X-ray absorption spectra of some small polyatomic molecules

We report the Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectra (NEXAFS) of a series of oxygen-containing organic molecules, namely formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, formic acid, methanol and dimethyl ether (DME), measured with high resolution at the carbon and oxygen edges. A vibrational progression has been observed at the oxygen 1s --> pi(*) resonance of formaldehyde, indicating that this state is bound with an excited state C=O stretching frequency of 136 meV. The spectra are compared with previous measurements and the applicability of the chromophore concept is tested for the functional groups present in these molecules.