Early Time Solvation Dynamics Probed by Spectrally Resolved Degenerate Pump-Probe Spectroscopy

The dynamic role of solvent in influencing the rates of physico-chemical processes (for example, polar solvation and electron transfer) has been extensively studied using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Here we study ultrafast excited state relaxation dynamics of three different fluorescent probes (DNTTCI, IR-140 and IR-144) in two polar solvents, ethanol and ethylene glycol, using spectrally resolved degenerate pump-probe spectroscopy. We discuss how time-resolved emission spectra can be directly used for constructing relaxation correlation function, obviating spectral reconstruction and estimation of time-zero spectrum in non-polar solvents. We show that depending on the specific probe used, the relaxation dynamics is governed either by intramolecular vibrational relaxation (for IR140) or by intermolecular solvation (for DNTTCI) or by both (for IR144). We further show (using DNTTCI as a probe) that major differences in solvation by ethanol and ethylene glycol is contributed by early time (<1 ps) dynamics.     

介电常数对Stokes频移时间相关性的影响

基于连续介质理论,利用溶剂化能计算了香豆素水溶液单球孔穴模型的Stokes频移响应函数. 将水的介电谱实验数据拟合进而得到介电常数理论公式, 并基于此计算了相关函数. 在考虑了延迟时间后, 相关函数的理论计算结果与实验吻合. 考虑到低频响应在溶剂化驰豫中的重要性, 考察了低频极化对响应函数的影响.     

Large-Sized Ammonia Clusters and Solvation Energies of the Proton in Ammonia

The absolute solvation energies (free energies and enthalpies) of the proton in ammonia are used to compute the pK_a of species embedded in ammonia. They are also used to compute the solvation energies of other ions in ammonia. Despite their importance, it is not possible to determine experimentally the solvation energies of the proton in a given solvent. We propose in this work a direct approach to compute the solvation energies of the proton in ammonia from large-sized neutral and protonated ammonia clusters. To undertake this investigation, we performed a geometry optimization of neutral and protonated ammonia 30-mer, 40-mer, and 50 mer to locate stable structures. These structures have been fully optimized at both APFD/6-31++g(d,p) and M06-2X/6-31++g(d,p) levels of theory. An infrared spectroscopic study of these structures has been provided to assess the reliability of our investigation. Using these structures, we have computed the absolute solvation free energy and the absolute solvation enthalpy of the proton in ammonia. It comes out that the absolute solvation free energy of the proton in ammonia is calculated to be −1192 kJ mol^–1, whereas the absolute solvation enthalpy is evaluated to be −1214 kJ mol^–1. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hybrid Solvation Model with First Solvation Shell for Calculation of Solvation Free Energy

We present a hybrid solvation model with first solvation shell to calculate solvation free energies. This hybrid model combines the quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics methods with the analytical expression based on the Born solvation model to calculate solvation free energies. Based on calculated free energies of solvation and reaction profiles in gas phase, we set up a unified scheme to predict reaction profiles in solution. The predicted solvation free energies and reaction barriers are compared with experimental results for twenty bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions. These comparisons show that our hybrid solvation model can predict reliable solvation free energies and reaction barriers for chemical reactions of small molecules in aqueous solution.     

Ionic Solvation in Aqueous and Nonaqueous Solutions

Summary.  The history of studies on ionic solvation is briefly reviewed, and structural and dynamic properties of solvated ions in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions are discussed. An emphasis is placed on ionic solvation in nonaqueous mixed solvents in which preferential solvation of ions takes place. A new parameter for expressing the degree of preferential solvation of an ion is proposed. Received January 16, 2001. Accepted January 31, 2001     

Ionic and dipolar solvation dynamics in liquid water

The solvation time correlation function for solvation in liquid water was measured recently. The solvation was found to be very fast, with a time constant equal to 55 fs. In this article we present theoretical studies on solvation dynamics of ionic and dipolar solutes in liquid water, based on the molecular hydrodynamic approach developed earlier. The molecular hydrodynamic theory can successfully predict the ultrafast dynamics of solvation in liquid water as observed from recent experiments. The present study also reveals some interesting aspects of dipolar solvation dynamics, which differs significantly from that of ionic solvation. Dedicated to Prof. C N R Rao on his 60th birthday     

