Direct EPR detection of atomic nitrogen in an atmospheric nitrogen plasma jet

In this study, an atmospheric nitrogen plasma jet generated by a custom-built micro-plasma device was analyzed at room temperature by continuous wave and pulse EPR spectroscopy in real time. Transiently formed nitrogen atoms were detected without the necessity to use spin-traps or other reagents for their stabilization. In contrast to results from optical emission spectroscopy, only signals from the ⁴S ground state of ¹⁴N and ¹⁵N could be detected. EPR data analysis revealed an isotropic g value of 1.9971 and isotropic hyperfine coupling constants of a(¹⁴N) = (10.47 ± 0.02) MHz and a(¹⁵N) = (14.69 ± 0.02) MHz. Moreover, lifetime and relaxation data could be determined; both are discussed in terms of spectral widths and actual concentrations of the transiently formed nitrogen species within the plasma jet. The data show that the lifetimes of atomic nitrogen and charged particles such as N⁺ must be different, and for the latter below the observation time window of EPR spectroscopy. We demonstrate that the real-time (pulsed) EPR technique is a fast and reliable alternative to detect atomic nitrogen in atmospheric pressure plasma jets. The method may be used for a continuous monitoring of the quality of plasma jets.

Periodic Dispersion-Corrected Approach for Isolation Spectroscopy of N2 in an Argon Environment: Clusters, Surfaces, and Matrices

Ab initio and Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE) density functional theory with dispersion correction (PBE-D3) calculations are performed to study N₂-Ar_n (n ≤ 3) complexes and N₂ trapped in Ar matrix (i.e., N₂@Ar). For cluster computations, we used both Møller-Plesset (MP2) and PBE-D3 methods. For N₂@Ar, we used a periodic-dispersion corrected model for Ar matrix, which consists on a slab of four layers of Ar atoms. We determined the equilibrium structures and binding energies of N₂ interacting with these entities. We also deduced the N₂ vibrational frequency shifts caused by clustering or embedding compared to an isolated N₂ molecule. Upon complexation or embedding, the vibrational frequency of N₂ is slightly shifted, while its equilibrium distance remains unchanged. This is due to the weak interactions between N₂ and Ar within these compounds. Our calculations show the importance of inclusion of dispersion effects for the accurate description of geometrical and spectroscopic parameters of N₂ isolated, in interaction with Ar surfaces, or trapped in Ar matrices.

Fourier transform microwave spectrum of the nitrogen molecule-ethylene oxide complex: intracomplex motions

The rotational spectra of the N2-ethylene oxide (EO) complex were measured in the frequency region from 4 to 27 GHz by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy, paying particular attention to intracomplex motions. The isotopologues with enriched (15)N2 or (15)NN as a moiety were also investigated. We have observed spectra of a strong/weak pair for each of the ortho and para states of the (14)N2-EO and (15)N2-EO species, which indicated that the complex existed in four distinct states. We interpreted, on the basis of the observed relative intensities, that these states were generated primarily by the exchange of the nitrogen atoms of the N2 moiety, followed by that of the two CH2 groups in the EO molecule. The (15)NN-EO species was found to consist of two isomers, one with the (15)N in the inner expressed as N(15)N-EO and the other in the outer position designated as (15)NN-EO, and the spectra of both isomers were accompanied by one weak set of satellites. The observed spectra were rotationally assigned by using sum rules and were analyzed by the asymmetric-rotor program of S-reduction, with the standard deviation of less than 10 kHz. We have found some of the molecular parameters like A, D(JK), and D(K) to be correlated between the two pairs of the spectra, and also, to much less extent, between the strong and weak members. The differences in these molecular parameters between the four sets were explained by the first-order Coriolis interaction between the "ground" and "excited" states generated by a combination of the two internal motions corresponding to the exchanges of the equivalent atoms and/or groups in the N2 and EO constituents of the complex. These internal motions were simulated by the 2-fold internal rotations of the two moieties. We have carried out ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the level of MP2 with basis sets 6-311++G(d,p), aug-cc-pVDZ, and aug-cc-pVTZ, to complement the information on the intracomplex motions obtained from the observed rotational spectra.

