Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 October 2020
Experimental data showing superhydrogenation of neutral polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) coronene, pentacene and pentacenequinone is presented. PAH monolayers were prepared on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface and subsequently exposed to a beam of atomic hydrogen. The superhydrogenated PAH species were examined via temperature programmed desorption measurements. Stable intermediate superhydrogenation degrees as well as fully superhydrogenated species are observed and the initial reaction cross section for coronene has been determined.