Optical absorptions of the X-center-type sodium nanoclusters in the gas-aggregation technique with a reactant nozzle

The effects that the interaction of Na nanoclusters with an electron-affinity reactant Cl2 influences on their optical absorptions have been investigated using the gas-aggregation technique with a reactant nozzle (GATRN). In addition to the surface plasmon band of the Na nanoclusters, extra bands with large red-shift were observed at the growth/interaction region of GATRN. Spectral analogy with X-center bands in NaCl crystals suggests the formation of NaCl-coated Na nanoclusters. The red-shift peak of the extra bands has been explained by the dielectric coated metal-particle model and charge transfer from the metal-cluster core to the dielectric shell.