Structures, Dynamics, and Vibrational Potential Functions of Molecules

Oregon State University, Corvallis OR

Investigators

Abstract

Kenneth Hedberg of Oregon State University is supported by a grant from the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program to investigate the structures and internal motions of gaseous molecules using electron diffraction. Such studies lead to the determination of bond distances and identify the nature of the interatomic forces, of equilibrium constants and thermodynamic properties, of vibrational force fields and of rotational torsional potentials and barrier heights. Specific molecules to be studied are (1) fluorinated fullerenes, (2) systems effected by internal hydrogen bonding (such as 2-fluoroethylamine, 2-aminoethanol, 2-chloroethanethiol and 2-nitroethanol), (3) systems with syn- and anti- conformations (2,3-diflurobutadiene and 2-dihalopropenoyl halides) and (4) chalcogentrihalides of Nb and Ta and Group 13 halides. These studies will provide information on the sizes and structures of molecules with different types of bonding and on the vibrational and rotational motions within the molecules. This will give a deeper understanding of how the bonding determines the structure and influences the motions. This information, and data obtained on internal energies and bond strengths, are important to the chemical vapor deposition of semi-conductors, treatment of gas effluent discharges and volatilization of inorganic melts.