(Water)n anion clusters

Dynamical Calculations of Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Excited States of Small I-(CH3CN)n Clusters

Relaxation dynamics of photoexcited charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) states for the I(-)(CH(3)CN)(n) (n = 2 and 3) clusters has been theoretically studied using electronic structure methods. First, we have calculated several lowest singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces using the multireference configuration interaction method. It was found that the character of the singlet CTTS excited-state potential surfaces is very similar to that of the triplet CTTS states. Due to a small singlet-triplet splitting, the lowest triplet potential energy surface was used as a good model to understand the dynamics of the photoexcited singlet CTTS states. We have carried out direct molecular dynamics simulations on the lowest triplet surface at the B3LYP level. When an I(-) anion is exteriorly solvated by CH(3)CN molecules, we found that the (CH(3)CN)(n)(-) anion cluster is effectively produced. In addition, when the I(-) anion is placed in the interior in I(-)(CH(3)CN)(n) clusters, photoexcitation gives an acetonitrile monomer anion plus neutral monomers. However, if the initial geometric configuration is distorted from the minimum structure, we also found that the (CH(3)CN)(2)(-) anion cluster, where an excess electron is internally trapped, is formed via I(-)(CH(3)CN)(2) + hnu --> I + (CH(3)CN)(2)(-) process.

Solvent Triggered Change of the Electron Excitation Route of KI in Supercritical NH3

The UV-spectroscopic behavior of KI contact ion pairs (CIPs) dissolved in supercritical NH3 was studied combining classical molecular dynamics simulations with electronic structure calculations, and the results show that an abrupt change of the photoexcitation route of KI CIPs occurs at very low solvent densities. Few NH3 solvating molecules are required to hamper the well-known photoinduced intramolecular electron (e-) transfer observed in isolated ion pairs of alkali metal halides in the vapor drawing the e- to solvent cavities leading to a charge-transfer-to-solvent process.

Solvation dynamics in Ni+ (H2O)n clusters probed with infrared spectroscopy

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy is reported for mass-selected Ni+ (H2O)n complexes in the O-H stretching region up to cluster sizes of n = 25. These clusters fragment by the loss of one or more intact water molecules, and their excitation spectra show distinct bands in the region of the symmetric and asymmetric stretches of water. The first evidence for hydrogen bonding, indicated by a broad band strongly red-shifted from the free OH region, appears at the cluster size of n = 4. At larger cluster sizes, additional red-shifted structure evolves over a broader wavelength range in the hydrogen-bonding region. In the free OH region, the symmetric stretch gradually diminishes in intensity, while the asymmetric stretch develops into a closely spaced doublet near 3700 cm(-1). The data indicate that essentially all of the water molecules are in a hydrogen-bonded network by the size of n = 10. However, there is no evidence for the formation of clathrate structures seen recently via IR spectroscopy of protonated water clusters.

Photofragment coincidence imaging of small I−(H2O)n clusters excited to the charge-transfer-to-solvent state

The photodissociation dynamics of small I-(H2O)n(n=2-5) clusters excited to their charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) states have been studied using photofragment coincidence imaging. Upon excitation to the CTTS state, two photodissociation channels were observed. The major channel (approximately 90%) is a two-body process forming neutral I+(H2O)n photofragments, and the minor channel is a three-body process forming I+(H2O)n-1+H2O fragments. Both processes display translational energy [P(ET)] distributions peaking at ET=0 with little available energy partitioned into translation. Clusters excited to the detachment continuum rather than to the CTTS state display the same two channels with similar P(ET) distributions. The observation of similar P(ET) distributions from the two sets of experiments suggests that in the CTTS experiments, I atom loss occurs after autodetachment of the excited [I(H2O)n-]* cluster or, less probably, that the presence of the excess electron has little effect on the departing I atom.

