A shock-tube and theory study of the dissociation of acetone and subsequent recombination of methyl radicals

The dissociation of acetone: CH₃COCH₃ → CH₃CO + CH₃, quickly followed by CH₃CO → CH₃ + CO, has been examined with Laser-Schlieren measurements in incident shock waves over 32-717 Torr and 1429-1936 K using 5% acetone dilute in krypton. A few very low pressure experiments (∼10 Torr) were used in a marginal effort to resolve the extremely fast vibrational relaxation of this molecule. This effort was partly motivated as a test for molecular, “roaming methyl” reactions, and also as a source of methyl radicals to test the application of a recent high-temperature mechanism for ethane decomposition [J.H. Kiefer, S. Santhanam, N.K. Srinivasan, R.S. Tranter, S.J. Klippenstein, M.A. Oehlschlaeger, Proc. Combust. Inst. 30 (2005) 1129-1135] on the reverse methyl combination. The gradient profiles show strong initial positive gradients and following negative values fully consistent with methyl radical formation and its following recombination. Thus C-C fission is certainly a large part of the process and molecular channels cannot be responsible for more than 30% of the dissociation. Rates obtained for the C-C fission show strong falloff well fit by variable reaction coordinate transition state theory when combined with a master equation. The calculated barrier is 82.8 kcal/mol, the fitted 〈ΔE〉_down = 400 (T/298) cm⁻¹, similar to what was found in a recent study of C-C fission in acetaldehyde, and the extrapolated k_∞ = 10^25.86 T^−2.72 exp(−87.7 (kcal/mol)/RT), which agrees with the literature rate for CH₃ + CH₃CO. Large negative (exothermic) gradients appearing late from methyl combination are accurately fit in both time of onset and magnitude by the earlier ethane dissociation mechanism. The measured dissociation rates are in close accord with one earlier shock-tube study [K. Sato, Y. Hidaka, Combust. Flame 122 (2000) 291-311], but show much less falloff than the high pressure experiments of Ernst et al. [J. Ernst, K. Spindler, H.Gg. Wagner, Ber. Bunsenges. Phys. Chem. 80 (1976) 645-650].     

Helium and argon line broadening in the ν2 band of CH4

The spectra of the gaseous mixtures CH₄-He and CH₄-Ar were obtained in the spectral region 1400-1750 cm⁻¹ with a resolution up to 0.003 cm⁻¹. Helium and argon pressure broadenings for the vibration-rotation lines of the ν₂ band of CH₄ have been estimated at room temperature for some lines in the P, Q, and R branches. These values were also calculated using the theoretical approach developed by Robert and Bonamy, extended to the case of tetrahedral molecules. The helium data have been found to be in a satisfactory agreement whereas a divergence of calculated and measured broadening coefficients has been evidenced in the case of argon. Simulations of the ν₂ band shapes of methane perturbed by helium have also been performed.     

Line profile study from diode laser spectroscopy in the CH4 2ν3 band perturbed by N2, O2, Ar, and He

We present a line profile study for two lines in the 2ν₃ band of CH₄ recorded with a frequency stabilized tunable diode laser spectrometer. The broadening and narrowing (Dicke effect) parameters of the R(0) line perturbed by N₂, O₂, and He are derived from a simultaneous fitting of spectra at pressures from 20 to 300 Torr by using the soft and hard collision models. These parameters are determined for the A and F components of the unresolved R(3) manifold perturbed by N₂, Ar, and He from the line profile analysis of spectra at pressures between 50 and 500 Torr. The line mixing effect between the two F components is also taken into account and the absorber speed dependent effect on broadening is estimated for N₂ and Ar.     

The bending triad of the quasi-spherical top molecule SO2F2 in the 550 cm region

The analysis of the ν₃/ν₇/ν₉ bending triad of SO₂F₂ has been recently performed with the Watson’s Hamiltonian up to octic terms employing 79 rovibrational parameters but including only the first order Coriolis interaction terms, fixed to ab initio values [H. Bürger, J. Demaison, F. Hegelund, L. Margulès, I. Merke, J. Mol. Struct. 612 (2002) 133-141]. Since SO₂F₂ is a quasi-spherical top, it can also be considered as derived from the sulfate ion. We have thus developed a new tensorial formalism in the O (3) ⊃ T_d ⊃ C_2v group chain [M. Rotger, V. Boudon, M. Loëte, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 216 (2002) 297-307]. This approach allows a systematic development of rovibrational interactions and makes global analyses easier to perform even for complex polyad systems. We present here an application of this model to the analysis of the bending triad, with the same set of microwave assignments and almost the same set of infrared assignments as in the previous study of Bürger et al. It appears that we need to expand our Hamiltonian to a lower degree than the “classical” one (six instead of eight) when including also the second order Coriolis interactions. Our fit does not include more parameters. Furthermore, all of them are determined and the standard deviation of the rotational transitions is twice smaller. The analysis has been performed thanks to the C_2v TDS program suite, which is freely available at the URL: http://www.u-bourgogne.fr/LPUB/c2vTDS.html.     

