MEDIUM EFFECTS ON WEAKLY-BOUND COMPLEXES - XE-CN IN SOLID RARE-GASES

The absorption and infrared emission spectra of the Xe-CN complex in s olid Ne, Ar, and Kr were investigated and compared with CN in pure rar e gases. The C-N stretching vibration of the complex exhibits much lar ger medium shifts from matrix to matrix than the frequency of CN itsel f. Unlike free CN, the A(2)II <-- X2 Sigma(+) transition of complexed CN exhibits extreme broadening and lacks discrete vibrational structur e. The general implications of these results for studies of weakly-bou nd complexes in matrices are discussed.