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De S, Abid AR, Asmussen JD, Ben Ltaief L, Sishodia K, Ulmer A, Pedersen HB, Krishnan SR, Mudrich M. Fragmentation of water clusters formed in helium nanodroplets by charge transfer and Penning ionization. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:094308. [PMID: 38445733 DOI: 10.1063/5.0194098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Helium nanodroplets ("HNDs") are widely used for forming tailor-made clusters and molecular complexes in a cold, transparent, and weakly interacting matrix. The characterization of embedded species by mass spectrometry is often complicated by the fragmentation and trapping of ions in the HNDs. Here, we systematically study fragment ion mass spectra of HND-aggregated water and oxygen clusters following their ionization by charge transfer ionization ("CTI") and Penning ionization ("PEI"). While the efficiency of PEI of embedded clusters is lower than for CTI by about factor 10, both the mean sizes of detected water clusters and the relative yields of unprotonated cluster ions are significantly larger, making PEI a "soft ionization" scheme. However, the tendency of ions to remain bound to HNDs leads to a reduced detection efficiency for large HNDs containing >104 helium atoms. These results are instrumental in determining optimal conditions for mass spectrometry and photoionization spectroscopy of molecular complexes and clusters aggregated in HNDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S De
- Quantum Center of Excellence for Diamond and Emergent Materials and Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - A R Abid
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - J D Asmussen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - L Ben Ltaief
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - K Sishodia
- Quantum Center of Excellence for Diamond and Emergent Materials and Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - A Ulmer
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - H B Pedersen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - S R Krishnan
- Quantum Center of Excellence for Diamond and Emergent Materials and Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - M Mudrich
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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Mészáros D, Matejčík Š, Papp P. Formation of negative ions from cobalt tricarbonyl nitrosyl Co(CO) 3NO clusters. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:7522-7533. [PMID: 38357994 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp05601e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Electron attachment and corresponding dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to cobalt tricarbonyl nitrosyl (Co(CO)3NO) clusters have been studied by co-expansion with Ar gas into a high vacuum. A monochromatic electron beam was utilized to generate negative ions and the resulting reaction products were identified using mass spectrometry. The ion fragments corresponding to Co(CO)3NO monomers closely resemble results from earlier gas phase experiments and studies conducted on Co(CO)3NO in He nanodroplets. However, contrary to the gas phase or He nanodroplet ion yields, a resonance structure comprising several peaks at energies above ∼4 eV was observed both in the case of molecular clusters [Co(CO)3NO]n- (with n = 1, 2, 3) and clusters comprising DEA fragments. Additionally, the ion yields of numerous other clusters such as ions without nitrosyl ([Co(CO)4]-, [Co2(CO)5]-), clusters consisting of two fragments such as ([Co2(CO)NO]-, [Co2(CO)(NO)2]-, [Co2(CO)2NO]-, [Co2(CO)2(NO)2]-, [Co3(CO)(NO)3]-, [Co3(CO)8(NO)3]-, [Co3(CO)(NO)2]-, [Co3(CO)3(NO)2]-, and [Co3(CO)5(NO)2]-) were recorded. Moreover, NO bond dissociation was confirmed with the [Co(CO)2N]-ion and with N- or O-retaining cluster ions, such as [Co2(CO)(NO)N]-, [Co2(CO)2(NO)N]-, [Co3(CO)2(NO)N]-, [Co3(CO)3(NO)N]- and [Co3(CO)(NO)2N]-, or [Co2(CO)2O]-, [Co2(CO)3O]-, [Co3(CO)3O]-, [Co3(CO)4O]-and [Co3(CO)2(NO)O]- respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dušan Mészáros
- Department of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina F2, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Štefan Matejčík
- Department of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina F2, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Peter Papp
- Department of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina F2, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Alić J, Messner R, Alešković M, Küstner F, Rubčić M, Lackner F, Ernst WE, Šekutor M. Diamondoid ether clusters in helium nanodroplets. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:11951-11958. [PMID: 36942672 PMCID: PMC10155488 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp00489a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Diamondoid ethers were introduced into superfluid helium nanodroplets and the resulting clusters were analyzed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Clusters of higher abundances (magic number clusters) were identified and the corresponding potential cluster geometries were obtained from GFN2-xTB and DFT computations. We found that the studied diamondoid ethers readily self-assemble in helium nanodroplets and that London dispersion attraction between hydrocarbon subunits acts as a driving force for cluster formation. On the other hand, hydrogen bonding between ether oxygens and trace water molecules fosters the eventual breakdown of the initial supramolecular aggregate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasna Alić
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Roman Messner
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Marija Alešković
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Florian Küstner
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Mirta Rubčić
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Florian Lackner
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Wolfgang E Ernst
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Marina Šekutor
