Solid‐Phase Reactions of D with CN to Form DNC and DCN at Cryogenic Temperatures

Abstract

A mixed gas of N2/HCN (50/1) at a few torr was activated by a direct current discharge and was deposited on a gold-plated copper substrate at 10, 15, and 20 K. During the deposition of plasma-activated sample gas, D atoms produced by the direct current discharge of D2 were simultaneously sprayed over the solid film. The association reactions of CN with D at 10 K were found to generate DNC and DCN with an intensity ratio DNC/DCN of about 3 in the infrared absorption spectra. This high ratio is in line with the high abundance ratios of HNC/HCN observed in the dark clouds. The formation of DNC and DCN became negligible at 20 K, due to the decrease of the sticking probability of D atoms on the solid surface. Ammonia was not detected as a reaction product from reaction of D with N atoms trapped in the N2 matrix.