An Infrared Spectrum of CO2 Dimers in the "Locked" Configuration

Abstract

The two components of the (ν1, 2ν2) Fermi doublet of gaseous CO2 in an absorption path length of 56 m at 192 °K show a complex structure. When the allowed C16O18O absorption and the pressure-induced CO2 absorption are removed by computational procedures, the residual spectrum consists of two similar symmetric patterns of five maxima. These are interpreted in terms of the rotation and vibration of (CO2)2 dimers held by quadrupole–quadrupole interaction in the locked T position at an intermolecular distance of 4.1 Å.