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Carbon Chain Formation under Simulated Circumstellar Conditions.

Di Wu1, Yunkai Li1, Haotian Ying1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|February 16, 2026
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Laboratory experiments reveal that rapid radical reactions of C2nH with unsaturated hydrocarbons drive the formation of long-chain polyynes, crucial carbon-chain molecules in interstellar chemistry. This study simulates interstellar molecule formation, including fullerenes.

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Area of Science:

  • Astrochemistry
  • Laboratory Astrophysics
  • Mass Spectrometry

Background:

  • Carbon-chain molecules are vital precursors and indicators in interstellar chemistry.
  • The formation mechanisms of carbon chains and the role of radicals (•CnH) in circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the formation pathways of interstellar carbon-chain molecules.
  • To elucidate the role of radicals in the growth of chemical complexity in CSEs.
  • To simulate interstellar molecule formation, including long-chain polyynes and fullerenes, in a laboratory setting.

Main Methods:

  • Development and application of an ultrahigh temperature pyrolysis photoionization/electron ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UT-Py-PI/EI-TOFMS).
  • Laboratory astrophysics simulation experiments to study molecule formation.

Main Results:

  • Detection of various long-chain polyyne molecules, indicating rapid radical reactions (•C2nH with unsaturated hydrocarbons) are key to their growth.
  • Successful simulation of carbon-chain molecule formation in AGB star envelopes.
  • Reproduction of other interstellar molecules, such as fullerenes, in laboratory experiments.

Conclusions:

  • Rapid radical reactions are confirmed as a primary mechanism for long-chain polyyne growth in CSEs.
  • Laboratory simulations provide valuable insights into the formation processes of interstellar molecules.
  • The study supports the role of carbon chains in understanding interstellar physical conditions and chemical evolution.