Inner-shell photoelectron spectroscopy provides an element-specific probe of molecular structure, as core-electron binding energies are sensitive to the chemical environment. Short-wavelength femtosecond light sources, such as Free-Electron Lasers (FELs), even enable time-resolved site-specific investigations of molecular photochemistry. Here, we study the ultraviolet photodissociation of the prototypical chiral molecule 1-iodo-2-methylbutane, probed by extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pulses from the Free-electron LASer in Hamburg (FLASH) through the ultrafast evolution of the iodine 4d binding energy. Methodologically, we employ electron-ion partial covariance imaging as a technique to isolate otherwise elusive features in a two-dimensional photoelectron spectrum arising from different photofragmentation pathways. The experimental and theoretical results for the time-resolved electron spectra of the 4d3/2 and 4d5/2 atomic and molecular levels that are disentangled by this method provide a key step towards studying structural and chemical changes from a specific spectator site.
The internal energy distribution of ammonia formed in the dissociative recombination (DR) of NH4+ with electrons has been studied by an imaging technique at the ion storage ring CRYRING. The DR process resulted in the formation of NH3 + H (0,90 +/- 0.01), with minor contributions from channels producing NH2 + H-2 (0.05 +/- 0.01) and NH2 + 2H (0.04 +/- 0.02). The formed NH3 molecules were highly internally excited, with a mean rovibrational energy of 3.3 +/- 0.4 eV, which corresponds to 70% of the energy released in the neutralization process. The internal energy distribution was semiquantitatively reproduced by ab initio direct dynamics simulations, and the calculations suggested that the NH3 molecules are highly vibrationally excited while rotational excitation is limited. The high internal,excitation and the translational energy of NH3 and H will influence their subsequent reactivity, an aspect that should be taken into account when developing detailed models of the interstellar medium and ammonia-containing plasmas.
During the preparatory work for the optical-replica synthesizer experiment in the free-electron laser FLASH at DESY, we were able to superimpose a short, approximately 200 fs long pulse from a frequencydoubled mode-locked erbium laser with titanium-sapphire amplifier and an approximately 20 ps long electron bunch in an undulator. This induces an energy modulation in a longitudinal slice of the electron bunch. A magnetic chicane downstream of the undulator converts the energy modulation into a density modulation within the slice that causes the emission of coherent optical transition radiation from a silver-coated silicon screen. Varying the relative timing between electron and laser, we use a camera to record two-dimensional images of the slices as a function of the longitudinal position within the electron bunch.
Theory predicts that double-core-hole (DCH) spectroscopy can provide a new powerful means of differentiating between similar chemical systems with a sensitivity not hitherto possible. Although DCH ionization on a single site in molecules was recently measured with double-and single-photon absorption, double-core holes with single vacancies on two different sites, allowing unambiguous chemical analysis, have remained elusive. Here we report that direct observation of double-core holes with single vacancies on two different sites produced via sequential two-photon absorption, using short, intense X-ray pulses from the Linac Coherent Light Source free-electron laser and compare it with theoretical modeling. The observation of DCH states, which exhibit a unique signature, and agreement with theory proves the feasibility of the method. Our findings exploit the ultrashort pulse duration of the free-electron laser to eject two core electrons on a time scale comparable to that of Auger decay and demonstrate possible future X-ray control of physical inner-shell processes.
The European XFEL is a hard X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) based on a high-electron-energy superconducting linear accelerator. The superconducting technology allows for the acceleration of many electron bunches within one radio-frequency pulse of the accelerating voltage and, in turn, for the generation of a large number of hard X-ray pulses. We report on the performance of the European XFEL accelerator with up to 5,000 electron bunches per second and demonstrating a full energy of 17.5 GeV. Feedback mechanisms enable stabilization of the electron beam delivery at the FEL undulator in space and time. The measured FEL gain curve at 9.3 keV is in good agreement with predictions for saturated FEL radiation. Hard X-ray lasing was achieved between 7 keV and 14 keV with pulse energies of up to 2.0 mJ. Using the high repetition rate, an FEL beam with 6 W average power was created. The first operation of the European X-ray free-electron laser facility accelerator based on superconducting technology is reported. The maximum electron energy is 17.5 GeV. A laser average power of 6 W is achieved at a photon energy of 9.3 keV.
The cross section for dissociative recombination of BeH+ is calculated by solution of the timedependent Schrödinger equation in the local complex potential approximation. The effects of couplings between resonant states and the Rydberg states converging to the ground state of the ionare studied. The relevant potentials, couplings and autoionization widths are extracted using abinitio electron scattering and structure calculations, followed by a diabatization procedure. Thecalculated cross sections shows a sizable magnitude at low energy, followed by a high-energy peakcentered around 1 eV. The electronic couplings between the neutral states induce oscillations in thecross section. Analytical forms for the cross sections at low collision energies are given.
