Abstracts Book - IMRC 2018

• SF4-O001 Invited Talk
CLOSO-BORATE CHEMISTRY IN THE GAS PHASE: FROM
CURIOSITIES OBSERVED IN MASS SPECTRA TO NOVEL SELF-
ORGANIZING MATERIALS
Jonas Warneke 1,2
1 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Physical Sciences Division, United States. 2 Purdue
University, Department of Chemistry, United States.
Closo-borates, dianions with molecular formula [B 12 X 12 ] 2- (X = H,halogen), are
known for their exceptional electronic properties and chemical inertness. For
example, due to their high resistance to electrophilic attack, these ions are able
to stabilize highly reactive cations in condensed phase. In the first part of the
presentation, we explore the electronic stability and gas phase ion chemistry of
these compounds to understand their properties on a fundamental molecular
level. With the aid of photoelectron spectroscopy and computational
investigations, we demonstrate which factors influence electronic stability in
closo-borates. Bond breaking within these stable ions results in an exceptional
gas phase ion chemistry. Boron compounds not available in the condensed
phase are introduced and their reactivity is explored. In the second part of the
presentation, we demonstrate how gas phase ions may be used to generate
condensed phase material layers via ion soft-landing. The properties of closoborates
were used to develop novel self-organizing layers. Macroscopic
properties of these new anion based thin film materials can be finely tuned by
adjusting the properties of the mass selected anions. Possibilities to control fine
structural features within these layers the micro to nano scale are
demonstrated. Moreover, we show that highly reactive fragment ions of closoborates
- usually considered to be not more than elusive molecular species in
mass spectrometers - can be used for bond formation in condensed phase
materials. These findings provide a direct path understanding the gas phase ion
chemistry of closo-borates to chemical synthesis in condensed phase using their
reactive fragments as building blocks.
Acknowledgment: JW acknowledge a Feodor Lynen Fellowship of the Alexander
von Humboldt Foundation.
Keywords: closo-borates, gas phase anions, ion soft-landing
Presenting authors email: j.warneke@uni-bremen.de