Dynamics and fragmentation of van der Waals and hydrogen bonded cluster cations: (NH3)n and (NH3BH3)n ionized at 10.51 eV

A 118 nm laser is employed as a high energy, single photon (10.51 eV/photon) source for study of the dynamics and fragmentation of the ammonia borane (NH3BH3) cation and its cluster ions through time of flight mass spectrometry. The behavior of ammonia ion and its cluster ions is also investigated under identical conditions in order to explicate the ammonia borane results. Charge distributions, molecular orbitals, and spin densities for (NH3BH3)(n) and its cations are explored at both the second-order perturbation theory (MP2) and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) theory levels. Initial dissociation mechanisms and potential energy surfaces for ionized NH3BH3, NH3, and their clusters are calculated at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level. Protonated clusters (NH3)(x)H+ dominate ammonia cluster mass spectra: our calculations show that formation of (NH3)(n-1)H+ and NH2 from the nascent (NH3)(n)(+) has the lowest energy barrier for the system. The only common features for the (NH3)(n)(+) and (NH3BH3)(n)(+) mass spectra under these conditions are found to be NHy+ (y = 0,...,4) at m/z = 14-18. Molecular ions with both B-11 and B-10 isotopes are observed, and therefore, product ions observed for the (NH3BH3)(n) cluster system derive from (NH3BH3)(n) clusters themselves, not from the NH3 moiety of NH3BH3 alone. NH3BH2+ is the most abundant ionization product in the (NH3BH3)(n)(+) cluster spectra: calculations support that for NH3BH3+, an H atom is lost from the BH3 moiety with an energy barrier of 0.67 eV. For (NH3BH3)(2)(+) and (NH3BH3)(3)(+) clusters, a B delta+center dot center dot center dot H delta-center dot center dot center dot H delta-center dot center dot center dot delta B+ bond can form in the respective cluster ions, generating a lower energy, more stable ion structure. The first step in the (NH3BH3)(n)(+) (n = 2, 3) dissociation is the breaking of the B delta+center dot center dot center dot H delta-center dot center dot center dot H delta-center dot center dot center dot delta B+ moiety, leading to the subsequent release of H-2 from the latter cluster ion. The overall reaction mechanisms calculated are best represented and understood employing a CASSCF natural bond orbital description of the valence electron distribution for the various clusters and monomers. Comparison of the present results with those found for solid NH3BH3 suggests that NH3BH3 can be a good hydrogen storage material. Published by AIP Publishing.