Rovibonic Spectroscopy of the CN Radical

Hayden Moran*, James Lee and Fabien Goulay, C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Field (Broad Category): Chemistry (Physical Sciences & Engineering) 

Student’s Major: Chemistry 

Free Radicals are commonly found in a variety of chemical combustion processes. Radicals, however, are very reactive species. In engines, free radicals can contribute to emissions of pollutants through molecular growth. In the laboratory, the chemistry of free radicals can be investigated in flow reactor conditions. Investigations in flow reactor conditions can be coupled through a variety of free radical detection methods including Pump-Probe Spectroscopy. Using pump-probe spectroscopy allows us to monitor the fluorescence of the radical, and consequently to understand how it reacts with other combustion-relevant species. After detecting the rovibrational spectroscopy, further investigation can determine the temperature of the reaction. The spectra produce a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of the energy state of the molecule. After analyzing the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, we can determine the temperature of the gas at each energy transition state. Under these conditions the temperature of the gas was determined and further kinetic investigations of the radical can be performed and applied to a variety of systems to help advance energy efficiency. 

Funding: National Science Foundation 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU 497-level course