On the structure and photodissociation of cluster ions in the gas phase. (N2) (O2+) and (NO)2+

Results are presented for two experiments on N₂O₂⁺ cluster ions formed via the reactions O₂⁺ + N₂ + M → (N₂) (O₂⁺) + M (i), and NO⁺ + NO + M → (NO)₂⁺ + M (ii). In the first experiment the N₂O₂⁺ clusters are collisionally dissociated. The resulting collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra show almost exclusively O₂⁺ and N₂⁺ products from N₂ O₂⁺ formed via the first reaction, and almost exclusively NO⁺ products from N₂O₂⁺ formed via the second reaction. In the second experiment, single-photon photodissociation of N₂O₂⁺ ions produced by both reactions (i) and (ii) was investigate using 514.5 and 634 nm radiation. The results indicate that the N₂O₂⁺ cluster from reaction (i) cannot be photodissociated while the N₂O₂⁺ cluster from reaction (ii) undergoes photodissociation at both wavelengths. These experiments indicate that two distinct N₂O₂⁺ cluster ions exist and that reactions (i) and (ii) selectively produce the two ions.