Knowledge Bank

Recent results will be presented from FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) and DFT (density functional theory) studies of the vibrational fundamentals and structures of germanium-carbon clusters trapped in solid Ar, which have previously included linear GeC$3$Ge} \underline{\textbf{114}}, 3570 (2000).} and GeC$3$Si} \underline{\textbf{117}}, 3811 (2002).}. The linear germanium-carbon cluster GeC$5$Ge has been detected using FTIR spectra generated when products from the dual laser evaporation of Ge and C rods are trapped in solid Ar matrices at $\sim$10 K. Comparison of frequencies and $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">13</mrow>}$C isotopic shift measurements with the predictions of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level confirms the identification of the $\nu 4(\sigma u)$ mode of GeC$5$Ge at 2158.0 cm$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">-1</mrow>}$.