Danger Dust

Ultrafast electron imaging reveals never-before-seen nuclear motions in hydrocarbon molecules triggered by light. The interaction between hydrocarbon molecules and light can influence the formation of nitrous acid in the atmosphere, a compound that plays a significant role in air pollution. In this study, researchers investigated how proton transfer contributes to these light-induced molecular processes.

Intramolecular proton transfer occurs when a proton moves from one part of a molecule to another within the same molecule. To observe these rapid movements, the team used an ultrafast electron camera capable of capturing molecular motion on a scale more than 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.