Frontiers in the infrared spectroscopy of gas phase metal ion complexes

Abstract

Studies of gas phase M⁺(L)_n cluster ions (where M is a metal atom and L is a ligand molecule) assist our understanding of solvation and chemical processes that involve metal ions. The recent development of pulsed, tuneable OPO (optical parametric oscillator) sources capable of generating infrared light at frequencies between 1000 and 4000 cm⁻¹ has allowed the vibrational spectra of many species to be assigned for the first time. This perspective reviews infrared spectroscopy of metal-containing cluster ions to date and discusses future opportunities.