HeI photoelectron spectrum (PES) of fluorine nitrate, FONO2

The HeI photoelectron spectrum (PES) of the FONO2 molecule is reported. The assignment of the PE spectral bands is also made. The first band centered near 13.21 eV with vibrational spacing 660 ± 40 and 1090 ± 40 cm−1 is assigned as electron ionization of both the HOMO (4a′ʹ(20)) and the SHOMO (16a′(19)) orbitals which possess the character of the dominant NO2 group. The secondary band centered near 13.65 eV comes from electron ionization of the 15a′(18) orbital which also possesses the character of the dominant NO2 group. Comparing the PES results of both ClONO2 and BrONO2, it is shown that FONO2 is an inert molecule. As a reservoir species for ozone depletion of the atmosphere, FONO2 may be the best in the YONO2 series.