Regular Article

Ion-collision induced molecular growth in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon clusters: comparison of C₁₆H₁₀ structural isomers^★

Normandie Université, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, CIMAP, 14000 Caen, France

^a e-mail: patrick.rousseau@unicaen.fr

Received: 30 March 2018
Received in final form: 25 May 2018
Published online: 7 September 2018

Abstract

The interaction of 3 keV Ar⁺ ions with clusters of two structural isomers of C₁₆H₁₀ polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, namely fluoranthene and pyrene, has been studied. Following the collision with the atomic projectile, a rich molecular growth inside of the cluster is observed for both isomers. The observed growth processes include the hydrogenation of the parent molecule and the addition of CH_x units. They are more important in the case of collisions with fluoranthene clusters, this can be explained by a more flexible carbon skeleton and lower reaction barriers. Moreover, the evolution of the hydrogenation with the size of the growth products gives information on the growth mechanisms.