PNNL

Abstract

Multiply charged anions (MCA’s) are common in the condensed phases, but are challenging to study in the gas phase. An experimental technique coupling photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) with electrospray ionization (ESI) has been developed to investigate properties of free MCA’s in the gas phase. In this article, the principles of this technique, and some initial findings about the intrinsic properties of MCA’s are reviewed. Examples chosen include the observation of the repulsive Coulomb barrier that exists universally in MCA’s and its effects on the dynamic stability and photoelectron spectroscopy of MCA’s. Solvation and solvent stabilization of MCA’s has been studied in the gas phase and will also be discussed. A second generation low-temperature ESI-PES apparatus has been developed, which allows ion temperatures to be controlled between 10 to 350 K. New results from the low-temperature ESI-PES instrument will also be reviewed, including doubly charged fullerene anions, inorganic metal complexes, and temperature-induced conformation changes of complex anions.