Formation of c-C6H5CN ice using the SPACE TIGER experimental setup

<p>Benzonitrile (c-C6H5CN) has been recently detected in cold and dense regions of the interstellar&nbsp;medium (ISM), where it has been used as a signpost of a rich aromatic organic chemistry that might&nbsp;lead to the production of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).</p> <p>One possible origin of this benzonitrile is interstellar ice chemistry involving benzene (c-C6H6) and nitrile molecules (organic molecules&nbsp;containing the &minus;C&equiv;N group). We have addressed the plausibility of this c-C6H5CN formation pathway&nbsp;through laboratory experiments using the SPACE TIGER experimental setup.</p> <p>We have irradiated c-C6H6:CH3CN ice mixtures with 2 keV electrons (Experiments 3-5) and Ly-alpha photons (Experiment 6), and compared the results with those obtained after 2 keV electron irradiation of c-C6H6 (Experiment 1) and CH3CN (Experiment 2) ices. In addition, we have also irradiated H2O:c-C6H6:CH3CN (Experiments 7 and 8),&nbsp;and CO:c-C6H6:CH3CN (Experiments 9 and 10) ice mixtures with both, 2 keV electrons (Experiments 7 and 9) and Ly-alpha photons (Experiments 8 and 10).&nbsp;</p> <p>The results of these experiments are presented in</p> <table summary="Additional metadata"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2210.03827">https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2210.03827</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>