The effect of cooperative hydrogen bonding on the OH stretching-band shift for water clusters studied by matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory

The water hexamer: three-body interactions, structures, energetics, and OH-stretch spectroscopy at finite temperature

Using a newly developed and recently parameterized classical empirical simulation model for water that involves explicit three-body interactions, we determine the eleven most stable isomers of the water hexamer. We find that the lowest energy isomer is one of the cage structures, in agreement with far-IR and microwave experiments. The energy ordering for the binding energies is cage > glove > book > bag > chair > boat > chaise, and energies relative to the cage are in good agreement with CCSD(T) calculations. The three-body contributions to the cage, book, and chair are also in reasonable agreement with CCSD(T) results. The energy of each isomer results from a delicate balance involving the number of hydrogen bonds, the strain of these hydrogen bonds, and cooperative and anti-cooperative three-body interactions, whose contribution we can understand simply from the form of the three-body interactions in the simulation model. Oxygen-oxygen distances in the cage and book isomers are in good agreement with microwave experiments. Hydrogen-bond distances depend on both donor and acceptor, which can again be understood from the three-body model. Fully anharmonic OH-stretch spectra are calculated for these low-energy structures, and compared with shifted harmonic results from ab initio and density functional theory calculations. Replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations were performed from 40 to 194 K, which show that the cage isomer has the lowest free energy from 0 to 70 K, and the book isomer has the lowest free energy from 70 to 194 K. OH-stretch spectra were calculated between 40 and 194 K, and results at 40, 63, and 79 K were compared to recent experiments, leading to re-assignment of the peaks in the experimental spectra. We calculate local OH-stretch cumulative spectral densities for different donor-acceptor types and compare to analogous results for liquid water.

Rapid water transportation through narrow one-dimensional channels by restricted hydrogen bonds

Water plays an important role in controlling chemical reactions and bioactivities. For example, water transportation through water channels in a biomembrane is a key factor in bioactivities. However, molecular-level mechanisms of water transportation are as yet unknown. Here, we investigate water transportation through narrow and wide one-dimensional (1D) channels on the basis of water-vapor adsorption rates and those determined by molecular dynamics simulations. We observed that water in narrow 1D channels was transported 3-5 times faster than that in wide 1D channels, although the narrow 1D channels provide fewer free nanospaces for water transportation. This rapid transportation is attributed to the formation of fewer hydrogen bonds between water molecules adsorbed in narrow 1D channels. The water-transportation mechanism provides the possibility of rapid communication through 1D channels and will be useful in controlling reactions and activities in water systems.

Hydrogen Bonding and OH-Stretch Spectroscopy in Water: Hexamer (Cage), Liquid Surface, Liquid, and Ice

We present a unified picture of how OH-stretch spectroscopy in water can be understood in terms of hydrogen bonding for the four systems listed in the title. To understand the strength, and hence OH-stretch frequency, of a hydrogen bond, it is crucial to consider the number of additional acceptor hydrogen bonds made by both the donor and acceptor molecules. This necessity for focusing on the hydrogen-bond environment of both donor and acceptor molecules follows from quantum chemical considerations and is related to the three-body interactions in water. Armed with this understanding we can make a detailed interpretation of the OH-stretch IR absorption spectrum of the cage conformer for HOD(D2O)5 and the imaginary part of the ssp OH-stretch sum-frequency spectrum of the surface of liquid D2O with dilute HOD.

Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy of isotope-diluted ice Ih

We present experimental 2D IR spectra of isotope diluted ice Ih (i.e., the OH stretch mode of HOD in D(2)O and the OD stretch mode of HOD in H(2)O) at T = 80 K. The main spectral features are the extremely broad 1-2 excited state transition, much broader than the corresponding 0-1 groundstate transition, as well as the presence of quantum beats. We do not observe any inhomogeneous broadening that might be expected due to proton disorder in ice Ih. Complementary, we perform simulations in the framework of the Lippincott-Schroeder model, which qualitatively reproduce the experimental observations. We conclude that the origin of the observed line shape features is the coupling of the OH-vibrational coordinate with crystal phonons and explain the beatings as a coherent oscillation of the O···O hydrogen bond degree of freedom.

Polarization induced water molecule dissociation below the first-order electronic-phase transition temperature

Hydrogen produced from the photocatalytic splitting of water is one of the reliable alternatives to replace the polluting fossil and the radioactive nuclear fuels. Here, we provide unequivocal evidence for the existence of blue- and red-shifting O-H covalent bonds within a single water molecule adsorbed on the MgO surface as a result of asymmetric displacement polarizabilities. The adsorbed H-O-H on MgO gives rise to one weaker H-O bond, while the other O-H covalent bond from the same adsorbed water molecule compensates this effect with a stronger bond. The weaker bond (nearest to the surface), the interlayer tunneling electrons and the silver substrate are shown to be the causes for the smallest dissociative activation energy on the MgO monolayer. The origin that is responsible to initiate the splitting mechanism is proven to be due to the changes in the polarizability of an adsorbed water molecule, which are further supported by the temperature-dependent static dielectric constant measurements for water below the first-order electronic-phase transition temperature.

First-principles study of fluoroform adsorption on a hexagonal ice (0001) surface: weak hydrogen bonds-strong structural effects

For isolated fluoroform (F(3)CH) molecules adsorbed on a hexagonal ice (0001) surface the properties of blue- and red-shifting hydrogen bonds were studied using static density functional theory (DFT) calculations and Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CP-MD) simulations. A systematic search by starting from many initial configurations was performed to determine the lowest-energy structures of F(3)CH on the ice surface, and for the optimized geometries the vibrational frequencies were calculated. The local minima structures are analyzed in terms of their coordination to the surface, with special focus on identifying blue-shifting hydrogen bonds via their spectroscopic signature of an increased frequency of the C-H fundamental stretching vibration. Subsequently, by CP-MD simulations the stability of the lowest-energy configurations at finite temperatures was verified and possible transformation pathways connecting the local minima structures were explored.

Fingerprints of order and disorder on the high-frequency dynamics of liquids

It is largely accepted that liquids are characterized by a short-range order usually corresponding to that of the solid phase at the same density. It is less clear to what extent dynamic properties of liquids and crystals can be compared. In particular, high-frequency collective excitations reminiscent of phonons in solids exist as well in liquids. They are however traditionally discussed in terms of relaxation processes characteristic of the liquid phase. We report here on a quantitative comparison of the collective excitations in liquid and polycrystalline sodium. We show that liquid sodium exhibits acoustic excitations of both longitudinal and transverse polarization at frequencies strictly related to those of the corresponding crystal. The only relevant difference between the liquid and the polycrystal appears in the broadening of the excitations: An additional disorder-induced contribution comes into play in the case of the liquid, which we show to be related to the distribution of local structures around the average one. These results establish a direct connection between structural and dynamic properties of liquids, with short-range order and overall structural disorder leaving very specific fingerprints.

Experimental and theoretical characterization of adsorbed water on self-assembled monolayers: understanding the interaction of water with atmospherically relevant surfaces

A combination of experiments and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations has been applied to elucidate the nature of water on organic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) before and after oxidation. SAMs mimic organics adsorbed on environmental urban surfaces. Water on clean or SAM-coated borosilicate glass surfaces was measured at equilibrium as a function of relative humidity (RH), using transmission Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy at 1 atm and 22 +/- 1 degrees C. The SAMs included C18 and C8 alkanes, as well as the C8 terminal alkene. Oxidation of the terminal alkene SAM was carried out with either KMnO(4) solution or gaseous O(3). The FTIR data showed at least two distinct peaks due to water on these surfaces, one at approximately 3200 cm(-1), which dominates at low RH (20%), and one at approximately 3400 cm(-1) at high RH (80%), which is similar to that in bulk liquid water. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiments showed that oxidation leads to more strongly adsorbed water. However, the amount of water in equilibrium with water vapor on the oxidized alkene was not significantly different from that on the unoxidized SAM, although there was a change in the relative intensities of the two contributing infrared peaks at 80% RH. MD simulations with hydrogen bond analysis suggest that molecules on the surface of small water clusters that dominate on SAM surfaces at low RH have fewer hydrogen bonds, while those in the interior of the clusters have three and four hydrogen bonds similar to bulk liquid water. Taken together, the experimental infrared data and MD simulations suggest a correlation between the relative intensities of the 3200 cm(-1)/3400 cm(-1) bands and the hydrogen-bonding patterns of the water on the surface and in the interior of clusters on the SAM surfaces. These studies suggest that water clusters will be present even on hydrophobic surfaces in the atmosphere and hence are available to participate in heterogeneous chemistry. In addition, oxidation of organic coatings on atmospheric particles or surfaces in the boundary layer may not lead to enhanced water uptake as is often assumed.

Role of hydration and water coordination in micellization of Pluronic block copolymers

Raman, attenuated total reflectance FTIR, near-infrared spectroscopy, and DFT calculations have been used in a study of aqueous solutions of three tri-block copolymers poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) or PEO-PPO-PEO with commercial names Pluronic PE6200, PE6400 and F68. It is shown that the process of micellization as a response to increased temperature is reflected in the hydroxyl stretching region of infrared and Raman spectra, which contains information both about restructuring of water and changes of polymer chains in polymer/water aggregates. Raman spectra exhibit differences between individual Pluronics even at temperatures below the critical micellization temperature (CMT). According to the attenuated total reflection (ATR) FTIR spectra, the same five water coordination types defined by the number of donated/accepted hydrogen bonds are present in interacting water as in bulk water. It indicates that models considering mixed states of water with different hydrogen bonding environments provide appropriate descriptions of bound water both below and above the CMT. Above the CMT, aggregate hydration increases in the order PE6400 < PE6200 < F68, although that does not fully correspond to the EO/PO ratio, and points to the differences in microstructure of aggregates formed by each copolymer. This study relates nanoscale phenomena (hydrophobic and hydrophilic hydration) with the mesoscale phenomenon of micellization.

Effect of hydrogen bond cooperativity on the behavior of water

Four scenarios have been proposed for the low-temperature phase behavior of liquid water, each predicting different thermodynamics. The physical mechanism that leads to each is debated. Moreover, it is still unclear which of the scenarios best describes water, because there is no definitive experimental test. Here we address both open issues within the framework of a microscopic cell model by performing a study combining mean-field calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. We show that a common physical mechanism underlies each of the four scenarios, and that two key physical quantities determine which of the four scenarios describes water: (i) the strength of the directional component of the hydrogen bond and (ii) the strength of the cooperative component of the hydrogen bond. The four scenarios may be mapped in the space of these two quantities. We argue that our conclusions are model independent. Using estimates from experimental data for H-bond properties the model predicts that the low-temperature phase diagram of water exhibits a liquid-liquid critical point at positive pressure.

Beryllium Bonds, Do They Exist?

The complexes between BeX2 (X = H, F, Cl, OH) with different Lewis bases have been investigated through the use of B3LYP, MP2, and CCSD(T) approaches. This theoretical survey showed that these complexes are stabilized through the interaction between the Be atom and the basic center of the base, which are characterized by electron densities at the corresponding bond critical points larger than those found in conventional hydrogen bonds (HBs). Actually, all bonding indices indicate that, although these interactions that we named "beryllium bonds" are in general significantly stronger than HBs, they share many common features. Both interactions have a dominant electrostatic character but also some covalent contributions associated with a non-negligible electron transfer between the interacting subunits. This electron transfer, which in HBs takes place from the HB acceptor lone-pairs toward the σYH* antibonding orbital of the HB donor, in beryllium bonds goes from the lone pairs of the Lewis base toward the empty p orbital of Be and the σBeX* antibonding orbital. Accordingly, a significant distortion of the BeX2 subunit, which in the complex becomes nonlinear, takes place. Concomitantly, a significant red-shifting of the X-Be-X antisymmetric stretching frequencies and a significant lengthening of the X-Be bonds occur. The presence of the beryllium bond results in a significant blue-shifting of the X-Be-X symmetric stretch.

