Spatial and electronic structures of the germanium-tantalum clusters TaGe$_n^-$ ($n$ = 8–17)

The results of optimizing the spatial structure and calculated electronic spectra of the TaGe$_n^-$ anion clusters ($n$ = 8–17) have been presented. The calculations have been performed in terms of the density functional theory. The most probable spatial structures of clusters detected in the experiment have been determined by comparing the calculated and available experimental data.