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Updated: May 10, 2026

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−
Published on: July 27, 2018
Electronic spectroscopy of diatomic VC
Olha Krechkivska1, Michael D Morse
1Department of Chemistry, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States.
Researchers used resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy to obtain the first optical spectrum of diatomic vanadium carbide (VC). This study reveals its ground state electronic configuration and bond length, offering insights into metal carbide properties.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Molecular Spectroscopy
- Computational Chemistry
Background:
- Diatomic metal carbides are crucial in materials science and catalysis.
- Understanding their electronic structure is key to predicting chemical behavior.
- Previous spectroscopic data for vanadium carbide (VC) was limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To obtain the first optical spectrum of diatomic VC.
- To determine the ground electronic state and molecular parameters.
- To investigate the electronic structure and bonding in early transition metal carbides.
Main Methods:
- Resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy was employed.
- Analysis of vibronic states in the visible spectrum was performed.
- Comparison with related transition metal carbides was conducted.
Main Results:
- The first optical spectrum of diatomic VC was successfully obtained.
- The ground state was identified as a (2)Δ3/2 state from a 1σ(2)1π(4)2σ(2)1δ(1) configuration.
- The ground-state bond length (r0") was determined to be 1.6167(3) Å.
- Dense vibronic states were observed, with two possible vibrational progressions identified.
- VC exhibits an unoccupied metal ns-based 3σ orbital, contributing to a large dipole moment.
Conclusions:
- The electronic structure of VC was elucidated, revealing similarities with CrC, NbC, and MoC.
- The unoccupied 3σ orbital in VC leads to distinct ground state properties compared to 5d metal carbides like TaC and WC.
- This work provides fundamental spectroscopic data for VC, aiding future theoretical and experimental studies.
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