GAS PHASE ELECTRONIC PHOTODISSOCIATION SPECTRA OF COPPER NITRATE CLUSTER IONS

Abstract

We report UV photodissociation action spectra of copper nitrate cluster anions Cu(NO$_{3}$)$_{3}^{-}$. The parent ion decays upon electronic excitation by loss of neutral NO$_{3}$ fragment. THe gas phase spectrum is similar to but slightly more structured than UV absorption spectra of solutions of the parent salt Cu(NO$_{3}$)$_{2}$. We discuss our experimental results in the framework of quantum chemical calculations.