Reactive scattering of alkali dimers: Product K atoms from K2+Br2, IBr,BrCN, SnCl4

Approximate angular distribution measurements of reactively scattered K atoms from a potassium dimer K₂ beam by cross beam molecules Br₂, IBr, BrCN, SnCl₄ are reported. Forward peaking in the centre of mass differential cross section for K₂+Br₂, IBr, BrCN unambiguously confirms that the reaction path at large impact parameters yields K + KX + Y products. Differential cross sections at wide angles for K compared with KX products, suggest that the reaction path yielding KX + KY products becomes important at small impact parameters. Comparison of the reactive K atom scattering with the KX scattering lends further support to a schematic mechanism of the reaction dynamics suggested previously. The K₂ + SnCl₄ reaction does not yield reactively scattered K atoms.     

Reactive scattering of alkali dimers: K2 + HgCl2, HgBr2, HgI2

Angular distribution measurements of KX reactive scattering of a potassium dimer K₂ beam by mercuric halide molecules HgX₂ are reported. All the reactions exhibit strong forward peaking in the centre of mass differential cross sections and large total reaction cross sections Q_r ～ 150 Ų. However, there is substantial backward peaking ( forward peak) for HgBr₂, HgI₂. Despite the direct stripping dynamics, both alkali atoms of the K₂ dimer become bound alkali halide molecules in most (perhaps all) reactive collisions. A major fraction of the reaction exoergicity is disposed into vibrational excitation of the product KX molecules. A mechanism involving a first electron jump in the entrance valley and a second electron jump in the exit valley of the potential surface is suggested to explain the rapid transfer of both K₂ valence electrons.     

Vibrational coordinates in the electron jump model

The role of quantization of vibrational coordinates in the electron jump model of alkali atom, dimer plus halogen molecule collisions is examined. Despite the bound states of the molecule ions involved, a classical approximation may offer good approximation over a wide collision energy range for the energy distributions of the ions in a single electron jump. Some results are calculated for K + Br₂ and K₂ + Br₂. The theory assumes that the electron jump probability is governed by the electronic matrix element H₁₂ alone. Elementary arguments are offered to suggest that this may be a reasonable approximation.     

Reactive scattering of oxygen atoms: O+I2, ICl,Br2

Angular and velocity distribution measurements of IO reactive scattering from crossed beams of O atoms and halogen molecules I₂, ICl are reported. Angular distribution measurements are reported for BrO from O + Br₂. The O atom beam was generated at ～350 K from a microwave discharge source and the halogen molecule beam from a supersonic nozzle source at ～380 K. The product time-of-flight distribution was recorded at each laboratory scattering angle by a mini-computer. The scattering data are found to be in excellent agreement with the RRKM-AM model of reactive scattering via a long-lived collision complex. The observation of IO product from O + ICl identifies the complex with a bound O-I-Cl triplet state, previously observed for O-Cl-Cl in matrix isolation studies, as proposed by Herschbach. The maximum centrifugal barrier B _m′ for dissociation of the long-lived complex can be accurately determined, particularly for O + I₂. The B _m′ values indicate that both the entrance and exit valleys of the potential energy surface are governed by centrifugal barriers in the region of long-range van der Waals potentials. The comparatively small reaction cross section (e.g. Q ～ 2 Ų for O + Br₂ from discharge flow measurements) is attributed primarily to an orientation requirement for reaction. The RRKM-AM model indicates a ‘tight linear’ transition state for dissociation of the O-I-I complex, corresponding to significant long-range IO orienting forces in the exit valley of the potential energy surface.     

Quantum-mechanical high temperature Equation of state: Perturbation theory with finite range Kac potential

Angular distribution measurements of reactive scattering of a supersonic potassium atom beam by a series of halogen and halomethane molecules are reported with initial kinetic energies E ～ 5–6 kcal mol^-1. Differential reaction cross sections for I₂, IBr, CH₂I₂ show decreased wide-angle scattering and decreased total reaction cross sections compared with thermal energies. The differential reaction cross section for CHI₃ is peaked in the forward direction (?=0°) but that for CBr₄ peaks sideways at ? ～ 40°. The variation in reaction dynamics is correlated with the potential energy curves of halomethane molecules and their anions as indicated by dissociative thermal electron attachment experiments.     

