Ionization energies of LinX(n=2,3; X=Cl,Br,I) molecules

Abstract

Molecules of LinX (n = 2,3; X = Cl, Br, I) were examined with a magnetic sector mass spectrometer by surface ionization using a triple rhenium filament impregnated with fullerene (C-60). The ionization energies obtained for Li2Cl, Li2Br and Li2I Molecules are 3.8 +/- 0.1, 3.9 +/- 0.1 and 4.0 +/- 0.1 eV. respectively. The first ionization energy of Li2Cl is documented, while there are no literature data for the ionization energies of Li2Br and Li2I. The molecules of Li3Cl, Li3Br and Li3I were detected experimentally for the first time with ionization energies of 4.0 +/- 0.1, 4.1 +/- 0.1 and 4.1 +/- 0.1 eV, respectively. The ionization energies of LinX (n = 2, 3; X = Cl, Br, I) are in correlation with the theoretical prediction of their hyperlithiated configurations. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.