High-temperature gas-phase laser Raman spectroscopy: evidence for the existence and molecular structure of the interpnictides As3P, As2P2, and AsP3 in mixtures of phosphorus and arsenic vapours and SbP3 in mixtures of phosphorus and antimony vapours

Abstract

The gas-phase laser Raman spectra of phosphorus and arsenic mixed vapours and phosphorus and antimony mixed vapours are investigated as a function of composition and temperature up to 1000 °C. The data are consistent with the presence of the tetratomic molecules P_nAs_4–n where n= 0–4. Under our experimental conditions SbP₃ is probably the main (mixed) constituent in phosphorus–antimony mixed vapours. The polarization and relative intensity data together with the computed frequencies for As₃P, AsP₃, and SbP₃ proved useful in the assignment of bands to the different molecular species.