Reactive scattering of a supersonic oxygen atom beam O + I2

Reactive scattering of O atoms with I₂ molecules has been studied at an initial translational energy E = 43 kJ mol^-1 using a supersonic beam of O atoms seeded in He and E = 18 kJ mol^-1 using O atoms seeded in Ne. Velocity distributions of OI product were measured by cross-correlation time-of-flight analysis. Full contour maps of the differential reaction cross section were obtained which show predominantly rebound scattering at both initial translational energies. Scattering in the forward direction has a product translational energy distribution similar to that predicted for a long-lived collision complex but scattering in the backward direction has a much higher product translational energy. The greater predominance of rebound scattering observed for O + I₂ compared with O + Br₂ may be attributed to the greater exoergicity of the O + I₂ reaction. However, comparison with the O + IBr reaction which exhibits a long-lived collision complex mechanism indicates that the predominance of backward scattering for O + I₂ also arises from diminished forward scattering from larger impact parameter collisions.     

Reactive scattering of alkali dimers: chemi-ionization

Measurements of total cross sections Q_i for chemi-ionization in scattering of a K₂ dimer beam by a range of halogen containing molecules, at translational energies E ～ 7–11 kcal mol^-1, are reported. Substantial cross sections, Q_i ～ 2–10 Ų are exhibited by the halogen molecules Br₂, ICl, IBr, I₂. Distinctly lower values Q_i ～ 0·1–0.2 Ų are exhibited by BrCN and the mercuric and stannic halides, HgX₂, SnX₄. The results show a close correlation with the chemi-ionization exoergicities, particularly for formation of a K⁺,X^- ion pair. These chemi-ionization data and results from previous reactive scattering studies are compared, in order to estimate relative reaction yields for different reaction paths. The reaction dynamics for K₂ with halogen molecules and cyanohalides are rationalized in terms of the electronic structure of the potential surface, where the orientation of the K₂ dimer plays a crucial role.     

Electron spin resonance of radicals in X-irradiated single crystals of N-substituted amino acids

Angular distribution measurements of KX reactive scattering of a potassium dimer K₂ beam by allyl and alkyl halides are reported. The centre of mass differential cross sections are uncertainly determined but distinctly different from the rebound cross sections exhibited by K+CH₃I, C₂H₅I atom reactions. This change of dynamics may be rationalized in terms of the transfer of both K₂ valence electrons to the halide molecule. The reaction products seem likely to be a potassium halide and a potassium alkyl or allyl molecule.     

Hartree-Fock and density functional theory studies on ionization and fragmentation of halomethane molecules by positron impact

The fragmentation patterns of halomethane molecules CF₄, CCl₂F₂, CClF₃ and CHF₃ due to positron impact have been studied by using ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods. The geometries of parent molecules and fragments are optimized at HF, MP2 and B3LYP levels of theory using the 6–31+G(d, p) basis set. The calculated reaction energies agree with the experimental values. The condensed Fukui functions have been calculated using the atomic charges of the Mulliken population analysis (MPA) scheme for the halomethane molecules. The calculated condensed Fukui functions successfully predict the reactive site of the halomethane molecules for the positron, electron and radical attacks. The chemical hardness and chemical potential for the above molecules and its fragments are calculated.     

Radiolysis of mixed KI + RbI and KI + CsI powders

Abstract

Pure and mixed powders of KI + RbI and KI + CsI are irradiated by X-rays at room temperature. V-type defects are identified by means of Raman scattering experiments. Raman spectra show that similar defects are obtained in pure powders or crystals. Iodine molecules are stabilized in KI in the form of large clusters (I₂)_n while I³ _- ions are obtained in RbI and CsI.     

Reactive scattering of a supersonic deuterium atom beam : D+Br2, CF3I,C2F5I,C3F7I

Reactive scattering of D atoms with Br₂, CF₃I, C₂F₅I and C₃F₇I molecules has been studied at an initial translational energy E = 5·3 kJ mol^-1 using a supersonic beam of D atoms seeded in He. Deuterium halide product is scattered in the backward direction with respect to the incident D atoms, with substantial energy disposed into product translation in all cases. The fraction of the total available energy which is disposed into product translation, is greater for the fluoralkyl iodides than for Br₂ and decreases slightly along the series CF₃I, C₂F₅I, C₃F₇I. These results demonstrate that the reaction of D atoms with fluoroalkyl iodides occurs only in collisions at small impact parameters with strong repulsion between the reaction products. The potential energy surfaces for the reactions of the fluoroalkyl iodides are similar to that for the D + Br₂ reaction but involve the release of a still greater proportion of the reaction exoergicity in the exit valley of the surface. Only a small fraction, if any, of the product repulsion is transferred to internal excitation of the product fluoroalkyl radical.     

