Ions colliding with mixed clusters of C-60 and coronene : Fragmentation and bond formation

• We have studied collisions between 22.5 keV He2+ ions and mixed clusters [(C-60)(m)(C24H12)(n)] of m C-60 and n coronene molecules where m and n range up to about ten. Surprisingly, the cluster fragmentation behavior in distant collisions is dramatically different for pure coronene clusters (m = 0) and clusters containing a single C-60 molecule (m = 1). In the latter case, the clusters may be ionized without also being fragmented on the experimental time scale of tens of microseconds. This does not occur for pure coronene clusters, but is a main characteristic of pure fullerene clusters. For ion trajectories penetrating the mixed cluster, we observe covalent bond formations between C-59 or C-58 and C-60, but not between coronene fragments and C-60, or between C-60 fragments and coronene. These results are explained by means of classical molecular dynamics simulations of collisions inside the fragmenting mixed clusters.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Physics

fysik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)