Collisional reactions of Nan+ (n=3–9) with N2O

Abstract

A collisional reaction of a sodium cluster ion, Nan+(n=3–9), with a nitrous oxide molecule, N2O, was investigated by using a tandem mass-spectrometer equipped with four octopole ion guides. Two types of ions, NakO+ and Nap+ (p<n), were produced by the reaction; NakO+ and Nap+ result from oxidation and direct collisional dissociation of the parent cluster ion, Nan+, respectively. The absolute total cross section and partial cross sections for the NakO+ (oxidation) and Nap+ (direct dissociation) production were measured as a function of the collision energy of a given parent cluster ion, Nan+, in the energy range up to 5 eV (center-of-mass frame). The cross sections and their collision-energy dependence show that the oxidation proceeds when electron harpooning from Nan+ to N2O occurs and otherwise the direct collisional dissociation proceeds.