Electron impact on N2/CH4 mixtures in He droplets—probing chemistry in Titan's atmosphere

Abstract

In this work a low-energy electron beam is used to irradiate mixtures of nitrogen and methane in helium droplets. The formation of heterogeneous ionic species due to ionization is observed and the corresponding chemical structures and binding energies are calculated. Formation of a CN bond in CH3N2+ is shown computationally, which indicates the possibility of synthesis of true chemical bonds. The formation of CN bonds in organic molecules is of relevance for understanding atmospheric chemistry, for example in Titan's atmosphere.