Thermal decomposition of toluene: Overall rate and branching ratio

The two-channel thermal decomposition of toluene, C₆H₅CH₃ → C₆H₅CH₂ + H (1) and C₆H₅CH₃ → C₆H₅ + CH₃ (2), was investigated in shock tube experiments over the temperature range of 1400-1780 K at a pressure of 1.5 (±0.1) bar. Rate coefficients for reactions (1) and (2) were determined by monitoring benzyl radical (C₆H₅CH₂) absorption at 266 nm during the decomposition of toluene diluted in argon and modeling the temporal behavior of the benzyl concentration with a kinetic model. The first-order rate coefficients determined at a pressure of 1.5 bar are expressed by k₁(T) = 2.09 × 10¹⁵ exp (−87510 [cal/mol]/RT) [s⁻¹] and k₂(T) = 2.66 × 10¹⁶ exp (−97880 [cal/mol]/RT) [s⁻¹]. The resulting branching ratio, k₁/(k₁ + k₂), ranges from 0.8 at 1350 K to 0.6 at 1800 K.     

Spectral line parameters in the (3 ← 0) overtone band of the HI molecule and line-mixing in the band head

The linestrengths, self-pressure broadening and shifting coefficients have been measured for P₃ (10)- R₃ (12) lines in the second overtone band of hydrogen iodide. A dipole moment function in terms of the reduced nuclear displacement x = (R − R_e)/R_e is obtained using rotationless dipole matrix elements determined by the Herman-Wallis analysis of the (1, 2, 3 ← 0) HI bands: μ (x) = 0.4471(5) − 0.0770(2)x + 0.547(3)x² − 1.93(2)x³, in a full agreement with the function proposed previously [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 223 (2004) 67]. A close match is demonstrated of the results of most recent relativistic calculations [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 6 (2004) 3779] with the spectroscopically derived electric dipole parameters for HI. Line-mixing in the band head is observed, the self-pressure shifting and broadening coefficients for the (3 ← 0) band lines are determined.     

FTIR spectra of the ν6 and ν8 bands of C formic acid molecule—Assignment of FIR-laser lines

Two interacting vibrational modes ν₆ and ν₈ of ¹³C species of formic acid have been studied with high resolution FTIR spectroscopy in the range 900-1300 cm⁻¹ with an instrumental resolution of 0.0018 cm⁻¹. More than 10 000 lines have been assigned and fitted with a RMS deviation of 0.00024 cm⁻¹. The band centers, as well as the rotational, quartic and sextic centrifugal distortion parameters and 6 interaction parameters have been determined. The obtained parameters have enabled the assignments of 24 FIR laser emissions of this molecule observed previously by Dangoisse and Glorieux [D. Dangoisse, P. Glorieux, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 92 (1982) 283-297], Luis et al. [G.M.R.S. Luis, E.M. Telles, A. Scalabrin, D. Pereira, IEEE J. Quantum. Electron. QE-34 (1998) 767-769], and Bertolini et al. [A. Bertolini, G. Carelli, C.A. Massa, A. Moretti, F. Strumia, Infrared Phys. Technol. 40 (1999) 33-36].     

The rotational spectra of the υ8 = υ9 = 1 and υ6 = υ7 = 1 interacting vibrational states of nitric acid (HNO3)

