Photoelectron and electron impact spectrum of HCN

The electronic structures of HCN and DCN have been determined by examining high resolution He(I) photelectron spectra of HCN and DCN, He(II) photoelectron spectrum of HCN, and the electron impact energy loss spectra of HCN and DCN. The present investigation supports an earlier assignment of the orbital sequence in HCN. New vibrational data are presented and the Rydberg series and valence transitions are reinvestigated. The adiabatic ionization energies for the 1π and 5σ orbitals in HCN are found to be 13.607 ± 0.002 eV and 14.011 ± 0.003 eV respectively.As mentioned above the investigation of the Rydberg series indicated that the first IP at 13.607 eV is the 1π ionization and the second IP at 14.011 eV is the 5σ ionization. A comparison of the experimental and theoretical intensity ratio between the two first PES progressions also supports this assignment. It is further supported by the fact that in the second IP the ν₃ vibration frequency is not changed as much as it is in the first IP, which is in agreement with the PES of N₂ and CO. The analysis of the bending vibrations also supports this ordering of the orbitals.The same orbital assignment has recently been proposed by Frost et al.⁵, using a comparison with the HCP photoelectron spectrum. The present paper supports their assignment of orbitals and (00⁰0)-(00⁰0) transitions. There are, however, some disagreements concerning the vibrational analysis. This is probably due to the fact that the HCN spectrum of Frost et al.⁵ revealed less structure than ours. As indicated by Figure 5 there is possibly still more structure to be revealed.