MIGRATION OF TRANSLATIONALLY EXCITED FLUORINE-ATOMS IN SOLID ARGON AND THEIR REACTIONS WITH SMALL GUEST MOLECULES

Solid state reactions of photogenerated F atoms with CO and O-2 molecu les were studied in dilute mixtures of F-2 + CO and F-2 + O-2 in solid argon by infrared spectroscopy. UV laser photolysis of F-2 at 16 K pr oduces high yields of stabilized FCO and FO2 radicals. Spectral and ki netic analysis reveals that formation of radicals occurs by reaction o f translationally excited F atoms with isolated CO or O-2 molecules. A nalysis of the photochemical yields of the radicals shows that the ave rage distance traveled by each translationally hot F atom is at least 1.4 nm (3-4 argon lattice periods). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.