Structure analysis of high reactive metal catalysts intermediates by a combination of mass spectrometry and photodetachment-ZEKE-photoelectron spectroscopy

The aim of our inquiry is a laser spectroscopic analysis and characterisation of the ground state of mass selected reactive metal organic compounds. This is achieved by a combination of negative ion time-of-flight mass spectrometry and photodetachment spectroscopy. Two forms are used here: conventional photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), to get basic information on the system, and zero-kinetic-energy- (ZEKE-) PES, for precise measurements with a spectral resolution down to 1.5 cm⁻¹. Currently we are analysing components of the iron-acetylene system. The procedure is now being tested on reference species: well-characterised FeO and FeC₂, the smallest metal organic compound in the iron-acetylene system. First results are shown.