Mass spectra and photoelectron spectroscopy of negatively charged benzene clusters, (benzene)n− (n=53–124)

Negatively charged benzene clusters, (benzene)n−, were produced by injecting low- and high-energy electrons into an intense supersonic jet expansion. Threshold size of n=53 was observed by slow-electron attachment, while the smaller (benzene)n− with 2⩽n⩽52 were also observed through the fragmentation of larger (benzene)n− by high-energy electron attachment. Photoelectron spectroscopy for (benzene)n− with n=53–124 has revealed a bulklike electron solvated state in (benzene)n⩾53− through the vertical detachment energies (VDEs) versus n−1/3 relationship.