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On the radiation-induced polymerization of indene: from laboratory study to astrochemical implications

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Abstract

The radiation-induced polymerization of indene with a γ radiation source was studied at different dose rates (1, 2, 4, 6 kGy/h) and absorbed doses up to 400 kGy. The polymerization rate was determined through the thermogravimetric analysis and the spectrophotometric analysis of the irradiated indene solutions. With the two complementary methods the polymerization rates were determined for each dose rate. A mixed polymerization mechanism was ascertained involving either free radicals but also cations. In fact, the mixed mechanism was suggested as well by the n = 0.84 exponent of the dose rate in the polymerization kinetics equation and by the value of the radiation chemical yield Gp = G(−M) ≈ 103 molecules/100 eV. The infrared spectrum of the radiation-polymerized indene is analogous to the spectrum of a reference TiCl4-polyindene. However, the FT-IR spectrum of the former shows a couple of better defined and sharper infrared bands with respect to the latter, indicating a better structural regularity for the radio-polyindene. Since indene has been claimed as one of the potential polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the interstellar medium, our results suggest that it is likely that indene should be accompanied by -polyindene because of the monomer is very sensitive to the high energy radiation-induced polymerization.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [F.C.].

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge support from State Research Agency (AEI) of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) under grant PID2020-115758GB-I00. This article is based upon work from COST Action NanoSpace, CA21126, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).

Authors are grateful to Mr. Giuseppe Ferrara (Calliope facility, ENEA Casaccia R.C.) for his technical support during the irradiation campain.

Funding

State Research Agency of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, (PID2020-115758 GB-I00).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), Vía Láctea S/N, 38205, La Laguna, Spain

    Ransel Barzaga, D. Aníbal García-Hernández & Arturo Manchado

  2. Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38206, La Laguna, Spain

    Ransel Barzaga, D. Aníbal García-Hernández & Arturo Manchado

  3. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain

    Arturo Manchado

  4. ENEA Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security Department, Casaccia R.C., Rome, Italy

    Ilaria Di Sarcina & Alessia Cemmi

  5. Actinium Chemical Research Institute, Via Casilina 1626A, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Franco Cataldo

Authors
  1. Ransel Barzaga
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  2. D. Aníbal García-Hernández
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  3. Arturo Manchado
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  5. Alessia Cemmi
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  6. Franco Cataldo
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Correspondence to Franco Cataldo.

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Barzaga, R., García-Hernández, D.A., Manchado, A. et al. On the radiation-induced polymerization of indene: from laboratory study to astrochemical implications. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 333, 865–876 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09307-3

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