Photoionization Efficiency Research Articles

A VUV Photoionization Study of the Combustion-Relevant Reaction of the Phenyl Radical (C6H5) with Propylene (C3H6) in a High Temperature Chemical Reactor

We studied the reaction of phenyl radicals (C(6)H(5)) with propylene (C(3)H(6)) exploiting a high temperature chemical reactor under combustion-like conditions (300 Torr, 1200-1500 K). The reaction products were probed in a supersonic beam by utilizing tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation from the Advanced Light Source and recording the photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves at mass-to-charge ratios of m/z = 118 (C(9)H(10)(+)) and m/z = 104 (C(8)H(8)(+)). Our results suggest that the methyl and atomic hydrogen losses are the two major reaction pathways with branching ratios of 86 ± 10% and 14 ± 10%. The isomer distributions were probed by fitting the recorded PIE curves with a linear combination of the PIE curves of the individual C(9)H(10) and C(8)H(8) isomers. Styrene (C(6)H(5)C(2)H(3)) was found to be the exclusive product contributing to m/z = 104 (C(8)H(8)(+)), whereas 3-phenylpropene, cis-1-phenylpropene, and 2-phenylpropene with branching ratios of 96 ± 4%, 3 ± 3%, and 1 ± 1% could account for the signal at m/z = 118 (C(9)H(10)(+)). Although searched for carefully, no evidence of the bicyclic indane molecule could be provided. The reaction mechanisms and branching ratios are explained in terms of electronic structure calculations nicely agreeing with a recent crossed molecular beam study on this system.

Measurements of Secondary Organic Aerosol Formed from OH-initiated Photo-oxidation of Isoprene Using Online Photoionization Aerosol Mass Spectrometry

Isoprene is a significant source of atmospheric organic aerosol; however, the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and involved chemical reaction pathways have remained to be elucidated. Recent works have shown that the photo-oxidation of isoprene leads to form SOA. In this study, the chemical composition of SOA from the OH-initiated photo-oxidation of isoprene, in the absence of seed aerosols, was investigated through the controlled laboratory chamber experiments. Thermal desorption/tunable vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry (TD-VUV-TOF-PIAMS) was used in conjunction with the environmental chamber to study SOA formation. The mass spectra obtained at different photon energies and the photoionization efficiency (PIE) spectra of the SOA products can be obtained in real time. Aided by the ionization energies (IE) either from the ab initio calculations or the literatures, a number of SOA products were proposed. In addition to methacrolein, methyl vinyl ketone, and 3-methyl-furan, carbonyls, hydroxycarbonyls, nitrates, hydroxynitrates, and other oxygenated compounds in SOA formed in laboratory photo-oxiadation experiments were identified, some of them were investigated for the first time. Detailed chemical identification of SOA is crucial for understanding the photo-oxidation mechanisms of VOCs and the eventual formation of SOA. Possible reaction mechanisms will be discussed.

An experimental and kinetic modeling study of cyclohexane pyrolysis at low pressure

The pyrolysis of cyclohexane at low pressure (40mbar) was studied in a plug flow reactor from 950 to 1520K by synchrotron VUV photoionization mass spectrometry. More than 30 species were identified by measurement of photoionization efficiency (PIE) spectra, including some radicals like methyl, propargyl, allyl and cyclopentadienyl radicals, and stable products (e.g., 1-hexene, benzene and some aromatics). Among all the products, 1-hexene is formed at the lowest temperature, indicating that the isomerization of cyclohexane to 1-hexene is the dominant initial decomposition channel under the condition of our experiment. We built a kinetic model including 148 species and 557 reactions to simulate the experimental results. The model satisfactorily reproduced the mole fraction profiles of most pyrolysis products. The rate of production (ROP) analysis at 1360 and 1520K shows that cyclohexane is consumed mainly through two reaction sequences: cyclohexane→1-hexene→allyl radical+n-propyl radical, and cyclohexane→cyclohexyl radical→hex-5-en-1-yl radical that further decomposes to 1,3-butadiene via hex-1-en-3-yl and but-3-en-1-yl radicals. Besides the stepwise dehydrogenation of cyclohexane, C3+C3 channels, i.e. C3H3+C3H3 and C3H3+aC3H5 also have important contribution to benzene formation. The simulation reveals that C3H3+C3H3=phenyl+H reaction is the key step for other aromatics formation, i.e. toluene, phenylacetylene, styrene, ethylbenzene and indene in this work.

A HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOIONIZATION AND PHOTOELECTRON STUDY OF58Ni USING A VACUUM ULTRAVIOLET LASER

In order to provide high-resolution spectroscopic data of nickel (58Ni) and its cation (58Ni+) for the assignment of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) stellar spectra, we have obtained the photoionization efficiency (PIE) spectra of 58Ni by using a supersonically cooled laser ablation transition-metal beam source and a broadly tunable VUV laser in the range of 61,100-73,600 cm–1, covering the photoionization transitions: Ni+ (3d 9 2 D) ← Ni (3d 84s 2 3 D), Ni+(3d 9 2 D) ← Ni(3d 84s 2 3 F), and Ni+ (3d 84s 4 F) ← Ni(3d 84s 2 3 F). We have also measured the VUV laser pulsed-field-ionization-photoelectron (PFI-PE) spectra of 58Ni in these regions. The VUV-PFI-PE measurement has allowed the determination of a precise value of 61,619.89 ± 0.8 cm–1 (7.6399 ± 0.0001 eV) for the ionization energy (IE) of 58Ni. Due to the narrow VUV laser optical bandwidth of 0.4 cm–1 used in the present study, many complex autoionizing resonances exhibiting Fano line shape profiles are resolved in the PIE spectra. Four autoionizing Rydberg series originating from two-electron and one-electron excitations from the Ni(3d 84s 2 3 F 4) ground state to converge to the respective Ni+(2 D 3/2) and Ni+(4 FJ ) (J = 9/2, 7/2, and 5/2) ion states are identified. The Rydberg analysis, along with VUV-PFI-PE measurements, has yielded highly precise IE values for the formation of these excited ionic states from the Ni(3d 84s 2 3 F 4) ground state. The IE values, relative photoionization cross sections, and autoionizing Rydberg resonances observed in the present study are relevant to astrophysics by enhancing the atomic database of iron group transition metal atoms and for understanding the Ni and Ni+ contribution to the VUV opacity in the solar atmosphere.

VUV Photoionization and Dissociation of Tyramine and Dopamine: the Joint Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Photon induced dissociation investigations of neutral tyramine and dopamine are carried out with synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry and theoretical calculations. At low photon energy only molecular ions are measured by virtue of nearthreshold photoionization. While increasing photon energy to 11.7 eV or more, four distinct fragment ions are obtained for tyramine and dopamine, respectively. Besides, the ionization energies of tyramine and dopamine are determined to be 7.98±0.05 and 7.67±0.05 eV by measuring the photoionization efficiency curves of corresponding molecular ions. With help of density function theory calculations, the detailed fragmentation pathways are established as well. These two molecular cations have similar aminoethyl group elimination pathways, C7H8O2+· (m/z=124) and C7H8O+· (m/z=108) are supposed to be generated by the McLafferty rearrangement via γ-hydrogen (γ-H) shift inducing β-fission. And CH2NH2+ is proposed to derive from the direct fission of C7-C8 bond. Besides, the McLafferty rearrangement and the C7-C8 bond fission are validated to be dominant dissociation pathways for tyramine and dopamine cations.

Ionization of Water Clusters Mediated by Exciton Energy Transfer from Argon Clusters.

The exciton energy deposited in an argon cluster (Arn, ⟨n = 20⟩) using VUV radiation is transferred to softly ionize doped water clusters ((H2O)n, n = 1-9), leading to the formation of nonfragmented clusters. Following the initial excitation, electronic energy is channeled to ionize the doped water cluster while evaporating the Ar shell, allowing identification of fragmented and complete water cluster ions. Examination of the photoionization efficiency curve shows that cluster evaporation from excitons located above 12.6 eV is not enough to cool the energized water cluster ion and leads to their dissociation to (H2O)n-2H(+) (protonated) clusters.

Singly and doubly lithium doped silicon clusters: Geometrical and electronic structures and ionization energies

The geometric structures of neutral and cationic Si(n)Li(m)(0/+) clusters with n = 2-11 and m = 1, 2 are investigated using combined experimental and computational methods. The adiabatic ionization energy and vertical ionization energy (VIE) of Si(n)Li(m) clusters are determined using quantum chemical methods (B3LYP/6-311+G(d), G3B3, and CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVxZ with x = D,T), whereas experimental values are derived from threshold photoionization experiments in the 4.68-6.24 eV range. Among the investigated cluster sizes, only Si(6)Li(2), Si(7)Li, Si(10)Li, and Si(11)Li have ionization thresholds below 6.24 eV and could be measured accurately. The ionization threshold and VIE obtained from the experimental photoionization efficiency curves agree well with the computed values. The growth mechanism of the lithium doped silicon clusters follows some simple rules: (1) neutral singly doped Si(n)Li clusters favor the Li atom addition on an edge or a face of the structure of the corresponding Si(n)(-) anion, while the cationic Si(n)Li(+) binds with one Si atom of the bare Si(n) cluster or adds on one of its edges, and (2) for doubly doped Si(n)Li(2)(0/+) clusters, the neutrals have the shape of the Si(n+1) counterparts with an additional Li atom added on an edge or a face of it, while the cations have both Li atoms added on edges or faces of the Si(n)(-) clusters.

Ionization energies and structures of lithium doped silicon clusters

We report on a combined experimental and theoretical study of the ionization energies and structures of small lithium doped silicon clusters, SinLim with n = 5-11 and m = 3-6. Photoionization efficiency curves are measured in the 4.68-6.24 eV range and subsequently compared with calculated values of both vertical and adiabatic ionization energies for the lowest energy isomers obtained using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level. The evolution of the cluster geometries and ionization energies is studied as a function of the number of silicon and lithium atoms along the SinLi3 (n = 5-11) and Si8Lim (m = 1-6) series, respectively. For most studied sizes good agreement is found between the experimental and the calculated ionization energies for the lowest-energy isomer. In the SinLi3 (n = 5-11) series, positively charged lithium atoms surround a negatively charged silicon framework and mainly act as electron donors. Upon sequential lithium addition along the Si8Lim (m = 1-6) series, the Si8 framework deforms from a rhombic (m = 0, 1) over a tetracapped tetragon (m = 1-4) to a square antiprism (m = 4-6) structure. Subsequent addition of lithium implies the addition of excess electrons to the silicon framework, which is reflected in a decrease of the ionization energy with increasing lithium content. This decrease is non-monotonous and odd-even alternations, reflecting the higher stability of clusters with an even number of electrons, are observed. In addition, post-threshold features in the experimental photoionization efficiency curves of SinLi3 (n = 8-11) may be related to the computed density of states of the corresponding lowest energy isomers.

Thermal Decomposition Mechanism of 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Bromide Ionic Liquid

In order to better understand the volatilization process for ionic liquids, the vapor evolved from heating the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (EMIM(+)Br(-)) was analyzed via tunable vacuum ultraviolet photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (VUV-PI-TOFMS) and thermogravimetric analysis mass spectrometry (TGA-MS). For this ionic liquid, the experimental results indicate that vaporization takes place via the evolution of alkyl bromides and alkylimidazoles, presumably through alkyl abstraction via an S(N)2 type mechanism, and that vaporization of intact ion pairs or the formation of carbenes is negligible. Activation enthalpies for the formation of the methyl and ethyl bromides were evaluated experimentally, ΔH(‡)(CH(3)Br) = 116.1 ± 6.6 kJ/mol and ΔH(‡)(CH(3)CH(2)Br) = 122.9 ± 7.2 kJ/mol, and the results are found to be in agreement with calculated values for the S(N)2 reactions. Comparisons of product photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves with literature data are in good agreement, and ab initio thermodynamics calculations are presented as further evidence for the proposed thermal decomposition mechanism. Estimates for the enthalpy of vaporization of EMIM(+)Br(-) and, by comparison, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (BMIM(+)Br(-)) from molecular dynamics calculations and their gas phase enthalpies of formation obtained by G4 calculations yield estimates for the ionic liquids' enthalpies of formation in the liquid phase: ΔH(vap)(298 K) (EMIM(+)Br(-)) = 168 ± 20 kJ/mol, ΔH(f,gas)(298 K) (EMIM(+)Br(-)) = 38.4 ± 10 kJ/mol, ΔH(f,liq)(298 K) (EMIM(+)Br(-)) = -130 ± 22 kJ/mol, ΔH(f,gas)(298 K) (BMIM(+)Br(-)) = -5.6 ± 10 kJ/mol, and ΔH(f,liq)(298 K) (BMIM(+)Br(-)) = -180 ± 20 kJ/mol.

