High resolution photoelectron imaging of UO{sup −} and UO{sub 2}{sup −} and the low-lying electronic states and vibrational frequencies of UO and UO{sub 2}
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912 (United States)
We report a study of the electronic and vibrational structures of the gaseous uranium monoxide and dioxide molecules using high-resolution photoelectron imaging. Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra are obtained for both UO{sup −} and UO{sub 2}{sup −}. The spectra for UO{sub 2}{sup −} are consistent with, but much better resolved than a recent study using a magnetic-bottle photoelectron analyzer [W. L. Li et al., J. Chem. Phys. 140, 094306 (2014)]. The electron affinity (EA) of UO is reported for the first time as 1.1407(7) eV, whereas a much more accurate EA is obtained for UO{sub 2} as 1.1688(6) eV. The symmetric stretching modes for the neutral and anionic ground states, and two neutral excited states for UO{sub 2} are observed, as well as the bending mode for the neutral ground state. These vibrational frequencies are consistent with previous experimental and theoretical results. The stretching vibrational modes for the ground state and one excited state are observed for UO. The current results for UO and UO{sub 2} are compared with previous theoretical calculations including relativistic effects and spin-orbit coupling. The accurate experimental data reported here provide more stringent tests for future theoretical methods for actinide-containing species.
- OSTI ID:
- 22415417
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 141, Issue 24; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
A study of the structure and bonding of small aluminum oxide clusters by photoelectron spectroscopy: AlxOy- (x=1–2, y=1–5)
A photoelectron spectroscopic study of monovanadium oxide anions (VO{sub x}{sup {minus}}, x=1{endash}4)