Issue 20, 2024

Reaction of size-selected iron-oxide cluster cations with methane: a model study of rapid methane loss in Mars’ atmosphere

Abstract

We report gas-phase reactions of free iron-oxide clusters, FenOm+, and their Ar adducts with methane in the context of chemical processes in Mars’ atmosphere. Methane activation was observed to produce FenOmCH2+/FenOmCD2+ and FenOmC+, where the reactivity exhibited size and composition dependence. For example, the rate coefficients of methane activation for Fe3O+ and Fe4O+ were estimated to be 1 × 10−13 and 3 × 10−13 cm3 s−1, respectively. Based on these reaction rate coefficients, the presence of iron-oxide clusters/particles with a density as low as 107 cm−3 in Mars’ atmosphere would explain the rapid loss of methane observed recently by the Curiosity rover.

Graphical abstract: Reaction of size-selected iron-oxide cluster cations with methane: a model study of rapid methane loss in Mars’ atmosphere

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 mar 2024
Accepted
25 apr 2024
First published
27 apr 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024,26, 14684-14690

Reaction of size-selected iron-oxide cluster cations with methane: a model study of rapid methane loss in Mars’ atmosphere

M. Arakawa, S. Kono, Y. Sekine and A. Terasaki, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024, 26, 14684 DOI: 10.1039/D4CP01337A

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