Selective identification of cyclopentaring-fused PAHs and side-substituted PAHs in a low pressure premixed sooting flame by photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy

This work reports on the selective on-line identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) formed in a low-pressure methane sooting flame, carried out using the double imaging Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence Spectroscopy method (i(2)PEPICO) on the DESIRS VUV beamline at the synchrotron SOLEIL. Generally, this work demonstrates the capabilities of the i(2)PEPICO method to identify PAHs in sooting flames, and in particular to distinguish cyclopentaring-fused PAHs (CP-PAHs) and side-substituted PAHs from their benzenoid isomers. Experimental threshold photoelectron spectra of four CP-PAHs: acenapthylene (C12H8, 152m/z), acenaphtene (C12H10, 154m/z), fluoranthene (C16H10, 202m/z) and benzo(ghi)fluoranthene (C18H10, 226m/z) are also reported for the first time.