Infrared spectra of cyclic-O6+ and trans-O6+ in solid neon and argon

Abstract

Charged transient species in the oxygen system have been trapped in solid argon and neon using electron impact, Townsend discharge, and laser-ablation methods. The previously identified O3−, O4−, and O4+ species are observed in these experiments. Absorptions at 1435.0 and 1429.5 cm−1 in solid neon are characterized as cyclic-O6+ and trans-O6+, respectively, on the basis of annealing behavior, isotopic substitution, multiplet structure in mixed O216+18O2 experiments, and density functional calculations. Cyclic-O6+ is observed at 1416.1 cm−1 in solid argon, a smaller displacement than found for cyclic-O4+ in solid argon.