REACTIONS OF PULSED LASER EVAPORATED GA AND IN ATOMS WITH MOLECULAR-OXYGEN - MATRIX INFRARED-SPECTRA OF NEW GAO2 AND INO2 SPECIES

Infrared spectra were obtained in solid argon at 12 +/- 1 K for gallium and indium oxides produced from the reaction of laser-ablated metal atoms with molecular oxygen. Several new molecules were characterized including bent species GaO2' at 568.7 cm-1 and InO2' at 462.4 cm-1, which were distinctly different from previously observed cyclic MO2 species, linear metal atom insertion products OGaO at 912.7 cm-1 and OInO at 755.4 cm-1, and linear GaOGaO at 967-959 cm-1 and InOInO at 816.6 cm-1. The linear insertion products increased on mercury arc photolysis suggesting that metal atom electronic excitation-can provide the activation energy necessary for the insertion reaction. Also observed were the suboxides MOM, the M+O3- ozonide species, and the OMOMO trioxide species. The same absorptions were produced with different relative intensities by ablation of solid M2O3 oxide samples.