Boron Cluster Cations: Transition from Planar to Cylindrical Structures

Abstract

Above a certain size, boron clusters prefer a cylindrical arrangement over a planar one. Experimental determination of the collision cross section combined with density functional calculations showed that the transition to cylindrical structures takes place at B16+ for boron clusters. The picture shows some of the investigated structures. The left column represents the global minima; the other columns show less favorable structures.