Experimental and theoretical characterization of the clusters produced by 337 nm UV laser

The structures and abundances of C n = 2 - 16 - clusters produced from amorphous and graphite targets by 337 nm UV laser are analyzed. A systematic search for the more stable conformers at the DFT/B3LYP level of calculation is presented. Two new series and some new structures of previously reported series of negatively charged carbon clusters are proposed: linear (new members), monocyclic (new members), fused ring and non-planar series. The cluster stability analysis indicates higher abundances for the n = 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 clusters in the negative spectra, in agreement with the experimental observations.