Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.112, No.39, 9296-9303, 2008
Overtone dissociation of peroxynitric acid (HO2NO2): Absorption cross sections and photolysis products
Band strengths for the second (3V(OH)) and third (4V(OH)) overtones of the OH stretch vibration of peroxynitric acid, HO2NO2 (PNA) in the gas-phase were measured using Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS). Both OH overtone transitions show diffuse smoothly varying symmetrical absorption profiles without observable rotational structure. Integrated band strengths (base e) at 296 K were determined to be S-3vOH = (5.7 +/- 1.1) X 10(-20) and S-4vOH = (4.9 +/- 0.9) x 10(-21) cm(2) molecule(-1) cm(-1) with peak cross sections of (8.8 +/- 1.7) x 10(-22) and (7.0 +/- 1.3) x 10(-23) cm(2) molecule(-1) at 10086.0 +/- 0.2 cm(-1) and 13095.8 +/- 0.4 cm(-1), respectively, using PNA concentrations measured on line by Fourier-transform infrared and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy. The quoted uncertainties are 2 sigma (95% confidence level) and include estimated systematic errors in the measurements. OH overtone spectra measured at lower temperature, 231 K, showed a narrowing of the 3,,OH band along with an increase in its peak absorption cross section, but no change in S-3vOH to within the precision of the measurement (+/- 9%). Measurement of a PNA action spectrum showed that HO2 is produced from second overtone photodissociation. The action spectrum agreed with the CRDS absorption spectra. The PNA cross sections determined in this work for 3V(OH) and 4V(OH) Will increase calculated atmospheric photolysis rates of PNA slightly.