1
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Ji K, Liu Y, Wang Y, Kong K, Li J, Liu X, Duan H. Steering Selectivity in Electrocatalytic Furfural Reduction via Electrode-Electrolyte Interface Modification. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:11876-11886. [PMID: 38626315 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic reduction of biomass-derived furfural (FF) represents a sustainable route to produce furfuryl alcohol (FA) and 2-methylfuran (MF) as a value-added chemical and a biofuel, respectively. However, achieving high selectivity for MF as well as tuning the selectivity between FA and MF within one reaction system remain challenging. Herein, we have reported an electrode-electrolyte interface modification strategy, enabling FA and MF selectivity steering under the same reaction conditions. Specifically, by modifying copper (Cu) electrocatalysts with butyl trimethylammonium bromide (BTAB), we achieved a dramatic shift in selectivity from producing FA (selectivity: 83.8%; Faradaic efficiency, FE: 68.9%) to MF (selectivity: 80.1%; FE: 74.8%). We demonstrated that BTAB adsorption over Cu modulates the electrical double layer (EDL) structure, which repels interfacial water and weakens the hydrogen-bond (H-bond) network for proton transfer, thus impeding FF-to-FA conversion by suppression of the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process. On the contrary, FF-to-MF conversion was less affected. This work shows the potential of engineering of the electrode-electrolyte interface for selectivity control in electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyue Ji
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuanbo Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ye Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kejian Kong
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Haohong Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou 362801, China
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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2
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Sequeiros-Borja C, Surpeta B, Thirunavukarasu AS, Dongmo Foumthuim CJ, Marchlewski I, Brezovsky J. Water will Find Its Way: Transport through Narrow Tunnels in Hydrolases. J Chem Inf Model 2024. [PMID: 38669675 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
An aqueous environment is vital for life as we know it, and water is essential for nearly all biochemical processes at the molecular level. Proteins utilize water molecules in various ways. Consequently, proteins must transport water molecules across their internal network of tunnels to reach the desired action sites, either within them or by functioning as molecular pipes to control cellular osmotic pressure. Despite water playing a crucial role in enzymatic activity and stability, its transport has been largely overlooked, with studies primarily focusing on water transport across membrane proteins. The transport of molecules through a protein's tunnel network is challenging to study experimentally, making molecular dynamics simulations the most popular approach for investigating such events. In this study, we focused on the transport of water molecules across three different α/β-hydrolases: haloalkane dehalogenase, epoxide hydrolase, and lipase. Using a 5 μs adaptive simulation per system, we observed that only a few tunnels were responsible for the majority of water transport in dehalogenase, in contrast to a higher diversity of tunnels in other enzymes. Interestingly, water molecules could traverse narrow tunnels with subangstrom bottlenecks, which is surprising given the commonly accepted water molecule radius of 1.4 Å. Our analysis of the transport events in such narrow tunnels revealed a markedly increased number of hydrogen bonds formed between the water molecules and protein, likely compensating for the steric penalty of the process. Overall, these commonly disregarded narrow tunnels accounted for ∼20% of the total water transport observed, emphasizing the need to surpass the standard geometrical limits on the functional tunnels to properly account for the relevant transport processes. Finally, we demonstrated how the obtained insights could be applied to explain the differences in a mutant of the human soluble epoxide hydrolase associated with a higher incidence of ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Sequeiros-Borja
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw 02-109, Poland
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Interactions and Transport, Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań 61-614, Poland
| | - Bartlomiej Surpeta
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw 02-109, Poland
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Interactions and Transport, Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań 61-614, Poland
| | - Aravind Selvaram Thirunavukarasu
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw 02-109, Poland
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Interactions and Transport, Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań 61-614, Poland
| | | | - Igor Marchlewski
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw 02-109, Poland
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Interactions and Transport, Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań 61-614, Poland
| | - Jan Brezovsky
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw 02-109, Poland
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Interactions and Transport, Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań 61-614, Poland
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3
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Yang C, Yue J, Wang G, Luo W. Activating and Identifying the Active Site of RuS 2 for Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Electrocatalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401453. [PMID: 38366202 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Searching for highly efficient and economical electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) is crucial for the development of alkaline polymer membrane fuel cells. Here, we report a valid strategy to active pyrite-type RuS2 for alkaline HOR electrocatalysis by introducing sulfur vacancies. The obtained S-vacancies modified RuS2-x exhibits outperformed HOR activity with a current density of 0.676 mA cm-2 and mass activity of 1.43 mA μg-1, which are 15-fold and 40-fold improvement than those of Ru catalyst. In situ Raman spectra demonstrate the formation of S-H bond during the HOR process, identifying the S atom of RuS2-x is the real active site for HOR catalysis. Density functional theory calculations and experimental results including in situ surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy suggest the introduction of S vacancies can rationally modify the p orbital of S atoms, leading to enhanced binding strength between the S sites and H atoms on the surface of RuS2-x, together with the promoted connectivity of hydrogen-bonding network and lowered water formation energy, contributes to the enhanced HOR performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyi Yang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Jianchao Yue
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Guangqin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Wei Luo
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
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4
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Fidalgo-Marijuan A, Ruiz de Larramendi I, Barandika G. Superprotonic Conductivity in a Metalloporphyrin-Based SMOF (Supramolecular Metal-Organic Framework). NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:398. [PMID: 38470729 PMCID: PMC10934030 DOI: 10.3390/nano14050398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Metal-organic frameworks and supramolecular metal-organic frameworks (SMOFs) exhibit great potential for a broad range of applications taking advantage of the high surface area and pore sizes and tunable chemistry. In particular, metalloporphyrin-based MOFs and SMOFs are becoming of great importance in many fields due to the bioessential functions of these macrocycles that are being mimicked. On the other hand, during the last years, proton-conducting materials have aroused much interest, and those presenting high conductivity values are potential candidates to play a key role in some solid-state electrochemical devices such as batteries and fuel cells. In this way, using metalloporphyrins as building units we have obtained a new crystalline material with formula [H(bipy)]2[(MnTPPS)(H2O)2]·2bipy·14H2O, where bipy is 4,4'-bipyidine and TPPS4- is the meso-tetra(4-sulfonatephenyl) porphyrin. The crystal structure shows a zig-zag water chain along the [100] direction located between the sulfonate groups of the porphyrin. Taking into account those structural features, the compound was tested for proton conduction by complex electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The as-obtained conductivity is 1 × 10-2 S·cm-1 at 40 °C and 98% relative humidity, which is a remarkably high value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arkaitz Fidalgo-Marijuan
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain;
- BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Idoia Ruiz de Larramendi
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain;
| | - Gotzone Barandika
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain;
- BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
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5
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Asgharpour S, Chi LA, Spehr M, Carloni P, Alfonso-Prieto M. Fluoride Transport and Inhibition Across CLC Transporters. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2024; 283:81-100. [PMID: 36042142 DOI: 10.1007/164_2022_593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The Chloride Channel (CLC) family includes proton-coupled chloride and fluoride transporters. Despite their similar protein architecture, the former exchange two chloride ions for each proton and are inhibited by fluoride, whereas the latter efficiently transport one fluoride in exchange for one proton. The combination of structural, mutagenesis, and functional experiments with molecular simulations has pinpointed several amino acid changes in the permeation pathway that capitalize on the different chemical properties of chloride and fluoride to fine-tune protein function. Here we summarize recent findings on fluoride inhibition and transport in the two prototypical members of the CLC family, the chloride/proton transporter from Escherichia coli (CLC-ec1) and the fluoride/proton transporter from Enterococcus casseliflavus (CLCF-eca).