In this paper we report the results of a study on the dissociative recombination (DR) of the diacetylene cation, C4D2+, which has been carried out at the ion storage ring CRYRING in Stockholm, Sweden. The energy-dependent absolute DR cross-section as well as the branching fractions at 0 eV collision energy were measured. The DR cross-section was best fitted using the expression σ(E) = (7.5 ± 1.5) × 10−16 × E−(1.29±0.03) cm2 over the collision energy range 1–100 meV. The thermal rate coefficient was deduced from the cross-section to be α(T) = (1.10 ± 0.15) × 10−6 × (T/300)−(0.79±0.03) cm3/s. The reported branching fractions for C4D2+ agree with previous experiments on the DR of C4H2+ performed at the ASTRID storage ring in Aarhus, Denmark, and furthermore, indicate that the DR of C4D2+ possesses only two channels leading to the following products: C4D + D (75%) and C2D + C2D (25%).
When exposed to ultraintense x-radiation sources such as free electron lasers (FELs) the innermost electronic shell can efficiently be emptied, creating a transient hollow atom or molecule. Understanding the femtosecond dynamics of such systems is fundamental to achieving atomic resolution in flash diffraction imaging of noncrystallized complex biological samples. We demonstrate the capacity of a correlation method called partial covariance mapping'' to probe the electron dynamics of neon atoms exposed to intense 8 fs pulses of 1062 eV photons. A complete picture of ionization processes competing in hollow atom formation and decay is visualized with unprecedented ease and the map reveals hitherto unobserved nonlinear sequences of photoionization and Auger events. The technique is particularly well suited to the high counting rate inherent in FEL experiments.
We have stored the first beams in one of the rings of the double electrostatic ion-storage ring, DESIREE at cryogenic and at room temperature conditions. At cryogenic operations the following parameters are found. Temperature; T= 13K, pressure; p <10(-13) mbar, initial number of stored ions; N > 10(7) and storage lifetime of a C-2(-) beam; tau = 450 S.
We report on the ongoing commissioning of the Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring ExpEriment, DESIREE, at Stockholm University. Beams of atomic carbon anions (C-) and smaller carbon anion molecules (C-2(-), C-3(-), C-4(-) etc.) have been produced in a sputter ion source, accelerated to 10 keV or 20 keV, and stored successfully in the two electrostatic rings. The rings are enclosed in a common vacuum chamber cooled to below 13 Kelvin. The DESIREE facility allows for studies of internally relaxed single isolated atomic, molecular and cluster ions and for collision experiments between cat-and anions down to very low center-of-mass collision energies (meV scale). The total thermal load of the vacuum chamber at this temperature is measured to be 32 W. The decay rates of stored ion beams have two components: a non-exponential component caused by the space charge of the beam itself which dominates at early times and an exponential term from the neutralization of the beam in collisions with residual gas at later times. The residual gas limited storage lifetime of carbon anions in the symmetric ring is over seven minutes while the 1/e lifetime in the asymmetric ring is measured to be about 30 seconds. Although we aim to improve the storage in the second ring, the number of stored ions are now sufficient for many merged beams experiments with positive and negative ions requiring milliseconds to seconds ion storage.
An investigation into the dissociative recombination process for (HCO+)-C-13 using merged ion-electron beam methods has been performed at the heavy ion storage ring CRYRING, Stockholm, Sweden. We have measured the branching fractions of the different product channels at similar to 0 eV collision energy to be the following: CO + H 87 +/- 2%, OH + C 9 +/- 2%, and O + CH 4 +/- 2%. The formation of electronically excited CO in the dominant reaction channel has also been studied, and we report the following tentative branching fractions for the different CO product electronic states: CO(X (1)Sigma(+)) + H, 54 +/- 10%; CO(a (3)Pi) + H, 23 +/- 4%; and CO(a' (3)Sigma(+)) + H, 23 +/- 4%. The absolute cross section between similar to 2-50 000 meV was measured and showed resonance structures between 3 and 15 eV. The cross section was fitted in the energy range relevant to astrophysics, i.e., between 1 and 300 meV, and was found to follow the expression sigma = 1.3 +/- 0.3 X 10(-16) E-1.29 +/- 0.05 cm(2) and the corresponding thermal rate constant was determined to be k(T) = 2.0 +/- 0.4 X 10(-7)(T/300)(-0.79 +/- 0.05) cm(3) s(-1). Radioastronomical observations with the IRAM 30 m telescope of HCO+ toward the Red Rectangle yielded an upper column density limit of 4 X 10(11) cm(-2) of HCO+ at the 1 sigma level in that object, indicating that previous claims that the dissociative recombination of HCO+ plays an important role in the production of excited CO molecules emitting the observed Cameron bands in that object are not supported.
Aims: Determination of branching fractions, cross sections and thermal rate constants for the dissociative recombination of CD3CDOD+ and CH3CH2OH2+ at the low relative kinetic energies encountered in the interstellar medium.
Methods: The experiments were carried out by merging an ion and electron beam at the heavy ion storage ring CRYRING, Stockholm, Sweden.
Results: Break-up of the CCO structure into three heavy fragments is not found for either of the ions. Instead the CCO structure is retained in 23 ± 3% of the DR reactions of CD3CDOD+ and 7 ± 3% in the DR of CH3CH2OH2+, whereas rupture into two heavy fragments occurs in 77 ± 3% and 93 ± 3% of the DR events of the respective ions. The measured cross sections were fitted between 1-200 meV yielding the following thermal rate constants and cross-section dependencies on the relative kinetic energy: σ(Ecm[eV]) = 1.7 ± 0.3 × 10−15(Ecm[eV])−1.23±0.02 cm2 and k(T) = 1.9 ± 0.4 × 10−6(T/300)−0.73±0.02 cm3s−1 for CH3CH2OH2+ as well as k(T) = 1.1 ± 0.4 × 10−6(T/300)−0.74±0.05 cm3s−1 and σ(Ecm[eV]) = 9.2 ± 4 × 10−16(Ecm[eV])−1.24±0.05 cm2 for CD3CDOD+.
Aims: Determination of branching fractions, cross sections and thermal rate coefficients for the dissociative recombination of CD3OCD2+ (0-0.3 eV) and (CD3)2OD+ (0-0.2 eV) at the low relative kinetic energies encountered in the interstellar medium.
Methods: The measurements were carried out using merged electron and ion beams at the CRYRING storage ring, Stockholm, Sweden.
Results: For (CD3)2OD+ we have experimentally determined the branching fraction for ejection of a single hydrogen atom in the DR process to be maximally 7% whereas 49% of the reactions involve the break up of the COC chain into two heavy fragments and 44% ruptures both C-O bonds. The DR of CD3OCD2+ is dominated by fragmentation of the COC chain into two heavy fragments. The measured thermal rate constants and cross sections are k(T) =1.7 ± 0.5 × 10−6(T/300)−0.77±0.01 cm3s−1, σ= 1.2 ± 0.4 × 10−15(Ecm[eV])−1.27 ± 0.01 cm2 and k(T) = 1.7 ± 0.6 × 10−6(T/300)−0.70±0.02 cm3s−1,σ= 1.7 ± 0.6 × 10−15(Ecm[eV])−1.20±0.02 cm2 for CD3OCD2+ and (CD3)2OD+, respectively.
Studies of the thermochemical properties of the important model compound of lignin-ferulic acid (FA) and its surface complexes are substantial for developing technologies for catalytic pyrolysis of renewable biomass into biofuels and lignin-derived chemicals as well as for bio-oil upgrading. In this work, the catalytic pyrolysis of ferulic acid over alumina was studied by temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD MS), in situ FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and DFT calculations. We established that both the carboxyl group and the active groups (HO and CH3O) of the aromatic ring interact with the alumina surface. We calculated the kinetic parameters of formation of the main products of catalytic pyrolysis: 4-vinylguaiacol, guaiacol, hydroxybenzene, benzene, toluene, cresol, naphthalene, and PACs. Possible methods of their forming from the related surface complexes of FA are suggested.
Ketonization is a promising way for upgrading bio-derived carboxylic acids from pyrolysis bio-oils, waste oils, and fats to produce high value-added chemicals and biofuels. Therefore, an understanding of its mechanism can help to carry out the catalytic pyrolysis of biomass more efficiently. Here we show that temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD-MS) together with linear free energy relationships (LFERs) can be used to identify catalytic pyrolysis mechanisms. We report the kinetics of the catalytic pyrolysis of deuterated acetic acid and a reaction series of linear and branched fatty acids into symmetric ketones on the surfaces of ceria-based oxides. A structure-reactivity correlation between Taft's steric substituent constants Es* and activation energies of ketonization indicates that this reaction is the sterically controlled reaction. Surface D3-n-acetates transform into deuterated acetone isotopomers with different yield, rate, E-not equal and deuterium kinetic isotope effect (DKIE). The obtained values of inverse DKIE together with the structure-reactivity correlation support a concerted mechanism over ceria-based catalysts. These results demonstrate that analysis of Taft's correlations and using simple equation for estimation of DKIE from TPD-MS data are promising approaches for the study of catalytic pyrolysis mechanisms on a semi-quantitative level.
Valeric acid is an important renewable platform chemical that can be produced efficiently from lignocellulosic biomass. Upgrading of valeric acid by catalytic pyrolysis has the potential to produce value added biofuels and chemicals on an industrial scale. Understanding the different mechanisms involved in the thermal transformations of valeric acid on the surface of nanometer-sized oxides is important for the development of efficient heterogeneously catalyzed pyrolytic conversion techniques. In this work, the thermal decomposition of valeric acid on the surface of nanoscale SiO2, gamma-Al2O3, CeO2/SiO2, Al2O3/SiO2 and TiO2/SiO2 has been investigated by temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD MS). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has also been used to investigate the structure of valeric acid complexes on the oxide surfaces. Two main products of pyrolytic conversion were observed to be formed depending on the nano-catalyst used-dibutylketone and propylketene. Mechanisms of ketene and ketone formation from chemisorbed fragments of valeric acid are proposed and the kinetic parameters of the corresponding reactions were calculated. It was found that the activation energy of ketenization decreases in the order SiO2 > gamma-Al2O3 > TiO2/SiO2 > Al2O3/SiO2, and the activation energy of ketonization decreases in the order gamma-Al2O3 > CeO2/SiO2. Nanooxide CeO2/SiO2 was found to selectively catalyze the ketonization reaction.
Here we report on the gas-phase interactions between protonated enantiopure amino acids (l- and d-enantiomers of Met, Phe, and Trp) and chiral target gases [(R)- and (S)-2-butanol, and (S)-1-phenylethanol] in 0.1-10.0 eV low-energy collisions. Two major processes are seen to occur over this collision energy regime, collision-induced dissociation and ion-molecule complex formation. Both processes were found to be independent of the stereo-chemical composition of the interacting ions and targets. These data shed light on the currently debated mechanisms of gas-phase chiral selectivity by demonstrating the inapplicability of the three-point model to these interactions, at least under single collision conditions.
We have studied the fragmentation of the singly protonated L- and D-forms of enantiomerically pure phenylalanine (Phe), tryptophan (Trp), and methionine (Met) in high-energy collisions with chiral and achiral gas targets. (S)-(+)-2-butanol, racemic (+/-)-2-butanol, and argon were used as target gases. At center-of-mass frame collision energy of I key, it was found that all of the ions exhibit common fragmentation pathways which are independent of target chirality. For all projectile ions, the elimination of NH3 and H2O + CO were found to be the main reaction channels. The observed fragmentation patterns were dominated by statistically driven processes. The energy deposited into the ions was found to be sufficient to yield multiple fragment ions, which arise from decomposition via various competitive reaction pathways.
Temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPDMS) was used to study the pyrolysis of PDMS and its composites with nanosized silica and ceria/silica. The results suggest that the elusive organosilicon compound, dimethylsilanone, is generated from PDMS over a broad temperature range (in some cases starting at 70 degrees C). The presence of nano-oxides catalyzes this process. Ions characteristic of the fragmentation of dimethylsilanone under electron ionization are assigned with the aid of DFT structure calculations. Possible reaction mechanisms for dimethylsilanone generation are discussed in the context of the calculated kinetic parameters. Observed accompanying products of PDMS pyrolysis, such as tetramethylcyclodisiloxane and hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, indicate that multiple channels are involved in the dimethylsilanone release.
The dissociative recombination of H-3(+) has been an intriguing problem for more than half a century. The early experiments on H-3(+) during the first 20 years were carried out without mass analysis in decaying plasma afterglows, and thus the measured rates pertained to an uncontrolled mixture of H-3(+) and impurity ions. When mass analysis was used, the rate coefficient was determined to be an uneventful value of about 10(-7) cm(3) s(-1), a very common rate coefficient for many molecular ions. But this was not the end of the story, not even the beginning of the end; it marked only the end of the beginning. The story I will tell in this article started about 10 years ago, when the dissociative recombination of H-3(+) was approaching its deepest crisis. Today, owing to an extensive experimental and theoretical effort, the state of affairs has reached a historically unique level of harmony, although there still remains many things to sort out.
Compared with earlier years, the dissociative recombination of H-3(+) has not been very actively studied in recent years. New results from afterglow experiments are quoted and compared with results from ion storage rings and theory. New results for D-5(+) are discussed. This article also contains some historical remarks on hydrogen and its importance for the advancement of physics and chemistry. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Advances in hydrogen molecular ions: H-3(+), H-5(+) and beyond'.
Second only to H-2, protonated molecular hydrogen, H-3(+), is the most abundantly produced interstellar molecule. Owing to its high reactivity and acidity, it plays the pivotal role in initiating interstellar chemical reactions, something which also reduces its steady-state concentration. Interstellar H-3(+) is not only destroyed in chemical reactions but also in dissociative recombination with electrons. The rate constant and mechanism of recombination have long been controversial, but great advances have been made during recent years, with the important consequence that the cosmic ray ionization rate in diffuse Clouds is now believed to be higher by an order of magnitude than previously assumed.
Despite the elegance of Paul Dirac's theoretical work, the Nobel Committee nearly passed him over for the prize-until a timely experiment confirmed one of his predictions.
Work of Lev Landau had a profound impact on the physics in 20th century. Landau had created the paradigms that had framed the conversations on the outstanding problems in physics for decades. He had laid foundations for our understanding of quantum matter like superfluidity, superconductivity and the theory of Fermi liquid. Here we present some Nobel Archive data on the winning nomination that led to the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1962.
We review the gas-phase chemistry in extraterrestrial space that is driven by reactions with atomic and molecular ions. Ions are ubiquitous in space and are potentially responsible for the formation of increasingly complex interstellar molecules. Until recently, positively charged atoms and molecules were the only ions known in space; however, this situation has changed with the discovery of various molecular anions. This review covers not only the observation, distribution and reactions of ions in space, but also laboratory-based experimental and theoretical methods for studying these ions. Recent results from space-based instruments, such as those on the Cassini-Huygens space mission and the Herschel Space Observatory, are highlighted.
Major progress has been made in the understanding of how H-3(+) recombines with thermal and sub-thermal electrons, a process of great importance to the chemistry of diffuse interstellar clouds. Two independent ion storage ring experiments with rovibrationally cold H-3(+) ions are in excellent agreement, and quantum mechanical calculations agree with the storage ring results quantitatively for the thermal rate constant, if not in all details concerning the cross section. The recombination mechanism is understood. A direct consequence of this progress is that the cosmic-ray ionization rate in diffuse clouds must be shifted upwards to a value larger than 10 (16)s (1).
We have investigated nonlinear processes in small molecules by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using the Linac Coherent Light Source free electron laser, and by simulations. The main focus of the experiments was the formation of the two-site double core-hole (tsDCH) states in the molecules CO2, N2O and N-2. These experiments are described in detail and the results are compared with simulations of the photoelectron spectra. The double core-hole states, and in particular the tsDCH states, have been predicted to be highly sensitive to the chemical environment. The theory behind this chemical sensitivity is validated by the experiments. Furthermore, our simulations of the relative integrated intensities of the peaks associated with the nonlinear processes show that this type of simulation, in combination with experimental data, provides a useful tool for estimating the duration of ultra-short x-ray pulses.
Experimental Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine-Structure (NEXAFS) spectra of N-methyltrifluoroacetamide (FNMA), which is a peptide model system, measured at the C, N, O and F K-edges are reported. The features in the spectra have been assigned by Static-Exchange (STEX) calculations. Using the same method, we have also assigned previously measured NEXAFS spectra of another peptide model system, N-methylacetamide (NMA). To facilitate the NEXAFS feature assignments, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) measurements for NMA and FNMA have been carried out with the aim of obtaining the 1s electron ionization potentials, which are compared with the values predicted by our Hartree-Fock (Delta HF) and Multi Configuration Self Consistent Field (Delta MCSCF) calculations. We also demonstrate an approach to compensate for screening effects that are neglected in the STEX method. Ion yield measurements of FNMA associated with the excitation of several C, N, O, and F K-shell pre-edge resonances have revealed site-specific fragmentation in some cases which we interpret with the aid of our theoretical calculations.
Few-photon ionization and relaxation processes in acetylene (C2H2) and ethane (C2H6) were investigated at the linac coherent light source x-ray free electron laser (FEL) at SLAC, Stanford using a highly efficient multi-particle correlation spectroscopy technique based on a magnetic bottle. The analysis method of covariance mapping has been applied and enhanced, allowing us to identify electron pairs associated with double core hole (DCH) production and competing multiple ionization processes including Auger decay sequences. The experimental technique and the analysis procedure are discussed in the light of earlier investigations of DCH studies carried out at the same FEL and at third generation synchrotron radiation sources. In particular, we demonstrate the capability of the covariance mapping technique to disentangle the formation of molecular DCH states which is barely feasible with conventional electron spectroscopy methods.
Temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD MS) was used to study the pyrolysis of p-coumaric acid (pCmA) on the nanoceria surface. The interaction of pCmA with the CeO2 surface was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. The obtained data indicated the formation on the nanoceria surface of bidentate carboxylate complexes with chelate (Δν = 62 cm−1) and bridge structure (Δν = 146 cm−1). The thermal decomposition of pCmA over nanoceria occurred in several stages, mainly by decarboxylation. The main decomposition product is 4-vinylphenol (m/z 120). The obtained data can be useful for studying the mechanisms of catalytic thermal transformations of lignin-containing raw materials using catalysts containing cerium oxide and the development of effective technologies for the isolation of pCmA from lignin
Studies of the effect of microwave (MW) pretreatment on the pyrolysis of ferulic acid (FA), as a model compound of lignin, on the CeO2 surface are essential for understanding the prospects for the use of MW in catalytic pyrolytic technologies for the processing of lignocellulose. In this work, FT-IR spectroscopic studies of MW-pretreated samples of FA on the nanoceria surface were carried out. Their pyrolysis was studied by temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD MS). It was found that monodentate carboxylate complexes of FA are most susceptible to the influence of MW. MW-pretreatment for 300 s during pyrolysis of FA on the CeO2 surface leads to a decrease in the content of 4-vinylguaiacol in the final pyrolysis products. Phenolate complexes, as well as bidentate carboxylate complexes of FA on the CeO2 surface are less sensitive to MW. The use of MW-pretreatment promotes an insignificant decrease in the formation of polyaromatic compounds during the FA catalytic pyrolysis.
Understanding the mechanisms of thermal transformations of model lignin compounds (MLC) over nanoscale catalysts is important for improving the technologic processes occurring in the pyrolytic conversion of lignocellulose biomass into biofuels and value-added chemicals. Herein, we investigate catalytic pyrolysis of MLC (pyrocatechol (P), guaiacol (G), ferulic (FA), and vanillic acids (VA)) over nanoceria using FT-IR spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD MS), and thermogravimetric analysis (DTG/DTA/TG). FT-IR spectroscopic studies indicate that the active groups of aromatic rings of P, G, VA, and FA as well as carboxylate groups of VA and FA are involved in the interaction with nanoceria surface. We explore the general transformation mechanisms of different surface complexes and identify their decomposition products. We demonstrate that decomposition of carboxylate acid complexes occurs by decarboxylation. When FA is used as a precursor, this reaction generates 4-vinylguaiacol. Complexes of VA and FA formed through both active groups of the aromatic ring and decompose on the CeO2 surface to generate hydroxybenzene. The formation of alkylated products accompanies catalytic pyrolysis of acids due to processes of transalkylation on the surface.
The studies of pyrolysis of caffeic acid (CA) and its surface complexes is important for the development of technologies of heterogeneous catalytic pyrolysis of plant- and wood- based renewable biomass components. In this work, the structure and thermal transformations of the surface complexes of CA on the surface of nanoceria were investigated using Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD MS). It was found that CA on the surface of cerium dioxide forms several types of complexes: bidentate carboxylates, monodentate carboxylates and complexes formed as a result of interaction with phenolic hydroxyl groups. This is due to the ability of nanosized cerium dioxide to generate basic hydroxyl groups that can deprotonate phenolic groups to form phenolates on the surface. The main pyrolysis products were identified. The possible ways of forming 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene, acetylene carboxylic acid, pyrocatechol and phenol from surface complexes of CA were suggested. It was established that on the nanoceria surface effectively occur the decarboxylation, decarbonylation, and dehydration reactions of the CA, which are the desirable processes in biomass conversion technologies.
We report results from high-resolution studies of D-5(+) cluster ion collisions with low-energy electrons performed in a heavy ion storage ring. Absolute dissociative recombination (DR) and dissociative excitation (DE) cross sections were determined for the energy range from 0.0005 to 20eV. The DR cross sections were exceedingly large at low energies, and DR resulted in efficient internal energy redistribution and pronounced fragmentation with two main product channels: D-2+3D (0.62 +/- 0.03) and 2D(2)+D (0.35 +/- 0.01). The DR and DE cross sections were comparable in the energy range from 0.2 to 20eV, which suggest that the two processes follow similar dynamics and are competing outcomes of the ion-electron interaction. A simple picture of the recombination process of D-5(+) which captures the essential physics is suggested.
