PHOTOELECTRON VELOCITY MAP IMAGING SPECTROSCOPY OF BERYLLIUM-CONTAINING TRIATOMIC ANIONS, BeX2− (X=O,C)

Abstract

Beryllium is known to defy conventional bonding motifs in even the smallest of molecular systems. Notable diatomic examples of anomalous bonds include the Be dimer, and dative bonding in BeF$^{-}$ anion. There is a fundamental interest in understanding how beryllium’s bonding characteristics develop with increasing molecular complexity. In the past year, we have moved forward with studies of triatomic species, specifically BeO$_{2}$$^{-}$ and BeC$_{2}$$^{-}$, through a combination of photoelectron velocity map imaging spectroscopy and \textit{ab initio} computational methods. In this talk, we will present our current understanding of the bonding in these molecules, with comparisons to previously characterized diatomic molecules (BeO$^{-}$, BeS$^{-}$, BeF$^{-}$).