Low energy electron attachment to clusters of nitric oxide

Journal Article · Tue Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of Chemical Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.466458· OSTI ID:5350247

Carman, Jr, H S ^[1]

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1. Chemical Physics Section, Health Sciences Research Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6125 (United States)

The attachment of low energy (9--80 meV) electrons to clusters of nitric oxide (NO) has been studied by means of Rydberg electron transfer (RET) from selected [ital nd] states of rubidium ([ital n]=15--40). The product negative ions have stoichiometry (NO)[sup [minus]][sub [ital x]] ([ital x]=2--60) and exhibit even/odd intensity alternations (odd[gt]even) which increase in magnitude with cluster size such that [ital only] odd cluster ions are observed for [ital x][approx gt]20. The experimental data are consistent with an evaporative attachment mechanism in which the production of odd cluster ions is kinetically favored due to differences in stabilities between odd and even cluster ions. These differences in stabilities are attributed to the spin pairing of valence electrons which results in extensive dimerization of NO in condensed phases. It is postulated that, for [ital x][gt]3, the excess electron becomes localized to form an (NO)[sup [minus]][sub 3] ion which is solvated by NO dimers. Interaction potentials governing the initial electron capture process are also discussed.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5350247
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics; (United States) Vol. 100:4; ISSN JCPSA6; ISSN 0021-9606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ANIONS
ATOMIC CLUSTERS
CAPTURE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DIMERIZATION
ELECTRON CAPTURE
ELECTRON TRANSFER
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY RANGE
EV RANGE
EXCITED STATES
IONS
MILLI EV RANGE
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLYMERIZATION
RYDBERG STATES