Vibrational Energy Transfer at Gas–Solid Interfaces

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Linear semiclassical vibrational energy‐transfer theory is applied to the interaction of vibrationally excited CO2, N2O and CH4 with solid NaCl and of N2 with glass. The model shows energy transfer to be slow during specular reflection but fast when the molecules are adsorbed and migrating over the surface. Values for the condensation coefficients are derived from the experimental energy‐transfer probabilities, yielding 0.22, 0.37, and 0.88–1.0, for CO2, N2O, and CH4 on NaCl, respectively. The theory substantiates existing evidence that CH4 rotates freely about at least one axis on a NaCl surface, and suggests that this rotation is involved in the vibrational energy degradation. Vibrationally excited N2 on glass is deactivated mainly through interaction with surface OH groups.