U.S.-New Zealand Cooperative Research: Kinetics of Radical- Atom Reactions

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This award will support a two-year collaborative project between Professor Robert F. Curl, Department of Chemistry, Rice University, and Professor Leon F. Phillips, Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. The activity takes place under the U.S.-New Zealand Cooperative Science Program. The scientists will cooperate in a study of the reactions of several small free radicals (transient, reactive chemical species such as C2H, HCO, and CH2CN) with oxygen atoms. Such a study is relevant both to understanding aspects of the chemistry of the interstellar medium, as well as the reactions taking place in various combustion processes. By measuring the rate constants of these radical-atom reactions, and in some cases carrying out spectroscopic studies to identify reaction products, the scientists expect to contribute to a greater understanding of these reaction systems. The radicals will be produced by excimer flash photolysis of suitable precursor molecules. The oxygen atoms (and later, other atoms and OH) will be generated in a discharge flow system, and allowed to react with the radicals. Both the U.S. and New Zealand research groups have experience in this area of research, involving flash photolysis, infrared spectroscopy, and the use of laser probes. Professor Phillips and his colleagues at Canterbury University have focused primarily on the chemical kinetics of these reactions, and have developed experimental techniques for carrying out such measurements, including methods for measuring the concentrations of atoms. Professor Curl and his group at Rice have emphasized high resolution infrared spectroscopy as well as kinetic studies. Exchange visits by the principal investigators will serve to develop the capability for atom- radical kinetic studies at Rice and to enhance the spectroscopic analysis strengths at Canterbury.