Structure of an I- x (H2O)6 anion cluster in a 3D anion crystal host [I x (H2O)6Fe(CN)6 x H2O]4-

A planar structure of an anion cluster I- x (H2O)6 in a 3D supramolecular complex [Ru(bpy)3]2[I x (H2O)6Fe(CN)6 x H2O] has been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In the supramolecule, the anion cluster I- x (H2O)6, together with the anion [Fe(CN)6 x H2O]2-, acts as a 3D crystal host, and the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ cations, as the guest molecules, occupy the vacancies of the 3D host framework. This is the first crystal example of the anion cluster I- x (H2O)6.

Accurateab initiopotential for the Na+⋯I• complex

High-level ab initio calculations employing the multireference configuration interaction and coupled clusters methods with a correlation-consistent sequence of basis sets have been used to obtain accurate potential energy curves for the complex of the sodium cation with the iodine atom. Potential curves for the first two electronic Lambda-S states have very different characters: the potential for the 2pi state has a well depth of approximately 10 kcal/mol, while the 2sigma state is essentially unbound. This difference is rationalized in terms of the anisotropic interaction of the quadrupole moment of the iodine atom with the sodium cation, which is stabilizing in the case of the 2pi state and destabilizing in the case of the 2sigma state. The effects of spin-orbit coupling have been accounted for with both ab initio and semiempirical approaches, which have been found to give practically the same results. Inclusion of spin-orbit interactions does not affect the X(omega = 32) ground state, which retains its 2pi character, but it results in two omega = 12 spin-orbit states, with mixed 2sigma and 2pi characters and binding energies roughly half of that of the ground spin-orbit state. Complete basis set (CBS) extrapolations of potential curves, binding energies, and equilibrium geometries were also performed, and used to calculate a number of rovibronic parameters for the Na+...I* complex and to parameterize model potentials. The final CBS-extrapolated and zero-point vibrational energy-corrected binding energy is 10.2 kcal/mol. Applications of the present results for simulations of NaI photodissociation femtosecond spectroscopy are discussed.

Development of the charge-transfer-to-solvent process with increasing solvent fluid density: the effect of ion pairing

The study of the UV spectroscopic behaviour of alkali metal iodides dissolved in supercritical ammonia showed that two absorbing species contributed to the UV absorption of the solutions. The two species differed in the type of interaction of iodide with the cation, i.e. going from contact ion pairs to free iodide ion, the observed absorption band varied according to the species that prevailed as the solvent density (rho(1)) changed. This experimental evidence was supplemented with molecular dynamics simulations and electronic structure calculations which showed that at very low rho(1) when the contact ion pair is the dominant species, a sudden change from the internal charge transfer photoexcitation route to a charge-transfer-to-solvent transition occurred. This finding emphasized the importance of solvation at very low rho(1) not only for the photoexcitation process, it also allows connecting the thermodynamic behaviour of the solutes in solution with that observed in their vapour phase. We have tried to draw a consistent picture of the available information of UV photoexcitation for iodides in vapour, in solution either forming contact ion pairs or present as free iodide ions, including their behaviour in small clusters of highly polar molecules. The importance of the cation has been clearly shown in this investigation. A relation between the photoexcited electron in contact ion pairs and the solvated electron of alkali metals in small NH(3) clusters has been conjectured.

Electron solvation in water clusters following charge transfer from iodide

The dynamics following charge transfer to solvent from iodide to a water cluster are studied using time-resolved photoelectron imaging of I-(H2O)n and I-(D2O)n clusters with n< or =28. The results show spontaneous conversion, on a time scale of approximately 1 ps, from water cluster anions with surface-bound electrons to structures in which the excess electron is more strongly bound and possibly more internalized within the solvent network. The resulting dynamics provide valuable insight into the electron solvation dynamics in water clusters and the relative stabilities between recently observed isomers of water cluster anions.

