Diversity of protonated mixed pyrene-water clusters investigated by collision induced dissociation.

Protonated mixed pyrene-water clusters, (Py)(HO)H, where = [1-3] and = [1-10], are generated using a cryogenic molecular cluster source. Subsequently, the mass-selected mixed clusters undergo controlled collisions with rare gases, and the resulting fragmentation mass spectra are meticulously analyzed to discern distinct fragmentation channels. Notably, protonated water cluster fragments emerge for ≥ 3, whereas they are absent for = 1 and 2.