FC(O)C(O)F, FC(O)CF2C(O)F, and FC(O)CF2CF2C(O)F: Ultraviolet and Infrared Absorption Spectra and 248 nm Photolysis Products

Perfluorodicarbonyl (PFDC) compounds may be emitted directly into the atmosphere or formed in the atmospheric degradation of trace fluorinated gases, such as unsaturated perfluoro cyclic compounds. A potential atmospheric removal process for PFDCs is UV photolysis, which is presently not well-characterized. In this work, UV and infrared absorption spectra of FC­(O)­C­(O)­F, FC­(O)­CF2C­(O)­F, and FC­(O)­CF2CF2C­(O)F (three of the simplest PFDCs) and their 248 nm photolysis products are reported. UV spectra were measured at 296 K between 190 and 320 nm using single wavelength and broadband diode array spectroscopic measurement techniques. Infrared absorption spectra were measured at 296 K using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy between 500 and 4000 cm–1. The PFDCs are shown to be potent greenhouse gases with radiative efficiencies (well-mixed) of 0.142, 0.218, and 0.293 W m–2 ppb–1 for FC­(O)­C­(O)­F, FC­(O)­CF2C­(O)­F, and FC­(O)­CF2CF2C­(O)­F, respectively. Photolysis product yields (248 nm) were measured using pulsed laser photolysis combined with infrared absorption detection of radical products scavenged to stable bromides by reaction with Br2. BrC­(O)F was identified as a major stable end product in all systems with a yield greater than ∼90%. The infrared spectrum of BrC­(O)F is reported as part of this study. FC­(O)­CBrF2 and FC­(O)­CF2CBrF2 were also identified as products in the photolysis of FC­(O)­CF2C­(O)F and FC­(O)­CF2CF2C­(O)­F, respectively, by comparison with theoretically calculated infrared absorption spectra. A carbonyl difluoride (CF2O) primary photolysis yield of ∼10% was measured in the photolysis of FC­(O)­C­(O)­F.