Mixed cationic clusters of nitrogen and hydrogen

Area of Science:

• Physical Chemistry
• Chemical Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Small impurities significantly alter noble gas cluster geometries and stabilities.
• Protonated clusters exhibit unique properties influenced by their charge carrier.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the impact of deuterium (D2) addition on cationic nitrogen (N2) clusters.
• Characterize the behavior of mixed N2 and D2 clusters and their stability.

Main Methods:

• Mass spectrometry was employed to study cationic clusters of N2 molecules.
• The influence of D2 as a hydrogen source on N2 cluster formation was examined.

Main Results:

• Protonated nitrogen clusters formed from D2 breakup mimic the behavior of protonated rare gas clusters.
• In mixed (N2)n(D2)m clusters, molecular species show interchangeability regarding magic numbers.
• The (N2)n(D2)mD+ systems with n + m = 17 were particularly abundant across various compositions.

Conclusions:

• Deuterium acts as a proton source, inducing behaviors similar to impurities in rare gas clusters.
• The observed interchangeability suggests dynamic mixing and stability considerations in mixed molecular clusters.
• Specific cluster sizes, like those with 17 total molecules, exhibit enhanced stability regardless of N2/D2 ratio.