Structure determination of gold clusters by trapped ion electron diffraction: Au14−–Au19−

Abstract

The structures of mass-selected gold cluster anions Au₁₄⁻–Au₁₉⁻ have been reinvestigated using an improved low temperature trapped ion electron diffraction experiment. Structures were assigned by comparing experimental with simulated scattering functions using model structures obtained by density functional calculations. Flat three-dimensional structures are found for Au₁₄⁻ and Au₁₅⁻, hollow cages for Au₁₆⁻–Au₁₈⁻ and a tetrahedral structure is found for Au₁₉⁻. For several clusters in this series, our assignments differ distinctly from previous assignments.