Reactive scattering of a supersonic alkali atom beam: K + Br2, BrCN,SnCl4, PCl3, CCl4, CH3I

Angular distribution measurements of reactive scattering of a supersonic potassium atom beam by a series of molecules are reported with initial kinetic energy (～ 5 kcal mole^-1) above the thermal energy range. The narrow Laval nozzle velocity distribution gives improved resolution over thermal energy measurements. Total reaction cross sections are found to decrease with energy. Differential reaction cross sections for Br₂, BrCN and CCl₄ show increased forward scattering compared with thermal energies but for CH₃I there is no change to within experimental error. The BrCN scattering is compatible with spectator-stripping dynamics, though this limit has not been reached in the Br₂ scattering. The SnCl₄ differential reaction cross section appears not to be compatible with a single peak in the centre of mass recoil velocity distribution. It is suggested that high and low velocity contributions to the intensity may arise from a long-lived collision complex dissociating by two reaction paths.     

On the theoretical calculations of cross-sections for alkali metal atoms reacting with Cl2 and Br2 molecules

Summary An adiabatic capture mechanism is presented to calculate reactive cross-sections for the alkali+Cl₂ and alkali+Br₂ systems. The model is based on empirically constructed potential-energy surfaces and the results are found to be consistent with the experimental values. To speed up publication, the author of this paper has agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Chemiluminescence of alkaline earth monohalides in the collisions of ground state Ca, Sr, and Ba atoms with Cl2, Br2, I2, ICl,, ICl, and IBr

Formation of electronically excited alkaline earth monohalides MX^* in the reactions of ground state Ca, Sr, and Ba atoms with Cl₂, Br₂, I₂, ICl, and IBr was studied in a beam-gas arrangement. The MX^* spectra were observed for all the reactive systems with the exception of Ca, . The energy balance indicates that MX^* can be formed in a single-collision exchange reaction; also the dependence of MX^*-chemiluminescence intensity on halogen gas pressure is typical of a bimolecular process. The MX^*-chemiluminescence cross sections and lower limits of photon yields are estimated. Received 17 April 2000 and Received in final form 18 July 2000     

Nucleophilic substitution reactions promoted by oligoethylene glycols: a mechanistic study of ion‐pair SN2 processes facilitated by Lewis base

We present a mechanistic study for nucleophilic substitution (S_N2) reactions facilitated by multifunctional n‐oligoethylene glycols (n‐oligoEGs) using alkali metal salts MX (M⁺ = Cs⁺, K⁺, X^– = F^–, Br^–, I^–, CN^–) as nucleophilic agents. Density functional theory method is employed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of the S_N2 reaction. We found that the nucleophiles react as ion pairs, whose metal cation is ‘coordinated’ by the oxygen atoms in oligoEGs acting as Lewis base to reduce the unfavorable electrostatic effects of M⁺ on X^–. The two terminal hydroxyl (?OH) function as ‘anchors’ to collect the nucleophile and the substrate in an ideal configuration for the reaction. Calculated barriers of the reactions are in excellent agreement with all experimentally observed trends of S_N2 yields obtained by using various metal cations, nucleophiles and oligoEGs. The reaction barriers are calculated to decrease from triEG to pentaEG, in agreement with the experimentally observed order of efficiency (triEG < tetraEG < pentaEG). The observed relative efficiency of the metal cations Cs⁺ versus K⁺ is also nicely demonstrated (larger [better] barrier [efficiency] for Cs⁺ than for K⁺). We also examine the effects of the nucleophiles (F^–, Br^–, I^–, CN^–), finding that the magnitudes of reaction barriers are F^– > CN^– > Br^– > I^–, elucidating the observation that the yield was lowest for F^–. It is suggested that the role of oxygen atoms in the promoters is equivalent to that of –OH group in bulky alcohols (tert‐butyl or amyl‐alcohol) for S_N2 fluorination reactions previously studied in our lab. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Model for rebound reactions: M+RI

A simple model, consisting of ‘two-body’ reactant and product trajectories joined by an instantaneous switch, is proposed for the alkali atom-alkyl iodide rebound reactions. The electronic potential surfaces governing these trajectories are justified in terms of the electron jump model. Encouraging overall agreement is found with extensive molecular beam data for the K, Cs + CH₃I reactions.     

