Properties of size and composition selected gas phase alkali fulleride clusters

Abstract

Neutral and positively charged clusters Mx(C60)z, where M=K/Rb and z=1–3 were prepared in pulsed molecular beams by laser desorption (266 nm) from preformed alkali metal fulleride thin films. Experimental results encompassed mass spectral characterization of beam abundance and in selected cases, determination of rough ionization potential brackets and elucidation of fragmentation pathways upon (i) unimolecular dissociation in gas phase and (ii) surface collision induced dissociation from Si(111). Results are contrasted with electrostatic model calculations as well as ab initio self-consistent field computations.