The analysis of the rotational spectrum of HNO₃ has been extended to include the υ₈ = υ₉ = 1 state at 1205.7 cm⁻¹ and the υ₆ = υ₇ = 1 state at 1223.4 cm⁻¹. Based on 78-519 GHz data, the assignments in the 8¹9¹ vibrational state have been significantly expanded from the previously reported microwave measurements [T.M. Goyette, F.C. De Lucia, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 139 (1990) 241-243]. A new microwave analysis is also reported for the 6¹7¹ vibrational state. A simultaneous analysis takes into account the localized ΔK_a = ±2 Fermi resonances between the vibrational states, describes the torsional splitting of 3.3 and 1.4 MHz for the 8¹9¹ and 6¹7¹ states respectively, and fits to experimental accuracy over 1500 rotational transition frequencies that extend up to J = 59. Infrared energy levels [A. Perrin, J.-M. Flaud, F. Keller, A. Goldman, R. D. Blatherwick, F. J. Murcray, C. P. Rinsland, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 194 (1999) 113-123] were also included in the analysis and fit to experimental accuracy. Measurement of strongly perturbed transitions in each vibrational state provide a determination of the band origin difference of 17.733184(17) cm⁻¹. The rotational constants agree well with those predicted by vibrational-rotational constants of the fundamental modes. Furthermore, the analysis will provide a very accurate simulation of the infrared spectrum of HNO₃ in the 8.3 μm region.     

Shock tube measurements of ignition delay times and OH time-histories in dimethyl ether oxidation

Ignition delay times and OH concentration time-histories were measured in DME/O₂/Ar mixtures behind reflected shock waves. Initial reflected shock conditions covered temperatures (T₅) from 1175 to 1900 K, pressures (P₅) from 1.6 to 6.6 bar, and equivalence ratios (?) from 0.5 to 3.0. Ignition delay times were measured by collecting OH^∗ emission near 307 nm, while OH time-histories were measured using laser absorption of the R₁(5) line of the A-X(0,0) transition at 306.7 nm. The ignition delay times extended the available experimental database of DME to a greater range of equivalence ratios and pressures. Measured ignition delay times were compared to simulations based on DME oxidation mechanisms by Fischer et al. [7] and Zhao et al. [9]. Both mechanisms predict the magnitude of ignition delay times well. OH time-histories were also compared to simulations based on both mechanisms. Despite predicting ignition delay times well, neither mechanism agrees with the measured OH time-histories. OH Sensitivity analysis was applied and the reactions DME ↔ CH₃O + CH₃ and H + O₂ ↔ OH + O were found to be most important. Previous measurements of DME ↔ CH₃O + CH₃ are not available above 1220 K, so the rate was directly measured in this work using the OH diagnostic. The rate expression k[1/s] =  1.61 × 10⁷⁹T^−18.4 exp(−58600/T), valid at pressures near 1.5 bar, was inferred based on previous pyrolysis measurements and the current study. This rate accurately describes a broad range of experimental work at temperatures from 680 to 1750 K, but is most accurate near the temperature range of the study, 1350-1750 K. When this rate is used in both the Fischer et al. and Zhao et al. mechanisms, agreement between measured OH and the model predictions is significantly improved at all temperatures.     

Radiative properties of α-ZnAl2S4:V spinel type single crystals

The absorption and luminescent properties of α-ZnAI₂S₄:V spinel type crystals in the temperature range 10-300 K are investigated. The spectra are assigned to the electronic transitions of trivalent vanadium ions located in octahedral sites. It is shown that at low temperatures the three main components of the revealed IR luminescence spectra are caused by the ¹A_1g(¹G)→¹E_g(¹D), ¹T_2g(¹D), ³T_2g(³F)→³T_1g(³F), and ¹E_g(¹D)→³T_1g(³F) transitions. The observed dependencies of the emission components intensities on temperature are explained assuming that there is a phonon assisted tunnelling between ³T_2g(³F) and ¹E_g(¹D) states. On temperature rise, the ³T_2g(³F)→³T_1g(³F) vibronic transitions suppress other emission channels, which leads to the enhancement of the integral luminescence intensity and to the broadening of the spectrum centred at λ=1.4 μm.     

The ν1, ν4 and 3ν6 bands of methyl chloride in the 3.4-μm region: Line positions and intensities

Methyl chloride (CH₃Cl) is one of the most abundant chlorine-containing molecules in the atmosphere. For this reason a recent update was performed in HITRAN in the 640-2600 cm⁻¹ region based on the line parameters generated in Nikitin et al. [Nikitin A, Champion JP, Bürger H. J Mol Spectrosc 2005;230:174-84] with the intensities scaled to existing experimental data. CH₃Cl has a rather strong signature around 3000 cm⁻¹ which was used recently by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite mission to produce the first study of the global distribution of methyl chloride in the upper troposphere and stratosphere. However, it was mentioned that the CH₃Cl line positions and intensities spectroscopic parameters are of very low quality in this spectral region in the public access HITRAN or GEISA databases. We present a complete update of the line positions and line intensities for the ν₁, ν₄, 3ν₆ bands of CH₃ ³⁵Cl and CH₃ ³⁷Cl in the 3.4 μm region. For this task, Fourier transform spectra have been recorded at high resolution at the Laboratoire de Dynamique, Interactions et Réactivité in France. Measurements of line positions and line intensities have been retrieved for both isotopologues ¹²CH₃ ³⁵Cl and ¹²CH₃ ³⁷Cl in the ν₁, ν₄, 3ν₆ bands. The theoretical model accounts for the interactions coupling the (ν₁=1; ?=0), (ν₄=1; ?=±1) and (ν₆=3; ?=±1) energy levels, together with additional resonances involving several dark states.     

