The clusters Cd-2(2+) and Cd-4(2+) in zeolite A

The sorption of the vapour of elemental cadmium and zinc into Cd2+ ion-exchanged zeolite A leads to the formation of two cluster cations Cd-2(2+) and Cd-4(2+). Raman bands at 29, 81 and 114 cm(-1) are assigned to a Cd-4(2+) cluster; the less abundant Cd-2(2+) is identified by its UV band at 226 nm. These Cd-x(2+) clusters are promising building blocks for the fabrication of heavy-metal atomic-scale quantum wires in the intracrystalline voids and channels of zeolite hosts. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.