Analysis of Gas-Phase Clusters Made from Laser-Vaporized Icosahedral Al−Pd−Mn
Date
Authors
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Abstract
An icosahedral Al−Pd−Mn quasicrystal sample is laser vaporized to form metal clusters by gas aggregation. The clusters are subsequently laser ionized and mass analyzed in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The mass spectra show cluster compositions which are qualitatively similar to that of the sample. This is consistent with a kinetically controlled cluster growth process. Cluster thermodynamic stability is probed by multiphoton ionization/fragmentation, which induces primarily Al and Mn loss. The resulting spectra are composed of a series of Pd-rich Al−Pd clusters. The average cluster composition is 60 (±1)% Pd. This composition is close to a known eutectic in the Al−Pd system. When manganese is seen on these clusters, it is always in units of Mn3. These results are discussed in terms of relative binding strengths in the Al−Pd−Mn alloy system.
Comments
Posted with permission from The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 106, no. 40 (2002): 9204–9208, doi:10.1021/jp025662k. Copyright 2002 American Chemical Society.