Ultraviolet-visible photodissociation spectra of Vn+Xe (n=5-8) cluster complex cations

Photodissociation spectra of vanadium cluster ion-xenon atom complexes Vn+X e (n=5-8) have been measured between 290 and 670 nm. Spectra have been obta ined by recording the depletion signal induced on the mass-selected cluster current intensity by the absorption of a photon. Due to the weak interacti on between the ionic cluster and the rare-gas atom, photodissociation spect ra are regarded as the absorption spectra of the vanadium cluster cations t hemselves. The absorption bands are broad, but several peaks can be resolve d for the smallest sizes. The influence of the rare-gas atom on the electro nic structure of the vanadium cluster cation is probed by performing the me asurements on krypton instead of on xenon complexes. The features of the sp ectra do not change, but a blueshift of 0.12 eV is observed from krypton to xenon. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.