Comprehensive identification and potential applications of new states of hydrogen

Abstract

The data from a broad spectrum of investigational techniques strongly and consistently indicate that hydrogen can exist in lower-energy states then previously thought possible. Novel emission lines with energies of q·13.6eV where q=1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11q=1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11 were previously observed by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectroscopy recorded on microwave discharges of helium with 2% hydrogen [Mills RL, Ray P. Extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy of helium-hydrogen plasma. J Phys D 2003;36:1535–42]. These lines matched H(1/p)H(1/p), fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen wherein n=12,13,14,…,1p; (p⩽137p⩽137 is an integer) replaces the well-known parameter n=integern=integer in the Rydberg equation for hydrogen excited states. Evidence supports that these states are formed by a resonant nonradiative energy transfer to He+He+ acting as a catalyst. Ar+Ar+ and K also serve as catalysts since, like He+He+, they meet the catalyst criterion—a chemical or physical process with an enthalpy change equal to an integer multiple of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, 27.2 eV. Two H(1/p)H(1/p) may react to form H2(1/p)H2(1/p) that have vibrational and rotational energies that are p2p2 times those of H2H2 comprising uncatalyzed atomic hydrogen. Rotational lines were observed in the 145–300 nm region from atmospheric pressure electron-beam excited argon–hydrogen plasmas. The unprecedented energy spacing of 4242 times that of hydrogen established the internuclear distance as 14 that of H2H2 and identified H2(14). The predicted products of alkali catalyst K are H-(14) which form a novel alkali halido hydride compound (MH*X) and H2(14) which may be trapped in the crystal. The 1H MAS NMR spectrum of novel compound KH*ClKH*Cl relative to external tetramethylsilane (TMS) showed a large distinct upfield resonance at -4.4ppm corresponding to an absolute resonance shift of -35.9ppm that matched the theoretical prediction of H-(1/p)H-(1/p) with p=4p=4. The predicted catalyst reactions, position of the upfield-shifted NMR peaks for H-(14), and spectroscopic data for H-(14) were found to be in agreement with the experimental observations as well as previously reported analysis of KH*ClKH*Cl containing this hydride ion. The predicted frequencies of ortho- and para-H2(14) were observed at 1943 and 2012cm-1 in the high resolution FTIR spectrum of KH*IKH*I having a -4.6ppm NMR peak assigned to H-(14). The 1943/2012cm-1-intensity ratio matched the characteristic ortho-to-para-peak-intensity ratio of 3:1, and the ortho–para splitting of 69cm-1 matched that predicted. KH*ClKH*Cl having H-(14) by NMR was incident to the 12.5 keV electron-beam which excited similar emission of interstitial H2(14) as observed in the argon–hydrogen plasma. H2(1/p)H2(1/p) gas was isolated by liquefaction of plasma gas at liquid nitrogen temperature and by decomposition of compounds (MH*X)(MH*X) found to contain the corresponding hydride ions H-(1/p)H-(1/p). The H2(1/p)H2(1/p) gas was dissolved in CDCl3CDCl3 and characterized by 1H NMR. Considering solvent effects, singlet peak upfields of H2H2 were observed with a predicted integer spacing of 0.64 ppm at 3.47, 3.02, 2.18, 1.25, 0.85, and 0.22 ppm which matched the consecutive series H2(12), H2(13), H2(14), H2(15), H2(16), and H2(17), respectively. Excess power was absolutely measured from the helium–hydrogen plasma. For an input of 41.9 W, the total plasma power of the helium–hydrogen plasma measured by water bath calorimetry was 62.1 W corresponding to 20.2 W of excess power in 3cm3 plasma volume. The excess power density and energy balance were high, 6.7W/cm3 and -5.4×104kJ/moleH2(280eV/Hatom), respectively. In addition to power applications, battery and propellant reactions are proposed that may be transformational, and observed excited vibration–rotational levels of H2(14) could be the basis of a UV laser that could significantly advance photolithography.