THE CATALYTIC ROLE OF CORONENE FOR MOLECULAR HYDROGEN FORMATION

We present the results of an experimental study on the interaction of atomic deuterium with coronene films. The effects of D atom irradiation have been analyzed with infrared spectroscopy. The spectral changes provide evidence for deuteration of the outer edge coronene C sites via a D addition reaction. A cross section of 1.1 Å2 is estimated for the deuteration process of coronene. HD and D2 molecules form, through abstraction reactions, on deuterated coronene sites with a cross section of 0.06 Å2. The magnitude of both cross sections is in line with an Eley-Rideal type process. The results show that hydrogenated neutral polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules act as catalysts for the formation of molecular hydrogen.