The reactions of mass selected aluminum cluster ions, Al(+) (n) (n-4-25), with oxygen.

The reactions between aluminum cluster ions Al(+)(n) (n=4-25) with oxygen have been studied using a low energy ion beam apparatus at a center of mass collision energy of 1 eV. Some extraordinary reactions were observed. Oxygen very specifically cleaves the aluminum clusters, Al(+)(n), resulting in Al(+)(n-m) cluster ions where m=4, 5 and for the larger clusters 10. Al(+) is also an important product ion for clusters with n