Reactions of copper cluster cations with nitrous oxide: Oxidation and sequential N2O adsorption

Reactions of size-selected copper cluster cations, Cun+ (n = 3-7) and CunOm+ (n = 3-5; m = 1 and 2), with nitrous oxide molecules, N2O, have been investigated by use of a tandem mass spectrometer. N2O molecules adsorb sequentially on the odd-sized Cun+ to produce Cun+(N2O)l, while the even-sized clusters give the reaction products, such as Cun-1O+(N2O)l, involving both the oxidation and the N2O adsorption. Preadsorption of oxygen atoms promotes the sequential N2O-adsorption significantly, and in particular, Cu3O+(N2O)3, Cu4O2+(N2O)3, and Cu5O2+(N2O)4 are produced dominantly from Cu3O+, Cu4O2+, and Cu5O2+, which shows the saturation of the adsorption with N2O.

64Highlights► Reactions of size-selected Cun+ (n = 3-7) with N2O have been investigated. ► The sequential adsorption of N2O proceeds on the odd-sized Cun+. ► The even-sized Cun+ give the products involving the oxidation and the N2O adsorption. ► Preadsorption of oxygen atoms promotes the sequential N2O-adsorption significantly.