Effects of compositions on properties of PEO–KI–I2 salts polymer electrolytes for DSSC

The effects of compositions on properties of PEO/KI/I₂ salts polymer electrolytes were investigated to optimize the photovoltaic performance of solid state DSSCs. XRD pattern for the mole ratio 12:1 of [EO:KI] was showed the formation of complete amorphous complex. DSC results also confirmed the amorphous nature of the polymer electrolyte. The highest value of ionic conductivity is 8.36 × 10^− 5 S/cm at 303 K (ambient temperature) and 2.32 × 10^− 4 S/cm at 333 K (moderate temperature) for the mole ratio 12:1 of EO:KI complex. The effect of contribution of [I⁻] and [I₃⁻] concentration with conductivity were also evaluated. FTIR spectrum reveals that the alkali metal cations were co-ordinated to ether oxygen of PEO. The formation of polyiodide ions, such as symmetric I₃⁻ (114 cm^− 1) and I₅⁻ (145 cm^− 1) caused by the addition of iodine was confirmed by FT Raman spectroscopic measurements. The optimum composition of PEO–KI–I₂ polymer electrolyte system for higher conductivity at ambient and moderate temperatures was reported. A linear Arrhenius type behaviour was observed for all the PEO–KI polymer complexes. Transport number measurements were carried out for several polymer electrolyte compositions. Dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated by using higher conductivity polymer electrolyte compositions and its photoelectrochemical performance was investigated. The fill factor, short-circuit current, photovoltage and energy conversion efficiency of the DSSC assembled with optimized electrolyte composition were calculated to be 0.563, 6.124 mA/cm², 593 mV and 2.044% respectively.     

Semiempirical pseudopotential surfaces for chemical reactions: The (AB)+ X - dialkali halide systems

A generalization of the Roach-Child semiempirical pseudopotential calculation for K + NaCl to several analogous dialkali halide systems has been used to elucidate the chemical interactions governing the reaction dynamics. The Li + LiF ground-state potential surface, which exhibits a ～ 20 kcal/mole basin for isosceles Li₂F, is qualitatively similar to one obtained in a recent configurational interaction calculation. It is shown that regions of the Na₂Cl ground-state surface corresponding to Na₂ ⁺ interacting with Cl^- can be described in terms of an ion-pair Rittner potential model similar to that employed for the alkali halides. Chemical trends in the triangular complex well depths satisfactorily account for the experimentally observed transition between the collision complex mechanism (Rb + KCl) and the osculating complex model (Li + KBr) for the alkali-alkali halide exchange reactions at thermal energies. For collinear configurations with the alkalis on opposite ends, avoided intersections between the lowest two potential surfaces are characterized in terms of diabatic surfaces computed from truncated basis sets. Crossings of these surfaces account for the vibrational-electronic energy transfer between alkali atoms and vibrationally excited alkali halides. The ionic X ^- + A ₂ ⁺ potential surfaces are used to predict the product electronic excitation and partitioning of exoergicity in reactions of halogen atoms with alkali dimer molecules.     

Ion-pair states of I<Subscript>2</Subscript>, Br<Subscript>2</Subscript>, IBr,and ICl

The experimentally determined energies and rotational constants of the vibrational levels v = 0–20 of the Ion-Pair states Ω = 0⁺, Ω = 1 of the I₂, Br₂, IBr, and ICl molecules are modeled. The model used includes three diabatic states, which correlate to X⁺(3P, 1D) + Y^～(1S₀). These states are coupled by the spin-orbit interaction, which is assumed to be independent of the internuclear distance. For IBr and ICl, as well as for the ungerade states of I₂ and Br₂, satisfactory results are obtained. The model is less applicable to the gerade states of I₂ and Br₂, which is possibly results from the retainment of the asymptotic J _A J _B coupling of the angular momenta at equilibrium internuclear distances.     

Optical absorption spectra of I3 - molecular ions in KI crystals and aqueous solutions

A semiempirical molecular orbital method including spin-orbit interaction is used to study optical absorption spectra of I₃ ^- molecular ions in (KI + I₂) aqueous solutions and in KI crystals coloured additively or electrolytically. The splitting of two strong absorption bands observed for these specimens is considered to be due to the spin-orbit interaction in the iodine atoms. The values of the spin-orbit coupling constants for I₃ ^- in aqueous solutions and coloured KI crystals are estimated to be 0·56 and about 0·47 eV, respectively. The oscillator strengths of the two strong bands for these specimens is also discussed.