2005/01/13 by Denis E. Bergeron, Patrick J. Roach, A. W. Castleman +2 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · Chemistry · #Advanced Chemical Physics Studies #Inorganic Chemistry and Materials #Inorganic Fluorides and Related Compounds
paper · doi:10.1126/science.1105820
openalex publication_date 2005/01/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Two classes of gas-phase aluminum-iodine clusters have been identified whose stability and reactivity can be understood in terms of the spherical shell jellium model. Experimental reactivity studies show that the Al13I-x clusters exhibit pronounced stability for even numbers of I atoms. Theoretical investigations reveal that the enhanced stability is associated with complementary pairs of I atoms occupying the on-top sites on the opposing Al atoms of the Al13- core. We also report the existence of another series, Al14I-x, that exhibits stability for odd numbers of I atoms. This series can be described as consisting of an Al14I-3 core upon which the I atoms occupy on-top locations around the Al atoms. The potential synthetic utility of superatom chemistry built upon these motifs is addressed.