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The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photodissociation of OCS via the F 31Π Rydberg states was investigated in the range of 134–140 nm, by means of the time-sliced velocity map ion imaging technique. The images of S (1D2) products from the CO (X1Σ+) + S (1D2) dissociation channel were acquired at five photolysis wavelengths, corresponding to a series of symmetric stretching vibrational excitations in OCS (F 31Π, v1=0-4). The total translational energy distributions, vibrational populations and angular distributions of CO (X1Σ+, v) coproducts were derived. The analysis of experimental results suggests that the excited OCS molecules dissociate to CO (X1Σ+) and S (1D2) products via non-adiabatic couplings between the upper F 31Π states and the lower-lying states both in the C∞v and Cs symmetry. Furthermore, strong wavelength dependent behavior has been observed: the greatly distinct vibrational populations and angular distributions of CO (X1Σ+, v) products from the lower (v1=0-2) and higher (v1=3,4) vibrational states of the excited OCS (F 31Π, v1) demonstrate that very different mechanisms are involved in the dissociation processes. This study provides evidence for the possible contribution of vibronic coupling and the crucial role of vibronic coupling on the VUV photodissociation dynamics.
A fundamental study on C?C coupling that is the crucial step in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) process to obtain multi-carbon products is of great importance to tailor catalysts and then guide a more promising pathway. It has been demonstrated that the coupling of CO with the metal carbide can represent the early stage in the FTS process, while the related mechanism is elusive. Herein, the reactions of the CuC3H– and CuC3– cluster anions with CO have been studied by using mass spectrometry and theoretical calculations. The experimental results showed that the coupling of CO with the C3H– moiety of CuC3H– can generate the exclusive ion product COC3H–. The reactivity and selectivity of this reaction are greatly higher than that on the reaction of CuC3– with CO, and this H-assisted C?C coupling process was rationalized by theoretical calculations.