Infrared spectroscopic evidence for protonated water clusters forming nanoscale cages.

Miyazaki, Mitsuhiko; Fujii, Asuka; Ebata, Takayuki; Mikami, Naohiko · Science · 2004

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Size-dependent development of the hydrogen bond network structure in large sized clusters of protonated water, H+(H2O)n (n = 4 to 27), was probed by infrared spectroscopy of OH stretches. Spectral changes with cluster size demonstrate that the chain structures at small sizes (n less, similar 10) develop into two-dimensional net structures (approximately 10 < n < 21), and then into nanometer-scaled cages (n >/= 21).