Dynamics of Charge-Transfer-to-Solvent Precursor States in I-(water)n(n= 3−10) Clusters Studied with Photoelectron Imaging†

The dynamics of charge-transfer-to-solvent states are studied in I- (H2O)(n=3-10) clusters and their deuterated counterparts using time-resolved photoelectron imaging. The photoelectron spectra for clusters with n > or = 5 reveal multiple time scales for dynamics after their electronic excitation. An increase in the vertical detachment energy (VDE) by several hundred millielectronvolts on a time scale of approximately 1 ps is attributed to stabilization of the excess electron, primarily through rearrangement of the solvent molecules, but a contribution to this stabilization from motion of the I atom cannot be ruled out. The VDE drops by approximately 50 meV on a time scale of tens of picoseconds; this is attributed to loss of the neutral iodine atom. Finally, the pump-probe signal decays with a time constant of 60 ps-3 ns, increasing with cluster size. This decay is commensurate with the growth of very slow electrons and is attributed to autodetachment. Smaller clusters (n = 3, 4) display simpler dynamics. Anisotropy parameters are reported for clusters n = 4-9.

Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations of an Excited State of X-(H2O)3 (X = Cl, I) Complex

Upon excitation of Cl(-)(H(2)O)(3) and I(-)(H(2)O)(3) clusters, the electron transfers from the anionic precursor to the solvent, and then the excess electron is stabilized by polar solvent molecules. This process has been investigated using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations of excited states of Cl(-)(H(2)O)(3) and I(-)(H(2)O)(3) clusters. The AIMD simulation results of Cl(-)(H(2)O)(3) and I(-)(H(2)O)(3) are compared, and they are found to be similar. Because the role of the halogen atom in the photoexcitation mechanism is controversial, we also carried out AIMD simulations for the ground-state bare excess electron -- water trimer [e(-)(H(2)O)(3)] at 300 K, the results of which are similar to those for the excited state of X(-)(H(2)O)(3) with zero kinetic energy at the initial excitation. This indicates that the rearrangement of the complex is closely related to that of e(-)(H(2)O)(3), whereas the role of the halide anion is not as important.

Dissolution nature of the lithium hydroxide by water molecules

The structures, stabilities, thermodynamic quantities, dissociation energies, infrared spectra, and electronic properties of LiOH hydrated by up to seven water molecules are investigated by using the density-functional theory and the Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2). Further accurate analysis based on the coupled-cluster theory with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples excitations agrees with the MP2 results. The Li-OH stretch mode significantly shifts with the increase of water molecules, and it eventually disappears upon dissociation. It is revealed that seven water molecules are needed for the stable dissociation of LiOH (as a completely dissociated conformation), in contrast to the cases of RbOH and CsOH which require four and three water molecules, respectively.

Femtosecond Dynamics after Ionization: 2-Phenylethyl-N,N-dimethylamine as a Model System for Nonresonant Downhill Charge Transfer in Peptides

The cation of 2-phenylethyl-N,N-dimethylamine (PENNA) offers two local sites for the charge: the amine group and 0.7 eV higher in energy the phenyl chromophore. In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of the charge transfer (CT) from the phenyl to the amine site. We present a femtosecond resonant two-color photoionization spectrum which shows that the femtosecond pump laser pulse is resonant in the phenyl chromophore. As shown previously with resonant wavelengths the aromatic phenyl chromophore can be then selectively ionized. Because the state "charge in the phenyl chromophore" is the first excited state in the PENNA cation, it can relax to the lower-energetic state "charge in the amine site". To follow this CT dynamics, femtosecond probe photoabsorption of green light (vis) is used. The vis light is absorbed by the charged phenyl chromophore, but not by the neutral phenyl and the neutral or cationic amine group. Thus, the absorption of vis photons of the probe laser pulse is switched off by the CT process. For detection of the resonant absorption of two or more vis photons in the cation the intensity of a fragmentation channel is monitored which opens only at high internal energy. The CT dynamics in PENNA cations has a time constant of 80 +/- 28 fs and is therefore not a purely electronic process. Because of its structural similarity to phenylalanine, PENNA is a model system for a downhill charge transfer in peptide cations.

