Ionization Energies of LinCln – 1 (n = 3, 4, and 5) Clusters Studied by the Modified Knudsen Cell Mass Spectrometry Method

Abstract: In the present paper, ionization energies of LinCln – 1 (n = 3, 4, and 5) clusters were studied by means of the modified Knudsen cell mass spectrometry method, for the first time. The temperature dependence of the intensities of Li3Cl2 +, Li4Cl3 + and Li5Cl4 + ions were measured in the interval 1128–1616, 1126–1435, and 1947–2278 K, respectively. The following ionization energies were obtained: IE(Li3Cl2) = 4.51 ± 0.2 eV, IE(Li4Cl3) = 4.18 ± 0.2 eV, and IE(Li4Cl3) = 5.05 ± 0.2 eV. A good correlation of the experimental results with the theoretical adiabatic ionization energy is recognized. Results are confirmation that these clusters can be classified as “superalkalis.”. © 2019, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd