Variable-temperature rate coefficients for the electron transfer reaction N2+ + H2O measured with a coaxial molecular...

The neutral molecule temperature dependence of the rate coefficient for the electron transfer reaction from H(2)O to N(2)(+) is determined using a coaxial molecular beam radio frequency ring electrode ion trap (CoMB-RET) method. The temperature of the N(2)(+) ions was maintained at 100 K, while the effusive water beam temperature was varied from 300 to 450 K. The result demonstrates the neutral molecule rotational/translational energy dependence on the rate coefficient of an ion-dipolar molecule reaction. It is found that the rate coefficient in the above temperature range follows the prediction of the simplest ion-dipole capture model. Use of different buffer gas collisional cooling in both the ion source and the RET reveals the effects of both translational and vibrational energy of the N(2)(+) ions.