Decomposition of solid amorphous hydrogen peroxide by ion irradiation

We present laboratory studies of the radiolysis of pure (97%) solid H2O2 films by 50 keV H+ at 17 K. Using UV-visible and infrared reflectance spectroscopies, a quartz-crystal microbalance, and a mass spectrometer, we measured the absolute concentrations of the H2O, O2, H2O2, and O3 products as a function of irradiation fluence. Ozone was identified by both UV and infrared spectroscopies and O2 from its forbidden transition in the infrared at 1550 cm(-1). From the measurements we derive radiation yields, which we find to be particularly high for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide; this can be explained by the occurrence of a chemical chain reaction.