Chemical states of localized Fe atoms in ethylene matrices using in-beam Mössbauer spectroscopy

The reaction products of isolated single iron atoms in a low concentration matrix of ethylene were studied using in-beam Mossbauer spectroscopy with a short-lived 57Mn (T 1/2=1.45 m) beam. The in-beam Mossbauer spectrum of 57Fe arising from 57Mn in a matrix of ethylene and argon measured at 16 K was analyzed with four components. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to confirm the assignments. It was suggested that the reaction produced monoiron species of Fe(C 2 H 4) with a spin state of S = 2.