LOSS OF METALLICITY IN METAL-RICH LITHIUM-OXIDE CLUSTERS

Mixed lithium-lithium oxide aggregates are experimentally obtained fro m unimolecular evaporative cascades starting at metal rich Li-p(+)(Li2 O)(n) species and ending with the stoichiometric limit Li+(Li2O)(n), f or several sizes of the oxide part (Li2O)(n) with 0 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 8. The results show evidence of the vanish ing of the properties of the quantum metallic droplet i.e. shell closi ng and odd-even alternation, portrayed in the dissociation energy, wit h increasing size of the oxide component. The competition between mono mer and dimer lithium evaporation from the heated metal rich Li-p(+)(L i2O)(n) species points out the influence of the perturbation induced b y the oxide component on the mixed metal oxide clusters.