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Asgharpour
- Institute for Advanced Simulations IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - L América Chi
- Laboratory for the Design and Development of New Drugs and Biotechnological Innovation, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Marc Spehr
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Paolo Carloni
- Institute for Advanced Simulations IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
- Department of Physics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
- JARA Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (INM-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
- JARA-HPC, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Mercedes Alfonso-Prieto
- Institute for Advanced Simulations IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
- Medical Faculty, Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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6
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Wickramasinghe S, Hoehn A, Wetthasinghe ST, Lin H, Wang Q, Jakowski J, Rassolov V, Tang C, Garashchuk S. Theoretical Examination of the Hydroxide Transport in Cobaltocenium-Containing Polyelectrolytes. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:10129-10141. [PMID: 37972315 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Polymers incorporating cobaltocenium groups have received attention as promising components of anion-exchange membranes (AEMs), exhibiting a good balance of chemical stability and high ionic conductivity. In this work, we analyze the hydroxide diffusion in the presence of cobaltocenium cations in an aqueous environment based on the molecular dynamics of model systems confined in one dimension to mimic the AEM channels. In order to describe the proton hopping mechanism, the forces are obtained from the electronic structure computed at the density-functional tight-binding level. We find that the hydroxide diffusion depends on the channel size, modulation of the electrostatic interactions by the solvation shell, and its rearrangement ability. Hydroxide diffusion proceeds via both the vehicular and structural diffusion mechanisms with the latter playing a larger role at low diffusion coefficients. The highest diffusion coefficient is observed under moderate water densities (around half the density of liquid water) when there are enough water molecules to form the solvation shell, reducing the electrostatic interaction between ions, yet there is enough space for the water rearrangements during the proton hopping. The effects of cobaltocenium separation, orientation, chemical modifications, and the role of nuclear quantum effects are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachith Wickramasinghe
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Alexandria Hoehn
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Shehani T Wetthasinghe
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Huina Lin
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Mathematics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Jacek Jakowski
- Center for Nanophase Materials Science, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
| | - Vitaly Rassolov
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Chuanbing Tang
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Sophya Garashchuk
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
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7
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Di Pino S, Donkor ED, Sánchez VM, Rodriguez A, Cassone G, Scherlis D, Hassanali A. ZundEig: The Structure of the Proton in Liquid Water from Unsupervised Learning. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9822-9832. [PMID: 37930954 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The structure of the excess proton in liquid water has been the subject of lively debate on both experimental and theoretical fronts for the last century. Fluctuations of the proton are typically interpreted in terms of limiting states referred to as the Eigen and Zundel species. Here, we put these ideas under the microscope, taking advantage of recent advances in unsupervised learning that use local atomic descriptors to characterize environments of acidic water combined with advanced clustering techniques. Our agnostic approach leads to the observation of only one charged cluster and two neutral ones. We demonstrate that the charged cluster involving the excess proton is best seen as an ionic topological defect in water's hydrogen bond network, forming a single local minimum on the global free-energy landscape. This charged defect is a highly fluxional moiety, where the idealized Eigen and Zundel species are neither limiting configurations nor distinct thermodynamic states. Instead, the ionic defect enhances the presence of neutral water defects through strong interactions with the network. We dub the combination of the charged and neutral defect clusters as ZundEig, demonstrating that the fluctuations between these local environments provide a general framework for rationalizing more descriptive notions of the proton in the existing literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solana Di Pino
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Edward Danquah Donkor
- International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Veronica M Sánchez
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alex Rodriguez
- International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Geoscienze, Universitá degli Studi di Trieste, via Alfonso Valerio 12/1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council (CNR-IPCF), Viale Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Damian Scherlis
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ali Hassanali
- International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
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8
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Calegari Andrade M, Car R, Selloni A. Probing the self-ionization of liquid water with ab initio deep potential molecular dynamics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302468120. [PMID: 37931100 PMCID: PMC10655216 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302468120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The chemical equilibrium between self-ionized and molecular water dictates the acid-base chemistry in aqueous solutions, yet understanding the microscopic mechanisms of water self-ionization remains experimentally and computationally challenging. Herein, Density Functional Theory (DFT)-based deep neural network (DNN) potentials are combined with enhanced sampling techniques and a global acid-base collective variable to perform extensive atomistic simulations of water self-ionization for model systems of increasing size. The explicit inclusion of long-range electrostatic interactions in the DNN potential is found to be crucial to accurately reproduce the DFT free energy profile of solvated water ion pairs in small (64 and 128 H2O) cells. The reversible work to separate the hydroxide and hydronium to a distance [Formula: see text] is found to converge for simulation cells containing more than 500 H2O, and a distance of [Formula: see text] 8 Å is the threshold beyond which the work to further separate the two ions becomes approximately zero. The slow convergence of the potential of mean force with system size is related to a restructuring of water and an increase of the local order around the water ions. Calculation of the dissociation equilibrium constant illustrates the key role of long-range electrostatics and entropic effects in the water autoionization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Calegari Andrade
- Chemistry Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ08544
- Quantum Simulations Group, Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA94550
| | - Roberto Car
- Chemistry Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ08544
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9
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Knyazev DG, Silverstein TP, Brescia S, Maznichenko A, Pohl P. A New Theory about Interfacial Proton Diffusion Revisited: The Commonly Accepted Laws of Electrostatics and Diffusion Prevail. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1641. [PMID: 38002323 PMCID: PMC10669390 DOI: 10.3390/biom13111641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The high propensity of protons to stay at interfaces has attracted much attention over the decades. It enables long-range interfacial proton diffusion without relying on titratable residues or electrostatic attraction. As a result, various phenomena manifest themselves, ranging from spillover in material sciences to local proton circuits between proton pumps and ATP synthases in bioenergetics. In an attempt to replace all existing theoretical and experimental insight into the origin of protons' preference for interfaces, TELP, the "Transmembrane Electrostatically-Localized Protons" hypothesis, has been proposed. The TELP hypothesis envisions static H+ and OH- layers on opposite sides of interfaces that are up to 75 µm thick. Yet, the separation at which the electrostatic interaction between two elementary charges is comparable in magnitude to the thermal energy is more than two orders of magnitude smaller and, as a result, the H+ and OH- layers cannot mutually stabilize each other, rendering proton accumulation at the interface energetically unfavorable. We show that (i) the law of electroneutrality, (ii) Fick's law of diffusion, and (iii) Coulomb's law prevail. Using them does not hinder but helps to interpret previously published experimental results, and also helps us understand the high entropy release barrier enabling long-range proton diffusion along the membrane surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis G. Knyazev
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, 4020 Linz, Austria; (D.G.K.); (S.B.); (A.M.)
| | | | - Stefania Brescia
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, 4020 Linz, Austria; (D.G.K.); (S.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Anna Maznichenko
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, 4020 Linz, Austria; (D.G.K.); (S.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Peter Pohl
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, 4020 Linz, Austria; (D.G.K.); (S.B.); (A.M.)
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10
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Scalfi L, Becker MR, Netz RR, Bocquet ML. Enhanced interfacial water dissociation on a hydrated iron porphyrin single-atom catalyst in graphene. Commun Chem 2023; 6:236. [PMID: 37919471 PMCID: PMC10622426 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-01027-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Single Atom Catalysis (SAC) is an expanding field of heterogeneous catalysis in which single metallic atoms embedded in different materials catalyze a chemical reaction, but these new catalytic materials still lack fundamental understanding when used in electrochemical environments. Recent characterizations of non-noble metals like Fe deposited on N-doped graphitic materials have evidenced two types of Fe-N4 fourfold coordination, either of pyridine type or of porphyrin type. Here, we study these defects embedded in a graphene sheet and immersed in an explicit aqueous medium at the quantum level. While the Fe-pyridine SAC model is clear cut and widely studied, it is not the case for the Fe-porphyrin SAC that remains ill-defined, because of the necessary embedding of odd-membered rings in graphene. We first propose an atomistic model for the Fe-porphyrin SAC. Using spin-polarized ab initio molecular dynamics, we show that both Fe SACs spontaneously adsorb two interfacial water molecules from the solvent on opposite sides. Interestingly, we unveil a different catalytic reactivity of the two hydrated SAC motives: while the Fe-porphyrin defect eventually dissociates an adsorbed water molecule under a moderate external electric field, the Fe-pyridine defect does not convey water dissociation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Scalfi
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian R Becker
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roland R Netz
- Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie-Laure Bocquet
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, F-75005, Paris, France.
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11
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Maurer M, Lazaridis T. Comparison of classical and ab initio simulations of hydronium and aqueous proton transfer. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:134506. [PMID: 37795787 DOI: 10.1063/5.0166596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Proton transport in aqueous systems occurs by making and breaking covalent bonds, a process that classical force fields cannot reproduce. Various attempts have been made to remedy this deficiency, by valence bond theory or instantaneous proton transfers, but the ability of such methods to provide a realistic picture of this fundamental process has not been fully evaluated. Here we compare an ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation of an excess proton in water to a simulation of a classical H3O+ in TIP3P water. The energy gap upon instantaneous proton transfer from H3O+ to an acceptor water molecule is much higher in the classical simulation than in the AIMD configurations evaluated with the same classical potential. The origins of this discrepancy are identified by comparing the solvent structures around the excess proton in the two systems. One major structural difference is in the tilt angle of the water molecules that accept an hydrogen bond from H3O+. The lack of lone pairs in TIP3P produces a tilt angle that is too large and generates an unfavorable geometry after instantaneous proton transfer. This problem can be alleviated by the use of TIP5P, which gives a tilt angle much closer to the AIMD result. Another important factor that raises the energy gap is the different optimal distance in water-water vs H3O+-water H-bonds. In AIMD the acceptor is gradually polarized and takes a hydronium-like configuration even before proton transfer actually happens. Ways to remedy some of these problems in classical simulations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Maurer
- Department of Chemistry, City College of New York/CUNY, 160 Convent Ave., New York, New York 10031, USA
| | - Themis Lazaridis
- Department of Chemistry, City College of New York/CUNY, 160 Convent Ave., New York, New York 10031, USA
- Graduate Programs in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Ave., New York, New York 10016, USA
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12
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Zeng Z, Wodaczek F, Liu K, Stein F, Hutter J, Chen J, Cheng B. Mechanistic insight on water dissociation on pristine low-index TiO 2 surfaces from machine learning molecular dynamics simulations. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6131. [PMID: 37783698 PMCID: PMC10545769 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41865-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Water adsorption and dissociation processes on pristine low-index TiO2 interfaces are important but poorly understood outside the well-studied anatase (101) and rutile (110). To understand these, we construct three sets of machine learning potentials that are simultaneously applicable to various TiO2 surfaces, based on three density-functional-theory approximations. Here we show the water dissociation free energies on seven pristine TiO2 surfaces, and predict that anatase (100), anatase (110), rutile (001), and rutile (011) favor water dissociation, anatase (101) and rutile (100) have mostly molecular adsorption, while the simulations of rutile (110) sensitively depend on the slab thickness and molecular adsorption is preferred with thick slabs. Moreover, using an automated algorithm, we reveal that these surfaces follow different types of atomistic mechanisms for proton transfer and water dissociation: one-step, two-step, or both. These mechanisms can be rationalized based on the arrangements of water molecules on the different surfaces. Our finding thus demonstrates that the different pristine TiO2 surfaces react with water in distinct ways, and cannot be represented using just the low-energy anatase (101) and rutile (110) surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezhu Zeng
