AVS 58th Annual International Symposium and Exhibition
    Surface Science Division Monday Sessions
       Session SS1-MoM

Paper SS1-MoM1
Surface Science of Acetonitrile on Model Interstellar Ices and Grains

Monday, October 31, 2011, 8:20 am, Room 109

Session: Water Films & Environmental Interfaces
Presenter: Martin McCoustra, Heriot-Watt University, UK
Authors: A. Abdulgalil, Heriot-Watt University, UK
M. Collings, Heriot-Watt University, UK
M. McCoustra, Heriot-Watt University, UK
Correspondent: Click to Email
Physical and chemical processes occuring on the surfaces of icy dust grains in the cold, dense interstellar medium have a crucial role to play in the evolution of the modern Universe. The formation of simple hydrides, e.g. water, on grain surfaces explains the infrared astronomical observations of icy grain mantles and provides a reservoir of coolant molecules during the early stages of star formation that helps maintain the current rate of star formation and favours the formation of small, long-lived stars. Energetic processing of icy mixtures by short wavelength radiation and cosmic rays turns the icy grain mantles into chemical nanofactories producing increasingly complex organic molecules. Nitriles (RCN) represent a potential intermediate on the pathway to forming amino acids in these icy mantles. However, the formation of nitriles in and on icy grain mantles is not understood. Nor is the surface science of these simple species on models of the interstellar grain population. Acetonitrile (CH3CN) is the simplest organic nitrile and is amongst the list of chemical species observed in the interstellar medium. This paper will report our recent investigations of the interaction of CH3CN with model silica and water ice surfaces representative of bare and icy interstellar dust grains. We will report on the nature and strength of the interaction of CH3CN with these substrates and on the thermal and non-thermal (electron-induced) desorption of CH3CN from these surfaces as part of our on going programme in solid state and surface astrochemistry.