Matrix Spectroscopic Studies of Novel Chemical Species

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In this project in the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Lester Andrews of the University of Virginia will investigate the matrix isolation spectroscopy of some exotic chemical species. Systems to be examined in this work include metal atom complexes having pi-electron systems, metal complexes with carboranes, transition metal hydride or dihydrogen complexes, transition metal complexes involving carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen as model Fischer-Tropsch catalysts, aluminum atom reactions with small molecules, and heavy Group VA and VIA atom chemistry. A pulsed-laser evaporation method will be used in many of these experiments to form the metal complexes, while microwave discharges will be used to make metal clusters. Infrared and electronic absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopy are among the experimental tools to be used. %%% Professor Andrews uses the technique of matrix isolation spectroscopy to study the structure of molecules which are so unstable that they normally are not observed under ordinary laboratory conditions. In this technique, the species of interest are generated and then quickly trapped at very low temperatures in frozen rare gas matrices. Included among species studied are the intermediates formed in chemical reactions, weakly-bound molecules, or highly reactive forms. Such molecules are difficult or impossible to characterize by other experimental techniques.