TEA CO₂ laser-induced reaction of CH₃NO₂ with CF₂HCl: a mechanistic study

Abstract

Dissociation of nitromethane has been observed when a mixture of CF₂HCl and CH₃NO₂ is irradiated using pulsed TEA CO₂ laser at 9R (24) line (1081 cm^-1), which is strongly absorbed by CF₂HCl but not by CH₃NO₂. Under low laser fluence conditions, only nitromethane dissociates, whereas at high fluence CF₂HCl also undergoes dissociation, showing that dissociation occurs via the vibrational energy transfer processes from the TEA CO₂ laser-excited CF₂HCl to CH₃NO₂. Time-resolved infrared fluorescence from vibrationally excited CF₂HCl and CH₃NO₂ molecules as well as UV absorption of CF₂ radicals are carried out to elucidate the dynamics of excitation/dissociation and the chemical reactions of the dissociation products.