X-ray Absorption and Fragmentation as Initial Steps of Radiation Damage in Free Organic Molecules and Nanoparticles

Understanding the molecular radiation damage is crucial in radiobiology, molecular physics, and atmospheric science. In this thesis, the initial steps of radiation damage of anhydrous gas-phase molecules and hydrated nanoparticles were studied using synchrotron radiation based electron-ion coincidence spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy under vacuum conditions.

Electron - ion coincidence spectroscopy was used to study the photofragmentation and molecular dynamics of the isolated gas-phase molecules. In addition to the photofragmentation of the gas-phase molecules, the effect of the initial ionization site, initial molecular geometry, and the intramolecular chemical environment has been studied. In avobenzone, core ionization leads to massive fragmentation, with a slight site-selectivity concerning fragment production. In ortho-aminobenzoic acid, core ionization leads to the production of a hydronium ion, indicating that the importance of functional group's position for double intramolecular hydrogen transfer.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to probe hydrated nanoparticles prepared at different relative humidities. In hydrated inorganic and mixed inorganic-organic nanoparticles, water is present in a liquid-like state. With different ranges of relative humidity, the primary hydration layers of the hydrated nanoparticles stays the same. In mixed nanoparticles, there is evidence for interaction between the included organic biomolecule with the inorganic and/or water molecules.