Effect of Al(CO) x complexation on the aluminum oxidation process

• Published in: Chemical physics 1998-08, Vol.234 (1), p.297-309
• Main Authors: McQuaid, M.J., Gole, James L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0301-0104
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-0104(98)00099-8

A comparison of the AlO B 2 Σ + state population distributions observed for the multiple collision Al+Ar+O 3→AlO *( B 2 Σ + )+Ar+O 2 and Al+ nCO+O 3→AlO *( B 2 Σ + )+ nCO+O 2 reactive encounters suggests that Al(CO) x adducts are formed via the entrainment of aluminum atoms in CO. The subsequent oxidation of these adducts with O 3 produces an AlO B 2 Σ + state population distribution which reflects a smaller reaction exothermicity and shorter range reactive encounter than the oxidation of bare Al atoms. Differences in the observed population distributions are attributed to an Al(CO) 2+O 3 reaction. This conclusion is also based, in part, on the similarity between the AlO B state population distributions associated with the Al(CO) 2+O 3 reaction and that previously measured for the Al+N 2O multiple collision reactive encounter. This assignment is further supported by matrix isolation studies where only Al(CO) 2 has been observed.