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Updated: May 27, 2026

Achieving Moderate Pressures in Sealed Vessels Using Dry Ice As a Solid CO2 Source
Published on: August 17, 2018
Laser induced and controlled chemical reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen
Anton du Plessis1, Christien A Strydom, Hermann Uys
1CSIR National Laser Centre, PO Box 395, Pretoria, South Africa. adplessis2@csir.co.za
Abstract:
Bimolecular chemical reaction control of gaseous CO and H(2) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, without any catalyst, using shaped femtosecond laser pulses is presented. High intensity laser radiation applied to a reaction cell facilitates non-resonant bond breakage and the formation of a range of ions, which can then react to form new products. Stable reaction products are measured after irradiation of a reaction cell, using time of flight mass spectroscopy. Bond formation of C-O, C-C, and C-H bonds is demonstrated as CO(2)(+), C(2)H(2)(+), CH(+), and CH(3)(+) were observed in the time of flight mass spectrum of the product gas, analyzed after irradiation. The formation of CO(2) is shown to be dependent on laser intensity, irradiation time, and on the presence of H(2) in the reaction cell. Using negatively chirped laser pulses more C-O bond formation takes place as compared to more C-C bond formation for unchirped pulses.
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