Influence of electric field on the hydrogen bond network of water

Understanding the inherent response of water to an external electric (E)-field is useful towards decoupling the role of E-field and surface in several practically encountered situations, such as that near an ion, near a charged surface, or within a biological nanopore. While this problem has been studied in some detail through simulations in the past, it has not been very amenable for theoretical analysis owing to the complexities presented by the hydrogen (H) bond interactions in water. It is also difficult to perform experiments with water in externally imposed, high E-fields owing to dielectric breakdown problems; it is hence all the more important that theoretical progress in this area complements the progress achieved through simulations. In an attempt to fill this lacuna, we develop a theory based on relatively simple concepts of reaction equilibria and Boltzmann distribution. The results are discussed in three parts: one pertaining to a comparison of the key features of the theory vis a vis published simulation/experimental results; second pertaining to insights into the H-bond stoichiometry and molecular orientations at different field strengths and temperatures; and the third relating to a surprising but explainable finding that H-bonds can stabilize molecules whose dipoles are oriented perpendicular to the direction of field (in addition to the E-field and H-bonds both stabilizing molecules with dipoles aligned in the direction of the field).     

Topological building blocks of hydrogen bond network in water

Basic three-dimensional units of the network, called fragments, are introduced to characterize the hydrogen bond (HB) network structure of water. Topological differences among normal liquid water, water at low temperature, and water under high pressure are elucidated by their fragment statistics. Water at low temperature has almost defect-free network and is filled with stable fragments with small distortion. It is found that there exists a certain way on how fragments mutually aggregate. Well-formed aggregates heterogeneously constitute very stable network structures. HB network rearrangements occur scarcely inside these aggregated domains but take place in their surface areas. The heterogeneity of HB structure and rearrangement in water is thus explained in terms of the fragment structure and its rearrangements. The fragment analysis thus elucidates the intermediate-range order in water HB network.     

Spectral characterization of hydrogen bond network dynamics in water

Some computational aspects of the characterization of the complex hydrogen bond network dynamics using power spectral analysis are discussed. In the case of hydrogen-bonded liquids, the tagged molecule potential energy is shown to be a useful quantity for capturing the behavior of the networked liquid on different lengths and time scales. The computation of the tagged potential energy for rigid-body effective pair potentials, such as the TIP5P-E and SPC-E models, is discussed. The more structured nature of the TIP5P-E potential, compared to the SPC/E potential, shows up as differences in the high-frequency librational band of the power spectra of the tagged molecule potential energies. The static distributions of the tagged molecule potential energies are also more structured in the case of TIP5P-E, rather than SPC/E, water. The overall behavior of the key power spectral features remains the same in both the models. The possibility of detailed characterization of the power spectrum, and therefore of the underlying dynamics, using a model-based parametric fitting procedure for the power spectra is also discussed. We show that a parametric fitting can allow one to test alternative models of the dynamics underlying the liquid state dynamics.     

An explanation of the unusual strength of the hydrogen bond in small water clusters

We seek to explain why the hydrogen bond possesses unusual strength in small water clusters that account for many of the complex behaviors of water. We have investigated and visualized the donation of covalent character from covalent (sigma) to hydrogen bonds by calculating the eigenvector coupling properties of quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), stress tensor σ ( r ), and Ehrenfest Force F ( r ) on the F ( r ) molecular graph. The next-generation three-dimensional (3-D) bond-path framework sets are presented, and only the F ( r ) bond-path framework sets reproduce the earlier finding on the coupling between covalent (sigma) and hydrogen bonds that possess a degree of covalent character. Exploration of the bond-path between the covalent (sigma) and hydrogen bond's critical points provides an explanation for the previously obtained coupling results. The directional character of the covalent (sigma) and hydrogen bonds' 3-D bond-path framework sets for the F ( r ) explains differences found in the earlier results from QTAIM and the stress tensor σ ( r ).     

Perturbation calculations on the hydrogen bond in the water dimer for different proton acceptor orientations

Using perturbation theory of intermolecular forces (including exchange effects) hydrogen-bond energies are calculated for a simple model representing the water dimer. Several orientations of the proton acceptor with respect to the O...O axis are considered and it is found that the optimum orientation depends sensitively on the oxygen lone-pair hybridization assumed. The main orientation-dependent energy term is found to be the classical electrostatic energy between the unperturbed molecules. The relation of the present results to the structures of the ices I and Ic, and to the results of recent SCF studies are discussed briefly.

