Observation of stable HO4(+) and DO4(+) ions from ion-molecule reactions in helium nanodroplets

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2016 May 21;18(19):13169-72. doi: 10.1039/c6cp01895e. Epub 2016 May 3.

Abstract

Ion-molecule reactions between clusters of H2/D2 and O2 in liquid helium nanodroplets were initiated by electron-induced ionization (at 70 eV). Reaction products were detected by mass spectrometry and can be explained by a primary reaction channel involving proton transfer from H3(+) or H3(+)(H2)n clusters and their deuterated equivalents. Very little HO2(+) is seen from the reaction of H3(+) with O2, which is attributed to an efficient secondary reaction between HO2(+) and H2. On the other hand HO4(+) is the most abundant product from the reaction of H3(+) with oxygen dimer, (O2)2. The experimental data suggest that HO4(+) is a particularly stable ion and this is consistent with recent theoretical studies of this ion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't