Photoelectron
spectra of Gd2O2
– obtained
with photon energies ranging from 2.033 to 3.495 eV exhibit
numerous close-lying neutral states with photon-energy-dependent relative
intensities. Transitions to these states, which fall within the electron
binding energy window of 0.9 and 1.6 eV, are attributed to one- or
two-electron transitions to the ground and low-lying excited neutral
states. An additional, similar manifold of electronic states is observed
in an electron binding energy window of 2.1–2.8 eV, which cannot
be assigned to any simple one-electron transitions. This study expands
on previous work on the Sm2O– triatomic,
which has a more complex electronic structure because of the 4f6 subshell occupancy of each Sm center. Because of the simpler
electronic structure from the half-filled 4f7 subshell
occupancy in Gd2O2 and Gd2O2
–, the numerous close-lying transitions observed
in the spectra are better resolved, allowing a more detailed view
of the changes in relative intensities of individual transitions with
photon energy. With supporting calculations on numerous possible close-lying
electronic states, we suggest a potential description of the strong
photoelectron–valence electron interactions that may result
in the photon-energy-dependent changes in the observed spectra.