J. Norooz Oliaee

High resolution infrared spectroscopy of carbon dioxide clusters up to (CO2)13

Thirteen specific infrared bands in the 2350 cm(-1) region are assigned to carbon dioxide clusters, (CO(2))(N), with N = 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The spectra are observed in direct absorption using a tuneable infrared laser to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion of a dilute mixture of CO(2) in He carrier gas. Assignments are aided by cluster structure calculations made using two reliable CO(2) intermolecular potential functions. For (CO(2))(6), two highly symmetric isomers are observed, one with S(6) symmetry (probably the more stable form), and the other with S(4) symmetry. (CO(2))(13) is also symmetric (S(6)), but the remaining clusters are asymmetric tops with no symmetry elements. The observed rotational constants tend to be slightly (≈2%) smaller than those from the predicted structures. The bands have increasing vibrational blueshifts with increasing cluster size, similar to those predicted by the resonant dipole-dipole interaction model but significantly larger in magnitude.

Spectroscopic observation and structure of CS2 dimer

Infrared spectra of the CS(2) dimer are observed in the region of the CS(2) ν(3) fundamental band (∼1535 cm(-1)) using a tunable diode laser spectrometer. The weakly bound complex is formed in a pulsed supersonic slit-jet expansion of a dilute gas mixture of carbon disulfide in helium. Contrary to the planar slipped-parallel geometry previously observed for (CO(2))(2), (N(2)O)(2), and (OCS)(2), the CS(2) dimer exhibits a cross-shaped structure with D(2d) symmetry. Two bands were observed and analyzed: the fundamental (C-S asymmetric stretch) and a combination involving this mode plus an intermolecular vibration. In both cases, the rotational structure corresponds to a perpendicular (ΔK = ±1) band of a symmetric rotor molecule. The intermolecular center of mass separation (C-C distance) is determined to be 3.539(7) Å. Thanks to symmetry, this is the only parameter required to characterize the structure, if the monomer geometry is assumed to remain unchanged in the dimer. From the band centers of the fundamental and combination band an intermolecular frequency of 10.96 cm(-1) is obtained, which we assign as the torsional bending mode. This constitutes the first high resolution spectroscopic investigation of CS(2) dimer.

Infrared spectra of the OCS-CO2 complex: Observation of two distinct slipped near-parallel isomers

Infrared spectra of OCS-CO(2) complexes are studied in a pulsed supersonic slit-jet expansion using a tunable diode laser probe in the 2060 cm(-1) region of the C-O stretching fundamental of OCS. Two bands are observed and analyzed, corresponding to two distinct isomers of the complex. Isomer a is the known form which has been previously studied in the microwave region. Isomer b is a new form, expected theoretically but first observed here. Structures are determined with the help of isotopic substitution. Both isomers are planar, with slipped near-parallel geometries. In isomer a, the intermolecular (center of mass) separation is 3.55 A and the C atom of the CO(2) is closer to the S atom of the OCS. In isomer b, the C atom of CO(2) slides closer to the O atom of OCS and the center of mass separation increases to 3.99 A. Isomer a is the lowest energy form, but paradoxically isomer b appears to be stronger in our infrared spectra. Predicted pure rotational transition frequencies are given to help in a search for the microwave spectrum of isomer b.

Nitrous oxide tetramer has two highly symmetric isomers.

Infrared spectra of the nitrous oxide tetramer, (N(2)O)(4), are studied in the region of the N(2)O ν(1) fundamental band (∼2200 cm(-1)). The spectra are observed using a tunable diode laser to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion. Parallel (ΔK = 0) bands are observed for the previously observed isomer of (N(2)O)(4), which is confirmed by isotopic substitution to have an oblate symmetric rotor structure with D(2d) symmetry. A distinct new isomer of (N(2)O)(4) is observed by means of a perpendicular (ΔK = ±1) band. It has a prolate symmetric rotor structure with S(4) symmetry. These isomers represent two distinct, but almost equally favorable, ways of bringing together a pair of nonpolar N(2)O dimers to form a tetramer. It is not clear at present which one represents the true ground state.

Ubiquitous T-shaped isomers of OCS-hydrocarbon van der Waals complexes

Many weakly bound OCS-hydrocarbon complexes exhibit a relatively simple rotation-vibration band, characteristic of a T-shaped structure, which is redshifted (by 5-12 cm(-1)) from the OCS monomer nu(1) frequency. Spectra of OCS with seven chain and ring hydrocarbons are described here. They allow a straightforward comparison of intermolecular force effects (vibrational shift and intermolecular separation) over a range of molecules, which could be extended to other hydrocarbons and other probes such as CO(2) and N(2)O.

New spectroscopic results on acetylene dimers and trimers

Spectra of acetylene dimers and trimers containing one or more C2D2 monomer are studied in the ν3 fundamental band region of C2D2 (≈2440 cm−1) using a tuneable infrared diode laser to probe a pulsed supersonic slit jet expansion. Four new subbands are observed in the perpendicular band of (C2D2)2, and this enables the first direct determination of the A rotational constant for an acetylene dimer. The value found for A is significantly larger than the previous indirect value based on microwave spectra. The dimer parallel band is observed and found to be highly perturbed, and observations are extended for the mixed dimer C2D2 – C2H2. The trimers (C2D2)3, (C2D2)2 – C2H2, and C2D2 – (C2H2)2 are observed spectroscopically for the first time. Establishment of a precise band origin is difficult for (C2D2)3 because of the inherent nature of the spectrum, but this is possible for two out of three of the bands of the mixed trimers.

Spectroscopic observation of nitrous oxide pentamers

Two new infrared bands in the ν(1) fundamental region of N(2)O are observed in a supersonic jet expansion and assigned to nitrous oxide pentamers. Each band is measured using both (14)N(2)(16)O and (15)N(2)(16)O. Although they are similar in appearance, the bands have slightly different lower state rotational parameters, and are thus assigned to distinct structural isomers of the pentamer. Cluster calculations using two N(2)O intermolecular potentials give results in good agreement with the observed spectra, and indicate that the two isomers probably have the same basic structure (which is unsymmetrical), but differ in the alignment (N-N-O or O-N-N) of one or two of the constituent monomers. Calculations using a resonant dipole interaction model also support the proposed assignment and structure. These are the first reported high-resolution spectra for N(2)O pentamers.

Five intermolecular vibrations of the CO2 dimer observed via infrared combination bands

The weakly bound van der Waals dimer (CO2)2 has long been of considerable theoretical and experimental interest. Here, we study its low frequency intermolecular vibrations by means of combination bands in the region of the CO2 monomer ν3 fundamental (≈2350 cm-1), which are observed using a tunable infrared laser to probe a pulsed supersonic slit jet expansion. With the help of a recent high level ab initio calculation by Wang, Carrington, and Dawes, four intermolecular frequencies are assigned: the in-plane disrotatory bend (22.26 cm-1); the out-of-plane torsion (23.24 cm-1); twice the disrotatory bend (31.51 cm-1); and the in-plane conrotatory bend (92.25 cm-1). The disrotatory bend and torsion, separated by only 0.98 cm-1, are strongly mixed by Coriolis interactions. The disrotatory bend overtone is well behaved, but the conrotatory bend is highly perturbed and could not be well fitted. The latter perturbations could be due to tunneling effects, which have not previously been observed experimentally for CO2 dimer. A fifth combination band, located 1.3 cm-1 below the conrotatory bend, remains unassigned.