- The Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Felix Wodaczek
- The Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Keyang Liu
- School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Frederick Stein
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden, Rossendorf (HZDR), Untermarkt 20, 02826, Görlitz, Germany
| | - Jürg Hutter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ji Chen
- School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Nano-Optoelectronics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Bingqing Cheng
- The Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400, Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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13
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Guo L, Xia Y, Jiao X, Chen D. Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Study of the Proton Transfer in Hydroxyl Ion-Induced Hydrolysis of Aluminum Monomers. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:7342-7351. [PMID: 37556838 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c02805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The hydrolysis process of Al(H2O)63+ induced by hydroxyl ions (OH-) is significant to aluminum solution chemistry. Previous investigations of hydrolysis reactions have primarily relied on static calculations in an implicit solvent environment. Herein, we employ ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) to investigate the evolution process of Al(H2O)63+ under various local alkaline conditions in an explicit solvent environment. Our work demonstrates the effect of solvent water in hydrolysis reactions. Specifically, the stepwise hydrolysis reaction induced by hydroxyl ions involves water wire compression and concerted proton transfers. Dehydration reactions occur when the number of hydroxyl ligands attached to the aluminum ion (Al3+) equals or exceeds three. Moreover, the Al(H2O)n(OH)3 species exhibit unique hydrolysis and dehydration reaction characteristics compared to other species. The geometrically stable aluminum monomers determined by AIMD are Al(H2O)5(OH)12+, Al(H2O)4(OH)2+, Al(H2O)1(OH)3, and Al(OH)4-. In addition, the topological analysis analyzes the interaction between Al3+ and coordinated H2O in different configurations, indicating the weakest interaction appearing in Al(H2O)n(OH)3 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Guo
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, 250100 Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yuguo Xia
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, 250100 Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiuling Jiao
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, 250100 Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Dairong Chen
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, 250100 Jinan, Shandong, China
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14
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Di Pino S, Perez Sirkin YA, Morzan UN, Sánchez VM, Hassanali A, Scherlis DA. Water Self-Dissociation is Insensitive to Nanoscale Environments. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202306526. [PMID: 37379226 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202306526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Nanoconfinement effects on water dissociation and reactivity remain controversial, despite their importance to understand the aqueous chemistry at interfaces, pores, or aerosols. The pKw in confined environments has been assessed from experiments and simulations in a few specific cases, leading to dissimilar conclusions. Here, with the use of carefully designed ab initio simulations, we demonstrate that the energetics of bulk water dissociation is conserved intact to unexpectedly small length-scales, down to aggregates of only a dozen molecules or pores of widths below 2 nm. The reason is that most of the free-energy involved in water autoionization comes from breaking the O-H covalent bond, which has a comparable barrier in the bulk liquid, in a small droplet of nanometer size, or in a nanopore in the absence of strong interfacial interactions. Thus, dissociation free-energy profiles in nanoscopic aggregates or in 2D slabs of 1 nm width reproduce the behavior corresponding to the bulk liquid, regardless of whether the corresponding nanophase is delimited by a solid or a gas interface. The present work provides a definite and fundamental description of the mechanism and thermodynamics of water dissociation at different scales with broader implications on reactivity and self-ionization at the air-liquid interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solana Di Pino
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Argentina
- Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, I-34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - Yamila A Perez Sirkin
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Argentina
| | - Uriel N Morzan
- Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, I-34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - Verónica M Sánchez
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Argentina
| | - Ali Hassanali
- Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, I-34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - Damian A Scherlis
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Argentina
- Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, I-34151, Trieste, Italy
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15
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Atsango AO, Morawietz T, Marsalek O, Markland TE. Developing machine-learned potentials to simultaneously capture the dynamics of excess protons and hydroxide ions in classical and path integral simulations. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:074101. [PMID: 37581418 DOI: 10.1063/5.0162066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The transport of excess protons and hydroxide ions in water underlies numerous important chemical and biological processes. Accurately simulating the associated transport mechanisms ideally requires utilizing ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to model the bond breaking and formation involved in proton transfer and path-integral simulations to model the nuclear quantum effects relevant to light hydrogen atoms. These requirements result in a prohibitive computational cost, especially at the time and length scales needed to converge proton transport properties. Here, we present machine-learned potentials (MLPs) that can model both excess protons and hydroxide ions at the generalized gradient approximation and hybrid density functional theory levels of accuracy and use them to perform multiple nanoseconds of both classical and path-integral proton defect simulations at a fraction of the cost of the corresponding ab initio simulations. We show that the MLPs are able to reproduce ab initio trends and converge properties such as the diffusion coefficients of both excess protons and hydroxide ions. We use our multi-nanosecond simulations, which allow us to monitor large numbers of proton transfer events, to analyze the role of hypercoordination in the transport mechanism of the hydroxide ion and provide further evidence for the asymmetry in diffusion between excess protons and hydroxide ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin O Atsango
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Tobias Morawietz
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Ondrej Marsalek
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Thomas E Markland
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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16
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Huo J, Chen J, Liu P, Hong B, Zhang J, Dong H, Li S. Microscopic Mechanism of Proton Transfer in Pure Water under Ambient Conditions. J Chem Theory Comput 2023. [PMID: 37365994 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Water molecules and the associated proton transfer (PT) are prevalent in chemical and biological systems and have been a hot research topic. Spectroscopic characterization and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations have previously revealed insights into acidic and basic liquids. Presumably, the situation in the acidic/basic solution is not necessarily the same as in pure water; in addition, the autoionization constant for water is only 10-14 under ambient conditions, making the study of PT in pure water challenging. To overcome this issue, we modeled periodic water box systems containing 1000 molecules for tens of nanoseconds based on a neural network potential (NNP) with quantum mechanical accuracy. The NNP was generated by training a dataset containing the energies and atomic forces of 17 075 configurations of periodic water box systems, and these data points were calculated at the MP2 level that considers electron correlation effects. We found that the size of the system and the duration of the simulation have a significant impact on the convergence of the results. With these factors considered, our simulations showed that hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions in water have distinct hydration structures, thermodynamic and kinetic properties, e.g., the longer-lasting and more stable hydrated structure of OH- ions than that of H3O+, as well as a significantly higher free energy barrier for the OH--associated PT than that of H3O+, leading the two to exhibit completely different PT behaviors. Given these characteristics, we further found that PT via OH- ions tends not to occur multiple times or between many molecules. In contrast, PT via H3O+ can synergistically occur among multiple molecules and prefers to adopt a cyclic pattern among three water molecules, while it occurs mostly in a chain pattern when more water molecules are involved. Therefore, our studies provide a detailed and solid microscopic explanation for the PT process in pure water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Huo
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jianghao Chen
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- School of Physics, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Pei Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Benkun Hong
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Physics, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Hao Dong
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shuhua Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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17
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Codescu MA, Kunze T, Weiß M, Brehm M, Kornilov O, Sebastiani D, Nibbering ETJ. Ultrafast Proton Transfer Pathways Mediated by Amphoteric Imidazole. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:4775-4785. [PMID: 37186569 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Imidazole, being an amphoteric molecule, can act both as an acid and as a base. This property enables imidazole, as an essential building block, to effectively facilitate proton transport in high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells and in proton channel transmembrane proteins, enabling those systems to exhibit high energy conversion yields and optimal biological function. We explore the amphoteric properties of imidazole by following the proton transfer exchange reaction dynamics with the bifunctional photoacid 7-hydroxyquinoline (7HQ). We show with ultrafast ultraviolet-mid-infrared pump-probe spectroscopy how for imidazole, in contrast to expectations based on textbook knowledge of acid-base reactivity, the preferential reaction pathway is that of an initial proton transfer from 7HQ to imidazole, and only at a later stage a transfer from imidazole to 7HQ, completing the 7HQ tautomerization reaction. An assessment of the molecular distribution functions and first-principles calculations of proton transfer reaction barriers reveal the underlying reasons for our observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius-Andrei Codescu
- Max Born Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie, Max Born Strasse 2A, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Kunze
- Institut für Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Moritz Weiß
- Institut für Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Martin Brehm
- Institut für Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Oleg Kornilov
- Max Born Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie, Max Born Strasse 2A, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Sebastiani
- Institut für Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Erik T J Nibbering
- Max Born Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie, Max Born Strasse 2A, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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18
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Garofalini SH, Lentz J. Subpicosecond Molecular Rearrangements Affect Local Electric Fields and Auto-Dissociation in Water. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:3392-3401. [PMID: 37036747 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c06490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Molecular simulations of auto-dissociation of water molecules in an 81,000 atom bulk water system show that the electric field variations caused by local bond length and angle variations enhance proton transfer within ∼600 fs prior to auto-dissociation. In this paper, auto-dissociation relates to the initial separation of a proton from a water molecule to another, forming the H33O+ and OH- ions. Only transfers for which a proton's initial nearest covalently bonded oxygen remained the same for at least 1 ps prior to the transfer and for which that proton's new nearest acceptor oxygen remained the same for at least 1 ps after the transfer were evaluated. Electric fields from solvent atoms within 6 Å of a transferring proton (H*) are dominant, with little contribution from farther molecules. However, exclusion of the accepting oxygen in such electric field calculations shows that the field on H* from the other solvent atoms weakens as the time to transfer becomes less than 600 fs, indicating the primary importance of the accepting oxygen on enabling auto-dissociation. All resultant OH- and H3O+ ion pairs recombined at times greater than 1 ps after auto-dissociation. A concentration of 8.01 × 1017 cm-3 for these ion pairs was observed. The simulations indicate that transient auto-dissociation in water is more common than that inferred from dc-conductivity experiments (10-5 vs 10-7) and is consistent with the results of calculations that include nuclear quantum effects. The conductivity experiments require the rearrangement of farther water molecules to form hydrogen-bonded "water wires" that afford long-range and measurable proton transport away from the reaction site. Nonetheless, the relatively large number of picosecond-lived auto-dissociation products might be engineered within 2D layers and oriented external fields to offer new energy-related systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen H Garofalini
