Abundance distributions and ionization potentials of neutral cadmium clusters Cdx (x≲50)

Abstract

We report the determination of ionization potentials for molecular beam isolated clusters of cadmium by photoionization mass spectrometry. The mass spectra reveal multimodal size distributions indicating particular stabilities for clusters with 20, 40, 70 and 92 electrons, which are shell closings in the electron shell model. A rapid convergence of the ionization potentials towards the values expected for the nonclassical metallic sphere model is observed. Ionization potentials for clusters with up to 30 atoms are reported. © 1992.