Eric G. Diken

Mid-infrared characterization of the NH4+∙(H2O)n clusters in the neighborhood of the n=20 “magic” number

Vibrational predissociation spectra are reported for size-selected NH4+ (H2O)n clusters (n=5-22) in the 2500-3900 cm(-1) region. We concentrate on the sharp free OH stretching bands to deduce the local H-bonding configurations of water molecules on the cluster surface. As in the spectra of the protonated water clusters, the free OH bands in NH4+ (H2O)n evolve from a quartet at small sizes (n<7), to a doublet around n=9, and then to a single peak at the n=20 magic number cluster, before the doublet re-emerges at larger sizes. This spectral simplification at the magic number cluster mirrors that found earlier in the H+(H2O)n clusters. We characterize the likely structures at play for the n=19 and 20 clusters with electronic structure calculations. The most stable form of the n=20 cluster is predicted to have a surface-solvated NH4+ ion that lies considerably lower in energy than isomers with the NH4+ in the interior.

Argon predissociation infrared spectroscopy of the hydroxide-water complex (OH-.H2O)

Abstract We report the first vibrational spectrum of the degenerate proton transfer system OH−·H2O. The complex is cooled by attachment of argon atoms and the spectrum is observed by argon predissociation spectroscopy in the OH stretching region. A strong, sharp transition is observed just below the region usually associated with the free OH stretch, while broader bands appear lower in energy and are weaker than the dominant free OH peak. The latter are assigned with the aid of ab initio calculations to the first overtone of the coupled intramolecular bend and strongly red-shifted H-bonded OH stretching modes.

Preparation and photoelectron spectrum of the glycine molecular anion: Assignment to a dipole-bound electron species with a high-dipole moment, non-zwitterionic form of the neutral core

We report the gas-phase preparation of negatively charged glycine as well as the Gly(H(2)O)(1,2) (-) complexes by entrainment of the neutral precursor into an ionized supersonic expansion tuned to optimize the (H(2)O)(n) (-)Ar(m) clusters. The photoelectron spectrum of Gly(-) displays the signature of a dipole-bound species, with sufficient vibrational fine structure to characterize the core neutral as a higher energy, non-zwitterionic isomer of the amino acid.

Generating Spectra from Ground-State Wave Functions: Unraveling Anharmonic Effects in the OH―·H2O Vibrational Predissociation Spectrum

An approach is described for calculating anharmonic spectra for polyatomic molecules using only the ground-state probability amplitude. The underlying theory is based on properties of harmonic oscillator wave functions and is tested for Morse oscillators with a range of anharmonicities. More extensive tests are performed with H(3)O(2)(-), using the potential and dipole surfaces of Bowman and co-workers [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 5042]. The resulting energies are compared to earlier studies that employed the same potential surface, and the agreement is shown to be very good. The vibrational spectra are calculated for both H(3)O(2)(-) and D(3)O(2)(-). In the case of H(3)O(2)(-), comparisons are made with a previously reported experimental spectrum below 2000 cm(-1). We also report the spectrum of H(3)O(2)(-) from 2400-4500 cm(-1), which extends 500 cm(-1) above the region reported earlier, revealing several new bands. As the only fundamentals in this spectral region involve the OH stretches, the spectrum is surprisingly rich. On the basis of comparisons of the experimental and calculated spectra, assignments are proposed for several of the features in this spectral region.

Photoelectron spectroscopy of the [glycine∙(H2O)1,2]− clusters: Sequential hydration shifts and observation of isomers

The electron binding energies of the small hydrated amino acid anions, [glycine x (H2O)(1,2)]-, are determined using photoelectron spectroscopy. The vertical electron detachment energies (VDEs) are found to increase by approximately 0.12 eV with each additional water molecule such that the higher electron binding isomer of the dihydrate is rather robust, with a VDE value of 0.33 eV. A weak binding isomer of the dihydrate is also recovered, however, with a VDE value (0.14 eV) lower than that of the monohydrate. Unlike the situation in the smaller (n < or = 13) water cluster anions, the [Gly x (H2O)(n > or = 6)]- clusters are observed to photodissociate via water monomer evaporation upon photoexcitation in the O-H stretching region. We discuss this observation in the context of the mechanism responsible for the previously observed [S. Xu, M. Nilles, and K. H. Bowen, Jr., J. Chem. Phys. 119, 10696 (2003)] sudden onset in the cluster formation at [Gly x (H2O)5]-.

Determination of the CO3− bond strength via the resonant two-photon photodissociation threshold: Electronic and vibrational spectroscopy of CO3−∙Arn

We use a two-laser pump-probe technique coupled with messenger atom tagging to determine the bond energy of O(-) to CO(2) in the CO(3) (-) ion, a prevalent species in the upper atmosphere. In this technique, the argon-tagged ion is first electronically excited using a visible laser, then irradiated with a tunable near-infrared beam across the CO(2)...O(-) dissociation threshold while O(-) products are monitored. This method yields a bond energy of 2.79+/-0.05 eV, which is about 0.5 eV higher than previously reported. Combining this with the well-known heats of formation of O(-) and CO(2), 105.6 and -393.1 kJmol, respectively [Thermodynamic Properties of Individual Substances, edited by L. V. Gurvich, I. V. Veyts, and C. B. Alcock (Hemisphere, New York, 1989), Vol. 1 and CODATA Thermodynamic Tables, edited by O. Garvin, V. B. Parker, and J. H. J. White (Hemisphere, New York, 1987)], yields the CO(3) (-) heat of formation: DeltaH(0) (0)=-556.7+/-4.8 kJmol. The one-photon (i.e., linear) infrared and electronic spectra of CO(3) (-) are also presented and compared to those obtained previously. The one-photon electronic spectrum is nearly identical to two-photon spectra, implying that argon does not significantly perturb the ion or its symmetry. The infrared spectrum is drastically different than that obtained in an argon matrix, however, indicating that the ion is likely distorted in the matrix environment.