Mechanism of CuCl and CuO chemiluminescence in microwave-induced plasma afterglows at 300 K

Abstract

The sublimation of the copper halides CuCl or CuCl₂ in microwave-induced plasma afterglows results in the chemiluminescence of CuCl at 300 K. In O₂–He afterglows the A, B, C, D, E and F transitions up from v′= 3 are observed, while H₂–He afterglows are much less effective, showing only A and B transitions. In addition, a weak chemiluminescence of CuO is detected in O₂–He afterglows. Various chemiluminescence mechanisms are discussed, from which it appears that the termolecular recombination of hydrogen or oxygen atoms, with CuCl or CuO acting as a third body, is the most plausible chemiexcitation mechanism.