Ultraviolet laser desorption of indole

Unraveling the ultrafast dynamics of thermal-energy chemical reactions

In this perspective, we discuss how one can initiate, image, and disentangle the ultrafast elementary steps of thermal-energy chemical dynamics, building upon advances in technology and scientific insight. We propose that combinations of ultrashort mid-infrared laser pulses, controlled molecular species in the gas phase, and forefront imaging techniques allow to unravel the elementary steps of general-chemistry reaction processes in real time. We detail, for prototypical first reaction systems, experimental methods enabling these investigations, how to sufficiently prepare and promote gas-phase samples to thermal-energy reactive states with contemporary ultrashort mid-infrared laser systems, and how to image the initiated ultrafast chemical dynamics. The results of such experiments will clearly further our understanding of general-chemistry reaction dynamics.

Polar- and azimuth-angle-dependent rotational and vibrational excitation of desorbing product CO2 in CO oxidation on palladium surfaces

Clear polar and azimuth angle dependencies were found in rotational and vibrational energies of product CO2 in CO oxidation on Pd surfaces. On Pd(110)-(1x1), with increases in polar angle, both energies decreased in the [001] direction but remained constant in [110]. On the Pd(110) with missing rows, both energies increased in [001] but decreased in [110], indicating that the transition state changes with the geometry of the substrate. On Pd(111), the rotational energy greatly increased, but the vibrational energy decreased. Such angular dependence of internal energy provides new dimensions in surface reaction dynamics.