The mutual neutralisation of O+ with O− has been studied in a double ion-beam storage ring with combined merged-beams, imaging and timing techniques. Branching ratios were measured at the collision energies of 55, 75 and 170 (± 15) meV, and found to be in good agreement with previous single-pass merged-beams experimental results at 7 meV collision energy. Several previously unidentified spectral features were found to correspond to mutual neutralisation channels of the first metastable state of the cation (O+(2Do), τ ≈ 3.6 hours), while no contributions from the second metastable state (O+(2Po), τ ≈ 5 seconds) were observed. Theoretical calculations were performed using the multi-channel Landau–Zener model combined with the anion centered asymptotic method, and gave good agreement with several experimentally observed channels, but could not describe well observed contributions from the O+(2Do) metastable state as well as channels involving the O(3s 5So) state.
Proton-bound homochiral and heterochiral dimers, X-H+-X, of five amino acids (X = Ser, Ala, Thr, Phe, and Arg) are investigated theoretically using quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics simulations with the aim to unveil diastereomer-specific mid-infrared (mid-IR) absorption bands in the spectral range of 1000 to 1800 cm(-1). The theoretical calculations performed in this work imply that all systems, except Ala(2)H(+), have distinct mid-IR absorption bands in homochiral and heterochiral configurations, which make them appropriate systems to be studied experimentally with mid-IR spectroscopy. We show that intermolecular interaction with the side chain, in the form of hydrogen bonding or cation-pi interaction, is necessary for chiral effects to be present in the mid-IR spectra of proton-bound dimers of amino acids. We also report new conformers for Ala(2)H(+), Thr(2)H(+), Phe(2)H(+), and Arg(2)H(+), which were not found in earlier studies of these dimers.
The double ion storage ring DESIREE has been used in combination with position- and time-sensitive detectors to study the mutual neutralization of N+ with O− at 40 meV collision energy. Several previously unassigned spectral features observed in a recent single-pass merged-beams experiment at 7 meV collision energy [Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 083401 (2018)], were also observed in the present experiment. It was found that neutralization channels of the first metastable state of the cation [N+(1D),τ≈256s] could explain the majority of these features, while the second metastable state [N+(1S),τ≈0.9s] was not found to contribute significantly. The branching ratios into the different electronically excited states of N were determined and found to be in good agreement between the two experiments. Theoretical calculations using the multichannel Landau-Zener model were found to yield good results for a number of channels, but could not describe some observed contributions, possibly due to the presence of other processes not accounted for in the model.
In this work we report the stereo-dependent collision-induced dissociation (CID) of proton-bound complexes of tryptophan and 2-butanol. The dissociation efficiency was measured as a function of collision energy in single collision mode. The homochiral complex was found to be less stable against CID than a heterochiral one. Additional gas dependence measurements were performed with diastereomeric complexes that confirm the findings.
We have studied the collision induced dissociation reactions of proton-bound diastereomeric adducts of S-1-phenylethanol and enantiomers of three different amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine, methionine). In all cases, the loss of S-1-phenylethanol from the adduct ion is the only observed process, and the relative abundance is found to be independent of the chirality of the amino acid. This is in contrast to earlier experiments on the dissociation of protonated tryptophan-2-butanol adducts, where chirality affected the results. Results obtained from quantum chemical computations support and provide a rationale for the experimental observations and highlight temperature as a possible factor of importance for the chiral effect in these types of systems. [GRAPHICS] .
We have studied the collision induced dissociation reactions of proton-bound diastereomeric adducts of S-(-)-1-phenylethanol and enantiomers of three different amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine, methionine) with argon at a collision energy of 0.5 eV in the center-of-mass frame. At this energy, fragmentation into the alcohol and the protonated amino acid was the only observed product channel. Contrary to anticipation, the fragmentation was found to be insensitive to the chirality of the constituents. The results obtained from quantum chemical calculations show that the hetero-chiral adducts are more stable than the homo-chiral forms. However, given the experimental conditions in the ion source, it is likely that multiple conformers which lie close in energy to the ground-state configuration are populated, limiting the experimental sensitivity to observe the predicted differences.
The cross section for dissociative recombination of BeH+ is calculated by the solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation in the local complex potential approximation. The effects of couplings between resonant states and the Rydberg states converging to the ground state of the ion are studied. The relevant potentials, couplings, and autoionization widths are extracted using ab initio electron scattering and structure calculations, followed by a diabatization procedure. The calculated cross sections show a sizable magnitude at low energy, followed by a high-energy peak centered around 1 eV. The electronic couplings between the neutral states induce oscillations in the cross section. Analytical forms for the cross sections at low collision energies are given.
We have performed x-ray two-photon photoelectron spectroscopy using the Linac Coherent Light Source x-ray free-electron laser in order to study double core-hole (DCH) states of CO2, N2O, and N-2. The experiment verifies the theory behind the chemical sensitivity of two-site DCH states by comparing a set of small molecules with respect to the energy shift of the two-site DCH state and by extracting the relevant parameters from this shift.
