Identification of Gaseous Cobalt Tetrafluoride: MS and FTIR Spectroscopic Studies

The existence of gaseous CoF4sa species with an unusually high degree of oxidation of the metalshas been demonstrated by means of Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry and FTIR spectroscopy. The Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry method has been applied to investigate the gas-phase composition over the CoF3(s)-TbF4(s) system and to establish the optimum in situ conditions for CoF4 synthesis. The electron impact mass spectrum of the CoF4 molecule has been obtained. From the infrared spectrum of argon-isolated CoF4 molecules, the Co-F stretching mode has been detected at 767.8 cm-1.