Towards a stable measurement system for the investigation of Muonium Reactivity with Metal Nanoparticles in mesoporous silica hosts

We have recently sought to develop measurements of paramagnetic (free-radical) final states formed on Au nanoparticles in mesoporous silica by muonium reactivity with surface-adsorbed molecules. Under these conditions, these nanoparticles are thought to facilitate specific reaction steps in the silica host that involve H-atom transfer reactions important to studies in heterogeneous catalysis. However there are very few direct measurements of these kinds of H-atom transfer reactions, which has motivated their study by the isotopic Mu atom. Unfortunately, our initial investigation was compromised by a number of problems with the cell and capillary gas feed. This proposal seeks to demonstrate that new equipment currently under development adequately resolves these problems, enabling reliable and repeatable measurements to be carried out on these systems.