Knowledge Bank

The use of solid para-hydrogen ($p$-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$) as a matrix host has generated considerable interest in recent years. Solid $p$-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ is considered as a quantum solid; hence it is Á¤softerÁ¬ than noble gas matrices and has several unique properties such as narrow bandwidths, feasibility of molecular and internal rotation, and a diminished cage effect, which is particularly relevant to the formation of atoms and radicals in a matrix using photolysis $insitu$. Raston and Anderson employed laser emission at 355 nm to photodissociate Cl$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ trapped in solid $p$-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ at 2 K and produced isolated Cl atoms. nderline{\textbf{126}}, 021106 (2007).} Excitation of the solid $p$-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ with IR light in the range 4000-5000 cm$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">-1</mrow>}$ from a globar source induces reactions of Cl atoms with $p$-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ to form HCl. nderline{\textbf{8}}, 3124 (2006).} We investigated the reaction of Cl with solid $p$-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ with a tunable IR laser and a FTIR spectrometer. The Cl atoms were produced on irradiation of a Cl$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$/$p$-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ (1/1000-1/4000) matrix with light at 365 nm from a light-emitting diode. By monitoring continuously the formation of HCl while tuning the wavelength of the IR laser, we obtained the relative yield of HCl as a function of excitation wavelength. We found that absorption of the Cl-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ complex and solid H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$, but not the Cl$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ complex, induced the reaction Cl + H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$. In separate experiments we irradiated a selective area of the matrix with UV light and compared the yields of HCl in this area when we irradiated IR light at various locations. When the IR laser light irradiated outside the UV-irradiated area, excitation of $p$-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ near 4229 cm$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">-1</mrow>}$, but not the Cl-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ complex at 4148.5 cm$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">-1</mrow>}$, still produced HCl. In contrast, when the IR light irradiated inside the UV-irradiated region, more HCl was produced at 4148.5 cm$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">-1</mrow>}$. This indicates that the excited H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ can move around and react with Cl located far away from the originally excited area, whereas the IR excited Cl-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ complex reacts directly to form HCl. We also found that irradiation of H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ produced some dimers of HCl, whereas irradiation at the Cl-H$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$ complex produced only HCl monomer.