New exchange-Coulomb N2-Ar potential-energy surface and its comparison with other recent N2-Ar potential-energy surfaces

The reliability of five N2-Ar potential-energy surfaces in representing the N2-Ar interaction has been investigated by comparing their abilities to reproduce a variety of experimental results, including interaction second viral coefficients, bulk transport properties, relaxation phenomena, differential scattering cross sections, and the microwave and infrared spectra of the van der Waals complexes. Four of the surfaces are the result of high-level ab initio quantal calculations; one of them utilized fine tuning by fitting to microwave data. To date, these four potential-energy surfaces have only been tested against experimental microwave data. The fifth potential-energy surface, based upon the exchange-Coulomb potential-energy model for the interaction of closed-shell species, is developed herein: it is a combination of a damped dispersion energy series and ab initio calculations of the Heitler-London interaction energy, and has adjustable parameters determined by requiring essentially simultaneous agreement with selected quality interaction second viral coefficient and microwave data. Comparisons are also made with the predictions of three other very good literature potential-energy surfaces, including the precursor of the new exchange-Coulomb potential-energy surface developed here. Based upon an analysis of a large body of information, the new exchange-Coulomb and microwave-tuned ab initio potential-energy surfaces provide the best representations of the N2-Ar interaction; nevertheless, the other potential-energy surfaces examined still have considerable merit with respect to the prediction of specific properties of the N2-Ar van der Waals complex. Of the two recommended surfaces, the new exchange-Coulomb surface is preferred on balance due to its superior predictions of the effective cross sections related to various relaxation phenomena, and to its reliable, and relatively simple, representation of the long-range part of the potential-energy surface. Moreover, the flexibility still inherent in the exchange-Coulomb potential form can be further exploited, if required, in future studies of the N2-Ar interaction.

Molecular reorientation of CD(4) in gas-phase mixtures

Spin-lattice relaxation times were measured for the deuterons in CD(4) in pure gas and in mixtures with the following buffer gases: Ar, Kr, Xe, HCl, N(2), CO, CO(2), CF(4), and SF(6). Effective collision cross sections sigma(theta, 2) for the molecular reorientation of CD(4) in collisions with these ten molecules are obtained as a function of temperature. These cross sections are compared with the corresponding cross sections sigma(J) obtained from (1)H spin-rotation relaxation in mixtures of CH(4) with the same set of buffer gases. Various classical reorientation models typically applied in liquids predict different ratios of the reduced correlation times for the reorientation of spherical tops. The Langevin model comes closest to predicting the magnitude of the sigma(theta, 2)/sigma(J) ratio that we obtain for CD(4).

(2 + 1) REMPI spectroscopy of the NO–CO, NO–N2, and NO–{N2, Ar} van der Waals complexes in the region of the 4s and 3d Rydberg states

We have collected (2 + 1) Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization (REMPI) spectra of van der Waals complexes in which a NO molecule is attached to either CO, N(2), or both N(2) and Ar. The energy region probed corresponds to electronic transitions of uncomplexed NO(X(2)Pi) to the 4s and 3d Rydberg states, and we discuss the observed spectra in light of the expected perturbations to these electronic levels induced by complexation. We employ a model in which the van der Waals partners are assumed to reside within the Rydberg orbital, and discuss the importance of core penetration in the description of the electronic structure. By performing calculations on NO(+) interacting with both N(2) and Ar, we identify the global minimum as being a non-planar structure. Further, the N(2) and Ar are found to interact with the NO(+) largely independently, and we find some evidence for this from the REMPI spectrum of NO-{N(2), Ar}.

