Reactions of silicon dioxide with ammonia molecules: formation and characterization of the SiO2–NH3 complex and the H2NSiOOH molecule

Reactions of silicon dioxide with ammonia molecules have been studied by matrix isolation infrared absorption and density functional theoretical calculations. Silicon dioxide molecules were prepared by reactions of laser-ablated silicon atoms with molecular oxygen in excess argon. When ammonia molecules were added to the reagent gas, the silicon dioxide–ammonia complex was produced spontaneously upon annealing. Broadband UV–visible photolysis decomposed the SiO2–NH3 complex and produced the H2NSiOOH molecule. The potential energy surface along the reaction path leading to the observed products has also been calculated.