Eur. Phys. J. D 33, 405-411 (2005)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2005-00075-y

Electronic properties of mixed lithium-oxygen clusters

Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Ionique et Moléculaire, CNRS UMR N° 5579 et Université Lyon I, 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France

Corresponding author: ^a lebeault@lasim.univ-lyon1.fr

Received: 6 December 2004
Published online: 24 May 2005

Abstract

Herein electronic structure as a function of cluster size has been probed through ionization potentials measurements in order to derive general trends in the evolution of the structure and stability of lithium oxide clusters Li_nO_m. The structural evolution was investigated by varying progressively the oxygen rate in order to observe transitions from the metallic Li_n to the ionic structure (Li₂O)_n. We have demonstrated that this structural transition splits into three specific ranges. This result, in contrast with the general behavior observed with other electronegative elements combined with alkaline or alkaline-earth metal clusters, but similar to what is known about Ba_nO_m and Cs_nO_m, constitutes a signature of a specific role played by the oxygen atoms when included inside a metallic cluster.