Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.111, No.39, 9775-9780, 2007
Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study of dinuclear chromium oxide clusters: Cr2On (n=2, 4, 6) in solid argon
Dichromium oxide clusters, Cr2O2, Cr2O4, and Cr2O6, have been prepared and characterized by matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Laser-evaporated chromium atoms reacted with O-2 in solid argon to form the previously characterized CrO2 molecules, which further reacted with chromium atoms to form Cr2O2 spontaneously on annealing. The Cr2O2 cluster is determined to have a chainlike CrOCrO structure. The rhombic ring isomer, which was predicted to be more stable than the CrOCrO structure, was not formed at the present experimental conditions. The Cr2O4 cluster was formed from the barrierless dimerization of the chromium dioxide molecules, which is characterized to have a planar D-2h symmetry. The Cr2O6 cluster was produced under UV light irradiation. It is determined to have a singlet ground state with a nonplanar D-2h symmetry.