Cationic Complexes of Hydrogen with Helium

High‐resolution mass spectra of helium nanodroplets doped with hydrogen or deuterium reveal that copious amounts of helium can be bound to H+, H2+, H3+, and larger hydrogen‐cluster ions. All conceivable HenHx+ stoichiometries are identified if their mass is below the limit of ≈120 u set by the resolution of the spectrometer. Anomalies in the ion yields of HenHx+ for x=1, 2, or 3, and n≤30 reveal particularly stable cluster ions. Our results for HenH1+ are consistent with conclusions drawn from previous experimental and theoretical studies which were limited to smaller cluster ions. The HenH3+ series exhibits a pronounced anomaly at n=12 which was outside the reliable range of earlier experiments. Contrary to findings reported for other diatomic dopant molecules, the monomer ion (i.e. H2+) retains helium with much greater efficiency than hydrogen‐cluster ions

Adsorption of Hydrogen on Neutral and Charged Fullerene: Experiment and Theory

Helium droplets are doped with fullerenes (either C60 or C70) and hydrogen (H2 or D2) and investigated by high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition to pure helium and hydrogen cluster ions, hydrogen-fullerene complexes are observed upon electron ionization. The composition of the main ion series is (H2)nHCm+ where m = 60 or 70. Another series of even-numbered ions, (H2)nCm+, is slightly weaker in stark contrast to pure hydrogen cluster ions for which the even-numbered series (H2)n+ is barely detectable. The ion series (H2)nHCm+ and (H2)nCm+ exhibit abrupt drops in ion abundance at n = 32 for C60 and 37 for C70, indicating formation of an energetically favorable commensurate phase, with each face of the fullerene ion being covered by one adsorbate molecule. However, the first solvation layer is not complete until a total of 49 H2 are adsorbed on C60+; the corresponding value for C70+ is 51. Surprisingly, these values do not exhibit a hydrogen-deuterium isotope effect even though the isotope effect for H2/D2 adsorbates on graphite exceeds 6%. We also observe doubly charged fullerene-deuterium clusters; they, too, exhibit abrupt drops in ion abundance at n = 32 and 37 for C60 and C70, respectively. The findings imply that the charge is localized on the fullerene, stabilizing the system against charge separation. Density functional calculations for C60-hydrogen complexes with up to five hydrogen atoms provide insight into the experimental findings and the structure of the ions. The binding energy of physisorbed H2 is 57 meV for H2C60+ and (H2)2C60+, and slightly above 70 meV for H2HC60+ and (H2)2HC60+. The lone hydrogen in the odd-numbered complexes is covalently bound atop a carbon atom but a large barrier of 1.69 eV impedes chemisorption of the H2 molecules. Calculations for neutral and doubly charged complexes are presented as well

Solvation of Na+, K+ and their dimers in helium

Helium atoms bind strongly to alkali cations which, when embedded in liquid helium, form so‐called snowballs. Calculations suggest that helium atoms in the first solvation layer of these snowballs form rigid structures and that their number (n) is well defined, especially for the lighter alkalis. However, experiments have so far failed to accurately determine values of n. We present high‐resolution mass spectra of Na+Hen, K+Hen, Na2+Hen and K2+Hen, formed by electron ionization of doped helium droplets; the data allow for a critical comparison with several theoretical studies. For sodium and potassium monomers the spectra indicate that the value of n is slightly smaller than calculated. Na2+Hen displays two distinct anomalies at n=2 and n=6, in agreement with theory; dissociation energies derived from experiment closely track theoretical values. K2+Hen distributions are fairly featureless, which also agrees with predictions

Methane Adsorption on Aggregates of Fullerenes: Site-Selective Storage Capacities and Adsorption Energies

Methane adsorption on positively charged aggregates of C60 is investigated by both mass spectrometry and computer simulations. Calculated adsorption energies of 118–281 meV are in the optimal range for high‐density storage of natural gas. Groove sites, dimple sites, and the first complete adsorption shells are identified experimentally and confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations, using a newly developed force field for methane–methane and fullerene–methane interaction. The effects of corrugation and curvature are discussed and compared with data for adsorption on graphite, graphene, and carbon nanotubes

Structures, energetics, and dynamics of helium adsorbed on isolated fullerene ions

