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Generation of [H 3 O] + .(H 2 O) n clusters by positive corona discharge in air
Author(s) -
Pavlik M.,
Skalny J. D.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0231(19971030)11:16<1757::aid-rcm16>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - chemistry , corona discharge , corona (planetary geology) , astrobiology , physics , electrode , venus
A mass spectrometric study of ions extracted from DC positive corona discharges in ambient air has been carried out within the air pressure range of 2.5 kPa–20 kPa. The multicomponent character of the mass spectra was confirmed. The dominant series of ions observed in the mass spectra were of the type [H 3 O] + (H 2 O) n especially in the low current regime. In the high current regime, or ‘streamer’ regime of the corona discharge, atomic nitrogen and oxygen ions were also discovered, but the intensities of these were relatively low in comparison with the intensities of peaks correpsonding to the molecular ions. A new mechanism responsible for the disappearance of [O 2 ] + and its hydrated forms from the mass spectra is given. This is based on the set of stepwise processes originated by the three‐body process. O 2 + +H 2 O+M→O 2 + .H 2 O+M The model is also capable of explaining some other phenomena initiated by the presence of water in the air, as well as the effects observed in dry air. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.