Electronic absorption spectrum of titanium dioxide in neon matrices

Two electronic systems of the bent isomer, 1B2 ← X1A1 and 1B1 ← X1A1, are observed with origins at 524 and 368 nm in agreement with theoretical calculations. The electronic transition lying at 524 nm shows a long vibronic progression due to excitations of the symmetric stretching and bending modes of TiO2. The linear form shows a transition at 628 nm for which a progression involving the symmetric stretching mode of TiO2 is apparent. The spectral assignments have been supported by analysis of the vibrational structure associated with each electronic transition.