Infrared spectroscopy of CO3•- (H2O)1,2 and CO4•- (H2O)1,2

Hydrated molecular anions are present in the atmosphere. Revealing the structure of the microsolvation is key to understanding their chemical properties. The infrared spectra of CO3 center dot- (H2O)(1,2) and CO4 center dot- (H2O)(1,2) were measured via infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy in both warm and cold environments. Redshifted from the free O-H stretch frequency, broad, structured spectra were observed in the O-H stretching region for all cluster ions, which provide information on the interaction of the hydrogen atoms with the central ion. In the C-O stretching region, the spectra exhibit clear maxima, but dissociation of CO3 center dot- (H2O)(1,2) was surprisingly inefficient. While CO3 center dot- (H2O)(1,2 )and CO4 center dot-(H2O)( )dissociate via loss of water, CO2 loss is the dominant dissociation channel for CO4 center dot- (H2O)(2). The experimental spectra are compared to calculated spectra within the harmonic approximation and from analysis of molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations support the hypothesis that many isomers contribute to the observed spectrum at finite temperatures. The highly fluxional nature of the clusters is the main reason for the spectral broadening, while water-water hydrogen bonding seems to play a minor role in the doubly hydrated species. Published under license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

This study investigates the structure and chemical properties of hydrated molecular anions in the atmosphere, revealing their microsolvation characteristics through spectroscopic measurements. The experimental results show that the interaction of hydrogen atoms with the central ion affects the infrared spectra, while the high fluxionality of water molecules contributes to spectral broadening.