Reactions of laser-ablated aluminum atoms with nitrogen atoms and molecules, infrared spectra and density functional calculations for the AlN2, Al2N, Al2N2, AlN3, and Al3N molecules

Laser-ablated aluminum atoms react with dinitrogen on condensation at 10 K to form N-3 radical and the subject molecules, which are identified by nitrogen isotopic substitution, further reactions on annealing, and comparison with isotopic frequencies computed by density functional theory. The major AlN3 product is identified from three fundamentals and a statistically mixed nitrogen isotopic octet pattern. The aluminum rich Al2N and AL(3)N species are major products on annealing to allow diffusion and further reaction of trapped species. This work provides the first experimental evidence for molecular AlxNy species that may be involved in ceramic film growth.