The structure of mixed alkali halide clusters

Mixed clusters composed of two alkali halides have been produced by combining the two vapors at the time of cluster condensation, and also by evaporating a premixed solid solution. Mass spectra show that mixed cluster ions are stable even for compositions that do not form solid solutions in the condensed phase. However, the mass spectra are not consistent with a simple random mixing of the two alkali halides. Total energy calculations indicate that clusters with certain sizes and compositions have somewhat enhanced stability.