Microwave spectra of the Xe–N2 van der Waals complex: A comparison of experiment and theory

Rotational transitions for the Xe-N2 complex were measured in the frequency region from 4 to 18 GHz using a pulsed-nozzle Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. Twelve (four) a-type transitions were recorded for the 132Xe-14N2 and 129Xe-14N2 (131Xe-15N)) isotopomers. In addition, the nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structures due to the presence of the 14N (nuclear-spin quantum number I=1) and 131Xe (I=32) nuclei were detected and analyzed. Two ab initio potential-energy surfaces were calculated at the coupled-cluster level of theory with single, double, and pertubatively included triple excitations. Dunning's augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence triple-zeta basis set was used for the nitrogen atoms. For the first surface, a well-tempered basis set with additional polarization functions was used for the Xe atom; for the second surface, a newly developed augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence quintuple-zeta basis set employing small-core relativistic pseudopotentials was used for the Xe atom. The basis sets were supplemented with bond functions for the van der Waals bond. The counterpoise correction was applied to reduce the basis-set superposition error. The resulting two surfaces both have a single minimum at a T-shaped geometry, with well depths of 122.4 and 119.3 cm(-1), respectively. Bound-state energies supported by the potential-energy surface were determined. The quality of the ab initio potential-energy surfaces was evaluated by comparison of the experimental transition frequencies and rotational and centrifugal distortion constants with those derived from the bound-state energies. A scaled potential-energy surface was obtained which has excellent agreement with the experimental data.

Accurate intermolecular ground state potential of the Ar-N2 van der Waals complex

After carrying out a systematic basis set convergence study, we evaluate several ground state potential energy surfaces of the Ar-N(2) van der Waals complex at the coupled cluster singles and doubles model including connected triples corrections. We use the aug-cc-pVXZ (X=5,Q,D) and the daug-cc-pVQZ basis sets augmented with a set of 3s3p2d1f1g (denoted 33211) and 3s3p2d2f1g (denoted 33221) midbond functions, respectively. aug-cc-pVTZ-33211 results were available in the literature. The aug-cc-pV5Z-33211 (daug-cc-pVQZ-33221) surface is characterized by a T-shaped minimum at R(e)=3.709 (3.701) A and of 99.01 (102.50) cm(-1), and a linear saddle point at 4.260 (4.257) A and D(e)=75.28 (79.73) cm(-1). These results are compared with the values provided by the semiempirical potentials available, and those of previous theoretical studies. The basis set convergence of the intermolecular potentials is also analyzed. From the potentials the rovibronic spectroscopic properties are determined. We study the basis set convergence of the rotational frequencies. The binding parameters that characterized the aug-cc-pVTZ-33211 surface are reasonable, but the surface is not good enough to evaluate the microwave spectra. The aug-cc-pVQZ-33211 basis set results considerably improve the triple zeta and are close to the aug-cc-pV5Z-33211. Considering the small differences between the quadruple and the quintuple zeta surfaces, the latter results can be expected to be close to convergence. At this level the differences with respect to the accurate experimental frequencies are in the order of 0.7%. In the case of the daug-cc-pVXZ-33211,33221 (X=5,Q,T,D) series, the convergence of the interaction energies with respect to basis set improvement is not so smooth. The errors in the frequencies obtained with the daug-cc-pVQZ-33221 basis set with respect to experiment are in the order of 0.4%.

Rotational Spectra of NeCO2 Isotopomers

Rotational spectra of seven isotopomers of the weakly bound complex NeCO2, i.e., NeCO2, 22NeCO2, Ne13CO2, 22Ne13CO2, Ne18O13CO, Ne17OCO, and 22Ne17OCO, were measured using a pulsed molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Rotational and centrifugal distortion constants as well as the nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of 17O in Ne17OCO and 22Ne17OCO were determined. The obtained constants were used to derive structural and force field information. The parameters obtained are discussed, and compared with those of other, previously measured, rare gas-CO2 complexes. The 17O nuclear quadrupole coupling constants were analyzed and interpreted in terms of the angular anisotropy of the intermolecular potential energy surface. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.