How O₂-Binding Affects Structural Evolution of Medium Even-Sized Gold Clusters Au^- (n = 20-34)

We report the first joint anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical study on how O₂-binding affects the structures of medium even-sized gold clusters, Au^- (n = 20-34), a special size region that entails a variety of distinct structures. Under the temperature conditions in the current photoelectron spectroscopy experiment, O₂-bound gold clusters were observed only for n = 22-24 and 34. Nevertheless, O₂ binding with the clusters in the size range of n = 20-34 can be still predicted based on the obtained global-minimum structures. Consequently, a series of structural transitions, from the pyramidal to fused-planar to core-shell structures, are either identified or predicted for the AuO₂^- clusters, where the O₂-binding is in either superoxo or peroxo fashion. The identified global-minimum structures of AuO₂^- (n = 20-34) also allow us to gain improved understanding of why the clusters Au^- (n = 26-32) are less reactive with O₂ in comparison to others.