Probing Metal Ion Interactions in Stacked Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as a Molecular Model for Superconductivity

Victor Lee; Olivia Chen; Natasha Saltarelli; Paul Mayer

doi:10.18192/osurj.v5i1.7932

Probing Metal Ion Interactions in Stacked Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as a Molecular Model for Superconductivity

Authors

Victor Lee University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Olivia Chen Merivale High School, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Natasha Saltarelli University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Paul Mayer University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18192/osurj.v5i1.7932

Abstract

Metal ion intercalated graphene has been shown to display superconductive properties. Most metals chosen for intercalation are alkali and alkaline earth metals. This study explores the intercalation of graphene with nickel as a more environmentally-friendly alternative. As a first step, the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization was used to study the structure of the dimer of coronene intercalated with a Ni atom. The ions were formed by laser desorption from a target containing a mixture of coronene and Ni salt, the dimer ion with m/z 657 was selected, and the collision-induced dissociation mass spectrum was obtained with the LIFT technology on our Bruker MALDI-TOF/TOF. The results showed that the dimer dissociated by H-atom transfer from a coronene molecule to Ni. This was supported by density functional calculations of the reaction energetics. The results suggest that the laser desorption process leads to a cluster ion better described as an ionic complex between CorNiH and Cor-H, rather than a formal [(Cor)₂Ni] ion.

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Published

2026-06-17

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Original Research

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