and broader lifetime-limited spectral features at photon energies well above the threshold assigned to prompt autodetachment from a temporary anion resonance. Similar measurements could be performed on any molecular anions generated in the sources.

Probing Anion-Molecule Complexes of Atmospheric Relevance Using Anion Photoelectron Detachment Spectroscopy.

Bimolecular reaction and collision complexes that drive atmospheric chemistry and contribute to the absorption of solar radiation are fleeting and therefore inherently challenging to study experimentally. Furthermore, primary anions in the troposphere are short lived because of a complicated web of reactions and complex formation they undergo, making details of their early fate elusive. In this perspective, the experimental approach of photodetaching mass-selected anion-molecule complexes or complex anions, which prepares neutrals in various vibronic states, is surveyed. Specifically, the application of anion photoelectron spectroscopy along with photoelectron-photofragment coincidence spectroscopy toward the study of collision complexes, complex anions in which a partial covalent bond is formed, and radical bimolecular reaction complexes, with relevance in tropospheric chemistry, will be highlighted.

Intersystem Crossing Rates in Photoexcited Rose Bengal: Solvation versus Isolation.

We compare the intersystem crossing rate, kISC, of Rose Bengal (RB) in an aqueous pH 12 solution with the corresponding relaxation rates of four different RB-derived anion and dianion species isolated in the gas phase: the doubly deprotonated dianion ([RB-2H]2-), the singly deprotonated monoanion ([RB-H]-), and the corresponding singly negatively charged sodium and cesium adducts ([RB-2H + Na]- and [RB-2H + Cs]-, respectively). Each of them was probed following photoexcitation of their first singlet excited states (S1) at or near room temperature. The solution was studied by transient absorption spectroscopy, whereas the mass-selected anions were characterized by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy─all with ca. 50 femtosecond temporal resolution. [RB-H]- shows an S1 lifetime of ca. 80 ps; the solution ensemble, thought to consist primarily of solvated dianion chromophores, shows a similar lifetime of ca. 70 ps. By contrast, the isolated dianion, [RB-2H]2-, has a much longer lifetime. Superimposed on S1 decay attributable mainly to intersystem crossing, all four isolated anions also show some rapid oscillatory features of the transient photoelectron signal on a 4-5 ps timescale after excitation. Interestingly, an analogous phenomenon is also seen in the transient absorption measurements. We attribute it to a librational oscillation as the S1 state, initially populated in the S0 geometry, relaxes into its excited state equilibrium structure. Some implications of these observations for RB photophysics and interpretation of solution measurements are discussed─also in terms of density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory calculations of ground and excited states.

Structural Evolution of Carbon-Doped Aluminum Clusters AlnC- (n = 6-15): Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations.

Carbon-doped aluminum cluster anions, AlnC- (n = 6-15), were generated by laser vaporization and investigated by mass-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. The geometric structures of AlnC- (n = 6-15) anions were determined by the comparison of theoretical calculations with the experimental results. It is found that the most stable structure of Al6C- is a carbon endohedral triangular prism. The Al7C- anion is a magic cluster with high stability. The structures of Al7-9C- can be viewed as the additional aluminum atoms attached around the triangular prism Al6C-. Two isomers of Al10C- have been detected in the experiments. The most stable one has a planar tetracoordinate carbon structure. The second one derives from Al9C- with the carbon atom located in a pentagonal bipyramid. The Al11C- anion has a bilayer structure composed of one planar tetracoordinate carbon and one aluminum-centered hexagon, in which the major interactions between two layers are multicenter bonds. The structures of Al12-14C- can be viewed as evolving from Al11C- by adding aluminum atoms to interact with the carbon atom. In Al15C-, the carbon atom stays at the surface with a tetracoordinate structure, and an icosahedral Al13 unit can be identified as a part of the geometric structure of Al15C-.

Structural Evolution and Bonding Properties of Cr2Sin- (n = 1-12) Clusters: Mass-Selected Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations.