We report on the first storage of ion beams in the Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring ExpEriment, DESIREE, at Stockholm University. We have produced beams of atomic carbon anions and small carbon anion molecules (C-n(-), n = 1, 2, 3, 4) in a sputter ion source. The ion beams were accelerated to 10 keV kinetic energy and stored in an electrostatic ion storage ring enclosed in a vacuum chamber at 13 K. For 10 keV C-2(-) molecular anions we measure the residual-gas limited beam storage lifetime to be 448 s +/- 18 s with two independent detector systems. Using the measured storage lifetimes we estimate that the residual gas pressure is in the 10(-14) mbar range. When high current ion beams are injected, the number of stored particles does not follow a single exponential decay law as would be expected for stored particles lost solely due to electron detachment in collision with the residual-gas. Instead, we observe a faster initial decay rate, which we ascribe to the effect of the space charge of the ion beam on the storage capacity.
A novel cryogenic electrostatic storage device consisting of two ion-beam storage rings with a common straight section for studies of interactions between oppositely charged ions at low and well-defined relative velocities is under construction at Stockholm University. Here we consider the prospect of using this new tool to measure cross-sections and rate coefficients for mutual neutralization reactions of importance in interstellar ion chemistry in general and specifically in cosmic pre-biotic ion chemistry.
In this paper, we report results regarding how LiH2+ fragments as a result of a low-energy collision with an electron (dissociative recombination), a reaction that contains only elements and particles created during the very first phase of the universe. The collision-energy-dependent reaction rate and cross sections show detailed structures, more so than predicted by theory, suggesting significant rovibrational coupling in the ion and a complex reaction surface. From the structure of the molecule, the reaction predominantly results in the formation of Li + H-2. However, 23% of the reaction flux leads to more interesting products, with 17% producing Li + 2H and 6% producing LiH + H. These last two channels break the strongest molecular bond in the system and, in the case of the latter channel, form a significantly weaker ionic bond. Possible reasons behind this interesting behavior are discussed, together with the interaction between the available reaction channels.
CH4+ is an important molecular ion in the astrochemistry of diffuse clouds, dense clouds, cometary comae, and planetary ionospheres However, the rate of one of the common destruction mechanisms for molecular ions in these regions, dissociative recombination (DR), is somewhat uncertain. Here, we present absolute measurements for the DR of CH4+ made using the heavy ion storage ring CRYRING hi Stockholm, Sweden. From our collision energy dependent cross sections, we infer a thermal rate constant of k(T-e) = 1.71(+/- 0.02) X 10(-6)(T-e/300)(-0.66(+/- 0.02)) cm(3) s(-1) over the region of electron temperatures 10 <= T-e <= 1000 K. At low collision energies, we have measured the branching fractions of the DR products to be CH4 (0.00 +/- 0.00); CH3 + H (0.18 +/- 0.03); CH2 + 2H (0.51 +/- 0.03); CH2 + H-2 (0.06 +/- 0.01); CH + H-2 + H (0.23 +/- 0.01); and CH + 2H(2) (0.02 +/- 0.01), indicating that two or more C-H bonds are broken in similar to 80% of all collisions.
We describe the design of a novel type of storage device currently under construction at Stockholm University, Sweden, using purely electrostatic focussing and deflection elements, in which ion beams of opposite charges are confined under extreme high vacuum cryogenic conditions in separate rings and merged over a common straight section. The construction of this double electrostatic ion ring experiment uniquely allows for studies of interactions between cations and anions at low and well-defined internal temperatures and centre-of-mass collision energies down to about 10 K and 10 meV, respectively. Position sensitive multi-hit detector systems have been extensively tested and proven to work in cryogenic environments and these will be used to measure correlations between reaction products in, for example, electron-transfer processes. The technical advantages of using purely electrostatic ion storage devices over magnetic ones are many, but the most relevant are: electrostatic elements which are more compact and easier to construct; remanent fields, hysteresis, and eddy-currents, which are of concern in magnetic devices, are no longer relevant; and electrical fields required to control the orbit of the ions are not only much easier to create and control than the corresponding magnetic fields, they also set no upper mass limit on the ions that can be stored. These technical differences are a boon to new areas of fundamental experimental research, not only in atomic and molecular physics but also in the boundaries of these fields with chemistry and biology. For examples, studies of interactions with internally cold molecular ions will be particular useful for applications in astrophysics, while studies of solvated ionic clusters will be of relevance to aeronomy and biology.