Anomalous formation of trihydrogen cations from water on nanoparticles

Abstract

Regarded as the most important ion in interstellar chemistry, the trihydrogen cation, $${{\rm{H}}}_{{{3}}}^{+}$$ H 3 + , plays a vital role in the formation of water and many complex organic molecules believed to be responsible for life in our universe. Apart from traditional plasma discharges, recent laboratory studies have focused on forming the trihydrogen cation from large organic molecules during their interactions with intense radiation and charged particles. In contrast, we present results on forming $${{\rm{H}}}_{{{3}}}^{+}$$ H 3 + from bimolecular reactions that involve only an inorganic molecule, namely water, without the presence of any organic molecules to facilitate its formation. This generation of $${{\rm{H}}}_{{{3}}}^{+}$$ H 3 + is enabled by “engineering” a suitable reaction environment comprising water-covered silica nanoparticles exposed to intense, femtosecond laser pulses. Similar, naturally-occurring, environments might exist in astrophysical settings where hydrated nanometer-sized dust particles are impacted by cosmic rays of charged particles or solar wind ions. Our results are a clear manifestation of how aerosolized nanoparticles in intense femtosecond laser fields can serve as a catalysts that enable exotic molecular entities to be produced via non-traditional routes.

Imaging elliptically polarized infrared near-fields on nanoparticles by strong-field dissociation of functional surface groups

“…In particular, the method facilitates the imaging of the enhanced near-fields around dielectric nanoparticles [ 12 ], while also providing information about their morphology [ 13 ]. Recently, reaction nanoscopy unveiled the laser-induced formation of trihydrogen cations on water-covered silica nanoparticles, thereby extending its application to surface photochemistry [ 14 ].…”

“…Previous studies have revealed that the measured ion momentum distribution closely follows the distribution of the optical near-field on the nanoparticle surface [ 12 , 13 ]. So far, reaction nanoscopy has been demonstrated for linearly polarized fields at wavelengths of 720 nm [ 12 ] and 1030 nm [ 13 , 14 ]. In addition to the near-field, reaction nanoscopy also allows a mapping of chemical reaction yields on a nanoparticle surface with nanometer resolution.…”

Light-Induced Ultrafast Molecular Dynamics: From Photochemistry to Optochemistry

“…Apart from the deprotonation process induced in nanosystems, detection of H 3 + ions forming in the strong field interaction of nanospheres via reaction involving two water molecules attached to the nanosurface has been reported (shown in Figure 11 ). 102 In this study, nanoparticles provide a unique environment including nanoscale near-field enhancement, electron trapping, local charge interactions, etc. Complex molecular reactions via four different pathways were expected for the formation of trihydrogen cations, where hydrogen migration is necessary.…”

“… (a and b) Momentum distribution and energy spectra of H 3 + from 300 nm silica nanoparticles. Used with permission from ref ( 102 ). Copyright 2021 Alghabra et al (c) The time of flight (TOF) spectra for ion emission from D 2 O in gas phase and on nanoparticles.…”

Enhancing Gas Solubility in Water via Femtosecond Laser-Induced Plasma

“… 5 These properties allow us to precisely modify materials and to investigate ultrafast mechanisms during phase transitions or biochemical and chemical reactions. 1 , 6 − 9 …”