title: A small neutral molecule with two noble-gas atoms: HXeOXeH.
abstract: A novel noble-gas compound, HXeOXeH, is identified using IR spectroscopy, and it seems to be the smallest known neutral molecule with two noble-gas atoms. HXeOXeH is prepared using, for example, UV photolysis of water in solid xenon and subsequent annealing at 40-45 K. The experimental observations are fully supported by extensive quantum chemical calculations. A large energy release of 8.3 eV is computationally predicted for the decomposition of HXeOXeH into the 2Xe + H2O global energy minimum. HXeOXeH may represent a first step toward the possible preparation of (Xe-O)n chains and it may be relevant to the terrestrial "missing xenon" problem.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, P.O. Box 55, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. Leonid.Khriachtchev@Helsinki.Fi
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khriachtchev
authors.forename: Karoliina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isokoski
authors.forename: Arik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Räsänen
authors.forename: R Benny
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gerber