The electronic structure of free aluminum clusters: Metallicity and plasmons

Journal Article · Mon May 28 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Journal of Chemical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4718362· OSTI ID:22047218

Andersson, Tomas; Chaofan, Zhang; Svensson, Svante; Maartensson, Nils; Bjoerneholm, Olle ^[1]; Tchaplyguine, Maxim ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-751 20 Uppsala (Sweden)
2. MAX-lab, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund (Sweden)

The electronic structure of free aluminum clusters with {approx}3-4 nm radius has been investigated using synchrotron radiation-based photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopy. A beam of free clusters has been produced using a gas-aggregation source. The 2p core level and the valence band have been probed. Photoelectron energy-loss features corresponding to both bulk and surface plasmon excitation following photoionization of the 2p level have been observed, and the excitation energies have been derived. In contrast to some expectations, the loss features have been detected at energies very close to those of the macroscopic solid. The results are discussed from the point of view of metallic properties in nanoparticles with a finite number of constituent atoms.

• OSTI ID: 22047218
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 136, Issue 20; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALUMINIUM
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ENERGY LOSSES
EXCITATION
NANOSTRUCTURES
PARTICLES
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
PHOTOIONIZATION
PLASMONS
SURFACES
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION