Vibrational spectrum of single crystal sodium thiocyanate

The polarized medium, infrared and the laser excited lattice mode Raman spectra of oriented single crystal NaNCS, together with the far infrared lattice mode spectrum of a polycrystalline film of the salt, have been measured in the frequency range 40 to 5000 cm^-1. The fundamental modes are interpreted in terms of the ^→k = 0 factor group selection rules. The spectra essentially support the previously determined space group Pnma-D_2h¹⁶. Some general observations on the splittings and the symmetries of the combination and overtone modes have been made. The interionic interactions in NaNCS compared with that in KNCS, are discussed.