Identification of Tetrahydrofuran Reaction Pathways in Premixed Flames

Abstract Premixed low-pressure tetrahydrofuran/oxygen/argon flames are investigated by photoionization molecular-beam mass spectrometry using vacuum-ultraviolet synchrotron radiation. For two equivalence ratios (φ = 1.00 and 1.75), mole fractions are measured as a function of distance from the burner for almost 60 intermediates with molar masses ranging from 2 (H2) to 88 (C4H6O2), providing a broad database for flame modeling studies. The isomeric composition is resolved by comparisons between experimental photoionization efficiency data and theoretical simulations, based on calculated ionization energies and Franck-Condon factors. Special emphasis is put on the resolution of the first reaction steps in the fuel destruction. The photoionization experiments are complemented by electron-ionization molecular-beam mass-spectrometry measurements that provide data with high mass resolution. For three additional flames with intermediate equivalence ratios (φ = 1.20, 1.40 and 1.60), mole fractions of major species and photoionization efficiency spectra of intermediate species are reported, extending the database for the development of chemical kinetic models.

Thermal Decomposition Study of HNIW by Synchrotron Photoionization Mass Spectrometry

AbstractThermal decomposition of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW) was investigated through tuneable vacuum ultraviolet photoionization with molecular‐beam sampling mass spectrometry (MBMS). According to photoionization efficiency (PIE) spectroscopic results, the initial decomposition products of HNIW were identified including HCN, CO, NO, HNCO, N2O, CO2 (a little), NO2, C2H2N2, C3H3N3, C4H3N3, C3H4N4, C5H4N4, C5H5N5 and C6H6N6. The possible ionization energies of C2H2N2, C4H3N3, C3H4N4 and C6H6N6 were analyzed on basis of the PIE spectra. The data were compared with those of thermogravimetry‐mass spectrometry (TG‐MS) and thermogravimetry‐Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy (TG‐FT‐IR). The kinetic parameters for the formation of HNCO, HCN and CO2 were calculated from the current curves of species by TG‐FT‐IR spectroscopy, typically the apparent activation energy (Ea) and prefactor (A) for HNCO were Ea=161.3 ± 2.5 kJ mol−1 and A=38.9 ± 0.6 s−1 with an optimal mechanism function f(α)=(1−α). Global thermal decomposition reaction and Arrhenius equation of HNIW were suggested at the end.

Photoionization and dissociation of the monoterpene limonene: mass spectrometric and computational investigation

The photoionization of the monoterpene limonene has been studied using tunable vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation in the region from the threshold for ionization of the parent molecule up to 15.5 eV. The adiabatic ionization energy of limonene is derived from photoionization efficiency spectrum and found to be 8.27 eV, compared with the density functional theory calculations which yields a value of 8.08 eV (B3LYP/6-311++G). Primary dissociation pathways of the parent molecule ions are investigated by experimental observations and theoretical calculations. Most of the fragmentation channels occur via a rearrangement reaction prior to dissociation. Transition structures and intermediates for those isomerization processes are also determined.

Ionization Thresholds of Alkali Metal Atoms on Helium Droplets

Superfluid helium droplets (HeN) have attracted strong interest as cold hosts for the investigation of weakly bound molecules. Whereas the host–dopant interaction is weak for neutral molecules, ion impurities may be surrounded by frozen shells of polarized helium atoms. An extreme example of the different behavior is given by alkali metal impurities that stay at the surface of the droplet but immerse into the droplet as cations releasing a considerable amount of binding energy. We report measurements of the photoionization efficiency for the rubidium-HeN and cesium-HeN systems and find that the ionization threshold is lowered compared with the free atoms. The corresponding energy shift increases when going from heavy to light alkali metals and from small to large helium droplets. Both effects can be explained by the difference in polarization energies associated with submerged alkali metal cations. The findings agree qualitatively well with recent calculations of helium snowball formation around alkali metal cations.

Synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photo-induced fragmentation of cyclic dipeptides radical cations

Cyclic dipeptides, due to their chemical properties and various bioactivities, are very attractive for medicinal chemistry. Fragmentations of three simple cyclic dipeptides including cyclo(Gly-Gly), cyclo(Ala-Ala) and cyclo(Gly-Val) in the gas-phase are determined with synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization mass spectrometry (VUV PIMS) and theoretical calculations. Cyclo(Gly-Gly) and cyclo(Ala-Ala) show the similar fragmentation pathways. The primary decomposition reactions of cyclo(Gly-Gly) and cyclo(Ala-Ala) radical cations are found to be HNCO loss and CO elimination. The appearance energies (AEs) of fragment ions [CH2NHCOCH2]+• and [CH3CHNHCOCHCH3]+• are measured to be 10.21 and 9.66±0.05 eV, respectively, which are formed from cyclo(Gly-Gly) and cyclo(Ala-Ala) radical cations with HNCO elimination. Due to the stabilization of the radical cation of cyclo(Gly-Val) with isopropyl side group, the dominant fragment ion m/z 114 assigned as [C4H6N2O2]+• is produced by γ-H migration and i cleavage to lose propylene. The ionization energies (IEs) of three cyclic dipeptides decrease in the order cyclo(Gly-Gly) (9.33±0.05 eV)>cyclo(Ala-Ala) (9.21±0.05 eV)>cyclo(Gly-Val) (9.09±0.05 eV) from measurements of photoionization efficiency spectra. It implies that IEs of cyclic dipeptides are affected by substituent groups and symmetrical characterization of molecular structures. These observations of the chemical properties of cyclic dipeptides radical ion (M+•) may be important for understanding gas-phase molecular reactivity of 2,5-diketopiperazines and guiding diketopiperazine-based drug design.

Determination of Photoionization Cross-Sections of Different Organic Molecules Using Gas Chromatography Coupled to Single-Photon Ionization (SPI) Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOF-MS) with an Electron-Beam-Pumped Rare Gas Excimer Light Source (EBEL): Influence of Molecular Structure and Analytical Implications

This work describes a fast and reliable method for determination of photoionization cross-sections (PICS) by means of gas chromatography (GC) coupled to single-photon ionization mass spectrometry (SPI-MS). Photoionization efficiency (PIE) data for 69 substances was obtained at a photon energy of 9.8 ± 0.4 eV using an innovative electron-beam-pumped rare gas excimer light source (EBEL) filled with argon. The investigated analytes comprise 12 alkylbenzenes as well as 11 other substituted benzenes, 23 n-alkanes, ten polyaromatic hydrocarbons, seven aromatic heterocycles, and six polyaromatic heterocycles. Absolute PICS for each substance at 9.8 eV are calculated from the relative photoionization efficiencies of the compounds with respect to benzene, whose photoionization cross-section data is well known. Furthermore, a direct correlation between the type of benzene substituents and their absolute PICS is presented and discussed in depth. Finally, comparison of previously measured photoionization cross-sections for 20 substances shows good agreement with the data of the present work.

Dissociative photoionization of 1,3-butadiene: Experimental and theoretical insights

The vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization and dissociative photoionization of 1,3-butadiene in a region ∼8.5-17 eV have been investigated with time-of-flight photoionization mass spectrometry using tunable synchrotron radiation. The adiabatic ionization energy of 1,3-butadiene and appearance energies for its fragment ions, C(4)H(5)(+), C(4)H(4)(+), C(4)H(3)(+), C(3)H(3)(+), C(2)H(4)(+), C(2)H(3)(+), and C(2)H(2)(+), are determined to be 9.09, 11.72, 13.11, 15.20, 11.50, 12.44, 15.15, and 15.14 eV, respectively, by measurements of photoionization efficiency spectra. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been performed to investigate the reaction mechanism of dissociative photoionization of 1,3-butadiene. On the basis of experimental and theoretical results, seven dissociative photoionization channels are proposed: C(4)H(5)(+) + H, C(4)H(4)(+) + H(2), C(4)H(3)(+) + H(2) + H, C(3)H(3)(+) + CH(3), C(2)H(4)(+) + C(2)H(2), C(2)H(3)(+) + C(2)H(2) + H, and C(2)H(2)(+) + C(2)H(2) + H(2). Channel C(3)H(3)(+) + CH(3) is found to be the dominant one, followed by C(4)H(5)(+) + H and C(2)H(4)(+) + C(2)H(2). The majority of these channels occur via isomerization prior to dissociation. Transition structures and intermediates for those isomerization processes were also determined.

Soft Ionization of Thermally Evaporated Hypergolic Ionic Liquid Aerosols

Isolated ion pairs of a conventional ionic liquid, 1-Ethyl-3-Methyl-Imidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Emim(+)][Tf(2)N(-)]), and a reactive hypergolic ionic liquid, 1-Butyl-3-Methyl-Imidazolium Dicyanamide ([Bmim(+)][Dca(-)]), are generated by vaporizing ionic liquid submicrometer aerosol particles for the first time; the vaporized species are investigated by dissociative ionization with tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light, exhibiting clear intact cations, Emim(+) and Bmim(+), presumably originating from intact ion pairs. Mass spectra of ion pair vapor from an effusive source of the hypergolic ionic liquid show substantial reactive decomposition due to the internal energy of the molecules emanating from the source. Photoionization efficiency curves in the near threshold ionization region of isolated ion pairs of [Emim(+)][Tf(2)N(-)] ionic liquid vapor are compared for an aerosol source and an effusive source, revealing changes in the appearance energy due to the amount of internal energy in the ion pairs. The aerosol source has a shift to higher threshold energy (∼0.3 eV), attributed to reduced internal energy of the isolated ion pairs. The method of ionic liquid submicrometer aerosol particle vaporization, for reactive ionic liquids such as hypergolic species, is a convenient, thermally "cooler" source of isolated intact ion pairs in the gas phase compared to effusive sources.