We investigated the structural characteristics and bonding properties of Cr2Sin- (n = 1-12) clusters by using anion photoelectron spectroscopy combined with density functional theory calculations. The experimental and theoretical results reveal that Cr atoms of the most stable structures of Cr2Sin- clusters with n < 8 are located at the surface, while the most stable structures of Cr2Sin- clusters with n ≥ 8 have one Cr encapsulated in the cage consisting of the other Cr atom and the Si atoms. The Cr-Cr interaction in the most stable structures of Cr2Sin- clusters is strong, except that the Cr-Cr interaction in the lowest lying isomer of the Cr2Si5- cluster is weak. The structure of Cr2Si6- can be viewed as the Cr2 surrounded by a chair-shaped silicon six-membered ring with the C2h symmetry. Cr2Si12- has a C6v symmetric antihexagonal prism structure with two Cr atoms located at the center and the surface of the Si12 cage, respectively. The magnetic moments of Cr2Sin- are 1 μB except that the magnetic moment of Cr2Si5- is 9 μB.

Anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations of Cu4On -/0 (n = 1-4): Identification of stable quasi-square structure for Cu4O4.

We investigated Cu4On - (n = 1-4) clusters through a synergetic combination of mass-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. It is found that the most stable structure of Cu4O- is an irregular planar pentagon with a Cs symmetry. Those of Cu4O2 - and Cu4O3 - are non-planar structures with a Cs symmetry. The global minimum geometry of Cu4O4 - is a D4h symmetric quasi-square eight-membered ring with Cu-O bond lengths of ∼1.78 Å. The molecular orbital analyses suggest that Cu4O4 - has a large highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap. The chemical bonding analyses and the calculations of the magnetically induced current density, and NICS(0) and NICS(1) values indicate that the D4h structure of Cu4O4 - is very stable and it has some aromaticity.

Loss of CO2 from Monodeprotonated Phthalic Acid upon Photodissociation and Dissociative Electron Detachment.

The decarboxylation (CO2 loss) mechanism of cold monodeprotonated phthalic acid was studied in a photodissociation action spectrometer by quantifying mass-selected product anions and neutral particles as a function of the excitation energy. The analysis proceeded by interpreting the translational energy distribution of the generated uncharged products, and with the help of quantum calculations. In particular, this study reveals different fragmentation pathways in the deprotonated anion and in the radical generated upon electron photodetachment. Unlike the behavior found in other deprotonated aryl carboxylic acids, which do not fragment in the anion excited state, a double loss of CO2 molecules takes place in the phthalic monoanion. Moreover, at higher excitation energies the phthalic monoanion experiences decarboxylative photodetachment with a statistical distribution of product translational energies, which contrasts with the impulsive dissociation reactions characteristic of other aryl carboxylic anions.

A joint experimental and theoretical study on structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of MnGen - (n = 3-14) clusters.

A systematic structure and property investigation of MnGen - (n = 3-14) was conducted by means of density functional theory coupled with mass-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. This combined theoretical and experimental study allows global minimum and coexistence structures to be identified. It is found that the pentagonal bipyramid shape is the basic framework for the nascent growth process of MnGen - (n = 3-10), and from n = 10, the endohedral structures can be found. For n = 12, the anion MnGe12 - cluster probably includes two isomers: a major isomer with a puckered hexagonal prism geometry and a minor isomer with a distorted icosahedron geometry. Specifically, the puckered hexagonal prism isomer follows the Wade-Mingos rules and can be suggested as a new kind of superatom with the magnetic property. Furthermore, the results of adaptive natural density partitioning and deformation density analyses suggest a polar covalent interaction between Ge and Mn for endohedral clusters of MnGe12 -. The spin density and natural population analysis indicate that MnGen - clusters have high magnetic moments localized on Mn. The density of states diagram visually shows the significant spin polarization for endohedral structures and reveals the weak interaction between the Ge 4p orbital and the 4s, 3d orbitals of Mn.

Photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical study of AlnC5-/0 (n = 1-5) clusters: structural evolution, relative stability of star-like clusters, and planar tetracoordinate carbon structures.

