{
  "abstract": "We investigate fragmentation and molecular growth induced by keV ions in initially neutral gas-phase adamantane clusters, the simplest diamondoid molecule (Ad, C$_{10}$H$_{16}$). Using time-of-flight mass spectrometry in combination with quantum-chemical calculations, we find that intact cluster cations undergo extensive dehydrogenation. We also observe a distinct distribution of singly charged products with masses predominantly between those of the adamantane monomer and dimer cations. We attribute these species to ion-induced growth products and interpret their formation considering the smallest cluster cation, [Ad]$_2^+$, using quantum-chemical calculations. Our results demonstrate that ionization strongly reorganizes the dimer geometry, facilitating H$_2$ elimination and intermolecular covalent C--C bond formation. Weakly bound adamantane clusters are thereby transformed into covalently bound carbonaceous species with a strong preference for specific molecular structures. These findings provide new insight into ionization-driven molecular growth in saturated hydrocarbon systems contributing to the understanding of molecular complexification, with implications for chemical physics and astrochemistry.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.37385",
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Sumit Srivastav"
    },
    {
      "name": "Per Eng-Johnsson"
    },
    {
      "name": "Raimund Feifel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alicja Domaracka"
    },
    {
      "name": "Patrick Rousseau"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dariusz G. Piekarski"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sylvain Maclot"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fktdsf77m4pwx.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.37385",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "fktdsf77m4pwx",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.37385",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-SA 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.chem-ph"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1607|Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214937489",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.37385",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-29",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fktdsf77m4pwx.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:25:31Z",
      "native_id": "2609.37385",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.37385"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.chem-ph",
      "subfield": "physical"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Ionization-Driven Dehydrogenation and Molecular Growth in Gas-Phase Adamantane Clusters",
  "title_text": "Ionization-Driven Dehydrogenation and Molecular Growth in Gas-Phase Adamantane Clusters",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:25:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fktdsf77m4pwx",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}