Control of nitromethane photoionization efficiency with shaped femtosecond pulses

The applicability of adaptive femtosecond pulse shaping is studied for achieving selectivity in the photoionization of low-density polyatomic targets. In particular, optimal dynamic discrimination (ODD) techniques exploit intermediate molecular electronic resonances that allow a significant increase in the photoionization efficiency of nitromethane with shaped near-infrared femtosecond pulses. The intensity bias typical of high-photon number, nonresonant ionization is accounted for by reference to a strictly intensity-dependent process. Closed-loop adaptive learning is then able to discover a pulse form that increases the ionization efficiency of nitromethane by ∼150%. The optimally induced molecular dynamics result from entry into a region of parameter space inaccessible with intensity-only control. Finally, the discovered pulse shape is demonstrated to interact with the molecular system in a coherent fashion as assessed from the asymmetry between the response to the optimal field and its time-reversed counterpart.

Infrared absorption of methanol clusters (CH3OH)n with n = 2−6 recorded with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer using infrared depletion and vacuum-ultraviolet ionization

We investigated IR spectra in the CH- and OH-stretching regions of size-selected methanol clusters, (CH(3)OH)(n) with n = 2-6, in a pulsed supersonic jet by using the IR-VUV (vacuum-ultraviolet) ionization technique. VUV emission at 118 nm served as the source of ionization in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The tunable IR laser emission served as a source of predissociation or excitation before ionization. The variations of intensity of protonated methanol cluster ions (CH(3)OH)(n)H(+) and CH(3)OH(+) and (CH(3)OH)(2)(+) were monitored as the IR laser light was tuned across the range 2650-3750 cm(-1). Careful processing of these action spectra based on photoionization efficiencies and the production and loss of each cluster due to photodissociation yielded IR spectra of the size-selected clusters. Spectra of methanol clusters in the OH region have been extensively investigated; our results are consistent with previous reports, except that the band near 3675 cm(-1) is identified as being associated with the proton acceptor of (CH(3)OH)(2). Spectra in the CH region are new. In the region 2800-3050 cm(-1), bands near 2845, 2956, and 3007 cm(-1) for CH(3)OH split into 2823, 2849, 2934, 2955, 2984, and 3006 cm(-1) for (CH(3)OH)(2) that correspond to proton donor and proton acceptor, indicating that the methanol dimer has a preferred open-chain structure. In contrast, for (CH(3)OH)(3), the splitting diminishes and the bands near 2837, 2954, and 2987 cm(-1) become narrower, indicating a preferred cyclic structure. Anharmonic vibrational wavenumbers predicted for the methanol open-chain dimer and the cyclic trimer with the B3LYP∕VPT2∕ANO1 level of theory are consistent with experimental results. For the tetramer and pentamer, the spectral pattern similar to that of the trimer but with greater widths was observed, indicating that the most stable structures are also cyclic.

Synchrotron radiation VUV double photoionization of some small molecules

The VUV double photoionizations of small molecules (NO, CO, CO2, CS2, OSC and NH3) were investigated with photoionization mass spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. The double ionization energies of molecules were determined with photoionization efficiency spectroscopy. The total energies of these molecules and their parent dications (NO2+, CO2+, CO2+2, CS2+2, OSC2+ and NH2+3) were calculated using the Gaussian 03 program and Gaussian 2 calculations. Then, the adiabatic double ionization energies of the molecules were predicated by using high accuracy energy mode. The experimental double ionization energies of these small molecules were all in reasonable agreement with their respective calculated adiabatic double ionization energies. The mechanisms of double photoionization of these molecules were discussed based on a comparison of our experimental results with those predicted theoretically. The equilibrium geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of molecules and their parent dications were calculated by using the MP2 (full) method. The differences in configurations between these molecules and their parent dications were also discussed on the basis of theoretical calculations.