Structure, Bonding and Surface Chemistry of Metal Oxide Nanoclusters
Abstract
Ultra-small metal oxide nanoclusters are produced and characterized in the gas phase using laser ablation of solid metal targets and then subsequently captured in solution. Fundamental measurements in the gas phase use mass spectrometry and infrared laser spectroscopy, complemented by computational quantum chemistry. Recent experiments have investigated the carbonyl complexes of Ti, Zr, Hf, Sc, Y and Rh, as well as those of vanadium oxides. In synthetic experiments, metal oxide clusters are captured from the gas phase into solution, stabilized with ligand coatings, using a new fast-flow reactor. New experiments have isolated ligand-coated oxides of Co, Cr and Al, as well as pure aluminum clusters. Additional work has examined vanadium carbide clusters as well as metal-silicon clusters of several transition metals. These ultra-small clusters are studied with laser desorption and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, optical spectroscopy methods (IR, surface-enhanced Raman, UV-visible absorption and fluorescence) and computational chemistry. The fundamental and applied studies complement each other, providing unanticipated discoveries and improved understanding of oxide nanocluster systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 23, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1013297
Entities
People
- Michael A Duncan
Organizations
- University of Georgia Research Foundation