Binding Energies of Interstellar Complex Organic Molecules on Water Ice Surfaces: A Quantum Chemical Investigation

Interstellar dust grains are enveloped by ices of frozen molecules in cold, dense regions of the interstellar medium (ISM), which are also observed in the gas phase.

Whether a species is in the solid or gaseous state is governed by its binding energy (BE) on the grains. Hence, BEs are crucial in the solid-to-gas transition and are key input parameters for astrochemical models that simulate the physicochemical processes leading to the evolution of chemistry in the ISM. About 40% of the currently detected interstellar molecules belong to the category of interstellar complex organic molecules (iCOMs).

This work aims to accurately evaluate the BEs of 19 iCOMs by means of quantum chemical calculations. Atomistic surface models simulating the structures of both crystalline and amorphous water ice were employed adopting a periodic approach, thereby accounting for the hydrogen bond (H-bond) cooperativity imparted by the extensive network present in the surfaces.

A cost-effective but reliable procedure based on density functional theory was used to predict the structures of the adsorption complexes and calculate their BEs, which are mainly driven by H-bond and dispersion interactions, the latter presenting a fair contribution.

A final discussion on the astrophysical implications of the computed BEs and the importance of obtaining reliable BEs on realistic interstellar ice surfaces in relation to the snow lines of iCOMs in hot cores/corinos and protoplanetary disks is provided.

Binding Energies of Interstellar Complex Organic Molecules on Water Ice Surfaces: A Quantum Chemical Investigation, The Astrophysical Journal (open access)

Astrobiology, Astrochemistry, Exoplanet,