Raman spectroscopic studies on matrix-isolated phosphorus molecules P4 and P2

Abstract

The Raman spectra of P4 and P2 molecules have been studied in nitrogen, argon, krypton, and xenon matrices at 15 K. The vibrational frequencies of the P4 molecule are up to 14 cm−1 higher than the experimental gas phase data. This apparent blue-shift is not caused by matrix effects but rather due to an underestimation of the fundamentals in the gas phase as a course of the elevated temperatures. The observed frequencies confirm a recent theoretical prediction on the basis of high-level calculations. From the observed frequencies of the P4 molecule a general valence force field was calculated.