The AlnC5- (n = 1-5) clusters were detected in the gas-phase and were investigated via mass-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. The structures of AlnC5-/0 (n = 1-5) were explored by theoretical calculations. It is found that the structures of AlC5-/0 and Al2C5-/0 are linear while those of Al3C5-/0, Al4C5-/0, and Al5C5-/0 are two-dimensional. The most stable structures of AlC5-/0 and Al2C5-/0 are linear with the Al atoms attached to the ends of C5 chain. The most stable structures of Al3C5-/0 can be viewed as three Al atoms interacting with a nonlinear C5 chain. The most stable structure of Al4C5- anion is a planar structure composed of a C2 unit, a C3 unit, and two Al2 units, while that of the neutral Al4C5 cluster has four Al atoms connected to different positions of a distorted C5 chain. The global minimum structures of Al5C5-/0 are planar structures composed of an Al4C quadrilateral, two C2 groups, and an Al atom connected to two C2 groups. Planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) has been identified in the structures of both anionic and neutral Al5C5. It is worth mentioning that the star-like structure of Al5C5- is slightly higher in energy than the ground state structure. The comparison of theoretical calculations with the experimental spectra indicates the star-like structure of Al5C5- may also appear in our experiments.

Toward Complete Structure Elucidation of Glycerophospholipids in the Gas Phase through Charge Inversion Ion/Ion Chemistry.

Shotgun lipidomics has recently gained popularity for lipid analysis. Conventionally, shotgun analysis of glycerophospholipids via direct electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) provides glycerophospholipid (GPL) class (i.e., headgroup composition) and fatty acyl composition. Reliant on low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID), traditional ESI-MS/MS fails to define fatty acyl regiochemistry along the glycerol backbone or carbon-carbon double bond position(s) in unsaturated fatty acyl substituents. Therefore, isomeric GPLs are often unresolved, representing a significant challenge for shotgun-MS approaches. We developed a top-down shotgun-MS method utilizing gas-phase ion/ion charge inversion chemistry that provides near-complete GPL structural identification. First, in negative ion mode, CID of mass-selected GPL anions generates fatty acyl carboxylate anions via fragmentation of ester bonds linking the fatty acyl substituents at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of the glycerol backbone. Product anions, including fatty acyl carboxylate ions, were then derivatized in the mass spectrometer via an ion/ion charge inversion reaction with tris-phenanthroline magnesium dications. Subsequent CID of charge-inverted fatty acyl complex cations yielded isomer-specific product ion spectra that permit (i) unambiguous assignment of carbon-carbon double bond position(s) and (ii) relative quantitation of isomeric fatty acyl substituents. The outlined strategy was applied to the analysis of targeted GPLs extracted from human plasma, including several proposed plasma biomarkers. A single experiment thus facilitates assignment of the GPL headgroup, fatty acyl composition, carbon-carbon double bond position(s) in unsaturated fatty acyl chains, and, in some cases, fatty acyl sn-position and relative abundances for isomeric fatty acyl substituents. Ultimately, this MSn platform paired with ion/ion chemistry permitted identification of major, and some minor, isomeric contributors that are unresolved using conventional ESI-MS/MS.

Thermal Kinetics of Aln– + O2 (n = 2–30): Measurable Reactivity of Al13–

Mass-selected aluminum anion clusters, Aln-, were reacted with O2. Rate constants (300 K) for 2 < n < 30 and product branching fractions for 2 < n < 17 are reported. Reactivity is strongly anticorrelated to Aln- electron binding energy (EBE). Al13- reacts more slowly than predicted by EBE but notably is not inert, reacting at a measurable 0.05% efficiency (2.5 ± 1.5 × 10-13 cm3 s-1). Al6- is also an outlier, reacting more slowly than expected after accounting for other factors, suggesting that high symmetry increases stability. Implications of observed Al13- reactivity, contributions of both electronic shell-closing and geometric homogeneity to Aln- resistance to O2 etching, and future directions to more fully unravel the reaction mechanisms are discussed.

