Characterization of High Temperature Vapor Phase Species and Vapor-Solid Interactions of Import to Combustion and Gasification Processes in the Energy Technologies

摘要

The alkali oxides LiO, NaO, and KO and the alkali hydroxide KOH have been studied. Emphasis has been on the determination of bond energies and the first electronic spectra for these species. In addition the oxidation of silicon to produce the metal monoxide has been characterized using chemiluminescent techniques in order to determine the SiO bond energy in an experiment independent of mass spectrometry. Several experimental configurations have been tested as a means for generating intense, stable, and long lasting chemiluminescent emission from the alkali oxides NaO and KO and the alkali hydroxides NaOH and KOH. Studies have been carried out primarily at elevated pressures (10 exp -1 implies 10 torr) as an aid to spectroscopic analysis and the determination of molecular constants. Oven systems have been developed which circumvent problems in flame formation and stability common to the alkali hydroxides and oxides but not present in typical chemiluminescent metal oxidation systems. Most pronounced among these is the extremely efficient formation of extensive particulate matter which appears to result from the formation of alkali hydroxide and alkali oxide polymers. Experiments have been initiated to characterize the particulate matter formed in the potassium-N sub 2 O system. Here we have been successful in employing a combination of mass spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy and are attempting to extend this work further using laser Raman spectroscopy, High Temperature mass spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallogrpahy. (ERA citation 10:046046)