Rate coefficients for the oxidation reactions of zirconium ions with oxygen, nitric oxide, and carbon dioxide

Rate coefficients for the oxidation reactions of zirconium ions with oxygen, nitric oxide, and carbon dioxide have been determined in the near-thermal energy range (0.04 to about 0.4 eV) using a selected-ion drift apparatus. The reactions are found to proceed with large rate coefficients [∼5(−10)cm3/s at 300 K]. At elevated ion energies the reactions with NO and CO2 exhibit smaller rates. The secondary oxidation reactions of ZrO+ ions with the same reactants have rate coefficients about two orders of magnitude smaller than those for the first oxidation steps. The discharge ion source used to produce the zirconium ions in these experiments is described in some detail.