B3Si12: A hexagonal prism with three short B[sbnd]B single bonds at the center coordinated by a Si12 cage and reinforced by aromaticity

The structures and properties of B3Si12ˉ/0/+ clusters were investigated by density functional theory calculations combined with mass-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy. The experimental photoelectron spectrum of cluster anion is reasonably reproduced by theoretical simulations. The global minimum of B3Si12ˉ anion has a B3Si2 trigonal bipyramidal structure with ten capping Si atoms, whereas those of B3Si12 neutral and B3Si12+ cation adopt hexagonal prismatic structures with the B3 unit at the center. In particular, B3Si12ˉ anion is an outstanding closed-shell superatom cluster according to the jellium model (1S21P61D102S21F142P61G18). Furthermore, the NICS values of B3Si12ˉ, B3Si12, and B3Si12+ calculated at points 1 Å above the cage centers are to be −16.8, −56.8, and −51.1 ppm, respectively, suggesting that they are all aromatic.

Structural and magnetic properties of FeGen-/0 (n = 3-12) clusters: Mass-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations.

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of FeGen-/0 (n = 3-12) clusters were investigated by using anion photoelectron spectroscopy in combination with density functional theory calculations. For both anionic and neutral FeGen (n = 3-12) clusters with n ≤ 7, the dominant structures are exohedral. The FeGe8-/0 clusters have half-encapsulated boat-shaped structures, and the opening of the boat-shaped structure is gradually covered by the additional Ge atoms to form Gen cage from n = 9 to 11. The structures of FeGe10-/0 can be viewed as two Ge atoms symmetrically capping the opening of the boat-shaped structure of FeGe8, and those of FeGe12-/0 are distorted hexagonal prisms with the Fe atom at the center. Natural population analysis shows that there is an electron transfer from the Ge atoms to the Fe atom at n = 8-12. The total magnetic moment of FeGen-/0 and local magnetic moment of the Fe atom have not been quenched.

Development and Optimization of Integrated Photoelectrochemical Energy Storage Cells Using Ion Soft-Landing

The development of efficient energy conversion and storage technologies is important to meet increasing demand. Solar energy is a valuable renewable and sustainable resource utilized in numerous energy technologies. However, the inherent variability of solar energy necessitates the addition of efficient energy storage components (e.g. batteries, flow cells, etc.) to achieve a continuous supply of electricity. Development of integrated systems that combine solar energy conversion and storage in a single electrochemical device is a promising approach that may potentially improve the efficiency of solar energy utilization. A photoelectrochemical system capable of converting and storing solar energy relies on photo-induced reactions of redox-active species.(1, 2) Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a class of stable anionic metal oxides clusters with multi-electron redox activity.(3) POMs undergo multiple redox transitions by utilizing either electrons or photons and exhibit a color change during certain transitions (photo- and electro chromic).(4) For example, the photo-induced reduction of POM as a photo catalyst has been used in water oxidation and hybrid fuel cell applications.(5, 6) In this work, we developed an integrated photo electrochemical energy storage (IPES) cell with the ability to convert and store solar energy in a single device using POM’s photochromic and redox properties, and explored factors that affect the performance of the IPES cell. Electrode surfaces prepared using conventional solution based methods often contain both electrochemically active ions and inactive counter ions that can hinder electron transfer processes. Previously, we demonstrated that a complete elimination of strongly coordinating counter cations substantially improved the performance of redox-supercapacitors prepared by soft landing of mass-selected POM anions.(7) Ion soft landing enables deposition of uniform layers of electroactive ions with well-defined charge state, composition and kinetic energy onto electrode surfaces, something not possible using other preparation techniques.(8, 9) Herein, we prepared IPES cells with POM anions deposited onto the anode using either ion soft landing or solution based deposition for comparison. The IPES cells consist of (i) Keggin POMs deposited on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) photoanode using either spin casting and or ion soft landing (ii) an ionic liquid membrane that contains ferrocene methanol as a model redox molecule (iii) a glassy carbon cathode. Our preliminary results with the IPES cells irradiated by direct solar light confirmed that the IPES cell generates useful current and potential due to the photo-induced redox conversion of POM at the anode and the counter redox reaction at the cathode. Additionally, in-situ UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the photo chromic transition of POM in the IPES cell from a clear to dark blue color upon irradiation. The design of the IPES cell will be presented and its performance under different experimental conditions will be discussed.

Low-lying vibronic level structure of the ground state of the methoxy radical: Slow electron velocity-map imaging (SEVI) spectra and Köppel-Domcke-Cederbaum (KDC) vibronic Hamiltonian calculations.