Dynamics of solvation of an ion in a dense dipolar liquid

A molecular theory of the dynamics of solvation of an ion in a dense dipolar liquid is presented. The theory is based on an extended hydrodynamic approach that properly includes the interparticle correlations that are present at molecular length scales. The effects of the solvent inertial and viscoelastic responses are also included consistently. Numerical studies reveal rich relaxation behaviour such as short-time oscillations followed by a slow long-time decay. The results are in semi-quantitative agreement with recent computer simulation studies.     

Solvation Rule for Solid‐Electrolyte Interphase Enabler in Lithium‐Metal Batteries

Despite the exceptionally high energy density of lithium metal anodes, the practical application of lithium‐metal batteries (LMBs) is still impeded by the instability of the interphase between the lithium metal and the electrolyte. To formulate a functional electrolyte system that can stabilize the lithium‐metal anode, the solvation behavior of the solvent molecules must be understood because the electrochemical properties of a solvent can be heavily influenced by its solvation status. We unambiguously demonstrated the solvation rule for the solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) enabler in an electrolyte system. In this study, fluoroethylene carbonate was used as the SEI enabler due to its ability to form a robust SEI on the lithium metal surface, allowing relatively stable LMB cycling. The results revealed that the solvation number of fluoroethylene carbonate must be ≥1 to ensure the formation of a stable SEI in which the sacrificial reduction of the SEI enabler subsequently leads to the stable cycling of LMBs.     

Solvation Rule for Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Enabler in Lithium-Metal Batteries

Despite the exceptionally high energy density of lithium metal anodes, the practical application of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) is still impeded by the instability of the interphase between the lithium metal and the electrolyte. To formulate a functional electrolyte system that can stabilize the lithium-metal anode, the solvation behavior of the solvent molecules must be understood because the electrochemical properties of a solvent can be heavily influenced by its solvation status. We unambiguously demonstrated the solvation rule for the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) enabler in an electrolyte system. In this study, fluoroethylene carbonate was used as the SEI enabler due to its ability to form a robust SEI on the lithium metal surface, allowing relatively stable LMB cycling. The results revealed that the solvation number of fluoroethylene carbonate must be ≥1 to ensure the formation of a stable SEI in which the sacrificial reduction of the SEI enabler subsequently leads to the stable cycling of LMBs.     

The impact of surface area,volume, curvature,and Lennard–Jones potential to solvation modeling

This article explores the impact of surface area, volume, curvature, and Lennard–Jones (LJ) potential on solvation free energy predictions. Rigidity surfaces are utilized to generate robust analytical expressions for maximum, minimum, mean, and Gaussian curvatures of solvent–solute interfaces, and define a generalized Poisson–Boltzmann (GPB) equation with a smooth dielectric profile. Extensive correlation analysis is performed to examine the linear dependence of surface area, surface enclosed volume, maximum curvature, minimum curvature, mean curvature, and Gaussian curvature for solvation modeling. It is found that surface area and surfaces enclosed volumes are highly correlated to each other's, and poorly correlated to various curvatures for six test sets of molecules. Different curvatures are weakly correlated to each other for six test sets of molecules, but are strongly correlated to each other within each test set of molecules. Based on correlation analysis, we construct twenty six nontrivial nonpolar solvation models. Our numerical results reveal that the LJ potential plays a vital role in nonpolar solvation modeling, especially for molecules involving strong van der Waals interactions. It is found that curvatures are at least as important as surface area or surface enclosed volume in nonpolar solvation modeling. In conjugation with the GPB model, various curvature‐based nonpolar solvation models are shown to offer some of the best solvation free energy predictions for a wide range of test sets. For example, root mean square errors from a model constituting surface area, volume, mean curvature, and LJ potential are less than 0.42 kcal/mol for all test sets. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enthalpies of Transfer of Tetraalkylammonium Bromides and CsBr from water to Aqueous DMF at 298.15 K

