Energy-Selective Decomposition of Organometallic Compounds by Slow Electrons: The Case of Chloro(dimethyl sulfide)gold(I)

Abstract

Gold-containing compounds offer many applications in nanoscale materials science, and electron-beam methods are versatile for shaping nanostructures. In this study, we report the energy-selective fragmentation of chloro­(dimethyl sulfide)­gold­(I) (ClAuS­(CH3)2) induced by slow electrons. We observe the resonant formation of four fragment anions, namely [Cl]−, [S]−, [CH2S]−, and [ClAuH···SH]−, which are generated in the energy range of 0–9 eV. The predominant fragment anion is formed below 1 eV from the cleavage of a single Au–Cl bond to produce the [Cl]− anion. The resonant states and the energetics of the fragmentation are investigated by DFT methods. These findings may contribute to future strategies in the elaboration of specific nanomaterials or for selective chemistry using electron-beam techniques.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Dissociative Electron Attachment to Metabolites Oxaloacetic and Citric Acids

“…The last two decades have seen the implication of low energy electrons in various application fields as diverse as radiation chemotherapy, chemistry or nano-lithography [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. In the irradiated material, the primary energetic particles or radiation generate a very large number of ballistic secondary electrons with an energy distribution below 10 eV [ 9 ].…”