REACTIONS OF LASER-ABLATED VANADIUM ATOMS WITH DIOXYGEN - INFRARED-SPECTRA OF VO, VO2, OOVO2, AND V2O2 IN SOLID ARGON

Laser-ablated V atoms react with O-2 to give primarily the bent VO2 di oxide molecule and a smaller yield of the monoxide VO. The OVO valence angle is estimated as 118+/-3 degrees from oxygen isotopic v(3) frequ encies and 121 degrees from DFT calculations. New absorptions appear o n annealing to 35 K that can be assigned to two V2O2 isomers and the s uperoxo adduct to VO2, namely the OOVO2 molecule. Both VO2 and OOVO2 r eveal weak v(1) + v(3) combination bands, which support the assignment of v(1) and v(3) fundamental vibrations.