Ion-molecule reactions of ammonia clusters with C60 aggregates embedded in helium droplets

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2011 Jan 21;13(3):1092-8. doi: 10.1039/c0cp01268h. Epub 2010 Nov 12.

Abstract

Helium nanodroplets are co-doped with C(60) and ammonia. Mass spectra obtained by electron ionization reveal cations containing ammonia clusters complexed with up to four C(60) units. The high mass resolution of Δm/m≈ 1/6000 makes it possible to separate the contributions of protonated, unprotonated and dehydrogenated ammonia. C(60) aggregates suppress the proton-transfer reaction which usually favors the appearance of protonated ammonia cluster ions. Unprotonated C(x)(NH(3))(n)(+) ions (x = 60, 120, 180) exceed the abundance of the corresponding protonated ions if n < 5; for larger values of n the abundances of C(60)(NH(3))(n)(+) and C(60)(NH)(n-1)NH(4)(+) become about equal. Dehydrogenated C(60)NH(2)(+) ions are relatively abundant; their formation is attributed to a transient doubly charged C(60)-ammonia complex which forms either by an Auger process or by Penning ionization following charge transfer between the primary He(+) ion and C(60). The abundance of C(x)NH(3)(+) and C(x)NH(4)(+) ions (x = 120 or 180) is one to two orders of magnitude weaker than the abundance of ions containing one or two additional ammonia molecules. However, a model involving evaporation of NH(3) or NH(4) from the presumably weakly bound C(x)NH(3)(+) and C(x)NH(4)(+) ions is at odds with the lack of enhancement in the abundance of C(120)(+) and C(180)(+). Mass spectra of C(60) dimers complexed with water complement a previous study of C(60)(H(2)O)(n)(+) recorded at much lower mass resolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / chemistry*
  • Fullerenes / chemistry*
  • Helium / chemistry*
  • Ions / chemistry*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Protons
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Fullerenes
  • Ions
  • Protons
  • Water
  • Helium
  • Ammonia
  • fullerene C60