Ultraviolet and visible absorption spectroscopy of some energetic molecules in the solid state

The solid state absorption spectrum in the range 190 to 550 nm has been obtained for four common high explosives; HNS, RDX, HMX and PETN. Studies were performed with HE crystals embedded in potassium chloride disks and compared to spectra in acetonitrile solution. It was observed that the solid state spectra generally have red shifted absorption maxima and extended red edge absorption compared with the solution phase spectra. These effects are attributed to inter molecular stabilization of the energetic molecules in the solid phase.