Fuyi Liu

A threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectrometer with double velocity imaging using synchrotron radiation

A novel threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) imaging spectrometer at the U14-A beamline of the Hefei National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory is presented. A set of open electron and ion lenses are utilized to map velocity imaging of photoelectrons and photoions simultaneously, in which a repelling electric field using an extra lens is applied to magnify images of photoelectrons instead of traditional accelerating electric field in order to suppress the contribution of energetic electrons in the threshold photoelectron spectroscopy (TPES) and the mass-selected TPEPICO spectroscopy. The typical energy resolution of TPES is measured to be 9 meV (full width at half maximum), as shown on the (2)P(1/2) ionization of argon. The measured mass resolving power for the present TPEPICO imaging spectrometer is above 900 of M/DeltaM. Subsequently as a benchmark, oxygen molecule is photoionized by monochromatic synchrotron radiation at 20.298 eV and dissociates to an oxygen atomic ion and a neutral oxygen atom, and the translation energy distribution of oxygen atomic ion is measured by the time-sliced imaging based on mass-selected TPEPICO experiment. The kinetic energy resolution of the present ion velocity imaging is better than 3% of DeltaE/E.

Guided ion-beam studies of the kinetic-energy-dependent reactions of Con+(n=2–16) with D2: Cobalt cluster-deuteride bond energies

The kinetic-energy-dependent cross sections for the reactions of Co(n)+ (n = 2-16) with D2 are measured as a function of kinetic energy over a range of 0-8 eV in a guided ion-beam tandem mass spectrometer. The observed products are Co(n) D+ for all clusters and Co(n)D2+ for n = 4,5,9-16. Reactions for the formation of Co(n)D+ (n = 2-16) and Co9D2+ are observed to exhibit thresholds, whereas cross sections for the formation of Co(n)D2+ (n = 4,5,10-16) exhibit exothermic reaction behavior. The Co(n)+-D bond energies as a function of cluster size are derived from the threshold analysis of the kinetic-energy dependence of the endothermic reactions and are compared to previously determined metal-metal bond energies, D0(Co(n)+-Co). The bond energies of Co(n)+-D generally increase as the cluster size increases, and roughly parallel those for Co(n)+-Co for clusters n > or = 4. These trends are explained in terms of electronic and geometric structures for the Co(n)+ clusters. The bond energies of Co(n)+-D for larger clusters (n > or = 10) are found to be very close to the value for chemisorption of atomic hydrogen on bulk-phase cobalt. The rate constants for D2 chemisorption on the cationic clusters are compared with the results from previous work on cationic and neutral cobalt clusters.

Activation of CH4 by gas-phase Ni+ and the thermochemistry of Ni–ligand complexes

The kinetic energy dependence of the reaction of Ni+ (2D) with methane has been studied using guided ion beam mass spectrometry. Formation of NiH+, NiCH2+ and NiCH3+ are all observed with thresholds near 2 eV, and NiCH+ is observed at higher kinetic energies. The dehydrogenation reaction is shown to proceed over a barrier in excess of the endothermicity by examining the reverse reaction of NiCH2(+) + D2. Collision-induced dissociation of NiCH2+ and NiCH4+ with Xe provides additional information on the products and reaction intermediates. Modeling of the endothermic reaction cross sections yields the 0 K bond dissociation energies (in eV) of D0(Ni( +)-H) = 1.60 +/- 0.08, D0(Ni(+)-CH) = 3.12 +/- 0.12, D0(Ni(+)-CH2) = 3.20 +/- 0.08, D0(Ni(+)-CH3) = 1.76 +/- 0.07, and D0(Ni(+)-CH4) = 1.00 +/- 0.05. The experimental thermochemistry is favorably compared with previous experimental results and density functional theory calculations (B3LYP), which also establish the electronic structures of these species and provide insight into the reaction mechanism. The results for Ni(+) are compared with those for the third-row transition metal congener Pt+ and the differences in behavior and mechanism are discussed.

Thermal desorption/tunable vacuum-ultraviolet time-of-flight photoionization aerosol mass spectrometry for investigating secondary organic aerosols in chamber experiments.

