Laser ablation synthesis of phosphorus clusters

Neutrals phosphorus clusters P-n (up to n = 40) and their cations P-n(+) (u p to n = 91) have been synthesized in the gas phase by laser ablation of cr ystalline red phosphorus. The neutral P-n clusters are found to be even-num bered with local abundance maxima at n = 8, 10, 14, and 40. An abundance mi nimum at n = 22 indicates the possibility of stable cage-like structures of clusters, By contrast, the cationic clusters are preferentially odd-number ed with P-21(+) being the most abundant ion. It is suggested that dodecahed ral fullerene-like P-20, stabilized with an additional phosphorus ion in th e laser plasma, can be particularly stable. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.