A joint experimental and theoretical study is reported on the low-lying vibronic level structure of the ground state of the methoxy radical using slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy of cryogenically cooled, mass-selected anions (cryo-SEVI) and Köppel-Domcke-Cederbaum (KDC) vibronic Hamiltonian calculations. The KDC vibronic model Hamiltonian in the present study was parametrized using high-level quantum chemistry, allowing the assignment of the cryo-SEVI spectra for vibronic levels of CH3O up to 2000 cm-1 and of CD3O up to 1500 cm-1 above the vibrational origin, using calculated vibronic wave functions. The adiabatic electron affinities of CH3O and CD3O are determined from the cryo-SEVI spectra to be 1.5689 ± 0.0007 eV and 1.5548 ± 0.0007 eV, respectively, demonstrating improved precision compared to previous work. Experimental peak splittings of <10 cm-1 are resolved between the e1/2 and e3/2 components of the 61 and 51 vibronic levels. A pair of spin-vibronic levels at 1638 and 1677 cm-1 were predicted in the calculation as the e1/2 and e3/2 components of 62 levels and experimentally resolved for the first time. The strong variation of the spin-orbit splittings with a vibrational quantum number is in excellent agreement between theory and experiment. The observation of signals from nominally forbidden a1 vibronic levels in the cryo-SEVI spectra also provides direct evidence of vibronic coupling between ground and electronically excited states of methoxy.

Structural isomers of Ti₂O₄ and Zr₂O₄ anions identified by slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy.

High-resolution anion photoelectron spectra are reported for the group 4 metal dioxide clusters Ti2O4(-) and Zr2O4(-). Slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging (SEVI) spectroscopy of cryogenically cooled, mass-selected anions yields photoelectron spectra with submillielectronvolt resolution, revealing extensive and well-resolved vibrational progressions. By comparison of the spectra with Franck-Condon simulations, we have identified the C(2v) and C(3v) isomers as the ground states of Ti2O4(-) and Zr2O4(-) anions, respectively. Minor contributions from the C(2h) isomer of Ti2O4(-) and the C(2v) isomer of Zr2O4(-) are also seen. The SEVI spectra yield upper bounds for the adiabatic detachment energies, as well as vibrational frequencies for various modes of the neutral Ti2O4 and Zr2O4 species.

Neutralization–reionization study of the allyloxide anion

The charge-reversal (CR) and neutralization–reionization (NR) mass spectra of the mass-selected allyloxide anion CH 2 CHCH 2O − are reported. Similar to other alkoxide ions, the allyloxide anion shows only small abundances of the survivor cation in the CR and NR spectra. In combination with theoretical studies, the differences between the CR and NR experiments allow to explain why loss of atomic hydrogen corresponds to the major unimolecular decomposition channel of the neutral allyloxy radical. In addition, indirect evidence for an intramolecular rearrangement of the allyloxy radical to a carbon-centered oxiranyl methyl radical is provided. Interestingly, the patterns of the C 3H n O + ions in the NR spectra show similarities to those of a recently reported photoionization study of oxygenated products formed upon interaction of V 4O 11 − ions with propene. By extrapolation of our findings, we suggest that the reactions of the vanadium-oxide cluster anion V 4O 11 − are initiated by allylic C–H bond activation of propene followed by oxygenation of the hydrocarbon fragment.

Probing Cyanocuprates by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Solutions of CuCN/(RLi)n (n = 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, and 2.0 and R = Me, Et, nBu, sBu, tBu, and Ph) in tetrahydrofuran are analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. In all cases, organocuprate anions are observed, whose exact nature depends on the reagent stoichiometry. While cyanide-free Lin−1CunR2n− anions completely predominate for CuCN/(RLi)2 solutions, cyanide-containing Lin−1CunRn(CN)n− complexes prevail for CuCN/(RLi)n reagents with n ≤ 1. Mixing studies with CuCN/MeLi/RLi as well as gas-phase fragmentation experiments of the mass-selected anions provide further insight into the relative stability and the likely structural composition of polynuclear cuprates. The thus obtained information not only agrees quite well with previous results from spectroscopic and crystallographic work but moreover reveals clear trends of how different organyl substituents influence the aggregation and ion-pairing behavior of cyanocuprates. In addition, the observation of Cu(+2)-containing cyanocuprate complexes fo...

