Based on the ab initio quantum chemical methods, we have determined fragmentation channels, ionization energies, and the Coulomb explosion of multicharged boron clusters B${}_n$ ($n$ $=$ 2–13), where $n$ is the cluster size. The electron-deficient boron clusters sustain more stability and hardly fragment when they are negatively charged. Stability of boron clusters decreases with increasing ionization. Only by the first ionization the odd-size clusters are more stable than the even-size clusters. Further ionizations cause the repulsive Coulomb force between the constituent atoms to get stronger, and lead first to metastable states, then to the Coulomb explosion of clusters. None of the cationic boron clusters studied remain stable after six times ionization. The critical charge for metastability is estimated as $Q_{\mathrm{m}}⩽\frac{n}{2}$ for even-size clusters, and $Q_{\mathrm{m}}⩽\frac{1}{2}(n-1)$ for odd-size clusters. In addition, the critical charge for the Coulomb explosion is found to be $Q_{\mathrm{c}}=\frac{n}{2}+1$ for even-size clusters, and $Q_{\mathrm{c}}=\frac{1}{2}(n+1)$ for odd-size clusters. Relative stability of clusters with respect to their nearest neighbors is determined from the analysis of their second energy difference data. Several dissociation channels of B${}_n^{+}$ and B${}_{13}^Q$ isomers with the lowest fragmentation energies are presented. All of the vibrational frequencies are found positive indicating that no transition state is possible for the clusters studied. Reliability of our data is verified with a good agreement with experimental results.

• Received 12 April 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.84.075463