Knowledge Bank

Laser-ablated Zr metal is found to react with methane under supersonic jet-cooled conditions. New electronic bands in the $540-655nm$ region have been detected by laser-induced fluorescence. Among these are bands which do not change when $CD4$ is sustituted for $CH4$ and whose lower state B value is $0.526\ast \ast \ast cm-1$; wavelength-resolved fluorescence indicates a lower state vibrational frequency of approximately $880cm-1$, suggesting that the carrier is ZrC. Analysis of the high resolution spectra is complicated by irregularities in the Zr isotope structure, indicating severe rotational perturbations. The derived bond length of $r\prime \prime =1.739$ {\AA} is consistent with those found in other 4d transition metal monocarbides.