Application of Zero Energy PHotoelectron spectroscopies to the Identification of gas phase Reactive intermediates and their Structural characterization – ZEPHIRS

The ZEPHIRS consortium (ISMO, SOLEIL and ISM) proposes a double experimental approach allying the benefits of synchrotron and laser-based photoelectron spectroscopies to address the major issue of isomer/conformer identification of reactive intermediates relevant for atmospheric chemistry. The complementarity between medium-resolution large spectral coverage spectra, high-resolution narrow energy zone spectra, sophisticated ab initio methods and specific models developed for large-amplitude motions of non-rigid molecules, will be exploited to assess unprecedented information on the cation's (ro)vibronic structures. These fine footprints of molecular structures have an appealing analytical potential that will be explored on reactions involving key atmospheric systems such as peroxy radicals, Criegee intermediates, the C6H6 reaction products of propargyl self-reaction or protonated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The results will be transferred to the gas kinetics community to improve atmospheric and combustion models.