Observation of large water-cluster anions with surface-bound excess electrons.

Verlet, J R R; Bragg, A E; Kammrath, A; Cheshnovsky, O; Neumark, D M · Science · 2005

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Anionic water clusters have long been studied to infer properties of the bulk hydrated electron. We used photoelectron imaging to characterize a class of (H2O)n- and (D2O)n- cluster anions (n </= 200 molecules) with vertical binding energies that are significantly lower than those previously recorded. The data are consistent with a structure in which the excess electron is bound to the surface of the cluster. This result implies that the excess electron in previously observed water-cluster anions, with higher vertical binding energies, was internally solvated. Thus, the properties of those clusters could be extrapolated to those of the bulk hydrated electron.