Negative and positive ion trapping by isotopic molecules in cryocrystals in case of solid parahydrogen containing electrons and H6+ radical cations

Abstract

We performed electron spin resonance studies of trapped electrons and H(6) (+) radical cations produced by radiolysis of solid parahydrogen (p-H(2)), p-H(2)-ortho-D(2) (o-D(2)), and p-H(2)-HD mixtures. Yields of trapped electrons, H(6) (+) radical cations, and its isotopic analogs H(6-n)D(n) (+) (4>or=n>or=1) increased with increasing o-D(2) and HD concentrations in solid p-H(2). Electrons were found trapped near an o-D(2) or an HD in solid p-H(2) due to the long-range charge-induced dipole and quadrupole interactions between electrons and isotopic hydrogen molecules. H(6) (+) radical cations diffuse in solid p-H(2) by repetition of H(6) (+)+H(2)-->H(2)+H(6) (+) and are trapped by ortho-D(2) or HD to form H(6-n)D(n) (+) (4>or=n>or=1) as isotope condensation reactions. Decay behaviors of these cations by the repetition, isotope condensation, and geminate recombination between electrons and H(6-n)D(n) (+) (4>or=n>or=0) were reproduced by determining the corresponding reaction rate constants k(1), k(2), and k(3). Values of 0.045 and 0.0015 L mol(-1) min(-1) were obtained for k(1) (H(6) (+)+D(2)-->H(2)+H(4)D(2) (+)) and k(2) (H(4)D(2) (+)+D(2)-->H(2)+H(2)D(4) (+)), respectively, and the value was quasinull for k(3) (H(2)D(4) (+)+D(2)-->H(2)+D(6) (+)). These rate constants suggest that hole mobility drastically decreased in the repetition reaction when H(6) (+) radical cations acting as hole carriers formed H(4)D(2) (+) or H(2)D(4) (+). HD and D(2) molecules, therefore, act as electron and hole acceptors in irradiated solid p-H(2)-o-D(2) and p-H(2)-HD mixtures.