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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Analysis of Complex Molecules and Their Reactions on Surfaces by Means of Cluster-Induced Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 1, 2020
The effect of ionization on the global minima of small and medium sized silicon and magnesium clusters
Sandip De1, S Alireza Ghasemi, Alexander Willand
1Department of Physics, Universität Basel, Klingelbergstr. 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland. sandip.de@unibas.ch
Abstract:
We re-examine the question of whether the geometrical ground state of neutral and ionized clusters are identical. Using a well defined criterion for being "identical" together, the extensive sampling methods on a potential energy surface calculated by density functional theory, we show that the ground states are in general different. This behavior is to be expected whenever there are metastable configurations which are close in energy to the ground state, but it disagrees with previous studies.
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To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...

