AlH3andAl2H6: Magic Clusters with Unmagical Properties (original) (raw)

Enhanced stability, low electron affinity, and high ionization potential are the hallmarks of a "magic" cluster. With an electron affinity of 0.28 eV, ionization potential of 11.43 eV, and a large binding energy, AlH 3 satisfies these criteria. However, unlike other magic clusters that interact only weakly with each other, two AlH 3 clusters bind to each other with an energy of 1.54 eV. The resulting Al 2 H 6 , while also a magic cluster in its own right, possesses the most unusual property that the difference between its adiabatic and vertical detachment energy is about 2 eV-the largest of any known cluster. These results, based on density functional theory, are verified experimentally through photodetachment spectroscopy.