- Department of Matserials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University, 607 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08855, United States
| | - Jesse Lentz
- Department of Matserials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University, 607 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08855, United States
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19
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Li XY, Wang T, Cai YC, Meng ZD, Nan JW, Ye JY, Yi J, Zhan DP, Tian N, Zhou ZY, Sun SG. Mechanism of Cations Suppressing Proton Diffusion Kinetics for Electrocatalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218669. [PMID: 36762956 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Proton transfer is crucial for electrocatalysis. Accumulating cations at electrochemical interfaces can alter the proton transfer rate and then tune electrocatalytic performance. However, the mechanism for regulating proton transfer remains ambiguous. Here, we quantify the cation effect on proton diffusion in solution by hydrogen evolution on microelectrodes, revealing the rate can be suppressed by more than 10 times. Different from the prevalent opinions that proton transport is slowed down by modified electric field, we found water structure imposes a more evident effect on kinetics. FTIR test and path integral molecular dynamics simulation indicate that proton prefers to wander within the hydration shell of cations rather than to hop rapidly along water wires. Low connectivity of water networks disrupted by cations corrupts the fast-moving path in bulk water. This study highlights the promising way for regulating proton kinetics via a modified water structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Chen Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Zhao-Dong Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Wen Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Jin-Yu Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Jun Yi
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Dong-Ping Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Na Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-You Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Shi-Gang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
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20
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Antalicz B, Versluis J, Bakker HJ. Observing Aqueous Proton-Uptake Reactions Triggered by Light. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:6682-6690. [PMID: 36940392 PMCID: PMC10064335 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c11441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
Abstract
Proton-transfer reactions in water are essential to chemistry and biology. Earlier studies reported on aqueous proton-transfer mechanisms by observing light-triggered reactions of strong (photo)acids and weak bases. Similar studies on strong (photo)base-weak acid reactions would also be of interest because earlier theoretical works found evidence for mechanistic differences between aqueous H+ and OH- transfer. In this work, we study the reaction of actinoquinol, a water-soluble strong photobase, with the water solvent and the weak acid succinimide. We find that in aqueous solutions containing succinimide, the proton-transfer reaction proceeds via two parallel and competing reaction channels. In the first channel, actinoquinol extracts a proton from water, after which the newly generated hydroxide ion is scavenged by succinimide. In the second channel, succinimide forms a hydrogen-bonded complex with actinoquinol and the proton is transferred directly. Interestingly, we do not observe proton conduction in water-separated actinoquinol-succinimide complexes, which makes the newly studied strong base-weak acid reaction essentially different from previously studied strong acid-weak base reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Antalicz
- AMOLF, Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Versluis
- AMOLF, Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Huib J Bakker
- AMOLF, Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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21
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The collective burst mechanism of angular jumps in liquid water. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1345. [PMID: 36906703 PMCID: PMC10008639 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37069-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the microscopic origins of collective reorientational motions in aqueous systems requires techniques that allow us to reach beyond our chemical imagination. Herein, we elucidate a mechanism using a protocol that automatically detects abrupt motions in reorientational dynamics, showing that large angular jumps in liquid water involve highly cooperative orchestrated motions. Our automatized detection of angular fluctuations, unravels a heterogeneity in the type of angular jumps occurring concertedly in the system. We show that large orientational motions require a highly collective dynamical process involving correlated motion of many water molecules in the hydrogen-bond network that form spatially connected clusters going beyond the local angular jump mechanism. This phenomenon is rooted in the collective fluctuations of the network topology which results in the creation of defects in waves on the THz timescale. The mechanism we propose involves a cascade of hydrogen-bond fluctuations underlying angular jumps and provides new insights into the current localized picture of angular jumps, and its wide use in the interpretations of numerous spectroscopies as well in reorientational dynamics of water near biological and inorganic systems. The role of finite size effects, as well as of the chosen water model, on the collective reorientation is also elucidated.
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22
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Méndez E, Videla PE, Laria D. Collective Proton Transfers in Cyclic Water-Ammonia Tetramers: A Path Integral Machine-Learning Study. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:1839-1848. [PMID: 36794937 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c07994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
We present results from machine-learning-based path integral molecular dynamics simulations that describe isomerization paths articulated via collective proton transfers along mixed, cyclic tetramers combining water and ammonia at cryogenic conditions. The net result of such isomerizations is a reverse of the chirality of the global hydrogen-bonding architecture along the different cyclic moieties. In monocomponent tetramers, the classical free energy profiles associated with these isomerizations present the usual symmetric double-well characteristics whereas the reactive paths exhibit full concertedness among the different intermolecular transfer processes. Contrastingly, in mixed water/ammonia tetramers, the incorporation of a second component introduces imbalances in the strengths of the different hydrogen bonds leading to a partial loss of concertedness, most notably at the vicinity of the transition state. As such, the highest and lowest degrees of progression are registered along OH···N and O···HN coordinations, respectively. These characteristics lead to polarized transition state scenarios akin to solvent-separated ion-pair configurations. The explicit incorporation of nuclear quantum effects promotes drastic depletions in the activation free energies and modifications in the overall shape of the profiles which include central plateau-like stages, indicating the prevalence of deep tunneling regimes. On the other hand, the quantum treatment of the nuclei partially restores the degree of concertedness among the evolutions of the individual transfers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Méndez
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química-Física and INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo E Videla
- Department of Chemistry and Energy Sciences Institute, Yale University, 225 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Daniel Laria
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química-Física and INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Avenida Libertador 8250, 1429 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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23
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Hao H, Adams EM, Funke S, Schwaab G, Havenith M, Head-Gordon T. Highly Altered State of Proton Transport in Acid Pools in Charged Reverse Micelles. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:1826-1834. [PMID: 36633459 PMCID: PMC9881006 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c11331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Transport mechanisms of solvated protons of 1 M HCl acid pools, confined within reverse micelles (RMs) containing the negatively charged surfactant sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (NaAOT) or the positively charged cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr), are analyzed with reactive force field simulations to interpret dynamical signatures from TeraHertz absorption and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. We find that the forward proton hopping events for NaAOT are further suppressed compared to a nonionic RM, while the Grotthuss mechanism ceases altogether for CTABr. We attribute the sluggish proton dynamics for both charged RMs as due to headgroup and counterion charges that expel hydronium and chloride ions from the interface and into the bulk interior, thereby increasing the pH of the acid pools relative to the nonionic RM. For charged NaAOT and CTABr RMs, the localization of hydronium near a counterion or conjugate base reduces the Eigen and Zundel configurations that enable forward hopping. Thus, localized oscillatory hopping dominates, an effect that is most extreme for CTABr in which the proton residence time increases dramatically such that even oscillatory hopping is slow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Hao
- Kenneth
S. Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California94720, United States
| | - Ellen M. Adams
- Cluster
of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische
Universität Dresden, 01307Dresden, Germany,Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource
Ecology, 01328Dresden, Germany
| | - Sarah Funke
- Lehrstuhl
für Physkalische Chemie II, Ruhr
Universität Bochum, 44801Bochum, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schwaab
- Lehrstuhl
für Physkalische Chemie II, Ruhr
Universität Bochum, 44801Bochum, Germany
| | - Martina Havenith
- Lehrstuhl
für Physkalische Chemie II, Ruhr
Universität Bochum, 44801Bochum, Germany
| | - Teresa Head-Gordon
- Kenneth
S. Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California94720, United States,Department
of Bioengineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California94720, United States,Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California94720, United States,
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24
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Yan S, Wang B, Lin H. Tracking the Delocalized Proton in Concerted Proton Transfer in Bulk Water. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:448-459. [PMID: 36630655 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
A solvated proton in water is often characterized as a charge or structural defect, and it is important to track its evolution on-the-fly in certain dynamics simulations. Previously, we introduced the proton indicator, a pseudo-atom, whose position approximates the location of the excess proton modeled as a structural defect. The proton indicator generally yields a smooth trajectory of a hydrated proton diffusing in aqueous solutions, including in the events of stepwise proton transfer via the Grotthuss mechanism; however, the proton indicator did not perform well in the events of concerted proton transfer, for which it occasionally yielded large position displacements between two successive time steps. To overcome this hurdle, we develop a new algorithm of a proton indicator with greatly enhanced performance for concerted proton transfer in bulk water. A protocol is proposed to exhaustively explore the hydrogen-bonding network of the water wires over which the excess proton is delocalized and to properly account for the contributions of the water molecules in this network as the geometry evolves. The new proton indicator (called Indicator 2.0) is assessed in dynamics simulations of an excess proton in bulk water and in specially constructed model systems of more complex architectures. The results demonstrate that the new indicator yields a smooth trajectory in both stepwise and concerted proton transfers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengheng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen360015P. R. China
| | - Binju Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen360015P. R. China
| | - Hai Lin
- Department of Chemistry, CB 194, University of Colorado Denver, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, Colorado80217, United States
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25
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Perturbative vibration of the coupled hydrogen-bond (O:H-O) in water. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 310:102809. [PMID: 36356480 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Perturbation Raman spectroscopy has underscored the hydrogen bond (O:H-O or HB) cooperativity and polarizability (HBCP) for water, which offers a proper parameter space for the performance of the HB and electrons in the energy-space-time domains. The OO repulsive coupling drives the O:H-O segmental length and energy to relax cooperatively upon perturbation. Mechanical compression shortens and stiffens the O:H nonbond while lengthens and softens the HO bond associated with polarization. However, electrification by an electric field or charge injection, or molecular undercoordination at a surface, relaxes the O:H-O in a contrasting way to the compression with derivation of the supersolid phase that is viscoelastic, less dense, thermally diffusive, and mechanically and thermally more stable. The HO bond exhibits negative thermal expansivity in the liquid and the ice-I phase while its length responds in proportional to temperature in the quasisolid phase. The O:H-O relaxation modifies the mass densities, phase boundaries, critical temperatures and the polarization endows the slipperiness of ice and superfluidity of water at the nanometer scale. Protons injection by acid solvation creates the H↔H anti-HB and introduction of electron lone pairs derives the O:⇔:O super-HB into the solutions of base or H2O2 hydrogen-peroxide. The repulsive H↔H and O:⇔:O interactions lengthen the solvent HO bond while the solute HO bond contracts because its bond order loss. Differential phonon spectroscopy quantifies the abundance, structure order, and stiffness of the bonds transiting from the mode of pristine water to the perturbed states. The HBCP and the perturbative spectroscopy have enabled the dynamic potentials for the relaxing O:H-O bond. Findings not only amplified the power of the Raman spectroscopy but also substantiated the understanding of anomalies of water subjecting to perturbation.
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26
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Kumar A, Chang DW. Proton Conducting Membranes with Molecular Self Assemblies and Ionic Channels for Efficient Proton Conduction. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:1174. [PMID: 36557081 PMCID: PMC9781519 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12121174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Supramolecular assemblies are vital for biological systems. This phenomenon in artificial materials is directly related to their numerous properties and their performance. Here, a simple approach to supramolecular assemblies is employed to fabricate highly efficient proton conducting molecular wires for fuel cell applications. Small molecule-based molecular assembly leading to a discotic columnar architecture is achieved, simultaneously with proton conduction that can take place efficiently in the absence of water, which otherwise is very difficult to obtain in interconnected ionic channels. High boiling point proton facilitators are incorporated into these columns possessing central ionic channels, thereby increasing the conduction multifold. Larger and asymmetrical proton facilitators disintegrated the self-assembly, resulting in low proton conduction efficiency. The highest conductivity was found to be approaching 10-2 S/cm for the molecular wires in an anhydrous state, which is ascribed to the continuous network of hydrogen bonds in which protons can hop between with a lower energy barrier. The molecular wires with ionic channels presented here have potential as an alternative to proton conductors operating under anhydrous conditions at both low and high temperatures.
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27
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Ekimova M, Kleine C, Ludwig J, Ochmann M, Agrenius TEG, Kozari E, Pines D, Pines E, Huse N, Wernet P, Odelius M, Nibbering ETJ. From Local Covalent Bonding to Extended Electric Field Interactions in Proton Hydration. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202211066. [PMID: 36102247 PMCID: PMC9827956 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202211066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Seemingly simple yet surprisingly difficult to probe, excess protons in water constitute complex quantum objects with strong interactions with the extended and dynamically changing hydrogen-bonding network of the liquid. Proton hydration plays pivotal roles in energy transport in hydrogen fuel cells and signal transduction in transmembrane proteins. While geometries and stoichiometry have been widely addressed in both experiment and theory, the electronic structure of these specific hydrated proton complexes has remained elusive. Here we show, layer by layer, how utilizing novel flatjet technology for accurate x-ray spectroscopic measurements and combining infrared spectral analysis and calculations, we find orbital-specific markers that distinguish two main electronic-structure effects: Local orbital interactions determine covalent bonding between the proton and neigbouring water molecules, while orbital-energy shifts measure the strength of the extended electric field of the proton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ekimova
- Max Born Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und KurzzeitspektroskopieMax Born Strasse 2A12489BerlinGermany
| | - Carlo Kleine
- Max Born Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und KurzzeitspektroskopieMax Born Strasse 2A12489BerlinGermany
| | - Jan Ludwig
- Max Born Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und KurzzeitspektroskopieMax Born Strasse 2A12489BerlinGermany
| | - Miguel Ochmann
- Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Center for Free-Electron Laser ScienceLuruper Chaussee 14922761HamburgGermany
| | - Thomas E. G. Agrenius
- Department of PhysicsStockholm UniversityAlbaNova University Center106 91StockholmSweden
| | - Eve Kozari
- Department of ChemistryBen Gurion University of the NegevP.O.B. 653Beersheva84105Israel
| | - Dina Pines
- Department of ChemistryBen Gurion University of the NegevP.O.B. 653Beersheva84105Israel
| | - Ehud Pines
- Department of ChemistryBen Gurion University of the NegevP.O.B. 653Beersheva84105Israel
| | - Nils Huse
- Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Center for Free-Electron Laser ScienceLuruper Chaussee 14922761HamburgGermany
| | - Philippe Wernet
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUppsala UniversityBox 516 Lägerhyddsvägen 1751 20UppsalaSweden
| | - Michael Odelius
- Department of PhysicsStockholm UniversityAlbaNova University Center106 91StockholmSweden
| | - Erik T. J. Nibbering
- Max Born Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und KurzzeitspektroskopieMax Born Strasse 2A12489BerlinGermany
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28
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Arcis H, Plumridge J, Tremaine PR. Limiting Conductivities of Strong Acids and Bases in D 2O and H 2O: Deuterium Isotope Effects on Proton Hopping over a Wide Temperature Range. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:8791-8803. [PMID: 36283024 PMCID: PMC9639610 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c02929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The molar conductivity (Λ°) of hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide has been measured in both light and heavy waters from 298 to 598 K at p = 20 MPa using a high-precision flow-through alternating current (AC) conductance instrument. The results were used to explore the deuterium isotope effect on ionic transport by proton hopping mechanisms under hydrothermal conditions. Extrapolations of published transport number data to elevated temperature were used to calculate the individual ionic contributions (λ°) for H3O+, D3O+, OH-, and OD-, from which the excess molar conductivities due to proton hopping were calculated. These are the first reported values for the excess conductivities for D3O+ and OD- at temperatures above 318 K. The excess conductivities indicate a strong deuterium isotope effect whereby the transport of D3O+ by proton hopping is reduced by ∼33% relative to H3O+, and OD- is reduced by over 60% relative to OH-, over the entire temperature range. A well-defined maximum in the excess conductivities of D3O+ and H3O+ at ∼420 K suggests that the Eigen cation (H2O)4H+ and the Zundel transition-state cation (H2O)2H+ are destabilized at elevated temperatures as the three-dimensional, tetrahedrally hydrogen-bonded networks in water break down. The less pronounced maximum for OD- and OH- suggested that their Eigen and Zundel anions, (H2O)3OH- and (H2O)OH-, are less destabilized in the two-dimensional networks and chains that dominate the "structure" of liquid water under these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugues Arcis
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- D5
Culham Science Centre, National Nuclear
Laboratory, Abingdon OX14 3DB, U.K.
| | - Jeff Plumridge
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Peter R. Tremaine
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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29
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Soley M, Videla PE, Nibbering ETJ, Batista VS. Ultrafast Charge Relocation Dynamics in Enol-Keto Tautomerization Monitored with a Local Soft-X-ray Probe. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:8254-8263. [PMID: 36018775 PMCID: PMC9465716 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c02037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is the underlying mechanism governing important reactions ranging from water splitting in photosynthesis to oxygen reduction in hydrogen fuel cells. The interplay of proton and electronic charge distribution motions can vary from sequential to concerted schemes, with elementary steps occurring on ultrafast time scales. We demonstrate with a simulation study that femtosecond soft-X-ray spectroscopy provides key insights into the PCET mechanism of a photoinduced intramolecular enol* → keto* tautomerization reaction. A full quantum treatment of the electronic and nuclear dynamics of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole upon electronic excitation reveals how spectral signatures of local excitations from core to frontier orbitals display the distinctly different stages of charge relocation for the H atom, donating, and accepting sites. Our findings indicate that ultraviolet/X-ray pump-probe spectroscopy provides a unique way to probe ultrafast electronic structure rearrangements in photoinduced chemical reactions essential to understanding the mechanism of PCET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micheline
B. Soley
- Department
of Chemistry, Yale University, P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
- Yale
Quantum Institute, Yale University, P.O. Box 208334, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8263, United States
| | - Pablo E. Videla
- Department
of Chemistry, Yale University, P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
- Energy
Sciences Institute, Yale University, P.O. Box 27394, West Haven, Connecticut 06516-7394, United States
| | - Erik T. J. Nibbering
- Max
Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy, Max Born Strasse 2A, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor S. Batista
- Department
of Chemistry, Yale University, P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
- Yale
Quantum Institute, Yale University, P.O. Box 208334, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8263, United States
- Energy
Sciences Institute, Yale University, P.O. Box 27394, West Haven, Connecticut 06516-7394, United States
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30
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Teschke O, Castro JR, Gomes WE, Soares DM. Variable Interfacial Water Nanosized Arrangements Measured by Atomic Force Microscopy. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:28875-28884. [PMID: 36033701 PMCID: PMC9404190 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
While there seems to be broad agreement that cluster formation does exist near solid surfaces, its presence at the liquid/vapor interface is controversial. We report experimental studies we have carried out on interfacial water attached on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. Nanosized steps in the measured force vs distance to the surface curves characterize water cluster profiles. An expansion of the interfacial structure with time is observed; the initial profile extent is typically ∼1 nm, and for longer times expanded structures of ∼70 nm are observed. Our previous results showed that the interfacial water structure has a relative permittivity of ε ≈ 3 at the air/water interface homogeneously increasing to ε ≈ 80 at 300 nm inside the bulk, but here we have shown that the interfacial dielectric permittivity may have an oscillating profile describing the spatial steps in the force vs distance curves. This low dielectric permittivity arrangements of clusters extend the region with ε ≈ 3 inside bulk water and exhibit a behavior similar to that of water networks that expand in time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Teschke
- Laboratorio
de Nanoestruturas e Interfaces, Instituto de Fisica, UNICAMP, 13083-859 Campinas, São
Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jose Roberto Castro
- Laboratorio
de Nanoestruturas e Interfaces, Instituto de Fisica, UNICAMP, 13083-859 Campinas, São
Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wyllerson Evaristo Gomes
- Pontificia
Universidade Catolica de Campinas, Faculdade de Quimica, 13012-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David Mendez Soares
- Laboratorio
de Nanoestruturas e Interfaces, Instituto de Fisica, UNICAMP, 13083-859 Campinas, São
Paulo, Brazil
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31
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Brünig FN, Rammler M, Adams EM, Havenith M, Netz RR. Spectral signatures of excess-proton waiting and transfer-path dynamics in aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4210. [PMID: 35864099 PMCID: PMC9304333 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31700-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The theoretical basis for linking spectral signatures of hydrated excess protons with microscopic proton-transfer mechanisms has so far relied on normal-mode analysis. We introduce trajectory-decomposition techniques to analyze the excess-proton dynamics in ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations of aqueous hydrochloric-acid solutions beyond the normal-mode scenario. We show that the actual proton transfer between two water molecules involves for relatively large water-water separations crossing of a free-energy barrier and thus is not a normal mode, rather it is characterized by two non-vibrational time scales: Firstly, the broadly distributed waiting time for transfer to occur with a mean value of 200–300 fs, which leads to a broad and weak shoulder in the absorption spectrum around 100 cm−1, consistent with our experimental THz spectra. Secondly, the mean duration of a transfer event of about 14 fs, which produces a rather well-defined spectral contribution around 1200 cm−1 and agrees in location and width with previous experimental mid-infrared spectra. The spectroscopic signatures of excess protons in HCl solutions are studied by ab initio simulations and THz experiments. Two contributions beyond the normal-mode scenario are identified that reflect proton-waiting and proton-transfer processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian N Brünig
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manuel Rammler
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ellen M Adams
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Department of Physical Chemistry II, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Martina Havenith
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Department of Physical Chemistry II, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Roland R Netz
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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32
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Rebstock JA, Zhu Q, Baker LR. Comparing interfacial cation hydration at catalytic active sites and spectator sites on gold electrodes: understanding structure sensitive CO 2 reduction kinetics. Chem Sci 2022; 13:7634-7643. [PMID: 35872825 PMCID: PMC9242014 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01878k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrated cations present in the electrochemical double layer (EDL) are known to play a crucial role in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2R), and numerous studies have attempted to explain how the cation effect contributes to the complex CO2R mechanism. CO2R is a structure sensitive reaction, indicating that a small fraction of total surface sites may account for the majority of catalytic turnover. Despite intense interest in specific cation effects, probing site-specific, cation-dependent solvation structures remains a significant challenge. In this work, CO adsorbed on Au is used as a vibrational Stark reporter to indirectly probe solvation structure using vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy. Two modes corresponding to atop adsorption of CO are observed with unique frequency shifts and potential-dependent intensity profiles, corresponding to direct adsorption of CO to inactive surface sites, and in situ generated CO produced at catalytic active sites. Analysis of the cation-dependent Stark tuning slopes for each of these species provides estimates of the hydrated cation radius upon adsorption to active and inactive sites on the Au electrode. While cations are found to retain their bulk hydration shell upon adsorption at inactive sites, catalytic active sites are characterized by a single layer of water between the Au surface and the electrolyte cation. We propose that the drastic increase in catalytic performance at active sites stems from this unique solvation structure at the Au/electrolyte interface. Building on this evidence of a site-specific EDL structure will be critical to understand the connection between cation-dependent interfacial solvation and CO2R performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn A Rebstock
