On the fate of laser-produced NH2 in a constrained pulsed expansion of trimethylamine alane and NH3

Abstract The effects of both 193 nm radiation and NH 3 on an expansion of trimethylamine alane (TMAA) have been studied. In neat TMAA, 193 nm radiation induces small but significant clustering. When NH 3 is introduced in the absence of 193 nm photons, no visible reaction occurs. However, when NH 3 is introduced along with 193 nm photons, the H 3 Al:N(CH 3 ) 3 parent molecule is completely replaced by H 3 AlNH 2 . Moreover, the clustering channels observed with neat TMAA disappear. The apparent stability or inertness of the R 3 MNH 2 (R=H, CH 3 or C 2 H 5 ; M=Ga or Al) species in a variety of metal nitride reactive environments is discussed.