Solvent-induced reductive activation in gas phase [Bi(CO2)n]− clusters

We report infrared photodissociation spectra of [Bi(CO$_{2}$)$_{n}$]$^{-}$ ($n=2-9$) cluster anions. We determine the charge carrier geometry by comparing calculated vibrational frequencies based on density functional theory to the experimental spectra. The vibrational frequencies and the charge carrier geometry depend strongly on the solvation environment present in the cluster. We discuss the interaction of bismuth and \chem{CO_2} in the presence of an excess electron in the context of heterogeneous catalytic reduction of \chem{CO_2}