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
| | - Quansong Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
| | - L Robert Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
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33
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Gudkovskikh SV, Kirov MV. Barrier-free molecular reorientations in polyhedral water clusters. Struct Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11224-022-01997-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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34
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Liu R, Zhang C, Liang X, Liu J, Wu X, Chen M. Structural and Dynamic Properties of Solvated Hydroxide and Hydronium Ions in Water from Ab Initio Modeling. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:024503. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0094944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting the asymmetric structure and dynamics of solvated hydroxide and hydronium in water has been a challenging task from ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD). The difficulty mainly comes from a lack of accurate and efficient exchange-correlation functional in elucidating the amphiphilic nature and the ubiquitous proton transfer behaviors of the two ions. By adopting the strongly-constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN) meta-GGA functional in AIMD simulations, we systematically examine the amphiphilic properties, the solvation structures, the electronic structures, and the dynamic properties of the two water ions. In particular, we compare these results to those predicted by the PBE0-TS functional, which is an accurate yet computationally more expensive exchange-correlation functional. We demonstrate that the general-purpose SCAN functional provides a reliable choice in describing the two water ions. Specifically, in the SCAN picture of water ions, the appearance of the fourth and fifth hydrogen bonds near hydroxide stabilizes the pot-like shape solvation structure and suppresses the structural diffusion, while the hydronium stably donates three hydrogen bonds to its neighbors. We apply a detailed analysis of the proton transfer mechanism of the two ions and find the two ions exhibit substantially different proton transfer patterns. Our AIMD simulations indicate hydroxide diffuses slower than hydronium in water, which is consistent with the experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xifan Wu
- Physics, Temple University, United States of America
| | - Mohan Chen
- College of Engineering, Peking University, China
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35
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Capelli R, Muniz-Miranda F, Pavan GM. Ephemeral ice-like local environments in classical rigid models of liquid water. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:214503. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0088599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite great efforts over the past 50 years, the simulation of water still presents significant challenges and open questions. At room temperature and pressure, the collective molecular interactions and dynamics of water molecules may form local structural arrangements that are non-trivial to classify. Here, we employ a data-driven approach built on Smooth Overlap of Atomic Position (SOAP) that allows us to compare and classify how widely used classical models represent liquid water. Macroscopically, the obtained results are rationalized based on water thermodynamic observables. Microscopically, we directly observe how transient ice-like ordered environments may dynamically/statistically form in liquid water, even above freezing temperature, by comparing the SOAP spectra for different ice structures with those of the simulated liquid systems. This confirms recent ab initio-based calculations but also reveals how the emergence of ephemeral local ice-like environments in liquid water at room conditions can be captured by classical water models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Capelli
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, I-10129 Torino, Italy
| | - Francesco Muniz-Miranda
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio-Emilia, Via Campi 103, I-41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanni M. Pavan
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, I-10129 Torino, Italy
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Polo Universitario Lugano, Campus Est, Via la Santa 1, CH-6962 Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland
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36
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Konermann L, Kim S. Grotthuss Molecular Dynamics Simulations for Modeling Proton Hopping in Electrosprayed Water Droplets. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:3781-3794. [PMID: 35544700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Excess protons in water exhibit unique transport properties because they can rapidly hop along H-bonded water wires. Considerable progress has been made in unraveling this Grotthuss diffusion mechanism using quantum mechanical-based computational techniques. Unfortunately, high computational cost tends to restrict those techniques to small systems and short times. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can be applied to much larger systems and longer time windows. However, standard MD methods do not permit the dissociation/formation of covalent bonds, such that Grotthuss diffusion cannot be captured. Here, we bridge this gap by combining atomistic MD simulations (using Gromacs and TIP4P/2005 water) with proton hopping. Excess protons are modeled as hydronium ions that undergo H3O+ + H2O → H2O + H3O+ transitions. In accordance with ab initio MD data, these Grotthuss hopping events are executed in "bursts" with quasi-instantaneous hopping across one or more waters. The bursts are separated by regular MD periods during which H3O+ ions undergo Brownian diffusion. The resulting proton diffusion coefficient agrees with the literature value. We apply this Grotthuss MD technique to highly charged water droplets that are in a size regime encountered during electrospray ionization (5 nm radius, ∼17,000 H2O). The droplets undergo rapid solvent evaporation and occasional H3O+ ejection, keeping them at ca. 81% of the Rayleigh limit. The simulated behavior is consistent with phase Doppler anemometry data. The Grotthuss MD technique developed here should be useful for modeling the behavior of various proton-containing systems that are too large for high-level computational approaches. In particular, we envision future applications related to electrospray processes, where earlier simulations used metal cations while in reality excess protons dominate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Konermann
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Scott Kim
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
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37
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Shi L, Gao Y, Ying Z, Xu A, Cheng Y. Charge-induced proton penetration across two-dimensional clay materials. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:6518-6525. [PMID: 35420610 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr00262k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional clay materials possess superior thermal and chemical stability, and the intrinsic tubular channels in their atomic structure provide possible routes for proton penetration. Therefore, they are expected to overcome the lack of materials that can conduct protons between 100-500 °C. In this work, we investigated the detailed proton penetration mechanism across 2D clay nanosheets with different isomorphic substitutions and counterions using extensive ab initio molecular dynamics and metadynamics simulations. We found that the presence of negative surface charges can dramatically reduce the proton penetration energy barrier to about one-third that of the neutral case, making it a feasible choice for the design of next-generation high-temperature proton exchange membranes. By tuning the isomorphic substitutions, the proton conductivity of single-layer clay materials can be altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Center of Nanomaterials for Renewable Energy, School of Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| | - Yushuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Center of Nanomaterials for Renewable Energy, School of Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| | - Zhixuan Ying
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Center of Nanomaterials for Renewable Energy, School of Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| | - Ao Xu
- School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Yonghong Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Center of Nanomaterials for Renewable Energy, School of Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
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38
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Heiranian M, DuChanois RM, Ritt CL, Violet C, Elimelech M. Molecular Simulations to Elucidate Transport Phenomena in Polymeric Membranes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:3313-3323. [PMID: 35235312 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite decades of dominance in separation technology, progress in the design and development of high-performance polymer-based membranes has been incremental. Recent advances in materials science and chemical synthesis provide opportunities for molecular-level design of next-generation membrane materials. Such designs necessitate a fundamental understanding of transport and separation mechanisms at the molecular scale. Molecular simulations are important tools that could lead to the development of fundamental structure-property-performance relationships for advancing membrane design. In this Perspective, we assess the application and capability of molecular simulations to understand the mechanisms of ion and water transport across polymeric membranes. Additionally, we discuss the reliability of molecular models in mimicking the structure and chemistry of nanochannels and transport pathways in polymeric membranes. We conclude by providing research directions for resolving key knowledge gaps related to transport phenomena in polymeric membranes and for the construction of structure-property-performance relationships for the design of next-generation membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Heiranian
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Ryan M DuChanois
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Cody L Ritt
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Camille Violet
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Menachem Elimelech
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
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39
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Zelovich T, Tuckerman ME. Controlling Hydronium Diffusivity in Model Proton Exchange Membranes. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:2245-2253. [PMID: 35238561 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c04071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fuel-cell-based proton exchange membranes (PEMs) show great potential as cost-effective and clean energy conversion devices. In our recent work, we found that for the low-hydrated model PEMs with a inhomogeneous water distribution and a sulfonate anionic functional end group (SO3-), the H3O+ reacts with SO3- according to SO3- + H3O+ ↔ SO3H + H2O, indicating that the anions in PEMs become active participants in the hydronium diffusion. In this work, we use fully atomistic ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the optimal conditions that would promote the participation of SO3- in the hydronium diffusion mechanism by increasing the H3O+/SO3- reactivity, thus increasing the hydronium diffusivity along the cell. The results presented in this work allow us to suggest a set of design rules for creating novel, highly conductive PEMs operating at high temperatures under a nonuniform water distribution using a linker/anion with a relatively high pKa such as (CH2)2SO3. We expect that the discovery of these key design principles will play an important role in the synthesis of high-performing materials for emerging PEM-based fuel cell technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Zelovich
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Mark E Tuckerman
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, New York 10012, United States
- NYU-ECNU Center for Computational Chemistry, New York University Shanghai, 3663 North Zhongshan Rd, Shanghai 200062, China
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40
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Zhu Q, Wallentine SK, Deng GH, Rebstock JA, Baker LR. The Solvation-Induced Onsager Reaction Field Rather than the Double-Layer Field Controls CO 2 Reduction on Gold. JACS AU 2022; 2:472-482. [PMID: 35252996 PMCID: PMC8889607 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The selectivity and activity of the carbon dioxide reduction (CO2R) reaction are sensitive functions of the electrolyte cation. By measuring the vibrational Stark shift of in situ-generated CO on Au in the presence of alkali cations, we quantify the total electric field present at catalytic active sites and deconvolute this field into contributions from (1) the electrochemical Stern layer and (2) the Onsager (or solvation-induced) reaction field. Contrary to recent theoretical reports, the CO2R kinetics does not depend on the Stern field but instead is closely correlated with the strength of the Onsager reaction field. These results show that in the presence of adsorbed (bent) CO2, the Onsager field greatly exceeds the Stern field and is primarily responsible for CO2 activation. Additional measurements of the cation-dependent water spectra using vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy show that interfacial solvation strongly influences the CO2R activity. These combined results confirm that the cation-dependent interfacial water structure and its associated electric field must be explicitly considered for accurate understanding of CO2R reaction kinetics.
