Infrared spectroscopy of crystalline and amorphous diacetylene (C4H2) and implications for Titanʹs atmospheric composition

New laboratory spectra of crystalline and amorphous diacetylene ice have been recorded in the range of 7000–500 cm−1 (1.4–20 μm) to aid in the identification of solid diacetylene on Saturnʹs moon Titan. We have established that amorphous diacetylene ice is stable only at temperatures less than 70±1 K. With respect to observations on Titan, the best approach would be to utilize future space-based telescopes to search for the ν4 (3277/3271 cm−1) in absorption against the reflected light from the sun and the slightly weaker ν8 absorption bands (676/661 cm−1) in absorption against the continuum emission.