Research this year has focused on the spectroscopy of PtO.  Intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy was used to record two new electronic transitions of gas-phase platinum oxide, PtO, in the near-infrared.  A portion of the spectrum is shown below.  The sharp Q-branch bandhead is observed near 12118 cm^-1.  This spectrum contains one each P, Q, and R-branch, and the Q-branch is clearly the strongest branch.  This suggests that ΔΩ = 1.  Following a preliminary analysis, this transition is tentatively designated as the [12.1] Ω=1 – X ³S^-₀ transition.  The X ³S^-₀  ground state has been observed by microwave and electronic spectroscopies:  the known ground state parameters greatly aid in the analysis of the new spectrum.

A second electronic transition was observed near 12546 cm^-1.  This transition has one P-branch and one Q-branch only, suggesting ΔΩ = 0.  Isotopologue structure resulting from the 3 abundant Pt isotopes is observed in this transition.  Following a preliminary analysis, this transition is tentatively designated as the [12.5] Ω=0 – X ³S^-₀ transition.  A new student has recently joined my research group, and she will continue the analyses on PtO outlined above. 

The ACS-PRF award supports our research and positively impacts our careers by providing funding for research supplies, travel for conferences, and salary for summer work.  Platinum oxide is important in many catalytic reactions, and this research provides insight into the electronic structure and bonding of PtO.