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41
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Yang Y, Peltier CR, Zeng R, Schimmenti R, Li Q, Huang X, Yan Z, Potsi G, Selhorst R, Lu X, Xu W, Tader M, Soudackov AV, Zhang H, Krumov M, Murray E, Xu P, Hitt J, Xu L, Ko HY, Ernst BG, Bundschu C, Luo A, Markovich D, Hu M, He C, Wang H, Fang J, DiStasio RA, Kourkoutis LF, Singer A, Noonan KJT, Xiao L, Zhuang L, Pivovar BS, Zelenay P, Herrero E, Feliu JM, Suntivich J, Giannelis EP, Hammes-Schiffer S, Arias T, Mavrikakis M, Mallouk TE, Brock JD, Muller DA, DiSalvo FJ, Coates GW, Abruña HD. Electrocatalysis in Alkaline Media and Alkaline Membrane-Based Energy Technologies. Chem Rev 2022; 122:6117-6321. [PMID: 35133808 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogen energy-based electrochemical energy conversion technologies offer the promise of enabling a transition of the global energy landscape from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the fundamentals of electrocatalysis in alkaline media and applications in alkaline-based energy technologies, particularly alkaline fuel cells and water electrolyzers. Anion exchange (alkaline) membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) enable the use of nonprecious electrocatalysts for the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), relative to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which require Pt-based electrocatalysts. However, the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) kinetics is significantly slower in alkaline media than in acidic media. Understanding these phenomena requires applying theoretical and experimental methods to unravel molecular-level thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrogen and oxygen electrocatalysis and, particularly, the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process that takes place in a proton-deficient alkaline media. Extensive electrochemical and spectroscopic studies, on single-crystal Pt and metal oxides, have contributed to the development of activity descriptors, as well as the identification of the nature of active sites, and the rate-determining steps of the HOR and ORR. Among these, the structure and reactivity of interfacial water serve as key potential and pH-dependent kinetic factors that are helping elucidate the origins of the HOR and ORR activity differences in acids and bases. Additionally, deliberately modulating and controlling catalyst-support interactions have provided valuable insights for enhancing catalyst accessibility and durability during operation. The design and synthesis of highly conductive and durable alkaline membranes/ionomers have enabled AEMFCs to reach initial performance metrics equal to or higher than those of PEMFCs. We emphasize the importance of using membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) to integrate the often separately pursued/optimized electrocatalyst/support and membranes/ionomer components. Operando/in situ methods, at multiscales, and ab initio simulations provide a mechanistic understanding of electron, ion, and mass transport at catalyst/ionomer/membrane interfaces and the necessary guidance to achieve fuel cell operation in air over thousands of hours. We hope that this Review will serve as a roadmap for advancing the scientific understanding of the fundamental factors governing electrochemical energy conversion in alkaline media with the ultimate goal of achieving ultralow Pt or precious-metal-free high-performance and durable alkaline fuel cells and related technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Cheyenne R Peltier
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Rui Zeng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Roberto Schimmenti
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Qihao Li
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xin Huang
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Zhifei Yan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Georgia Potsi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Ryan Selhorst
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Xinyao Lu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Weixuan Xu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Mariel Tader
- Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Alexander V Soudackov
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Hanguang Zhang
- Materials Physics and Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Mihail Krumov
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Ellen Murray
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Pengtao Xu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Jeremy Hitt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Linxi Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Hsin-Yu Ko
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Brian G Ernst
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Colin Bundschu
- Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Aileen Luo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Danielle Markovich
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Meixue Hu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Cheng He
- Chemical and Materials Science Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Hongsen Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Jiye Fang
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Robert A DiStasio
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Lena F Kourkoutis
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.,Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Andrej Singer
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Kevin J T Noonan
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Li Xiao
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Lin Zhuang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Bryan S Pivovar
- Chemical and Materials Science Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Piotr Zelenay
- Materials Physics and Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Enrique Herrero
- Instituto de Electroquímica, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante E-03080, Spain
| | - Juan M Feliu
- Instituto de Electroquímica, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante E-03080, Spain
| | - Jin Suntivich
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.,Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Emmanuel P Giannelis
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | | | - Tomás Arias
- Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Manos Mavrikakis
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Thomas E Mallouk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Joel D Brock
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - David A Muller
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.,Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Francis J DiSalvo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Geoffrey W Coates
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Héctor D Abruña
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.,Center for Alkaline Based Energy Solutions (CABES), Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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42
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Computational investigation on potential energy surface evolution: The tautomerization from enediyne to enyne-allene. Chem Phys Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2021.139298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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43
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Yadav S, Ibrar I, Samal AK, Altaee A, Déon S, Zhou J, Ghaffour N. Preparation of fouling resistant and highly perm-selective novel PSf/GO-vanillin nanofiltration membrane for efficient water purification. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 421:126744. [PMID: 34333408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
To meet the rising global demand for water, it is necessary to develop membranes capable of efficiently purifying contaminated water sources. Herein, we report a series of novel polysulfone (PSf)/GO-vanillin nanofiltration membranes highly permeable, selective, and fouling resistant. The membranes are composed of two-dimensional (2D) graphite oxide (GO) layers embedded with vanillin as porogen and PSf as the base polymer. There is a growing interest in addressing the synergistic effect of GO and vanillin on improving the permeability and antifouling characteristics of membranes. Various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques were used to perform detailed physicochemical and morphological analyses. The optimized PSf16/GO0.15-vanillin0.8 membrane demonstrated 92.5% and 25.4% rejection rate for 2000 ppm magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) and sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions respectively. Antifouling results showed over 99% rejection for BSA and 93.57% flux recovery ratio (FRR). Experimental work evaluated the antifouling characteristics of prepared membranes to treat landfill leachate wastewater. The results showed 84-90% rejection for magnesium (Mg+2) and calcium (Ca+2) with 90.32 FRR. The study experimentally demonstrated that adding GO and vanillin to the polymeric matrix significantly improves fouling resistance and membrane performance. Future research will focus on molecular sieving for industrial separations and other niche applications using mixed matrix membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudesh Yadav
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Ibrar Ibrar
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Akshaya K Samal
- Centre for Nano and Material Sciences, Jain University, Jain Global Campus, Ramanagara, Bangalore 562112, India
| | - Ali Altaee
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Sébastien Déon
- Institut UTINAM (UMR CNRS 6213), Université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France
| | - John Zhou
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Noreddine Ghaffour
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), 23955-6900 Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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44
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Khosravi A, Lasave J, Koval S, Tosatti E. Ring population statistics in an ice lattice model. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:224502. [PMID: 34911305 DOI: 10.1063/5.0076719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We calculate the distribution probability of hexagonal six-site rings in the disordered state of a cubic or hexagonal ice lattice model with ice rules perfectly obeyed. The mean-field distribution obtained is in significant agreement with those, slightly different among them, obtained by Monte Carlo simulations of the cubic or hexagonal model. The results are discussed in connection with the equilibrium and non-equilibrium transition from disorder to ferroelectric proton order.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Khosravi
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), I-34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Jorge Lasave
- The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Sergio Koval
- Instituto de Física Rosario, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Rosario, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Erio Tosatti
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), I-34136 Trieste, Italy
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45
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Liu J, He X. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of liquid water with fragment-based quantum mechanical approach under periodic boundary conditions. CHINESE J CHEM PHYS 2021. [DOI: 10.1063/1674-0068/cjcp2110183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Xiao He
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- New York University-East China Normal University Center for Computational Chemistry at New York University Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, China
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46
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Cassone G, Sponer J, Saija F. Molecular dissociation and proton transfer in aqueous methane solution under an electric field. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:25649-25657. [PMID: 34782902 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp04202e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Methane-water mixtures are ubiquitous in our solar system and they have been the subject of a wide variety of experimental, theoretical, and computational studies aimed at understanding their behaviour under disparate thermodynamic scenarios, up to extreme planetary ice conditions of pressures and temperatures [Lee and Scandolo, Nat. Commun., 2011, 2, 185]. Although it is well known that electric fields, by interacting with condensed matter, can produce a range of catalytic effects which can be similar to those observed when material systems are pressurised, to the best of our knowledge, no quantum-based computational investigations of methane-water mixtures under an electric field have been reported so far. Here we present a study relying upon state-of-the-art ab initio molecular dynamics simulations where a liquid aqueous methane solution is exposed to strong oriented static and homogeneous electric fields. It turns out that a series of field-induced effects on the dipoles, polarisation, and the electronic structure of both methane and water molecules are recorded. Moreover, upon increasing the field strength, increasing fractions of water molecules are not only re-oriented towards the field direction, but are also dissociated by the field, leading to the release of oxonium and hydroxyde ions in the mixture. However, in contrast to what is observed upon pressurisation (∼50 GPa), where the presence of the water counterions triggers methane ionisation and other reactions, methane molecules preserve their integrity up to the strongest field explored (i.e., 0.50 V Å-1). Interestingly, neither the field-induced molecular dissociation of neat water (i.e., 0.30 V Å-1) nor the proton conductivity typical of pure aqueous samples at these field regimes (i.e., 1.3 S cm-1) are affected by the presence of hydrophobic interactions, at least in a methane-water mixture containing a molar fraction of 40% methane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy.