Photoelectron Imaging of Hydrated Carbon Dioxide Cluster Anions

The effects of homogeneous and heterogeneous solvation on the electronic structure and photodetachment dynamics of hydrated carbon dioxide cluster anions are investigated using negative-ion photoelectron imaging spectroscopy. The experiments are conducted on mass-selected [(CO(2))(n)()(H(2)O)(m)()](-) cluster anions with n and m ranging up to 12 and 6, respectively, for selected clusters. Homogeneous solvation in (CO(2))(n)()(-) has minimal effect on the photoelectron angular distributions, despite dimer-to-monomer anion core switching. Heterogeneous hydration, on the other hand, is found to have the marked effect of decreasing the photodetachment anisotropy. For example, in the [CO(2)(H(2)O)(m)()](-) cluster anion series, the photoelectron anisotropy parameter falls to essentially zero with as few as 5-6 water molecules. The analysis of the data, supported by theoretical modeling, reveals that in the ground electronic state of the hydrated clusters the excess electron is localized on CO(2), corresponding to a (CO(2))(n)()(-).(H(2)O)(m)() configuration for all cluster anions studied. The diminishing anisotropy in the photoelectron images of hydrated cluster anions is proposed to be attributable to photoinduced charge transfer to solvent, creating transient (CO(2))(n)().(H(2)O)(m)()(-) states that subsequently decay via autodetachment.

Electron Binding Energies of Aqueous Alkali and Halide Ions: EUV Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Liquid Solutions and Combined Ab Initio and Molecular Dynamics Calculations

Photoelectron spectroscopy combined with the liquid microjet technique enables the direct probing of the electronic structure of aqueous solutions. We report measured and calculated lowest vertical electron binding energies of aqueous alkali cations and halide anions. In some cases, ejection from deeper electronic levels of the solute could be observed. Electron binding energies of a given aqueous ion are found to be independent of the counterion and the salt concentration. The experimental results are complemented by ab initio calculations, at the MP2 and CCSD(T) level, of the ionization energies of these prototype ions in the aqueous phase. The solvent effect was accounted for in the electronic structure calculations in two ways. An explicit inclusion of discrete water molecules using a set of snapshots from an equilibrium classical molecular dynamics simulations and a fractional charge representation of solvent molecules give good results for halide ions. The electron binding energies of alkali cations computed with this approach tend to be overestimated. On the other hand, the polarizable continuum model, which strictly provides adiabatic binding energies, performs well for the alkali cations but fails for the halides. Photon energies in the experiment were in the EUV region (typically 100 eV) for which the technique is probing the top layers of the liquid sample. Hence, the reported energies of aqueous ions are closely connected with both structures and chemical reactivity at the liquid interface, for example, in atmospheric aerosol particles, as well as fundamental bulk solvation properties.

Hydrated copper and gold monovalent cations:Ab initiostudy

To understand the hydration phenomena of noble transition metals, we investigated the structures, hydration energies, electronic properties, and spectra of the Cu(+)(H(3)O)(1-6) and Au(+)(H(2)O)(1-6) clusters using ab initio calculations. The coordination numbers of these clusters are found to be only two, which is highly contrasted to those of Ag(+)(H(2)O)(n) (which have the coordination numbers of 3-4) as well as the hydrated alkali metal ions (which have the coordination numbers of approximately 6). For the possible identification of their interesting hydration structures, we predict their IR spectra for the OH stretch modes.