Enthalpies of transfer of tetraalkylammonium bromides and CsBr from water to aqueous DMF mixtures are reported and analyzed in terms of a new solvation theory. It was found that a previous equation could not reproduce these data over the whole range of solvent compositions. Using a new solvation theory to model the enthalpies of transfer shows excellent agreement between experimental and calculated values over the entire range of solvent compositions. The analyses show that tetrapropylammonium bromide, Pr₄NBr, and tetrapentylammonium bromide, Pen₄NBr, are preferentially solvated by water; in contrast tetrabutylammonium bromide, Bu₄NBr, is preferentially solvated by DMF. The solvation of tetramethylammonium bromide, Me₄NBr, and cesium bromide, CsBr, is random. The extent to which the tetraalkylammonium bromides disrupt solvent–solvent bonds increases systematically in going from Me₄NBr to Pen₄NBr.     

Study of Microheterogeneity in Acetonitrile–Water Binary Mixtures by using Polarity‐Resolved Solvation Dynamics

The solvation dynamics of three coumarin dyes with widely varying polarities were studied in acetonitrile–water (ACN–H₂O) mixtures across the entire composition range. At low ACN concentrations [ACN mole fractions (X_ACN)≤0.1], the solvation dynamics are fast (<40 ps), indicating a nearly homogeneous environment. This fast region is followed by a sudden retardation of the average solvation time (230–1120 ps) at higher ACN concentrations (X_ACN≈0.2), thus indicating the onset of nonideality within the mixture that continues until X_ACN≈0.8. This nonideality regime (X_ACN≈0.2–0.8) comprises of multiple dye‐dependent anomalous regions. At very high ACN concentrations (X_ACN≈0.8–1), the ACN–H₂O mixtures regain homogeneity, with faster solvation times. The source of the inherent nonideality of the ACN–H₂O mixtures is a subject of debate. However, a careful examination of the widths of time‐resolved emission spectra shows that the origin of the slow dynamics may be due to the diffusion of polar solvent molecules into the first solvation shell of the excited coumarin dipole.     

On the origin of the anomalous ultraslow solvation dynamics in heterogeneous environments

Many recent experimental studies have reported a surprising ultraslow component (even >10 ns) in the solvation dynamics of a polar probe in an organized assembly, the origin of which is not understood at present. Here we propose two molecular mechanisms in explanation. The first one involves the motion of the ‘buried water’ molecules (both translation and rotation), accompanied by cooperative relaxation (‘local melting’) of several surfactant chains. An estimate of the time is obtained by using an effective Rouse chain model of chain dynamics, coupled with a mean first passage time calculation. The second explanation invokes self-diffusion of the (di)polar probe itself from a less polar to a more polar region. This may also involve cooperative motion of the surfactant chains in the hydrophobic core, if the probe has a sizeable distribution inside the core prior to excitation, or escape of the probe to the bulk from the surface of the self-assembly. The second mechanism should result in the narrowing of the full width of the emission spectrum with time, which has indeed been observed in recent experiments. It is argued that both the mechanisms may give rise to an ultraslow time constant and may be applicable to different experimental situations. The effectiveness of solvation as a dynamical probe in such complex systems has been discussed.     

Solvation of Na+ in N,N-dimethylformamide + methanol solutions. A nuclear magnetic relaxation study using dynamic solvent isotope effects

Inter- and intramolecular nuclear magnetic quadrupole relaxation measurements have been used to study the system methanol (CH₃OH)+ N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)+NaI at 25°C. The dynamic behavior of the solvent molecules was investigated, throughout the composition range of the binary mixtures, by means of ¹⁴ N relaxation of DMF and ² H of methanol-d ₁ (CH ₃ OD). The intermolecular relaxation of ²³ Na⁺ in pure DMF was used to obtain information about the symmetry of the solvent electric dipole arrangement in the solvation sphere of the ion. The investigation of preferential solvation around Na⁺ in the binary mixtures was carried out by means of ²³ Na⁺ relaxation measurements using, for the first time, both the CH ₃ OH/CD ₃ OD and the DMF/DMF-d ₇ dynamic isotope effect. The results show that, throughout the composition range, there is preferential solvation by DMF. Furthermore, the use of the isotope effects of both components allowed for the first time a basic check of the reliability of the method since we obtained two independent sets of data for the composition of the Na⁺ solvation shell in the mixtures. The consistency of the two separate data sets demonstrates that the application of the dynamic isotope effect represents a powerful tool in preferential solvation studies.     

