IDENTIFICATION OF HGOX SPECIES BY MATRIX-ISOLATION SPECTROSCOPY

The condensation of Hg atoms in an ozone-doped argon matrix gas with irradiation from a medium-pressure mercury arc lamp at 10 K resulted in the formation of several trapped HgOx species. Tentative identification of HgO has been made from absorption bands appearing in the visible and IR regions of the spectrum, based on 16O2 and 18O2 isotope studies. The following spectroscopic constants were obtained: v00 = 14634 cm-1, v1 = 548 cm-1, and v11 = 676 cm-1. Some qualitative evidence was obtained for the existence of HgO2. © 1979 American Chemical Society.