Infrared spectra of the ammonium ion in crystals. Part XII. Low-temperature transitions in ammonium dichromate, (NH4)2Cr2O7

Abstract

Examination of the infrared spectra of the probe ions NH3D+ and NHD3+ in ammonium dichromate confirms the existence of the lowest (Ttr ~ 125 K) of the three transitions that are known, from nonspectroscopic evidence, to occur in this crystal below room temperature. Below Ttr the ammonium ions are of two types, in an abundance ratio of 1:1 and both of symmetry C1. Above Ttr the probe ion spectra are difficult to interpret in detail. The strength of the hydrogen-bonding interactions covers a wide range, as indicated by the difference between the highest and the lowest values of the isotopically isolated ND stretching frequencies at 10 K, 2392 and 2234 cm−1.