Excitation and relative differential oscillator strengths for trifluoromethyl sulphur pentafluoride, SF5CF3, in the UV-VUV region by electron energy loss spectroscopy

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) has been used to study the photo-a bsorption spectrum of trifluoromethyl sulphur pentafluoride (SF5CF3) for th e first time. Comparison is made with the EELS spectrum of sulphur hexafluo ride (SF,,). The photolysis of the compound is discussed with relevance to estimated lifetimes in the atmosphere. It is estimated that the lifetime of SF5CF3 is of the order of 1000 years. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BY All rig hts reserved.