Spectroscopic Studies of Weakly-Bound Metal-Molecule Complexes

Dong-Sheng Yang of the University of Kentucky is funded for his research on spectroscopic studies of weakly bound metal-molecule complexes by the Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division. Pulsed field ionization-zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy will be used to provide the electronic structure of metal (Al, Ga, in, Sc, Y, La) ligand (ammonia, amines, phosphines, arsines) 1-1 complexes. These complexes will be prepared by pulsed laser vaporization and identified with photoionization mass spectroscopy. The ionization energies and vibrational frequencies measured by ZEKE spectroscopy will be used, in combination with ab initio calculations, to elucidate the bonding and structure of these complexes. The spectra and understanding obtained will be useful for detection and process development for semiconductor applications and for studies of the reaction mechanisms of these complexes. It is important in the semiconductor industry to have sensitive spectroscopic methods for detecting ammonia, amine, phosphine, and arsine complexes of important metals such as aluminum, gallium, and indium. Dr. Yang's work will elucidate the electronic structure of these complexes. Such results will provide critically needed data for the study of these species in industrial processes and will increase our understanding of how metals interact with such useful molecules in organometallic complexes, bioinorganic complexes, and at metal surfaces.