A matrix isolation FTIR investigation of laser-ablated uranium oxide in argon and nitrogen matrices

Uranium oxide was laser-ablated using the second harmonic of a Nd : YAG las er, and the products studied after trapping them in Ar and N-2 matrices. Th e species obtained in the Ar matrix were UO, UO2 and UO3, which represent t he primary products of laser ablation. Charge transfer complexes, (UO2+)(O- 2(-))and (UO22+)(O-2(2-)) were also observed. In the N-2 matrix, in additio n to the primary ablation products, reaction products with nitrogen were al so observed; the prominent among them being UN2 and NUO, together with thei r complexes with N-2 Charge transfer complexes were also seen in these expe riments. Features due to NO, N-3 and N-3(-) were identified, which clearly point to the role of nitrogen in these reactions.