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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Kappe M, Schiller A, Krasnokutski SA, Ončák M, Scheier P, Cunningham EM. Electronic spectroscopy of cationic adamantane clusters and dehydrogenated adamantane in helium droplets. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:23142-23151. [PMID: 36148794 PMCID: PMC9533311 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp03523e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We report the first helium-tagged electronic spectra of cationic adamantane clusters, along with its singly, doubly, and triply dehydrogenated analogues embedded in helium droplets. Absorption spectra were measured by recording the evaporation of helium atoms as a function of laser wavelength in the range of 300-2150 nm. Experimental spectra are coupled with simulated spectra obtained from quantum chemical calculations. The spectrum of cationic adamantane agrees with the electronic photodissociation spectrum measured previously, with an additional low-energy absorption at around 1000 nm. The spectra of the dehydrogenated molecules present broad absorptions exclusively in the high-energy region (300-600 nm). For the higher order adamantane dimer and trimer ions, strong absorptions are observed in the low-energy region (900-2150 nm), rationalised by transitions delocalised over two adamantane units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Kappe
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Arne Schiller
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Serge A Krasnokutski
- Laboratory Astrophysics Group of the MPI for Astronomy at the University of Jena, Helmholtzweg 3, D-07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Milan Ončák
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Paul Scheier
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Ethan M Cunningham
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Alić J, Messner R, Lackner F, Ernst WE, Šekutor M. London dispersion dominating diamantane packing in helium nanodroplets. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:21833-21839. [PMID: 34554159 PMCID: PMC8494270 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp03380h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Diamantane clusters formed inside superfluid helium nanodroplets were analyzed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Distinct cluster sizes were identified as "magic numbers" and the corresponding feasible structures for clusters consisting of up to 19 diamantane molecules were derived from meta-dynamics simulations and subsequent DFT computations. The obtained interaction energies were attributed to London dispersion attraction. Our findings demonstrate that diamantane units readily form assemblies even at low pressures and near-zero Kelvin temperatures, confirming the importance of the intermolecular dispersion effect for condensation of matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasna Alić
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Roman Messner
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Florian Lackner
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Wolfgang E Ernst
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Marina Šekutor
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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Mattioli G, Avaldi L, Bolognesi P, Bozek JD, Castrovilli MC, Chiarinelli J, Domaracka A, Indrajith S, Maclot S, Milosavljević AR, Nicolafrancesco C, Rousseau P. Water-biomolecule clusters studied by photoemission spectroscopy and multilevel atomistic simulations: hydration or solvation? Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:15049-15058. [PMID: 34231588 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp02031e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The properties of mixed water-uracil nanoaggregates have been probed by core electron-photoemission measurements to investigate supramolecular assembly in the gas phase driven by weak interactions. The interpretation of the measurements has been assisted by multilevel atomistic simulations, based on semi-empirical tight-binding and DFT-based methods. Our protocol established a positive-feedback loop between experimental and computational techniques, which has enabled a sound and detailed atomistic description of such complex heterogeneous molecular aggregates. Among biomolecules, uracil offers interesting and generalized skeletal features; its structure encompasses an alternation of hydrophilic H-bond donor and acceptor sites and hydrophobic moieties, typical in biomolecular systems, that induces a supramolecular core-shell-like organization of the mixed clusters with a water core and an uracil shell. This structure is far from typical models of both solid-state hydration, with water molecules in defined positions, or liquid solvation, where disconnected uracil molecules are completely surrounded by water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Mattioli
- CNR-Istituto di Struttura della Materia, Area della Ricerca di Roma 1, CP 10, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Avaldi
- CNR-Istituto di Struttura della Materia, Area della Ricerca di Roma 1, CP 10, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy.
| | - Paola Bolognesi
- CNR-Istituto di Struttura della Materia, Area della Ricerca di Roma 1, CP 10, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy.
| | - John D Bozek
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme de Merisiers, 91192, Saint Aubin, BP48, 1192, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Mattea C Castrovilli
- CNR-Istituto di Struttura della Materia, Area della Ricerca di Roma 1, CP 10, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy.
| | - Jacopo Chiarinelli
- CNR-Istituto di Struttura della Materia, Area della Ricerca di Roma 1, CP 10, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy.
| | - Alicja Domaracka
- Normandie Univ., ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, CIMAP, 14000 Caen, France
| | | | - Sylvain Maclot
- Physics Department, University of Gothenburg, Origovägen 6B, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
| | | | - Chiara Nicolafrancesco
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme de Merisiers, 91192, Saint Aubin, BP48, 1192, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France and Normandie Univ., ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, CIMAP, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Patrick Rousseau
- Normandie Univ., ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, CIMAP, 14000 Caen, France
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