Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: Photoelectron spectra of negatively charged Ni_n^- , Cu_n^-, and Co_n^- clusters are presented. The spectra of the Ni_n^- clusters contain information about the degree of localization of the 3d valence orbitals, which is strongly related to the magnetic properties. In the clusters with less than 7 atoms, the 3d orbitals seem to be almost totally localized. For Co₁₃^- we find indications of a narrowing of the 3d-derived valence "bandwidth" corresponding to a presumed high symmetry and a high degree of degeneracy of the 3d electronic states.