Guided ion beams study of ion-molecule reactions at low collision energies: The Li+-acetone adduct formation in the 0.10-1.00Â eV center of mass energy range

A new apparatus optimised for the study of low-energy ion-neutral molecule collisions, designed and built in the University of Barcelona, is described in this Letter, as well as its use for the study, under single collision conditions, of the acetone-lithium ion system. The cross-section energy dependence in the 0.10-1.00 eV center of mass energy range has been measured in arbitrary units for the Li+-acetone adduct formation. Also, an empirical potential energy surface for the lithium-acetone adduct has been constructed and used to provide a qualitative interpretation of the reaction.

Under single collision conditions and using radio frequency guides, the reaction between ground state lithium ions and acetone molecules has been studied and the [Li-acetone]+ adduct observed at different relative collision energies.