ESR spectra of Ag3(2A1) in an N2 matrix

Abstract

ESRspectra assigned to Ag3 molecules have been produced by codepositing atomic silver with excess nitrogen at temperatures close to 4.2 K. The spectra are characterized by an axially symmetric spin Hamiltonian having g ∥ =1.9933(3) and g ⊥ =1.9558(3) and, for 1 0 7Ag3, A ∥(1) =310.8(6) G with A ⊥(1) =310.1(6) G and A ∥(2) =76.0(2) G with A ⊥(2) =72.6(2) G for the apical(1) and basal(2) nuclei, respectively. The axial symmetry of the spectra is believed to imply that the trimer is rotating about one axis. There is no evidence for a pseudorotating trimer spectrum. The isotropic spin populations are ρ5s (1) =0.51 and ρ5s (2) =0.12 implying an acute angled geometry with ground state symmetry 2 A 1. This is in sharp contrast to the obtuse angled isomer (2 B 2ground state) found for Ag3 in a C6D6 matrix. For Ag3(2 A 1) there is little p character on the apical atom but a 10%–15% p hybridization on each of the two basal nuclei.