Structures of small gold cluster cations (Aun+, n<14): Ion mobility measurements versus density functional calculations

Abstract

We have performed ion mobility measurements on gold cluster cations ${\mathrm{Au}}_n^{+}$ generated by pulsed laser vaporization. For clusters with n<14, experimental cross sections are compared with theoretical results from density functional calculations. This comparison allows structural assignment. We find that room temperature gold cluster cations have planar structures for n=3–7. Starting at n=8 they form three dimensional structures with (slightly distorted) fragments of the bulk phase structure being observed for n=8–10.