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolska 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Franz Saija
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy.
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47
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Adams EM, Hao H, Leven I, Rüttermann M, Wirtz H, Havenith M, Head‐Gordon T. Proton Traffic Jam: Effect of Nanoconfinement and Acid Concentration on Proton Hopping Mechanism. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202108766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M. Adams
- Lehrstuhl für Physkalische Chemie II Ruhr Universität Bochum 44801 Bochum Germany
| | - Hongxia Hao
- Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley California 94720 USA
- Kenneth S. Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry University of California Berkeley California 94720 USA
- Department of Chemistry University of California Berkeley California 94720 USA
| | - Itai Leven
- Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley California 94720 USA
- Kenneth S. Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry University of California Berkeley California 94720 USA
- Department of Chemistry University of California Berkeley California 94720 USA
| | | | - Hanna Wirtz
- Lehrstuhl für Physkalische Chemie II Ruhr Universität Bochum 44801 Bochum Germany
| | - Martina Havenith
- Lehrstuhl für Physkalische Chemie II Ruhr Universität Bochum 44801 Bochum Germany
| | - Teresa Head‐Gordon
- Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley California 94720 USA
- Kenneth S. Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry University of California Berkeley California 94720 USA
- Department of Chemistry University of California Berkeley California 94720 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of California Berkeley California 94720 USA
- Department of Bioengineering University of California Berkeley California 94720 USA
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48
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Walker AR, Wu B, Meisner J, Fayer MD, Martínez TJ. Proton Transfer from a Photoacid to a Water Wire: First Principles Simulations and Fast Fluorescence Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:12539-12551. [PMID: 34743512 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Proton transfer reactions are ubiquitous in chemistry, especially in aqueous solutions. We investigate photoinduced proton transfer between the photoacid 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (HPTS) and water using fast fluorescence spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Photoexcitation causes rapid proton release from the HPTS hydroxyl. Previous experiments on HPTS/water described the progress from photoexcitation to proton diffusion using kinetic equations with two time constants. The shortest time constant has been interpreted as protonated and photoexcited HPTS evolving into an "associated" state, where the proton is "shared" between the HPTS hydroxyl and an originally hydrogen bonded water. The longer time constant has been interpreted as indicating evolution to a "solvent separated" state where the shared proton undergoes long distance diffusion. In this work, we refine the previous experimental results using very pure HPTS. We then use excited state ab initio molecular dynamics to elucidate the detailed molecular mechanism of aqueous excited state proton transfer in HPTS. We find that the initial excitation results in rapid rearrangement of water, forming a strong hydrogen bonded network (a "water wire") around HPTS. HPTS then deprotonates in ≤3 ps, resulting in a proton that migrates back and forth along the wire before localizing on a single water molecule. We find a near linear relationship between the emission wavelength and proton-HPTS distance over the simulated time scale, suggesting that the emission wavelength can be used as a ruler for the proton distance. Our simulations reveal that the "associated" state corresponds to a water wire with a mobile proton and that the diffusion of the proton away from this water wire (to a generalized "solvent-separated" state) corresponds to the longest experimental time constant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice R Walker
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,The PULSE Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Boning Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jan Meisner
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,The PULSE Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Michael D Fayer
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Todd J Martínez
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,The PULSE Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
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Corti HR, Appignanesi GA, Barbosa MC, Bordin JR, Calero C, Camisasca G, Elola MD, Franzese G, Gallo P, Hassanali A, Huang K, Laria D, Menéndez CA, de Oca JMM, Longinotti MP, Rodriguez J, Rovere M, Scherlis D, Szleifer I. Structure and dynamics of nanoconfined water and aqueous solutions. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2021; 44:136. [PMID: 34779954 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-021-00136-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This review is devoted to discussing recent progress on the structure, thermodynamic, reactivity, and dynamics of water and aqueous systems confined within different types of nanopores, synthetic and biological. Currently, this is a branch of water science that has attracted enormous attention of researchers from different fields interested to extend the understanding of the anomalous properties of bulk water to the nanoscopic domain. From a fundamental perspective, the interactions of water and solutes with a confining surface dramatically modify the liquid's structure and, consequently, both its thermodynamical and dynamical behaviors, breaking the validity of the classical thermodynamic and phenomenological description of the transport properties of aqueous systems. Additionally, man-made nanopores and porous materials have emerged as promising solutions to challenging problems such as water purification, biosensing, nanofluidic logic and gating, and energy storage and conversion, while aquaporin, ion channels, and nuclear pore complex nanopores regulate many biological functions such as the conduction of water, the generation of action potentials, and the storage of genetic material. In this work, the more recent experimental and molecular simulations advances in this exciting and rapidly evolving field will be reported and critically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horacio R Corti
- Departmento de Física de la Materia Condensada & Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología (CNEA-CONICET), Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, B1650LWP, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Gustavo A Appignanesi
- INQUISUR, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Marcia C Barbosa
- Institute of Physics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - J Rafael Bordin
- Department of Physics, Institute of Physics and Mathematics, 96050-500, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Carles Calero
- Secció de Física Estadística i Interdisciplinària - Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona & Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gaia Camisasca
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, 00146, Roma, Italy
| | - M Dolores Elola
- Departmento de Física de la Materia Condensada & Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología (CNEA-CONICET), Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, B1650LWP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Giancarlo Franzese
- Secció de Física Estadística i Interdisciplinària - Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona & Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paola Gallo
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, 00146, Roma, Italy
| | - Ali Hassanali
- Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics Section (CMSP), The International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy
| | - Kai Huang
- Institute of Systems and Physical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Daniel Laria
- Departmento de Física de la Materia Condensada & Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología (CNEA-CONICET), Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, B1650LWP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cintia A Menéndez
- INQUISUR, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Joan M Montes de Oca
- INQUISUR, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - M Paula Longinotti
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier Rodriguez
- Departmento de Física de la Materia Condensada & Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología (CNEA-CONICET), Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, B1650LWP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauro Rovere
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, 00146, Roma, Italy
| | - Damián Scherlis
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Igal Szleifer
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
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Previti E, Foti C, Giuffrè O, Saija F, Sponer J, Cassone G. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and experimental speciation study of levofloxacin under different pH conditions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:24403-24412. [PMID: 34693952 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp03942c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Levofloxacin is an extensively employed broad-spectrum antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone class. Despite the extremely wide usage of levofloxacin for a plethora of diseases, the molecular characterization of this antibiotic appears quite poor in the literature. Moreover, the acid-base properties of levofloxacin - crucial for the design of efficient removal techniques from wastewaters - have never extensively been investigated so far. Here we report on a study on the behavior of levofloxacin under standard and diverse pH conditions in liquid water by synergistically employing static quantum-mechanical calculations along with experimental speciation studies. Furthermore, with the aim of characterizing the dynamics of the water solvation shells as well as the protonation and deprotonation mechanisms, here we present the unprecedented quantum-based simulation of levofloxacin in aqueous environments by means of state-of-the-art density-functional-theory-based molecular dynamics. This way, we prove the cooperative role played by the aqueous hydration shells in assisting the proton transfer events and, more importantly, the key place held by the nitrogen atom binding the methyl group of levofloxacin in accepting excess protons eventually present in water. Finally, we also quantify the energetic contribution associated with the presence of a H-bond internal to levofloxacin which, on the one hand, stabilizes the ground-state molecular structure of this antibiotic and, on the other, hinders the first deprotonation step of this fluoroquinolone. Among other things, the synergistic employment of quantum-based calculations and speciation experiments reported here paves the way toward the development of targeted removal approaches of drugs from wastewaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Previti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
| | - Claudia Foti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
| | - Ottavia Giuffrè
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
| | - Franz Saija
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), Viale Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy.
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IBP-CAS), Kràlovopolskà 135, 61265 Brno, Czechia
| | - Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), Viale Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy.
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