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Abstract

Astrochemistry, like our universe, is an ever-expanding area. Concerned with the quantification and understanding of chemistry in regions outside of our atmosphere. The past 10 years alone have seen a rapid growth in the number of new molecules detected in extraterrestrial environments, including the identification of the first polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, chiral molecules and the first isomer of glycine. Despite this, the mechanisms that form these molecules in space remain unclear. To fill these gaps three main approaches are taken: telescope observations, modelling and experimentation. Experimental astrochemistry is a necessity to probe the chemical evolution within interstellar structures known as molecular gas clouds. Computational models developed to analyse the complex chemistry occurring at the core of these clouds have met shortcomings in predicting molecular abundances. Accurate quantitative measurements of chemical processes thought to operate in these clouds are required. This thesis is focused on the photochemistry of astrochemically relevant aromatic molecules by vacuum-ultraviolet light. Two different experimental setups are discussed here. Matrix isolation is a useful technique in studying photochemistry under conditions similar to the gas phase of interstellar space. Chapter 3 revolves around the photolysis of the aromatic molecules benzene, pyridine, cyanobenzene and 1,3-dicyanobenzene by 193 nm light. The second focus of this thesis concerns a new experimental setup being developed in the laboratory of Dr. Ilsa Cooke. Briefly, it involves the use of an ultra-high vacuum chamber inside of which gases will be deposited on a low temperature ($