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Title: Probing the presence and absence of metal-fullerene electron transfer reactions in helium nanodroplets by deflection measurements
Metal-fullerene compounds are characterized by significant electron transfer to the fullerene cage, giving rise to an electric dipole moment. We use the method of electrostatic beam deflection to verify whether such reactions take place within superfluid helium nanodroplets between an embedded C 60 molecule and either alkali (heliophobic) or rare-earth (heliophilic) atoms. The two cases lead to distinctly different outcomes: C 60 Na n ( n = 1–4) display no discernable dipole moment, while C 60 Yb is strongly polar. This suggests that the fullerene and small alkali clusters fail to form a charge-transfer bond in the helium matrix despite their strong van der Waals attraction. The C 60 Yb dipole moment, on the other hand, is in agreement with the value expected for an ionic complex.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1664601 2153255 2118061
NSF-PAR ID:
10329401
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume:
24
Issue:
17
ISSN:
1463-9076
Page Range / eLocation ID:
10378 to 10383
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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