Evidence for entropic effects in the dissociation of cationic sodium fluoride clusters

Metastable Dianions and Dications

A theoretical study of metastable dianions and dications has been carried out at the CCSD(T)//MP2 level. MX₃ ^2- and LX₄ ^2- (M=Li and Na, L=Be and Mg, X=F and Cl) have been considered as dianions, M₃ X²⁺ (M=Li and Na, X=F and Cl), YH₃ ²⁺ and ZH₄ ²⁺ (Y=F and Cl and Z=O, S) as dications. Minima structures are found in all cases, but they are less stable than the corresponding dissociated pair of mono-ions. The dissociation profile of the molecules in two mono-ions has been explored showing in all cases a maximum that prevent their spontaneous dissociation. The strength and nature of the chemical bond in the dianions and dications have been analyzed with the QTAIM, NBO and LMOEDA method and compared to the corresponding monoanions and monocations.

Compact non-rock-salt structures in sodium fluoride cluster ions at specific sizes revealed by ion mobility mass spectrometry

Structures of small sodium fluoride cluster cations, Na(n)F(n-1)(+), have been determined for n = 5-23 by ion mobility mass spectrometry. In the mass spectrum of Na(n)F(n-1)(+) cluster ions measured after collisions in the ion-drift cell, cuboid ions with near-regular hexahedron such as n = 14 (3 × 3 × 3), 23 (3 × 3 × 5), 38 (3 × 5 × 5), 63 (5 × 5 × 5), and 88 (5 × 5 × 7) were predominantly observed as magic numbers. By comparison of the collision cross sections obtained from the ion mobility measurements with theoretical ones, we have experimentally shown that the ions of n = 7 and 10 have stable non-rock-salt type structures in which one sodium atom is encapsulated into the sodium fluoride cuboid lattice. The collision cross sections of n = 12 and 13 are almost equal to that of the n = 14 cuboid. A similar feature was also observed in collision cross sections of n = 21 and 22, which are equal to that of the n = 23 cuboid. These features indicate that the cluster ions of n = 12, 13, 21, and 22 have near-cuboid structures with some surface defects.