Further studies of the N2+ + N2 → N4+ association reaction

Data are presented which strongly suggest that stabilisation of the excited intermediate (N₄⁺)* complex in the reaction (1) N₂⁺ + 2N₂ (rate coefficient k₁) occurs via N₂ switching whereas for (2) N₂⁺ + N₂ + He (rate coefficient k₂) it occurs via superelastic He collisions. This explains the differing temperature variations of k₁ and k₂ previously obtained for these reactions. Drift tube data are also presented which show how k₁ varies with N₂⁺/N₂ centre-of-mass energy as compared with thermal energy.     

Recombination energy of N22+

The recombination energy of N₂²⁺ has been computed using N₂²⁺, N₂²⁺ and N₂ potential curves from the literature. Vibrational overlaps and energies liberated in the various N₂²⁺³∑^?_g,¹∑_g⁺, ³Π_u, ¹Π_u → N₂⁺(X²∑⁺_g, A ²∑⁺_g, A ²Π_u, B²∑_u⁺,C²∑_u⁺) vibronic transitions have been computed and used as input for determination of the N₂⁺ recombination energy.     

Predissociation of the C2Σu+ state of N2+

Two mechanisms for the predissociation of the C²Σ_u⁺ state of N₂⁺ are discussed - the accidental mechanism and a direct, homogeneous process C → B²Σ_u⁺. The matrix elements for the latter channel are dominated by a contribution from the nuclear kinetic energy operator, containing a Franck-Condon integral of form 〈?|?/?R|υ′〉.     

Kinetic energy dependence of the reactions of N+ and N2+ with molybdenum

Mass-selected beams of N⁺ and N₂⁺ in the energy range 5–50 eV react with molybdenum to produce a surface nitride. The relative reaction cross section for N⁺ reaction is higher than that of N₂⁺ in the range 5–25 eV and N₂⁺ exhibits a reaction threshold near 7 eV. The N₂⁺ threshold suggests collisional dissociation prior to reaction.     

Some ab initio calculations related to the predissociation of the C2Σu+ state of N2+

Ab initio calculations in the “first-order wavefunction” CI approximation have been performed for several states of N₂⁺ with ²Σ_u⁺, ²Σ_u^?, ⁴Π_u symmetry. A calculation of the electronic factor of the vibronic interaction between the B²Σ_u⁺ and C²Σ_u⁺ states seems to support the suggestion of Tellinghuisen and Albritton that the C state is predissociated by the continuum of the B state through nuclear momentum coupling.     

Determination of the quenching rates of N2+(B2Σu+, ν = 0,1) By N2 using laser-induced fluorescence

Time-resolved fluorescence laser-induced spectroscopy was used to examine the quenching of the vibrational levels ν = 0 and ν = 1 of N₂⁺(B²Σ_u⁺) by N₂. The rate coefficients of the quenching reactions are found to be constant over the temperature range 300–500 K. The quenching constant for the ν = 1 state was found to be approximately twice the value of the quenching constant of the ν = 0 state.     

The electronic structure of N4O62+ and the bonding interaction of NO+ and NO3−

The results are reported of an MO-SCF-CNDO/2 study of the experimental and optimal geometries of the N₄O₆²⁺ion cluster. The calculations are shown to support the stable existence of the N₄O₆²⁺ complex and the suggestion of its discoverers [1] on the role of NO⁺ in the N₂O₄ solutions. The proposed interpretation of the bonding interaction explains why the shortest N β O distances are found with the NO⁺ ions which have their nitrogen atoms displaced out of the NO₃^? plane.     

Ion spectroscopy of the N5+(4,0) meinel band using Ar charge exchange detection

The optical absorption spectrum of the transitions

has been observed in a flow tube by detection of the Ar⁺ product of the charge exchange reaction N₂⁺ + Ar → N₂ + Ar⁺. This reaction is fast for N₂⁺(A) Icvels, but very slow or zero for N₂⁺(X). The techinique is sensitive and applicable to the spectroscopic and reactive study of many ions.     

On the structure and photodissociation of cluster ions in the gas phase. (N2) (O2+) and (NO)2+

Results are presented for two experiments on N₂O₂⁺ cluster ions formed via the reactions O₂⁺ + N₂ + M → (N₂) (O₂⁺) + M (i), and NO⁺ + NO + M → (NO)₂⁺ + M (ii). In the first experiment the N₂O₂⁺ clusters are collisionally dissociated. The resulting collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra show almost exclusively O₂⁺ and N₂⁺ products from N₂ O₂⁺ formed via the first reaction, and almost exclusively NO⁺ products from N₂O₂⁺ formed via the second reaction. In the second experiment, single-photon photodissociation of N₂O₂⁺ ions produced by both reactions (i) and (ii) was investigate using 514.5 and 634 nm radiation. The results indicate that the N₂O₂⁺ cluster from reaction (i) cannot be photodissociated while the N₂O₂⁺ cluster from reaction (ii) undergoes photodissociation at both wavelengths. These experiments indicate that two distinct N₂O₂⁺ cluster ions exist and that reactions (i) and (ii) selectively produce the two ions.     

On the mechanism of the He+ + N2 thermal energy dissociative charge transfer reaction

ICR spectroscopy has been used to reinvestigate the He⁺ + N₂ charge transfer reaction at thermal energies. It is concluded that at least 60% of the N⁺ come from short lived excited (N₂⁺)^*.     

