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CO 2 -rich planetary atmospheres are continuously exposed to ionising radiation driving major photochemical processes. In the Martian atmosphere, CO 2  clusters are predicted to exist at high altitudes motivating a deeper understanding of their photochemistry. In this joint experimental-theoretical study, we investigate the photoreactions of CO 2  clusters (≤2 nm) induced by soft X-ray ionisation. We observe dramatically enhanced production of    $$\rm{O_{2}^{+}$$  O 2 + from photoionized CO 2  clusters compared to the case of the isolated molecule and identify two relevant reactions. Using quantum chemistry calculations and multi-coincidence mass spectrometry, we pinpoint the origin of this enhancement: A size-dependent structural transition of the clusters from a covalently bonded arrangement to a weakly bonded polyhedral geometry that activates an exothermic reaction producing    $$\rm{O_{2}^{+}$$  O 2 + . Our results unambiguously demonstrate that the photochemistry of small clusters/particles will likely have a strong influence on the ion balance in atmospheres.

The origin of enhanced $${{{{{{{{\rm{O}}}}}}}}}_{2}^{+}$$ production from photoionized CO2 clusters