The high-pressure rate constant of the CF, + CF, + C,F, reaction at T = 296 K was rneasured i n the pulse photolysis ( A = 694 3 nm ruby laser) of CF, NO in the presence of NO by means of the time-resolved detection of CF,NO by the intracavity absorption of He-Ne laser radiation ( A = 632 8 nrn) The obtained value is = ( 3 9 ? I 3) X 10 I' crn'/s 9 1996 lohn Wiley & Sons Inc
INTRODUCTlONThe kinetics of the CF, + CF, -C2F, reaction was extensively studied by various research groups [ 1-91. The high-pressure room-temperature rate constants fall within relatively wide range from 2 X lo-'' to 4 X 10-i cm3/s. This article reports the measured room-temperature rate constant of the recombination reaction of trifluoromethyl radicals. The kinetic results obtained are compared to those available in the literature, and possible reasons of some discrepancies are discussed. The measuring technique is described in detail. Now the technique is being applied to the kinetic studies of the self-combination reactions of the higher perfluorinated alkyl radicals CnFzn + I (n = 2, 3, 4). The results of these studies are to be reported in subsequent arlicles.
Measuring TechniqueThe photolysis of CF,NO induced by ruby laser radiation is used as a source of CF, radicals. This method is a convenient and an effective source of "cold" CF, (see ref.[lo]). In addition, the use of namely CF,NO, which can be easily monitored by its absorption in the visible spectral region [ 111, is cssential in our technique of measuring the rate constant of CF, recombination reaction. The reaction cell is filled with a mixture of CF,NO, NO, and a buffer gas. The concentration of CF,NO is monitored in real time by measuring the absorption of the probing radiation of a cw He-Ne laser (A = 632.8 nm). The linear absorption cross-section of CF,NO at this wavelength is a,,,,, --. 5 X lo-"' cm' [lo]. The sensitivity of detecting the absorption can be enhanced by inserting the cell into the cavity of the He-Ne laser [11,12]. The photolyzing pulse of the ruby laser (A = 694.3 nm) induces the dissociation of CF,NO molecules into CF, and NO. The resulting CF, radicals can be involved in the following main reactions: