Theory of new states, FEXs, Fast-formed EXcited states by the combination of an IR photon and water

In the IR spectra of water on polyethylene, polypropylene and polytetrafluoroethylene frequent and substantial negative peaks occurred and are explained by a theoretical analysis. New states, FEXs, Fast-formed EXcited states are formed by the combination of an IR photon and water and are now made manifest by inefficient energy transfer to the polymer combined with limited energy transfer to the small (0.5-1.0 μL) water sample.

Negative infrared bands-A new phenomenon in the vibrational spectroscopy of water oligomers

Infrared spectra of small amounts of water on the "hydrophobic" polymers, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), include many negative infrared bands that become positive with increasing temperature. The new species that the bands represent must arise through absorption of the incident radiation to form short-lived femtosecond states that disappear by (a) induced (Einstein) emission, thus leading to negative IR bands, or (b) fragmentation with loss of vibrational energy or (c) are replaced by an infrared excited state. In addition, we must note that polyethylene, polypropylene and polytetrafluoroethylene carry water! and many water oligomers (chair, boat, and prism hexamer) are easily observed.

Neutral dipole-dipole dimers: A new field in science

Dimer formation with dipole neutralization produces species such as low polarity water (LPW) compatible with hydrophobic surfaces (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2015, 17, 24895-24900) Dimerization and dipole neutralization occurs for N-methylacetamide on polyethylene, a behavior drastically different from its contortions in acetonitrile on AgBr:AgCl planar crystals (AgX) (ChemPhysChem 2014, 15, 3598-3607). The weak infrared absorption of the amide dimer on polyethylene is shown experimentally. Dimerization of palmitic acid is shown along with some of the many ramifications for intracellular systems. Polyoligomers of water are present on polyethylene surfaces. Some high resolution spectra of three of the polyoligomers of water are shown along with a mechanistic scheme for polyoligomer formation and dissolution. The structures of some of the oligomers are known from spectroscopic studies of water on AgX.