An alternative interpretation of the optical spectra for Fe-doped KTaO3 crystals

In this paper, the excitation spectrum and luminescence at 14 569, 17 225, 18 829 and 14 659 cm^-1 for Fe³⁺ ion at the K⁺ site of KTaO₃ crystals are assigned, respectively, to the ⁶A₁(S)→⁴T₁(G), ⁴T₂(G), ⁴E₁(G)[⁴A₁(G)] and ⁴T₁(G)→⁶A₁(S) transitions rather than to the ⁶A₁(S)→⁴T₁(G), ²T₂(I), ⁴T₂(G) and ⁴T₁(G)→⁶A₁(S) transitions given in a previous paper [Bryknar et al., Radiat. Eff. Def. Solids 149(1999)51]. On the basis of this assignment, the reasonable optical spectrum parameters (in particular, the cubic field parameter Dq≈−640 cm⁻¹) are obtained. The validity of this assignment is discussed.     

D2 layers on MgO(0 0 1): Simulation study

In response to recent helium atom scattering (HAS) and neutron scattering results, Monte Carlo simulations and perturbation theory calculations have been performed for D₂ on MgO(0 0 1). Monte Carlo simulations predict that D₂ molecules form a series of interesting structures, p(2 × 2) → p(4 × 2) → p(6 × 2), with coverages Θ = 0.5, 0.75, 0.83 respectively, and followed by a formation of a top layer of p(6 × 2) unit cell symmetry. The three types of mono-layers are stable up to 13 K, whereas the top layer still exists up to 10 K. This is in partial agreement with the neutron scattering and HAS results that report c(2 × 2), c(4 × 2) and c(6 × 2); they agree in terms of coverage and stability, but disagree in terms of symmetry. A quantum mechanical examination of the D₂ molecules’ rotational motion shows the molecular axes are azimuthally delocalized and hence the simulated structures are c-type rather than p-type. These calculations also indicate that ortho-D₂ and helicoptering para-D₂ prefer cationic sites, while cartwheeling para-D₂ prefers anionic sites.     

Configuration dependence of photon stimulated ion desorption from methyl ester compounds induced by core excitation

Photon stimulated ion desorption (PSID) from methyl ester terminated self-assembled monolayer (MHDA-SAM, HS(CH₂)₁₅COOCH₃) and methyl mercaptoacetate (MA, HSCH₂COOCH₃) on Ag has been investigated using soft X-ray in the C and O K-edge regions. In MHDA-SAM on Ag, site-selective ion desorption has been clearly observed at resonant core excitations of C_1s, O_1s(OCH₃) → σ^∗(OCH₃) and O_1s(OCH₃) → σ^∗(COCH₃). Ion intensity in MA on Ag is obviously reduced for (n = 1-3) at C_1s, O_1s(OCH₃) → σ^∗(OCH₃) excitations, and no site-selective reaction at O_1s(OCH₃) → σ^∗(COCH₃) excitations has been observed. These reactions may be influenced by configurational difference of reactive sites. It is suggested that surface effects on the selective reaction due to positioning methyl ester group near the surface plays an important role.     

Diode-laser spectroscopy: Temperature dependence of R (0) line in the ν4 band of CH4 perturbed by N2 and O2

In this paper, we present a line profile study of the R (0) line in the ν₄ band of methane diluted in nitrogen and oxygen, from room temperature to 153 K. The measurements were performed over a total pressure range from 14 to 128 mbar. The collisional broadening and narrowing (Dicke effect) coefficients are derived from a fit of the experimental spectra by using the soft and hard collision models, taking into account the Dicke effect. For higher pressures, we have fitted the data with a model taking into account simultaneously the Dicke narrowing and the speed dependence effect. Finally, we have deduced the parameter n of the temperature dependence (inverse power law) of the broadening coefficients for the CH₄-N₂ and CH₄-O₂ gas mixtures.     

