Methods for the rapid construction of new chemical motifs have the potential to accelerate the development of nanoscience. The synthesis of new chemical entities by laser ablation has been systematically demonstrated by using mixtures of gold and selenium. The compounds generated are detected by time-of-flight mass spectrometry and, for selected compounds, the structure is investigated by using density functional theory optimization. In total, 67 new gold selenide clusters have been synthesized, demonstrating an unsuspected richness in gold chemistry. Chemical species generated in the gas phase might inspire new routes for the synthesis of novel compounds in the solid state.

CEPLANT R and D Center for Low Cost Plasma and Nanotechnology Surface Modifications Masaryk University Kotlářská 2 611 37 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kamenice 5A14 625 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science University of La Laguna Campus de Anchieta 38071 La Laguna Tenerife Spain

Department of Physical Electronics Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kotlářská 2 611 37 Brno Czech Republic

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Laser Ablation Generation of Antimony Selenide Clusters: Laser Desorption Ionization (LDI) Quadrupole Ion Trap Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry