Low Temperature Kinetics of the First Steps of Water Cluster Formation

We present a combined experimental and theoretical low temperature kinetic study of water cluster formation. Water cluster growth takes place in low temperature (23-69 K) supersonic flows. The observed kinetics of formation of water clusters are reproduced with a kinetic model based on theoretical predictions for the first steps of clusterization. The temperature- and pressure-dependent association and dissociation rate coefficients are predicted with an ab initio transition state theory based master equation approach over a wide range of temperatures (20-100 K) and pressures (10^{-6}-10  bar).

Weakly Bound Free Radicals in Combustion: "Prompt" Dissociation of Formyl Radicals and Its Effect on Laminar Flame Speeds

Weakly bound free radicals have low-dissociation thresholds such that at high temperatures, time scales for dissociation and collisional relaxation become comparable, leading to significant dissociation during the vibrational-rotational relaxation process. Here we characterize this "prompt" dissociation of formyl (HCO), an important combustion radical, using direct dynamics calculations for OH + CH2O and H + CH2O (key HCO-forming reactions). For all other HCO-forming reactions, presumption of a thermal incipient HCO distribution was used to derive prompt dissociation fractions. Inclusion of these theoretically derived HCO prompt dissociation fractions into combustion kinetics models provides an additional source for H-atoms that feeds chain-branching reactions. Simulations using these updated combustion models are therefore shown to enhance flame propagation in 1,3,5-trioxane and acetylene. The present results suggest that HCO prompt dissociation should be included when simulating flames of hydrocarbons and oxygenated molecules and that prompt dissociations of other weakly bound radicals may also impact combustion simulations.

Pressure dependent low temperature kinetics for CN + CH3CN: competition between chemical reaction and van der Waals complex formation

The gas phase reaction between the CN radical and acetonitrile CH₃CN was investigated experimentally with a CRESU apparatus and a slow flow reactor as well as theoretically to explore the temperature and pressure dependence of its rate coefficient from 354 K down to 23 K.

Pressure-dependent rate constants for PAH growth: formation of indene and its conversion to naphthalene

Unraveling the mechanisms for growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) requires accurate temperature- and pressure-dependent rate coefficients for a great variety of feasible pathways. Even the pathways for the formation of the simplest PAHs, indene and naphthalene, are fairly complex. These pathways provide important prototypes for modeling larger PAH growth. In this work we employ the ab initio RRKM theory-based master equation approach to predict the rate constants involved in the formation of indene and its conversion to naphthalene. The reactions eventually leading to indene involve C₉H_x (x = 8–11) potential energy surfaces (PESs) and include C₆H₅ + C₃H₄ (allene and propyne), C₆H₆ + C₃H₃, benzyl + C₂H₂, C₆H₅ + C₃H₆, C₆H₆ + C₃H₅ and C₆H₅ + C₃H₅. These predictions allow us to make a number of valuable observations on the role of various mechanisms. For instance, we demonstrate that reactions which can significantly contribute to the formation of indene include phenyl + allene and H-assisted isomerization to indene of its major product, 3-phenylpropyne, benzyl + acetylene, and the reactions of the phenyl radical with propene and the allyl radical, both proceeding via the 3-phenylpropene intermediate. 3-Phenylpropene can be activated to a 1-phenylallyl radical, which in turn rapidly decomposes to indene. Next, indene can be converted to benzofulvene or naphthalene under typical combustion conditions, via its activation by H atom abstraction and methyl substitution on the five-membered ring followed by isomerization and decomposition of the resulting 1-methylindenyl radical, C₁₀H₉ → C₁₀H₈ + H. Alternatively, the same region of the C₁₀H₉ PES can be accessed through the reaction of benzyl with propargyl, C₇H₇ + C₃H₃ → C₁₀H₁₀ → C₁₀H₉ + H, which therefore can also contribute to the formation of benzofulvene or naphthalene. Benzofulvene easily transforms to naphthalene by H-assisted isomerization. An analysis of the effect of pressure on the reaction outcome and relative product yields is given, and modified Arrhenius fits of the rate constants are reported for the majority of the considered reactions. Ultimately, the implementation of such expressions in detailed kinetic models will help quantify the role of these reactions for PAH growth in various environments.

Kinetics of Propargyl Radical Dissociation

Due to the prominent role of the propargyl radical for hydrocarbon growth within combustion environments, it is important to understand the kinetics of its formation and loss. The ab initio transition state theory-based master equation method is used to obtain theoretical kinetic predictions for the temperature and pressure dependence of the thermal decomposition of propargyl, which may be its primary loss channel under some conditions. The potential energy surface for the decomposition of propargyl is first mapped at a high level of theory with a combination of coupled cluster and multireference perturbation calculations. Variational transition state theory is then used to predict the microcanonical rate coefficients, which are subsequently implemented within the multiple-well multiple-channel master equation. A variety of energy transfer parameters are considered, and the sensitivity of the thermal rate predictions to these parameters is explored. The predictions for the thermal decomposition rate coefficient are found to be in good agreement with the limited experimental data. Modified Arrhenius representations of the rate constants are reported for utility in combustion modeling.

Effects of new Ab initio rate coefficients on predictions of species formed during n-butanol ignition and pyrolysis

Experimental, time-resolved species profiles provide critical tests in developing accurate combustion models for biofuels such as n-butanol. A number of such species profiles measured by Karwat et al. [ Karwat, D. M. A.; et al. J. Phys. Chem. A 2011 , 115 , 4909 ] were discordant with predictions from a well-tested chemical kinetic mechanism developed by Black et al. [ Black, G.; et al. Combust. Flame 2010 , 157 , 363 ]. Since then, significant theoretical and experimental efforts have focused on determining the rate coefficients of primary n-butanol consumption pathways in combustion environments, including H atom abstraction reactions from n-butanol by key radicals such as HO2 and OH, as well as the decomposition of the radicals formed by these H atom abstractions. These reactions not only determine the overall reactivity of n-butanol, but also significantly affect the concentrations of intermediate species formed during n-butanol ignition. In this paper we explore the effect of incorporating new ab initio predictions into the Black et al. mechanism on predictions of ignition delay time and species time histories for the experimental conditions studied by Karwat et al. The revised predictions for the intermediate species time histories are in much improved agreement with the measurements, but some discrepancies persist. A rate of production analysis comparing the effects of various modifications to the Black et al. mechanism shows significant changes in the predicted consumption pathways of n-butanol, and of the hydroxybutyl and butoxy radicals formed by H atom abstraction from n-butanol. The predictions from the newly revised mechanism are in very good agreement with the low-pressure n-butanol pyrolysis product species measurements of Stranic et al. [ Stranic, I.; et al. Combust. Flame 2012 , 159 , 3242 ] for all but one species. Importantly, the changes to the Black et al. mechanism show that concentrations of small products from n-butanol pyrolysis are sensitive to different reactions than those presented by Stranic et al.

Ab initio Variational Transition State Theory and Master Equation Study of the Reaction (OH)3SiOCH2 + CH3 ⇌ (OH)3SiOC2H5

In this paper we use variable reaction coordinate variational transition state theory (VRC-TST) to calculate the reaction rate constants for the two reactions, R1: (OH)3SiOCH2 + CH3 ⇌ (OH)3SiOC2H5, and R2: CH2OH + CH3 ⇌ C2H5OH. The first reaction is an important channel during the thermal decomposition of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), and its rate coefficient is the main focus of this work. The second reaction is analogous to the first and is used as a basis for comparison. The interaction energies are obtained on-the-fly at the CASPT2(2e,2o)/cc-pVDZ level of theory. A one-dimensional correction to the sampled energies was introduced to account for the energetic effects of geometry relaxation along the reaction path. The computed, high-pressure rate coefficients were calculated to be, R1: k 1 = 2.406 × 10−10 T −0.301 exp (− 271.4/T) cm3 molecule –1 s –1 and R2: k 2 = 1.316 × 10−10 T −0.189 exp (− 256.5/T) cm3 molecule –1 s –1. These rates differ from each other by only 10% – 30% over the temperature range 300–2000 K. A comparison of the computed rates with experimental data shows good agreement and an improvement over previous results. The pressure dependency of the reaction R1 is explored by solving a master equation using helium as a bath gas. The results obtained show that the reaction is only weakly pressure dependent over the temperature range 300–1700 K, with the predicted rate constant being within 50% of its high-pressure limit at atmospheric pressure.

Predictive a priori pressure-dependent kinetics

The ability to predict the pressure dependence of chemical reaction rates would be a great boon to kinetic modeling of processes such as combustion and atmospheric chemistry. This pressure dependence is intimately related to the rate of collision-induced transitions in energy E and angular momentum J. We present a scheme for predicting this pressure dependence based on coupling trajectory-based determinations of moments of the E,J-resolved collisional transfer rates with the two-dimensional master equation. This completely a priori procedure provides a means for proceeding beyond the empiricism of prior work. The requisite microcanonical dissociation rates are obtained from ab initio transition state theory. Predictions for the CH4 = CH3 + H and C2H3 = C2H2 + H reaction systems are in excellent agreement with experiment.

Secondary channels in the thermal decomposition of monomethylhydrazine (CH3NHNH2)

The possible role of molecular decomposition channels in MMH is explored through additional investigations on triplet channels, roaming radical channels, and previously unexplored pathways on the potential energy surface.