Watching molecular ions transform in real time
A new method that combines ultrafast electron diffraction with multiphoton ionisation has captured the dynamics of a cation in the gas phase for the first time
The formation and structural dynamics of molecular ions in the gas phase have been monitored for the first time using high-speed electron diffraction combined with resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionisation. The new method overcomes some of the difficulties associated with exploring these chemical species, unlocking exciting opportunities in ion chemistry.
‘This remarkable achievement opens up a new frontier in imaging, offering a paramount contribution to our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing chemistry,’ says Andrea Trabattoni at DESY Hamburg and Leibniz University Hannover in Germany, who wasn’t involved in the study. He calls the approach groundbreaking and says that it holds promise for extension to other systems.