Photodissociation and DFT investigation of V+(C2H4)n (n = 1–3) complexes

V+(C2H4)n were produced in a supersonic molecular beam by laser vaporization and were mass-analyzed with a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. V+(C2H4)n (n = 1–3) are predominant mass peaks in the mass spectrum. These species were mass-selected and photodissociated with 1064, 532 and 355 nm photons. Dissociation occurs by elimination of neutral ethene molecules. The fragment ion yields were studied as a function of photon fluxes in order to give insight into the dissociation mechanisms. The geometric structures, bond dissociation energies and ground electronic state of V+(C2H4)n (n = 1–4) were investigated using density functional theory (DFT). It has been confirmed that the most stable structures of V+(C2H4)n are all in quintet states.

Graphical abstractV+(C2H4)n (n = 1–3) were photodissociated with 1064, 532 and 355 nm photons. The dissociation occurred by elimination of neutral ethene molecules.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (61 K)Download as PowerPoint slide