Astrochemistry, astrobiology and the origin of life
Gas-phase reactions involving complex organic molecules and ions with ionization radiation are among the fundamental processes that drive molecular evolution in space. We investigate how soft X-rays and fast ions but also atomic hydrogen radicals interact with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, amino acids, and biomolecular building blocks under conditions relevant to the interstellar medium. By combining ion trapping, mass spectrometry, and advanced spectroscopic techniques, including experiments at synchrotron and free-electron laser facilities, we provide molecular-level insight into reaction pathways, fragmentation mechanisms, and hydrogenation processes that are central to astrochemical models. These studies contribute directly to understanding how molecular complexity can emerge in space and how radiation-driven chemistry shapes the inventory of organic molecules available for planet and life formation.
The sequence to hydrogenate coronene cations: A journey guided by stability and magic numbers, S. Cazaux, L.Boschman, N. Rougeau, G. Reitsma, R. Hoekstra, D. Teillet Billy, S. Morisset, M. Spaans, T. Schlathölter, Sci. Rep., 6, 19835, 2016
The sequence of coronene hydrogenation revealed by gas-phase IR spectroscopy, S. Cazaux, S., D. Egorov, J. Palotás, R. Hoekstra, G. Berden, J. Oomens, T. Schlathölter, The Astrophysical Journal, 875, 27, 2019
An X-ray spectroscopy study of structural stability of superhydrogenated pyrene derivatives, Y. Huo, M. Espinoza Cangahuala, V. Zamudio-Bayer, M. Goulart, M. Kubin, M. Timm, M., J.T. Lau, B. von Issendorff, R. Hoekstra, S. Faraji, T. Schlathölter, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 523, 11, 2023