The Effects of Temperature and H/D Isotopic Dilution on the Transmission and Attenuated Total Reflection FTIR Spectra of Water

Using a set of IR spectroscopy methods the OH- and OD-stretch region of H2O, D2O and HDO were investigated. With a combination of attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) and transmission infrared Fourier Transform spectroscopy, temperature dependent experiments were carried out. HDO experiments were done with varying isotopic concentrations. We focused on contributions at higher wavenumbers within the OH/OD-stretch region to discuss coupling effects. We also compared results from ATR and transmission spectroscopy in order to check the comparability of these techniques. In addition we tried to investigate how the overtone of the bending vibration may be included into the analysis of the OH-stretch region of pure water.

A first principles investigation of water dipole moment in a defective continuous hydrogen bond network

First principles molecular dynamics simulations of an aqueous solution salt system at finite concentration containing both Na(+) and Cl(-) ions show that a change in the distribution of the molecular dipole moment of H(2)O monomers appears when ions are present in solution. Simulations suggest a lowering of the dipole moments of the water molecules in the solvation shells of Na(+) and Cl(-) as compared to the pure water case, while the dipoles of the rest of the molecules are hardly affected. However, finer analysis in terms of the Wannier centers distribution suggests a change in the electronic structure of the water molecules even in the bulk. Also a change of the H-bond network arrangement was found and correlation between dipole and MOH parameter evidences such subtle effects, suggesting a lowering of tetrahedral order in salty solutions. All these changes can be related to observable quantities such as the infrared spectra thus allowing for a rationalization of the experimental outcome on neutral aqueous solutions.

Absolutely local excited orbitals in the higher order perturbation expansion for the molecular interaction

Based on the locally projected molecular orbitals, the third and fourth order perturbation corrections for the molecular interaction within the single excitations are evaluated, and the calculated interaction energies are compared with the counterpoise (CP) corrected interaction energy of the Hartree-Fock level of theory. It is demonstrated that the third order calculation is a practical and powerful method to obtain the binding energy almost equal to the CP corrected energy. It requires only one more two-electron integral handling after the LP MO calculation, which is faster than a usual supermolecule HF calculation. For the perturbation expansion, the absolutely local excited orbitals are determined. For small basis sets, it is shown that the partial delocalization of the absolutely local excited orbitals is a compromizing technique to take into account the charge-transfer contribution without reintroducing a large basis set superposition error.

Analytical terahertz spectroscopy

Recent progress in analytical terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is reviewed with illustrative examples showing that it is an effective method for detecting and identifying intermolecular interactions in chemical compounds, such as hydrogen bonds. The unique and characteristic properties of THz waves, their significance to both science and industry, and the bases of one of the successful fields of analytical THz spectroscopy, namely THz time-domain spectroscopy and THz imaging for chemical analysis, are described. Preliminary quantitative studies are presented to show the potential of THz spectroscopy for the detection and identification of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in unknown mixture samples. The selective detection of intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the detection of intramolecular interactions in ice are also introduced. Some brief remarks are provided on future developments, the main issues, and the prospects for analytical THz spectroscopy.

Multivariate curve resolution analysis on the multi-component water sorption process into a poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) film

In our previous study, sorption process of water into a biocompatible polymer film, poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) was monitored by time-resolved in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy [S. Morita, et al., Langmuir 23, 3750 (2007)]. In the present study, noisy and heavily overlapped O-H stretching vibrational bands of diffusing water have been analyzed from the series spectra where the spectral shapes change irregularly with time. In spite of these complications, a powerful spectral analysis technique, multivariate curve resolution (MCR) by means of alternating least squares (ALS), yielded smooth and meaningful pure component spectra and detailed kinetic sorption profiles of each component, excluding noise. Ordinary smoothing techniques and Gaussian curve fitting would not achieve these significant results. The quantification of the kinetic parameters such as amplitudes (a) and relaxation time constants (tau) is significant for the systematic development of biocompatible materials and also for revealing the mechanisms of biocompatibility of a material. Moreover, the ratios of coefficients of each component at saturation corresponded well to the values obtained by Tanaka et al. measured by gravimetric analysis. This study is the first to report the detailed concentration profile of each water component whose sorption kinetics is discussed comprehensively.