Filming chemical reactions

The study of transient states of matter that last nanoseconds (10^-9 s), or even picoseconds (10^-12 s), is one of the scientific challenges that the ESRF has taken up successfully. For example, researchers observed what happens to the C₂H₄I₂ molecule in water when hit by a flash of laser light. The pump and probe technique used in this experiment may also help in the future to study nanomaterials and proteins in action.

The C₂H₄I₂ molecule surrounded by methanol molecules is hit by a laser flash.  Transient molecular structures are determined by picosecond X-ray diffraction (Image credit: H. Ihee, copyright 2005 H. Ihee).

Further information:

• Watching the birth and death of exotic molecules

• Spatiotemporal reaction kinetics probed by picosecond X-ray diffraction

• Ref.: H. Ihee et al., Science 309, 1223 (2005).