Helium adsorbed on C60+ and C70+ exhibits phenomena akin to helium on graphite. Mass spectra suggest that commensurate layers form when all carbon hexagons and pentagons are occupied by one He each, but that the solvation shell does not close until 60 He atoms are adsorbed on C60+, or 62 on C70+. Molecular dynamics simulations of C 60Hen+ at 4 K show that the commensurate phase is solid. Helium added to C60He32+ will displace some atoms from pentagonal sites, leading to coexistence of a registered layer of immobile atoms interlaced with a nonregistered layer of mobile atomsThis work was supported by MICINN projects FIS2010-15127, ACI2008-0777, CTQ2010-17006, Consolider-Ingenio CSD2007-00010, CAM program NANOBIOMAGNET S2009/MAT1726, the Austrian Science Fund, Wien (FWF, projects P19073, L633, and I200 N29), the European Commission, Brussels (ITS-LEIF), and the European COST Action CM0702

The submersion of sodium clusters in helium nanodroplets: Identification of the surface → interior transition

The submersion of sodium clusters beyond a critical size in helium nanodroplets, which has recently been predicted on theoretical grounds, is demonstrated for the first time. Confirmation of a clear transition from a surface location, which occurs for alkali atoms and small clusters, to full immersion for larger clusters, is provided by identifying the threshold electron energy required to initiate Na n cluster ionization. On the basis of these measurements, a lower limit for the cluster size required for submersion, n ≥ 21, has been determined. This finding is consistent with the recent theoretical prediction

The submersion of sodium clusters in helium nanodroplets: Identification of the surface → interior transition

The submersion of sodium clusters beyond a critical size in helium nanodroplets, which has recently been predicted on theoretical grounds, is demonstrated for the first time. Confirmation of a clear transition from a surface location, which occurs for alkali atoms and small clusters, to full immersion for larger clusters, is provided by identifying the threshold electron energy required to initiate Nan cluster ionization. On the basis of these measurements, a lower limit for the cluster size required for submersion, n ≥ 21, has been determined. This finding is consistent with the recent theoretical prediction

Protonated and Cationic Helium Clusters

Protonated rare gas clusters have previously been shown to display markably different structures compared to their pure, cationic counterparts. Here, we have performed high-resolution mass spectrometry measurements of protonated and pristine clusters of He containing up to 50 atoms. We identify notable differences between the magic numbers present in the two types of clusters, but in contrast to heavier rare gas clusters, neither the protonated nor pure clusters exhibit signs of icosahedral symmetries. These findings are discussed in light of results from heavier rare gases and previous theoretical work on protonated helium

On the Size and Structure of Helium Snowballs Formed around Charged Atoms and Clusters of Noble Gases

Helium nanodroplets doped with argon, krypton, or xenon are ionized by electrons and analyzed in a mass spectrometer. HenNgx+ ions containing up to seven noble gas (Ng) atoms and dozens of helium atoms are identified; the high resolution of the mass spectrometer combined with advanced data analysis make it possible to unscramble contributions from isotopologues that have the same nominal mass but different numbers of helium or Ng atoms, such as the magic He2084Kr2+ and the isobaric, nonmagic He4184Kr+. Anomalies in these ion abundances reveal particularly stable ions; several intriguing patterns emerge. Perhaps most astounding are the results for HenAr+, which show evidence for three distinct, solid-like solvation shells containing 12, 20, and 12 helium atoms. This observation runs counter to the common notion that only the first solvation shell is solid-like but agrees with calculations by Galli et al. for HenNa+ [ J. Phys. Chem. A 2011, 115, 7300] that reveal three shells of icosahedral symmetry. HenArx+ (2 ≤ x ≤ 7) ions appear to be especially stable if they contain a total of n + x = 19 atoms. A sequence of anomalies in the abundance distribution of HenKrx+ suggests that rings of six helium atoms are inserted into the solvation shell each time a krypton atom is added to the ionic core, from Kr+ to Kr3+. Previously reported strong anomalies at He12Kr2+ and He12Kr3+ [Kim, J. H.; et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2006, 124, 214301] are attributed to a contamination. Only minor local anomalies appear in the distributions of HenXex+ (x ≤ 3). The distributions of HenKr+ and HenXe+ show strikingly similar, broad features that are absent from the distribution of HenAr+; differences are tentatively ascribed to the very different fragmentation dynamics of these ions