Femtosecond dynamics of Cu(H2O)2

The ultrafast relaxation dynamics of Cu(H(2)O)(2) is investigated using femtosecond photodetachment-photoionization spectroscopy. In addition, stationary points on the Cu(H(2)O)(2) anion, neutral, and cation potential energy surfaces are characterized by ab initio electronic structure calculations. Electron photodetachment from Cu(-)(H(2)O)(2) initiates the dynamics on the ground-state potential energy surface of neutral Cu(H(2)O)(2). The resulting Cu(H(2)O)(2) complexes experience large-amplitude H(2)O reorientation and dissociation. The time evolution of the Cu(H(2)O)(2) fragmentation products is monitored by time-resolved resonant multiphoton ionization. The parent ion, Cu(+)(H(2)O)(2), is not detected above background levels. The rise to a maximum of the Cu(+) signal from Cu(-)(H(2)O)(2), and the decay of the Cu(+)(H(2)O) signal from Cu(-)(H(2)O)(2) have similar tau approximately 10 ps time dependences to the corresponding signals from Cu(-)(H(2)O), but display clear differences at very short and long times. The experimental observations can be understood in terms of the following picture. Prompt dissociation of H(2)O from nascent Cu(H(2)O)(2) gives rise to a vibrationally excited Cu(H(2)O) complex, which dissociates to Cu+H(2)O due to coupling of H(2)O internal rotation to the dissociation coordinate. This prompt dissociation removes all intra-H(2)O vibrational excitation from the intermediate Cu(H(2)O) fragment, which quenches the long time vibrational predissociation to Cu+H(2)O previously observed in analogous experiments on Cu(-)(H(2)O).

Origin of the magic numbers of water clusters with an excess electron

Electron-bound water clusters [e(-)(H(2)O)(n)] show very strong peaks in mass spectra for n=2, 6, 7, and (11), which are called magic numbers. The origin of the magic numbers has been an enigma for the last two decades. Although the magic numbers have often been conjectured to arise from the intrinsic properties of electron-bound water clusters, we attributed them not to their intrinsic properties but to the particularly weak stability of the corresponding neutral water clusters (H(2)O)(n=2,6,7, and (11)). As the cluster size increases; this nonsmooth characteristic feature in stability of neutral water clusters is contrasted to the smooth increase in stability of e(-)-water clusters. As the magic number clusters have significant positive adiabatic electron affinities, their abundant distributions in atmosphere could play a significant role in atmospheric thermodynamics.

Electrons in Finite-Sized Water Cavities: Hydration Dynamics Observed in Real Time

We directly observed the hydration dynamics of an excess electron in the finite-sized water clusters of (H2O)n- with n = 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35. We initiated the solvent motion by exciting the hydrated electron in the cluster. By resolving the binding energy of the excess electron in real time with femtosecond resolution, we captured the ultrafast dynamics of the electron in the presolvated ("wet") and hydrated states and obtained, as a function of cluster size, the subsequent relaxation times. The solvation time (300 femtoseconds) after the internal conversion [140 femtoseconds for (H2O)35-] was similar to that of bulk water, indicating the dominant role of the local water structure in the dynamics of hydration. In contrast, the relaxation in other nuclear coordinates was on a much longer time scale (2 to 10 picoseconds) and depended critically on cluster size.

Bulk versus Interfacial Aqueous Solvation of Dicarboxylate Dianions

Solvation of dicarboxylate dianions of varying length of the aliphatic chain in water clusters and in extended aqueous slabs was investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. Photoelectron spectra of hydrated succinate, adipate, and tetradecandioic dianions with up to 20 water molecules were obtained. Even-odd effects were observed as a result of the alternate solvation mode of the two negative charges with increasing solvent numbers. The competition between hydrophilic interactions of the charged carboxylate groups and hydrophobic interactions of the aliphatic chain leads to conformation changes in large water clusters containing dicarboxylates bigger than adipate. It also leads to a transition from bulk aqueous solvation of small dicarboxylates to solvation at the water/vapor interface of the larger ones. Whereas oxalate and adipate solvate in the inner parts of the aqueous slab, suberate and longer dicarboxylate dianions have a strong propensity to the surface. This transition also has consequences for the folding of the flexible aliphatic chain and for the structure of aqueous solvation shells around the dianions.

Intramolecular electron scattering and electron transfer following autoionization in dissociating molecules

Resonant Auger decay of core-excited molecules during ultrafast dissociation leads to a Doppler shift of the emitted electrons depending on the direction of the electron emission relative to the dissociation axis. We have investigated this process by angle-resolved electron-fragment ion coincidence spectroscopy. Electron energy spectra for selected emission angles for the electron relative to the molecular axis reveal the occurrence of intermolecular electron scattering and electron transfer following the primary emission. These processes amount to approximately 25% of the resonant atomic Auger intensity emitted in the studied transition.

