Abstract:
In this dissertation, we describe a spectroscopic study of metal clusters and
metal-ligand complexes using pulsed field ionization zero kinetic energy (PFI-ZEKE)
photoelectron spectroscopy and mass analyzed threshold ionization (MATI)
spectroscopy. Vibrational resolved spectra of sodium dimer, Na•NH₃, Na•(NH₃)₂
are presented. These spectra provide a direct measurement of the ionization
potential of these species with a high precision. The vibrational structure of the
spectra, combined with ab initio calculation, leads to a determination of the
geometric structure of these clusters. To our knowledge, this investigation of the
ZEKE spectra of Na•(NH₃)₂ is the first high resolution study of a complex with
more than one polar molecules.
Two dynamic processes related to ZEKE and MATI spectroscopy, i.e.,
associative formation of Rydberg state clusters and plasma trapping of energetic
electrons are observed and studied in detail. The merits, as well as pitfalls of the
ZEKE and MATI spectroscopy are demonstrated throughout the experiments. An
innovative design of a MATI spectrometer is proposed for future studies.