Rate constant for the deactivation of O2 (A3Σu+ by N2

A value of (9.3 ± 1.7) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule ^?1 has been determined as the rate constant for the quenching of O₂(A ³Σ_u⁺) by N₂ at 25°C.     

Time-dependence of the electron-impact-induced unimolecular decay process C3H8+ → C3H7+ + H

A time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been modified to study directly the time dependence of metastable decay processes by introducing a variable time delay between the ionization and extraction pulses and by providing a set of retarding plates and grids in the flight tube to select a single parent ion species for study and to resolve the peak into parent ion, daughter ion and daughter neutral components. The experimentally determined time dependence of the unimolecular decay process C₃H₈⁺ → C₃H₇⁺ + H is compared with previously published predictions of the quasiequilibrium theory of mass spectra.     

On the INDO calculations of N32− and N4− free radicals

?-tensors as well as anisotropic and isotropic hyperfine coupling constants have been calculated for the N₃^2? and N₄^? free radicals. The adequacy of the INDO method is discussed in relation with the results of a previous ab initio calculation.     

Studies on the reaction N + N3 → N2(B 3Πg) + N2(X 1Σ+g)

Strongly enhanced N₂ first positive emission N₂(B ³Π_g → A ³Σ⁺_u) has been observed on addition of N atoms into a flowing mixture of Cl and HN₃. The dependence of the emission intensity on N atom concentration gave a rate constant for the reaction N + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) of _i(1.6 ± 1.1) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. That for the reaction Cl + HN₃ → HCl + N₃ is (8.9 ± 1.0) × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 from the decay of the emission. Comparison of the emission intensity in ClHN₃ with that in ClHN₃N gave the rate constant of the reaction N₃ + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + 2N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) as 1.4 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 on the assumption that N + N₃ yields only N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g).     

Wavelength-resolved fluorescence lifetimes of gas-phase ions: CO2+ and CS2+

A method is described for measuring wavelength-resolved fluorescence lifetimes of ions formed by HeIα photoionization, using electric-field drift of the ions in competition with fluorescence. Fluorescence lifetimes of 216 and 232 ns for the 357 nm and 378 nm peaks of N₂O⁺, and 3.5 μs for the à → X? band of CS₂⁺, were measured. The wavelength-resolved à → X? band of CO₂⁺ showed no significant dependence of fluorescence lifetime on V′, but there is some indication of variation in the CS₂⁺ lifetimes in the à → X? band.     

Experimental determination of repulsive potentials between alkali ions (Li+, Na+, and K+) and N2 and CO molecules

Integral scattering cross sections have been measured for alkali ions (Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺) in the energy range 500–4000 eV scattered by room temperature N₂ and CO molecules through effective laboratory angles greater than 5 × 10^?3 rad. The repulsive potentials deduced from the cross sections are represented bya practically identical formula for the Na⁺N₂ and Na⁺CO systems, and for the K⁺CO systems, respectively, while the repulsive potentials of the Li⁺N₂ system are somewhat smaller than those of the Li⁺CO system at larger intermolecular distances.     

Magic cluster ion distributions: (NO)3+ (N2O)n and (NO)3+ (CO2)n

Supersonic jet expansions of mixtures of nitric oxide with either nitrous oxide or carbon dioxide have been investigated over a wide range of relative concentrations. Mixed molecular cluster ions of the form (NO) _m ⁺ (N₂O)_n and (NO) _m ⁺ (CO₂)_n are detected following non-resonant two-photon ionization. Over a wide range of intermediate concentrations, the cluster ion distributions (NO) ₃ ⁺ (N₂O)_n and (NO) ₃ ⁺ (CO₂)_n with n30 are significantly more intense than clusters containing other numbers of nitric oxide molecules. The extra abundance of these species is attributed to their especially stable structures and several possible forms are discussed. An intriguing possibility involves a stable cyclic nitric oxide trimer (or ion) when combined with nitrous oxide or carbon dioxide clusters.     

Lifetimes of N2O+(Ã2Σ+) and COS+(Ã2Π) in selected vibronic levels

Lifetimes of selected vibrational levels of the predissociated òΣ⁺ and Ã²Π electronic states of N₂O⁺ and COS⁺, re- spectively, have been measured. These values have been used in conjunction with previous data on fluorescence quantum yields to obtain predissociation rates for the various vibrational levels.     

An ab initio study of the binding of N2 to Na+ and K+

The binding energies of N₂ to Na⁺ and K⁺ are computed, using the SCF supermolecule approach with extended basis sets together with the counterpoise correction computed in two extreme ways, and supplemented by a perturbation calculation of the dispersion energy. Inclusion of the calculated zero-point energy and the additional correction due to the variation of the correlation in N₂ upon complexation leads to an Na⁺-N₂ binding of ?7.9 to ?8.1 kcal/mole (compared to a measured enthalpy of ?8 ± 0.5) and to a corresponding theoretical value computed for K⁺-N₂ of ?4.6 to ?4.8 kcal/mole.     

Theoretical study of the 2Σu+ and 2Σg+ states of Li2− and Na2−

Ab initio calculations are performed to obtain potential energy curves for the X¹Σ_g⁺ state of Li₂ and Na₂ and the X²Σ_g⁺ and A²Σ_g⁺ states of their anions. The A²Σ_g⁺ M₂^? curves are found to intersect the X¹Σ_g⁺M₂ curves at low energies and are expected to play a major role in the e^? + M₂ → M^? + M process.