This paper describes thermal desorption/tunable vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry (TD-VUV-TOF-PIAMS) for the real-time analysis of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) in smog chamber experiments. SOAs are sampled directly from atmospheric pressure and are focused through an aerodynamic lens assembly into the mass spectrometer. Once the particles have entered the source region, they impact on a heater and are vaporized. The nascent vapor is then softly ionized by tunable VUV synchrotron radiation. TD-VUV-TOF-PIAMS was used in conjunction with the smog chamber to study SOA formation from the photooxidation of toluene with hydroxyl radicals. The ionization energies (IEs) of these SOA products are sometimes very different with each other. As the ideal photon source is tunable, its energy can be adjusted for each molecular to be ionized. The mass spectra obtained at different photon energies are then to be useful for molecular identification. Real-time analysis of the mass spectra of SOAs is compared with previous off-line measurements. These results illustrate the potential of TD-VUV-TOF-PIAMS for direct molecular characterization of SOAs in smog chamber experiments.

Guided ion-beam studies of the reactions of Con+(n=2–20) with O2: Cobalt cluster-oxide and -dioxide bond energies

The kinetic-energy dependence for the reactions of Co(n)+ (n=2-20) with O2 is measured as a function of kinetic energy over a range of 0 to 10 eV in a guided ion-beam tandem mass spectrometer. A variety of Co(m)+, Co(m)O+, and Co(m)O2+ (m < or = n) product ions is observed, with the dioxide cluster ions dominating the products for all larger clusters. Reaction efficiencies of Co(n)+ cations with O2 are near unity for all but the dimer. Bond dissociation energies for both cobalt cluster oxides and dioxides are derived from threshold analysis of the energy dependence of the endothermic reactions using several different methods. These values show little dependence on cluster size for clusters larger than three atoms. The trends in this thermochemistry and the stabilities of oxygenated cobalt clusters are discussed. The bond energies of Co(n)+-O for larger clusters are found to be very close to the value for desorption of atomic oxygen from bulk-phase cobalt. Rate constants for O2 chemisorption on the cationic clusters are compared with results from previous work on cationic, anionic, and neutral cobalt clusters.

Guided ion beam studies of the reaction of Nin + (n=2-16) with D2: Nickel cluster-deuteride bond energies

The kinetic-energy dependences of the reactions of Nin+ (n=2–16) with D2 are studied in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer. The products observed are NinD+ for all clusters and NinD2+ for n=5–16. Reactions for formation of NinD+ are observed to exhibit thresholds, whereas cross sections for formation of NinD2+ (n=5–16) exhibit no obvious barriers to reaction. Rate constants of D2 chemisorption on the cationic clusters are compared with results from previous work on neutral nickel clusters. Nin+–D bond energies as a function of cluster size are derived from threshold analysis of the kinetic-energy dependence of the endothermic reactions, and are compared to previously determined metal–metal bond energies, D0(Nin+–Ni). The bond energies of Nin+–D generally increase as the cluster size increases, and parallel those for Nin+–Ni for many clusters. These trends are explained in terms of electronic and geometric structures for the Nin+ clusters. The bond energies of Nin+–D for larger clusters (n⩾11) are ...

Dissociative photoionization of isoprene : experiments and calculations

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) dissociative photoionization of isoprene in the energy region 8.5-18 eV was investigated with photoionization mass spectroscopy (PIMS) using synchrotron radiation (SR). The ionization energy (IE) of isoprene as well as the appearance energies (AEs) of its fragment ions C(5)H(7) (+), C(5)H(5) (+), C(4)H(5) (+), C(3)H(6) (+), C(3)H(5) (+), C(3)H(4) (+), C(3)H(3) (+) and C(2)H(3) (+) were determined with photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves. The dissociation energies of some possible dissociation channels to produce those fragment ions were also determined experimentally. The total energies of C(5)H(8) and its main fragments were calculated using the Gaussian 03 program and the Gaussian-2 method. The IE of C(5)H(8), the AEs for its fragment ions, and the dissociation energies to produce them were predicted using the high-accuracy energy model. According to our results, the experimental dissociation energies were in reasonable agreement with the calculated values of the proposed photodissociation channels of C(5)H(8).

