Photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy for multiplexed detection of intermediate species in a flame

Complex reactive processes in the gas phase often proceed via numerous reaction steps and intermediate species that must be identified and quantified to develop an understanding of the reaction pathways and establish suitable reaction mechanisms. Here, photoelectron-photoion coincidence (PEPICO) spectroscopy has been applied to analyse combustion intermediates present in a premixed fuel-rich (ϕ = 1.7) ethene-oxygen flame diluted with 25% argon, burning at a reduced pressure of 40 mbar. For the first time, multiplexing fixed-photon-energy PEPICO measurements were demonstrated in a chemically complex reactive system such as a flame in comparison with the scanning "threshold" TPEPICO approach used in recent pioneering combustion investigations. The technique presented here is capable of detecting and identifying multiple species by their cations' vibronic fingerprints, including radicals and pairs or triplets of isomers, from a single time-efficient measurement at a selected fixed photon energy. Vibrational structures for these species have been obtained in very good agreement with scanning-mode threshold photoelectron spectra taken under the same conditions. From such spectra, the temperature in the ionisation volume was determined. Exemplary analysis of species profiles and mole fraction ratios for isomers shows favourable agreement with results obtained by more common electron ionisation and photoionisation mass spectrometry experiments. It is expected that the multiplexing fixed-photon-energy PEPICO technique can contribute effectively to the analysis of chemical reactivity and kinetics in and beyond combustion.