Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

2019

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Chemistry - A European Journal

Volume

25

First Page

8431

Last Page

8439

DOI of Original Publication

10.1002/chem.201900363

Comments

The available file is the pdf of the accepted manuscript. A link to the published article is here: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201900363

Date of Submission

August 2019

Abstract

The ultrafast dynamics of polyatomic radical cat- ions contribute to important processes including energy transfer in photovoltaics, electron transfer in photocataly- sis, radiation-induced DNA damage, and chemical reac- tions in the upper atmosphere and space. Probing these dynamics in the gas phase is challenging due to the rapid dissociation of polyatomic radical cations following elec- tron removal, which arises from excess electronic excita- tion of the molecule during the ionization process. This Concept article introduces the reader to how the pump- probe technique of femtosecond time-resolved mass spectrometry (FTRMS) can overcome this challenge to capture coherent vibrational dynamics on the femtosec- ond timescale in polyatomic radical cations and enable the analysis of their dissociation pathways. Examples of FTRMS applied to three families of polyatomic radical cat- ions are discussed.

Is Part Of

VCU Chemistry Publications

Included in

Chemistry Commons

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