Electronic Spectroscopy of Rhodium Mononitride

We report the first observation of gas-phase electronic spectra for rhodium mononitride. The RhN molecules have been produced in the reaction of laser-ablated rhodium metal with ammonia. Many vibronic bands have been studied in the 400–700 nm region using laser-induced fluorescence. Rotational analyses of the stronger of these, together with excited state lifetime measurements and Rh14N–Rh15N isotopic shifts, identify three electronic systems in the region: [15.1]1–X1Σ+, [19.5]0+–X1Σ+, and [22.4]0+–X1Σ+ with (0, 0) bands near 15071, 19489, and 22385 cm−1, respectively. The 1Σ+ symmetry for the ground state agrees with theoretical predictions. Dispersed fluorescence spectra have been recorded which reveal the presence of electronic states at T = 553, 1740, and 3920 cm−1.