LASER PHOTOELECTRON, PHOTODETACHMENT, AND PHOTODESTRUCTION SPECTRA OF O-3-

Fixed frequency laser photoelectron spectrometry and variable frequency laser photodetachment and photodestruction spectroscopy of the ozonide ion, O3-, have been accomplished. The electron affinity of ozone is measured to be EA(O3) = 2.1028(25) eV, in good agreement with previous measurements of less accuracy. Progressions in the spectra are analyzed to yield the symmetric stretching frequency and the bending frequency of the ozonide ion to be 982(30) and 550(50) cm-1, respectively. While no evidence is found for a long lived excited electronic state of O 3-, an excited electronic state of neutral ozone is found roughly 0.7-1.1 eV above the ground state. Models for the dissociation of O 3- are examined to explain why the photoelectron and photodetachment spectra fail to show a strong progression in the symmetric bending vibrational mode. Attempts to measure the electron affinity of CO 3 were unsuccessful. Limits placed by this attempt and our EA(O 3) value are invoked in a discussion of some recent disagreements in the literature on the thermochemistry of CO3- and O 3-. © 1979 American Institute of Physics.