The effect of properties of water-organic solvent mixtures on the solvation enthalpy of 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6 and benzo-15-crown-5 ethers at 298.15 K

Crown ethers are preferential solvated by organic solvents in the mixtures of water with formamide, N-methylformamide, acetonitrile, acetone and propan-1-ol. In these mixed solvents the energetic effect of the preferential solvation depends quantitatively on the structural and energetic properties of mixtures. The energetic properties of the mixtures of water with hydrophobic solvents (N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, hexamethylphosphortriamide) counteract the preferential solvation of the crown ether molecules. The effect of the hydrophobic and acid-base properties of the mixture of water with organic solvent on the solvation of 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6 and benzo-15-crown-5 ethers was discussed. The solvation enthalpy of one -CH₂CH₂O- group in water, N,N-dimethylformamide and hexamethylphosphortriamide is equal to −24.21, −16.04 and −15.91 kJ/mol, respectively. The condensed benzene ring with 15-crown-5 ether molecule brings about an increase in the exothermic effect of solvation of the crown ether in the mixtures of water with organic solvent.     

Performance comparison of generalized born and Poisson methods in the calculation of electrostatic solvation energies for protein structures

This study compares generalized Born (GB) and Poisson (PB) methods for calculating electrostatic solvation energies of proteins. A large set of GB and PB implementations from our own laboratories as well as others is applied to a series of protein structure test sets for evaluating the performance of these methods. The test sets cover a significant range of native protein structures of varying size, fold topology, and amino acid composition as well as nonnative extended and misfolded structures that may be found during structure prediction and folding/unfolding studies. We find that the methods tested here span a wide range from highly accurate and computationally demanding PB-based methods to somewhat less accurate but more affordable GB-based approaches and a few fast, approximate PB solvers. Compared with PB solvation energies, the latest, most accurate GB implementations were found to achieve errors of 1% for relative solvation energies between different proteins and 0.4% between different conformations of the same protein. This compares to accurate PB solvers that produce results with deviations of less than 0.25% between each other for both native and nonnative structures. The performance of the best GB methods is discussed in more detail for the application for force field-based minimizations or molecular dynamics simulations.     

Vibrational Spectroscopic Study on Ion Solvation and Association of Lithium Perchlorate in 4-Methoxymethyl-ethylene Carbonate

Solvation interaction and ion association in solutions of lithium perchlorate/4-methoxymethyl-ethylene carbonate （MEC） have been studied by using Infrared and Raman spectra as a function of concentration of lithium perchlorate. The splitting of ring deformation band and ring ether asymmetric stretching band, and the change of carbonyl stretching band suggest that there should be a strong interaction between Li^＋ and the solvent molecules, and the site of solvation should be the oxygen atom of carbonyl group. The apparent solvation number of Li^＋ was calculated by using band fitting technique. The solvation number was decreased from 3.3 to 1.1 with increasing the concentration of LiClO4/MEC solutions. On the other hand, the band fitting for the ClO4^- band revealed the presence of contact ion pair, and free ClO4^- anion in the concentrated solutions.     

The solvation number of ions obtained from their entropies of solvation

The entropy of solvation of an ion contains contributions from i) the change of the volume at its disposal, ii) long-range electrostatic effects, iii) immobilization of solvent molecules in the first solvation shell, and iv) effects on the structure of the solvent. The last item is important in water, but can be ignored in less structured solvents. Standard ionic entropies of transfer from water to a dozen solvents are used for the estimation of the entropy of solvent immobilization, and the (extrapolated) entropy of freezing of the solvent is then used to estimate the number of solvent molecules immobilized.Presented in part at the IX ICNAS (International Conference on Non-Aqueous Solutions), Pittsburgh, PA, August 1984.