Electron impact dissociation and VUV photoabsorption of frozen formamide

We report the results of an extensive study of formamide (HCONH2) ices carried out under experimental conditions that simulate those found in the interstellar medium (ISM). Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) and Infrared (IR) spectroscopic techniques were used to measure photoabsorption cross sections of these ices and to detect the chemical/physical changes induced by electron irradiation. HCONH2 dissociation induced by 1 keV electron irradiation was monitored in the solid phase at 30 K using IR spectroscopy and the products of electron irradiation identified to be OCN−, CO and CO2, where OCN−was found to be stable even in the crystalline phase.