Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy on the linear conformer of negatively charged carbon clusters Cn− (10≤n≤16)

A photoelectron spectroscopy technique was successfully applied to the detection and characterization of a linear conformer of negatively-charged carbon clusters from C10− to C16−. By controlling the laser fluence for vaporization it was found that the fraction of a linear conformer was enriched. The presence of the linear form up to C16− was confirmed by the photoelectron spectroscopic evidences. On the basis of the present observations, it was also found that the observed vertical electron affinity up to C16 shows a distinct even–odd alternation, converging into the asymptotic value of ca. 5.0 eV.