IONIZATION-POTENTIALS OF GOLD SODIUM (AUNNAM) BIMETALLIC CLUSTERS

Ionization potentials of gold-sodium (Au(n)Na(m)) bimetallic clusters were measured by a tunable ultraviolet laser combined with a time-of-f light mass spectrometer. The ionization potentials of Au(n)Na(m) clust ers generally decrease with the number of Na atoms, but discontinuitie s in the ionization potentials of Au(n)Na(m) clusters were observed wh en the total number of valence electrons in the clusters fills an elec tronic shell. This result indicates that valence electrons of both Au atoms and Na atoms are delocalized in the clusters, forming the electr onic shell.