We have discovered a new source of CO2(ice) in outer space using clasical methods of surface science. When water ice is exposed to Lyman-a (10.2 eV) radiation, OH radicals are produced. Carbon monoxide gas, incident on the surface of the ice, reacts efficiently with the surface hydroxyl radicals likely producing HOCO which then decomposes to CO2(ice) at 76 K. Kinetic measurements of the King-Wells type indicate that the cross section for the reaction is ~ 6 x 10-20 m2 and that the reaction occurs by a direct Eley-Rideal process without the involvement of a mobile precursor CO species. These finding may explain the mystery of the high relaticve abundance of CO2 (ice) compared to CO2 (g) in space.

King-Wells meets Eley-Rideal in outer space: The detection of a new source of CO<sub>2</sub> in the universe

248th National Meeting (2014)

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King-Wells meets Eley-Rideal in outer space: The detection of a new source of CO2 in the universe

King-Wells meets Eley-Rideal in outer space: The detection of a new source of CO₂ in the universe