Further insight into the relaxation dynamics of photoexcited I-(H2O)n clusters

First-principles molecular dynamics simulations of the excited-state dynamics of I-(H2O)3 have been performed to gain some insight into the general features of the relaxation process of photoexcited I-(H2O)n clusters. The relaxation of excited I-(H2O)3 is characterized by rapid motion of water molecules and slow recoil motion of the iodine atom. Both solvent reorganization and iodine atom motion appear to be important for interpreting the existing femtosecond photoelectron spectroscopy experimental results.

Molecular aspects of halide ion hydration: the cluster approach

This review provides a historical context for our understanding of the hydration shell surrounding halide ions and illustrates how the cluster systems can be used, in combination with theory, to elucidate the behavior of water molecules in direct contact with the anion. We discuss how vibrational predissociation spectroscopy, carried out with weakly bound argon atoms, has been employed to deduce the morphology of the small water networks attached to anions in the primary steps of hydration. We emphasize the importance of charge-transfer in the binary interaction, and discuss how this process affects the structures of the larger networks. Finally, we survey how the negatively charged water clusters (H2O)n(-) are providing a molecular-level perspective on how diffuse excess electrons interact with the water networks.

Theory of dipole-bound anions

The problem of the binding of an excess electron to polar molecules and their clusters has long fascinated researchers. Although excess electrons bound to such species tend to be very extended spatially and to have little spatial overlap with the valence electrons of the neutral molecules, inclusion of electron correlation effects is essential for quantitatively describing the electron binding. The major electron correlation contribution may be viewed as a dispersion interaction between the excess electron and the electrons of the molecule or cluster. Recent work using a one-electron Drude model to describe excess electrons interacting with polar molecules is reviewed.

Ultrafast dynamics of electron localization and solvation in ice layers on Cu(111)

The femtosecond dynamics of localization and solvation of photoinjected electrons in ultrathin layers of amorphous solid H2O and D2O have been studied by time- and angle-resolved two-photon-photoelectron spectroscopy. After electron transfer from the metal substrate into the conduction band of ice, the excess electron localizes within the first 100 fs in a state at 2.9 eV above E(F), which is further stabilized by 300 meV on a time scale of 0.5-1 ps due to molecular rearrangements in the adlayer. A pronounced change of the solvation dynamics at a coverage of approximately 2 bilayers is attributed to different rigidity of the solvation shell in the bulk and near the surface of ice.

Structural dependence of electron transfer to non-covalent polar complexes

Electron attachment to polar molecules and their non-covalent complexes can lead to different kinds of anions which differ from their excess electron localization. Spectroscopic methods for studying anion structures are reviewed. In many cases, the neutral and anion structures are identical and can be deduced from the electron attachment properties. Examples are given for complexes containing polar solvents or building blocks of biomolecules (nucleobases, amino acid residues...).

Computational studies of aliphatic amine basicity

Computational studies have been used to examine the structural and energetic effects of adding small numbers of water molecules to ammonia, methylamine, dimethylamine, and trimethylamine, and their respective ammoniums ions using the effective fragment potential method. Distinct structural effects with only a few fragment water molecules are revealed. The complexity of structures increases with the number of water fragments with the water fragments forming complex networks. Structural and energetic effects are used to probe the so-called anomalous basicity effect of ammonia and the methylamines on going from the gas phase to aqueous solution.

Time-resolved photoelectron angular distributions: concepts, applications, and directions

The use of photoelectron angular distributions (PADs) as a probe in short-pulse, pump-probe scenarios is reviewed. We focus on concepts, on the insight that can be gained through theoretical analysis, on applications, and on future opportunities. Time-resolved PADs are sensitive to both the time-evolving rotational composition of wavepackets and their time-evolving electronic symmetry. The former feature renders this observable a potential probe of molecular structure, intensity effects, and rotational perturbations. The latter feature renders the PAD a potential probe of radiationless transitions.