A fourier-transform infrared investigation of the gas-phase photolysis of nitrous oxide at 184.9 nm

Abstract

The nitrous oxide actinometer at 184.9 nm has been investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy as both a quantitative technique to determine Φ^184.9_NO and as a qualitative analytical method to observe secondary photoproducts in the system. The quantum-yield value of 1.0 ± 0.2 for Φ^184.9_NO obtained in this work must be regarded as a lower limit, because unquantifiable amounts of NO₂ and BrNO were formed in the photolysis cell over the data collection period. In view of these results, the reported value for Φ^184.9_NO of 1.2 using chemiluminescence methods is recommended in preference to values of ca. 0.82 obtained by mass spectrometry.