Investigating sulfurous compounds (thiourea, N-methyl-thiourea, and thioacetamide) at low temperature, isolated in inert gas matrices or deposited as thin films (both in amorphous and crystalline forms). Irradiating the matrix-isolated compound and neat ices with UV light, inducing tautomerization in the molecule. Monitoring the spontaneous rotamerization processes that occur via tunneling or forcing the rotamerization via near-IR laser irradiation. Redeposition of processed neat ices and ice mixtures upon their temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and their FT-IR spectra.
Studying compounds of astrochemical interest, such as small oxoacids of sulfur, in isolated in para-H2 quantum solids and monitoring their H abstraction/addition reactions upon H atom generation.
Research topics in the past:
Decomposition pathway of astrobiologically relevant molecules (glycine, adenine) under simulated Martian conditions probed by FT-IR UV-VIS, and EI-QMS methods supplemented by tunable VUV laser photoionization mass spectrometry (PI-ReTOF-MS) – the effect of oxidants (perchlorates) on their decay rate and mechanism.
FT-IR spectroscopy of meteorites: determining the water content of aqueously altered CM2 meteorites. Electron irradiation and CO2 laser decomposition studies of Murchison meteorite by means of FT-IR, UV-VIS, and EI-QMS techniques.
Reaction kinetic studies of chemical reactions in presence of interfacial water such as the possible decomposition of H2O2 on Mars and olivine serpentinisation in planetesimals in exoplanetary disks.
Low-temperature matrix isolation (MI-)IR and -UV spectroscopy of interstellar carbonaceous dust analogues produced by laser ablation of graphite.
Matrix-isolation (MI) IR and -VCD spectroscopy of model peptides and and small organic compounds, chirality transfer (CT) studies. Production of high-energy conformers of small organic molecules by near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation in inert matrices, kinetic study of the conversion of conformers.
Sándor Góbi 