In Situ Reactivity and TOF-SIMS Analysis of Surfaces Prepared by Soft and Reactive Landing of Mass-Selected Ions

An instrument has been designed and constructed that enables in situ reactivity and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis of surfaces prepared or modified through soft and reactive landing of mass-selected polyatomic cations and anions. The apparatus employs an electrospray ion source coupled to a high transmission electrodynamic ion funnel, two focusing collision quadrupoles, a large 19 mm diameter quadrupole mass filter, and a quadrupole bender that deflects the ion beam, thereby preventing neutral contaminants from impinging on the deposition surface. The ion soft landing apparatus is coupled to a commercial TOF-SIMS instrument permitting the introduction of surfaces into vacuum and SIMS analysis before and after ion deposition without breaking vacuum. To facilitate a comparison of the current TOF-SIMS instrument with the in situ Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR-SIMS) deposition apparatus constructed previously, dications of the cyclic peptide Gramicidin S (GS) and the photoactive organonometallic complex ruthenium tris-bipyridine (Ru(bpy)(3)) were soft-landed onto fluorinated self-assembled monolayer (FSAM) on gold surfaces. In both cases, similarities and differences were observed in the secondary ion mass spectra, with the TOF-SIMS results, in general, characterized by greater sensitivity, larger dynamic range, less fragmentation, and fewer in-plume reactions than the corresponding FTICR-SIMS spectra. The charge reduction kinetics of both the doubly and singly protonated GS cations on the FSAM surface were also examined as was the influence of the primary gallium ion (Ga(+)) flux on the efficiency of these processes. In addition, we demonstrate that the new instrument enables detailed studies of the reactivity of catalytically active species immobilized by soft and reactive landing toward gaseous reagents.

Dynamics of Electron Solvation in Molecular Clusters

Solvated electrons, and hydrated electrons in particular, are important species in condensed phase chemistry, physics, and biology. Many studies have examined the formation mechanism, reactivity, spectroscopy, and dynamics of electrons in aqueous solution and other solvents, leading to a fundamental understanding of the electron-solvent interaction. However, key aspects of solvated electrons remain controversial, and the interaction between hydrated electrons and water is of central interest. For example, although researchers generally accept that hydrated electrons, eaq-, occupy solvent cavities, another picture suggests that the electron resides in a diffuse orbital localized on a H3O radical. In addition, researchers have proposed two physically distinct models for the relaxation mechanism when the electron is excited. These models, formulated to interpret condensed phase experiments, have markedly different timescales for the internal conversion from the excited p state to the ground s state.Studies of negatively charged clusters, such as (H2O)n- and I-(H2O)n, offer a complementary perspective for studying aqueous electron solvation. In this Account, we use time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES), a femtosecond pump-probe technique in which mass-selected anions are electronically excited and then photodetached at a series of delay times, to focus on time-resolved dynamics in these and similar species. In (H2O)n-,TRPES gives evidence for ultrafast internal conversion in clusters up to n=100. Extrapolation of these results yields a p-state lifetime of 50 fs in the bulk limit. This is in good agreement with the nonadiabatic solvation model, one of the models proposed for relaxation of eaq-. Similarly, experiments on (MeOH)n- up to n=450 give an extrapolated p-state lifetime of 150fs. TRPES investigations of I-(H2O)n and I-(CH3CN)n probe a different aspect of electron solvation dynamics. In these experiments,an ultraviolet pump pulse excites the cluster analog of the charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) band, ejecting an electron from the iodide into the solvent network. The probe pulse then monitors the solvent response to this excess electron,specifically its stabilization via solvent rearrangement. In I-(H2O)n, the iodide sits outside the solvent network, as does the excess electron initially formed by CTTS excitation. However, the iodide in I-(CH3CN)n is internally solvated, and both experimental and theoretical evidence indicate that electrons in (CH3CN)n- are internally solvated. Hence, these experiments reflect the complex dynamics that ensue when the electron is photo detached within a highly confined solvent cavity.