Determination of geometrical structure of CCl3+ by trapped-ion electron diffraction

• Published in: Chemical physics letters Vol. 802; p. 139753
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Takahiro, Kato, Keiko, Tanaka, Hideaki, Isoyama, Kazuki, Kanya, Reika, Yamanouchi, Kaoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2022
• ISSN: 0009-2614; 1873-4448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2022.139753

[Display omitted] •A trapped-ion electron diffraction apparatus equipped with an RF ion trap was set up.•CCl3+ ions generated by photodissociation of CCl4 were trapped in the ion trap.•An electron diffraction pattern of CCl3+ trapped in the ion trap was recorded.•The signals originating from background gases and stray electrons were suppressed.•The internuclear distances r(C-Cl) and r(Cl⋯Cl) of trapped CCl3+ were determined. A trapped-ion electron diffraction (TIED) apparatus has been developed. By sufficient suppression of the background signals originating from electrons scattered by residual gases and those originating from the back-scattered and secondary electrons generated at a Faraday cup, the gas electron diffraction pattern of CCl3+, generated through the dissociative ionization of CCl4 by near-IR ultrashort intense laser pulses, is recorded using the TIED apparatus at the electron acceleration voltage of 18.8 keV. The determined internuclear distances, r(C-Cl) = 1.66(2) Å and r(Cl⋯Cl) = 2.87(2) Å, which are consistent with theoretically calculated values, confirm that CCl3+ takes a planar geometry.