Photoelectron studies of metal cluster anions and the investigation of cluster-assembled materials

The construction and development of a magnetic sector mass spectrometer for the use in conjunction with a photoelectron spectrometer is detailed. Operational aspects of the apparatus are discussed as well as the theory behind the operation of the instrument.; The development of a laser vaporization source for the production of clusters is presented along with new and interesting results obtained with this source. Its performance and ability to make metal clusters and mixed cluster species is detailed. The idea that one can tailor the properties (chemical, electrical, mechanical) of a material, by building the material from clusters is discussed, and the production of a number of these cluster species are presented.; Negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy is applied to arsenic clusters anions and the diatomic arsenic oxide anion. Determination of molecular constants for some of these anions are determined from spectroscopic analysis, and trends of the Group VB(15) homogeneous clusters and the diatomic oxides are discussed.; In addition, photoelectron studies on the nitrobenzene anion are presented, in the form of a collaborative project pertaining to the valence, and multipole electronic states of nitrobenzene and dinitrobenzene.