Search for doubly charged negative ions of small carbon clusters

Abstract A search has been conducted for dianions of small carbon clusters C n 2− (2 ≤ n ≤ 8) formed by laser ablation of graphite. A multicoincidence time-of-flight technique has been used to monitor fragment ion-pairs produced in dianion decay. No evidence is found for C 2 2− dianions. However, detection of anion-pairs C n − −C n − ( n > 1) provides evidence for higher- n ( n > 2) cluster dianions which exhibit a preference for symmetrical decay. Ab initio computations of potential energy curves have been carried out for C 2 2− dianion states; results indicate too short a lifetime against autodetachment for detection in our experiments.