Knowledge Bank

Numerous polyatomic, organic molecular ions have recently been studied by optical emission spectroscopy. Most of these ions belong to one of three categories - substituted benzenes, olefins to acetylene cations. In this talk we examine the spectra of substituted azabenzenes and report a new group of fluorescent cations - fluorinated pyridines. Neon matrix absorption spectra of several ions in this category will be discussed, including $C5F5N+,C5F2H3N+,C5H5N+$ (pyridine) and $C3F3N3+$ (cyanuric fluoride cation). For $C5F2H3N+$ (difluoropyridine cation) well resolved emission and laser excitation spectra are also obtained and analyzed.