Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Alkali-Halide Cluster Anions Containing Excess Electrons

We have obtained photoelectron spectra for alkali -halide clusters containing excess electrons. These measurements demonstrate that the mode of electron accommodation and the cluster configuration depend on the sizes of the atomic ions comprising the aggregate. We also report on the role of the source temperature in determining the structures observed for a cluster. Photoelectron measurements of metal-rich alkali -halide clusters (MX)_{n}M _{m}^-(m >=q 2) suggest that the metallic and ionic components within each of these systems are separated from each other. This behavior is evident for n = 3,5 in clusters of cesium chloride and for n = 3,7,8,9 for sodium iodide clusters. We also studied the mixed species (NaI) _{n}Na_{m} OH^- and(NaI)_ {n}H_2O ^-. The (NaI)_{n} Na_{m}OH ^- clusters appear to contain the OH ^- ion in the same way a halogen anion would be accommodated. Photoelectron spectra of(NaI) _{n}H_2O ^- are consistent with adsorption of a water molecule on an edge of an ionic lattice.