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Updated: May 5, 2026

Automated, High-resolution Mobile Collection System for the Nitrogen Isotopic Analysis of NOx
Published on: December 20, 2016
Production of N3 upon photolysis of solid nitrogen at 3 K with synchrotron radiation
Sheng-Lung Chou1, Jen-Iu Lo, Meng-Yeh Lin
1National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, No. 101, Hsin-Ann Road, Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu 30076 (Taiwan).
Abstract:
The photodissociation of gaseous molecular nitrogen has been investigated intensively, but the corresponding knowledge in a solid phase is lacking. Irradiation of pure solid nitrogen at 3 K with vacuum-ultraviolet light from a synchrotron produced infrared absorption lines of product l-N3 at 1657.8 and 1652.6 cm(-1). The threshold wavelength to generate l-N3 was determined to be (143.7±1.8) nm, corresponding to an energy of (8.63±0.11) eV. Quantum-chemical calculations support the formation of l-N3 from the reaction N2 +N2, possibly through an activated complex l-N4 upon photoexcitation with energy above 8.63 eV. The results provide a possible application to an understanding of the nitrogen cycle in astronomical environments.
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