SO2: High-resolution analysis of the (0 3 0), (1 0 1), (1 1 1), (0 0 2) and (2 0 1) vibrational states; determination of equilibrium rotational constants for sulfur dioxide and anharmonic vibrational constants

High resolution Fourier transform spectra of a sample of sulfur dioxide, enriched in ³⁴S (95.3%). were completely analyzed leading to a large set of assigned lines. The experimental levels derived from this set of transitions were fit to within their experimental uncertainties using Watson-type Hamiltonians. Precise band centers, rotational and centrifugal distortion constants were determined. The following band centers in cm⁻¹ were obtained: ν₀(3ν₂)=1538.720198(11), ν₀(ν₁ + ν₃)=2475.828004(29), ν₀(ν₁ + ν₂ + ν₃)=2982.118600(20), ν₀(2ν₃)=2679.800919(35), and ν₀(2ν₁ + ν₃)=3598.773915(38). The rotational constants obtained in this work have been fit together with the rotational constants of lower-lying vibrational states [W.J. Lafferty, J.-M. Flaud, R.L. Sams, EL Hadjiabib, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 252 (2008) 72-76] to obtain equilibrium constants as well as vibration-rotation constants. These equilibrium constants have been fit together with those of ³²S¹⁶O₂ [J.-M. Flaud, W.J. Lafferty, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 16 (1993) 396-402] leading to an improved equilibrium structure. Finally the observed band centers have been fit to obtain anharmonic rotational constants.     

The reaction of hydroxyethyl radicals with O2: A theoretical analysis and experimental product study

Reactions of α-hydroxyethyl (CH₃CHOH) and β-hydroxyethyl (CH₂CH₂OH) radicals with oxygen are of key importance in ethanol combustion. High-level ab initio calculations of the potential energy surfaces of these two reactions were coupled with master equation methods to compute rate coefficients and product branching ratios for temperatures of 250-1000 K. The α-hydroxyethyl + O₂ reaction is controlled by the barrierless entrance channel and shows negligible pressure dependence; in contrast, the reaction of the β isomer displays pronounced pressure dependence. The high pressure limit rate coefficients of both reactions are about the same at the temperatures investigated. Products of the reactions were monitored experimentally at 4 Torr and 300-600 K using tunable synchrotron photoionization mass spectrometry. Hydroxyethyl radicals were produced from the reaction of ethanol with chlorine atoms and the β isomer was also selectively produced by the addition reaction C₂H₄ + OH → CH₂CH₂OH. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, vinyl alcohol and H₂O₂ products were detected, in qualitative agreement with the theoretical predictions.     

Kinetic aspect of CO2 reforming of CH4 on Ni(1 1 1): A density functional theory calculation

Reaction pathways of CO₂ reforming of CH₄ on Ni(1 1 1) were investigated by using density functional theory calculation. The computed kinetic parameters agree with the available experimental data, and a new and simplified mechanism was proposed on the basis of computed energy barriers. The first step is CO₂ dissociation into surface CO and O (CO₂ → CO + O) and CH₄ sequentially dissociation into surface CH and H (CH₄ → CH₃ → CH₂ → CH). The second step is CH oxygenation into CHO (CH + O → CHO), which is more favored than its dissociation into C and hydrogen (CH → C + H). The third step is the dissociation of CHO into surface CO and H (CHO → CO + H). Finally, H₂ and CO desorb from Ni(1 1 1) and form free H₂ and CO. The rate-determining step is the CH₄ dissociative adsorption, and the key intermediate is surface adsorbed CHO. Parameters, which might modify the proposed mechanism, have been analyzed. In addition, the formation, deposition and elimination of surface carbon have been discussed accordingly.     

Line-mixing between rotational Stark components of CH3F self-perturbed and perturbed by helium: Experimental results and IOS analysis

Self- and He-broadening coefficients of microwave transitions of CH₃F have been measured with and without the presence of an external electric field. This provides values for the J, K → J + 1, K (K = 0 − J) transitions for J = 1 and J = 3 as well as for the various J, K, M → J + 1, K, M′ (|M| = 0 − K, |M - M′| = 0, 1) Stark components. The results and those of a previous experimental study for pure CH₃F, which show significant line-mixing effects, are analyzed with a model based on the Infinite Order Sudden approximation. It is shown that the latter leads to very satisfactory modeling of observed values even though no parameter was adjusted since previously and independently determined basic cross-sections are used. The quality of the present predictions is comparable with that obtained previously with a semi-classical approach. Furthermore, it is shown that the previously stated inaccuracy of the IOS model was due to an oversimplified use of this approach.