Infrared Spectra of Liquid and Crystalline Ethanol at High Pressures

Abstract

Mid-infrared spectra in the ranges 400–1800 and 2700–4600 cm^?1 of ethanol samples in diamond anvil cells at ambient temperature and pressures up to 11 GPa are reported. The freezing pressure is confirmed to be 1.8 GPa, and, unlike methanol, the resulting solid is crystalline rather than glassy. No further phase transitions are observed in this pressure range. The wave number shifts of 30 selected peaks with pressure are deduced, and their small magnitudes indicate that only minor distortions of the molecules occur. The effects of the strengthening of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds with pressure on the internal modes are briefly discussed.