Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.108, No.23, 9668-9674, 1998
Photoionization spectroscopy of dichromium and dimolybdenum: Ionization potentials and bond energies
Photoionization spectroscopy has been used to probe molecular beams of laser-vaporized chromium (Cr-2) and molybdenum (Mo-2) dimers. Two-color photoionization efficiency spectroscopy has been used to determine the adiabatic ionization potential (IP) of Cr-2 and Mo-2 to be 56 449 +/- 8 cm(-1) and 56 042 +/- 8 cm(-1), respectively. The IP of Cr-2 is combined with the IP of Cr [54 575.6 +/- 0.3 cm(-1), Huber et al., Proc. R. Sec. London, Ser. A 342, 431 (1975)] and the bond energy of Cr-2(+) [10 200 +/- 500 cm(-1), Su et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 201, 199 (1993)] to yield a bond energy of 12 400 +/- 500 cm(-1) for Cr-2. One-color resonant two-photon ionization (R2PI) spectroscopy has been employed to probe the molybdenum dimer molecule in the energy region where its dissociation should occur. The dissociation limit has been ascribed to the threshold observed at 36 100 +/- 80 cm(-1). This value is combined with the IP of Mo [57 204.3 +/- 0.3 cm(-1), Rayner et al., J. Opt. Sec. Am. B 4, 900 (1987)] and Mo-2 to yield a bond energy of 37 260 +/-. 80 cm(-1) for Mo-2(+).