Coulomb- and antiferromagnetic-induced fission in doubly charged cubelike fe-s clusters

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Oct 14;89(16):163401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.163401. Epub 2002 Sep 26.

Abstract

We report the observation of symmetric fission in doubly charged Fe-S cluster anions, [Fe(4)S(4)X(4)](2-)-->2[Fe(2)S(2)X(2)](-) (X=Cl,Br), owing to both Coulomb repulsion and antiferromagnetic coupling. Photoelectron spectroscopy shows that both the parent and the fission fragments have similar electronic structures and confirms the inverted energy schemes due to the strong spin polarization of the Fe 3d levels. The current observation provides direct confirmation for the unusual spin couplings in the [Fe(4)S(4)X(4)](2-) clusters, which contain two valent-delocalized and ferromagnetically coupled Fe2S2 subunits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electrochemistry
  • Iron Compounds / chemistry*
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Sulfur Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Iron Compounds
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins
  • Sulfur Compounds