Formation of indium carbide cluster ions: experimental and computational study.

We report the observation and structural analysis of novel indium carbide gas phase cluster ions generated by bombardment of a clean indium surface by keV C60(–) ions. Positive In(m)C(n)(+) (m = 1–21, 1 ≤ n ≤ 9) ions were ejected off the surface and analyzed mass spectrometrically. C60(–) ion beam irradiation is shown to be an efficient way of producing new kinds of gas phase carbide ions with relatively balanced stoichiometries.