Dissociative photoionization of 1,3-butadiene: experimental and theoretical insights.

The vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization and dissociative photoionization of 1,3-butadiene in a region ∼8.5-17 eV have been investigated with time-of-flight photoionization mass spectrometry using tunable synchrotron radiation. The adiabatic ionization energy of 1,3-butadiene and appearance energies for its fragment ions, C(4)H(5)(+), C(4)H(4)(+), C(4)H(3)(+), C(3)H(3)(+), C(2)H(4)(+), C(2)H(3)(+), and C(2)H(2)(+), are determined to be 9.09, 11.72, 13.11, 15.20, 11.50, 12.44, 15.15, and 15.14 eV, respectively, by measurements of photoionization efficiency spectra. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been performed to investigate the reaction mechanism of dissociative photoionization of 1,3-butadiene. On the basis of experimental and theoretical results, seven dissociative photoionization channels are proposed: C(4)H(5)(+) + H, C(4)H(4)(+) + H(2), C(4)H(3)(+) + H(2) + H, C(3)H(3)(+) + CH(3), C(2)H(4)(+) + C(2)H(2), C(2)H(3)(+) + C(2)H(2) + H, and C(2)H(2)(+) + C(2)H(2) + H(2). Channel C(3)H(3)(+) + CH(3) is found to be the dominant one, followed by C(4)H(5)(+) + H and C(2)H(4)(+) + C(2)H(2). The majority of these channels occur via isomerization prior to dissociation. Transition structures and intermediates for those isomerization processes were also determined.

Competitive fragmentation pathways of acetic acid dimer explored by synchrotron VUV photoionization mass spectrometry and electronic structure calculations

In present study, photoionization and dissociation of acetic acid dimers have been studied with the synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry and theoretical calculations. Besides the intense signal corresponding to protonated cluster ions (CH(3)COOH)(n)·H(+), the feature related to the fragment ions (CH(3)COOH)H(+)·COO (105 amu) via β-carbon-carbon bond cleavage is observed. By scanning photoionization efficiency spectra, appearance energies of the fragments (CH(3)COOH)·H(+) and (CH(3)COOH)H(+)·COO are obtained. With the aid of theoretical calculations, seven fragmentation channels of acetic acid dimer cations were discussed, where five cation isomers of acetic acid dimer are involved. While four of them are found to generate the protonated species, only one of them can dissociate into a C-C bond cleavage product (CH(3)COOH)H(+)·COO. After surmounting the methyl hydrogen-transfer barrier 10.84 ± 0.05 eV, the opening of dissociative channel to produce ions (CH(3)COOH)(+) becomes the most competitive path. When photon energy increases to 12.4 eV, we also found dimer cations can be fragmented and generate new cations (CH(3)COOH)·CH(3)CO(+). Kinetics, thermodynamics, and entropy factors for these competitive dissociation pathways are discussed. The present report provides a clear picture of the photoionization and dissociation processes of the acetic acid dimer in the range of the photon energy 9-15 eV.

Thermochemistry of the activation of N2 on iron cluster cations: Guided ion beam studies of the reactions of Fen+ (n=1–19) with N2

The kinetic energy dependences of the reactions of Fe(n)+ (n = 1-19) with N2 are studied in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer over the energy range of 0-15 eV. In addition to collision-induced dissociation forming Fe(m)+ ions, which dominate the product spectra, a variety of Fe(m)N2+ and Fe(m)N+ product ions, where m < or = n, is observed. All processes are observed to exhibit thresholds. Fe(m)+ - N and Fe(m)+ - 2N bond energies as a function of cluster size are derived from the threshold analysis of the kinetic energy dependences of the endothermic reactions. The trends in this thermochemistry are compared to the isoelectronic D0(Fe(n)+ - CH), and to bulk phase values. A fairly uniform barrier of 0.48+/-0.03 eV at 0 K is observed for formation of the Fe(n)N2+ product ions (n = 12, 15-19) and can be related to the rate-limiting step in the Haber process for catalytic ammonia production.