Solute–Solute Interactions of Matrix Isolated Cu, Ag, and Au Atoms

Abstract

We examined the matrix spectra of Cu, Ag, and Au separately in matrices of Ar, Kr, Xe, and SF₆ and compared them with the spectra of the pairs Ag and Au and Cu and Au in Kr. We observed that the spectra of the metal atoms were identical whether deposited separately or in pairs, and we can exclude solute–solute interaction as a source of the shifts, splitting, and broadening of atomic lines compared to the gaseous spectra. Similar results were obtained for combinations of Cu, Au, and Hg. We also studied the spectrum of Au atoms in mixtures of Kr and SF₆.