Exploring the vacuum ultraviolet photochemistry of astrochemically important triatomic molecules

Chang, Yao1; Ashfold, Michael N. R.2; Yuan, Kaijun1,3,4; Yang, Xueming1,4,5

2023-06-28

10.1093/nsr/nwad158

NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW   Impact Factor & Quartile

2095-5138

2053-714X

["The recently constructed vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) free electron laser (FEL) at the Dalian Coherent Light Source (DCLS) is yielding a wealth of new and exquisitely detailed information about the photofragmentation dynamics of many small gas-phase molecules. This Review focuses particular attention on five triatomic molecules-H2O, H2S, CO2, OCS and CS2. Each shows excitation wavelength-dependent dissociation dynamics, yielding photofragments that populate a range of electronic and (in the case of diatomic fragments) vibrational and rotational quantum states, which can be characterized by different translational spectroscopy methods. The photodissociation of an isolated molecule from a well-defined initial quantum state provides a lens through which one can investigate how and why chemical reactions occur, and provides numerous opportunities for fruitful, synergistic collaborations with high-level ab initio quantum chemists. The chosen molecules, their photofragments and the subsequent chemical reaction networks to which they can contribute are all crucial in planetary atmospheres and in interstellar and circumstellar environments. The aims of this Review are 3-fold: to highlight new photochemical insights enabled by the VUV-FEL at the DCLS, notably the recently recognized central atom elimination process that is shown to contribute in all of these triatomic molecules; to highlight some of the potential implications of this rich photochemistry to our understanding of interstellar chemistry and molecular evolution within the universe; and to highlight other and future research directions in areas related to chemical reaction dynamics and astrochemistry that will be enabled by increased access to VUV-FEL sources.","This review summarizes rich photochemistry of triatomic molecules in the vacuum ultraviolet region, and their potential implications to our understanding of interstellar chemistry and molecular evolution in the universe."]

vacuum ultraviolet photochemistry photodissociation free electron laser interstellar chemistry chemistry of planetary atmospheres

SCI

English

Others

National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)["21873099","21922306","22225303"] ; NSFC Center for Chemical Dynamics[22288201] ; Key Technology Team of the Chinese Academy of Sciences[GJJSTD20220001] ; Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology[2021ZD0303304] ; Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program[XLYC1907154] ; Innovation Fund Project of Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics[DICP I202112] ; Guangdong Science and Technology Program["2019ZT08L455","2019JC01X091"] ; Shenzhen Science and Technology Program[ZDSYS20200421111001787] ; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation[2021M693118]

Science & Technology - Other Topics

Multidisciplinary Sciences

WOS:001074811800001

OXFORD UNIV PRESS

Web of Science

1.Chinese Acad Sci, Dalian Inst Chem Phys, State Key Lab Mol React Dynam, Dalian 116023, Peoples R China
2.Univ Bristol, Sch Chem, Bristol BS8 1TS, England
3.Univ Chinese Acad Sci, Beijing 100049, Peoples R China
4.Hefei Natl Lab, Hefei 230088, Peoples R China
5.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Coll Sci, Dept Chem, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Chang, Yao,Ashfold, Michael N. R.,Yuan, Kaijun,et al. Exploring the vacuum ultraviolet photochemistry of astrochemically important triatomic molecules[J]. NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW,2023,10(8).

Chang, Yao,Ashfold, Michael N. R.,Yuan, Kaijun,&Yang, Xueming.(2023).Exploring the vacuum ultraviolet photochemistry of astrochemically important triatomic molecules.NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW,10(8).

Chang, Yao,et al."Exploring the vacuum ultraviolet photochemistry of astrochemically important triatomic molecules".NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW 10.8(2023).