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Zusammenfassung Die Energien von Wasserstoffbindungen werden für ein einfaches Modell des dimeren Wassers mit Hilfe der Störungstheorie für intermolekulare Kräfte (mit Austauscheffekten) berechnet. Verschiedene Orientierungen des Protonen-Akzeptors bezüglich der O ... O-Achse werden untersucht; man findet, daß die optimale Orientierung empfindlich von der angenommen Hybridisierung des einsamen Elektronenpaars des Sauerstoffs abhängt. Der hauptsächliche, von der Orientierung abhängige Energieterm ist die klassische elektrostatische Energie zwischen den beiden ungestörten Molekülen. Die Beziehung der vorliegenden Ergebnisse zu den Strukturen von Eis I und Ic sowie zu den Ergebnissen kürzlicher SCF-Rechnungen wird kurz diskutiert.

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For some recent CNDO/2 calculations on (H₂O)₂ which concentrate mainly on rotations of the donor see Ref. [5].     

Theoretical analyses of the morphological development of the hydrogen bond network in protonated methanol clusters

Extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations are carried out on various structural isomers of protonated methanol clusters, H(+)(MeOH)n (n = 2-9), to analyze the morphological development of the hydrogen bond network in the clusters with an increase of the cluster size. Coexistence of multiple structural isomers is demonstrated by the nearly degenerated energies. Moreover, significant temperature dependence of the preferential isomer structure is shown by the calculated Gibbs free energies. The previously reported infrared spectra of H(+)(MeOH)n (J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 138) are revisited on the basis of the spectral simulations of the isomers by DFT calculations.     

On the quantum nature of an excess proton in liquid hydrogen fluoride.

Liquid hydrogen fluoride consists of chains of hydrogen-bonded molecules. The nature of an excess proton in liquid HF, which is of interest not only for its own sake, but also in relation to super-acid chemistry and to its behavior in water, has been studied using computer simulations. The methodology employed is the density-functional-theory-based path-integral Car-Parrinello ab initio molecular dynamics. The excess proton, which formally exists as a H2F+ or a H2F2+ defect in an HF chain, is found to strongly perturb the chain to which it is attached. Moreover, due to large zero-point energy, the charge defect is largely delocalized over several HF molecules.     

On the question of hydrogen bond proton transfer

A simple relation is found that connects the proton displacement value along the line of an H-bond X-H…Y at its formation with the proton transfer barrier to the acceptor Y. The fulfillment of the relation is verified by quantum-chemical calculations at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d, p) level of a series of H-bonded molecular complexes at different interatomic distances X…Y. With the aim to analyze the accuracy of this relation, calculations of model complexes were also performed with different basis sets. The effects of the basis set extension and electron correlation on the calculated values of the proton transfer barrier and the length of the X-H covalent bond in the molecular complex are considered. Using the suggested formalism for problems of proton transfer in H-bonded systems is discussed. A criterion of the barrierless transfer is introduced.     

Origin of the magic numbers of water clusters with an excess electron

Electron-bound water clusters [e(-)(H(2)O)(n)] show very strong peaks in mass spectra for n=2, 6, 7, and (11), which are called magic numbers. The origin of the magic numbers has been an enigma for the last two decades. Although the magic numbers have often been conjectured to arise from the intrinsic properties of electron-bound water clusters, we attributed them not to their intrinsic properties but to the particularly weak stability of the corresponding neutral water clusters (H(2)O)(n=2,6,7, and (11)). As the cluster size increases; this nonsmooth characteristic feature in stability of neutral water clusters is contrasted to the smooth increase in stability of e(-)-water clusters. As the magic number clusters have significant positive adiabatic electron affinities, their abundant distributions in atmosphere could play a significant role in atmospheric thermodynamics.     

Effects of alkali metal halide salts on the hydrogen bond network of liquid water

Measurements of the oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectrum (XAS) of aqueous sodium halide solutions demonstrate that ions significantly perturb the electronic structure of adjacent water molecules. The addition of halide salts to water engenders an increase in the preedge intensity and a decrease in the postedge intensity of the XAS, analogous to those observed when increasing the temperature of pure water. The main-edge feature exhibits unique behavior and becomes more intense when salt is added. Density functional theory calculations of the XAS indicate that the observed red shift of the water transitions as a function of salt concentration arises from a strong, direct perturbation of the unoccupied molecular orbitals on water by anions, and does not require significant distortion of the hydrogen bond network beyond the first solvation shell. This contrasts the temperature-dependent spectral variations, which result primarily from intensity changes of specific transitions due to geometric rearrangement of the hydrogen bond network.     

Studies on solid-state proton transfer along hydrogen bond of pyrazolone-ring

Evidence from the time-dependent UV-vis reflection spectra studies indicates the compound 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-(4-methylbenzal)-5-pyrazolone 4-ethylthiosemicarbazone (PM4MBP-ETSC) undergoes a solid-state photochromism. The reaction rate constant was studied by the first-order kinetics curves. X-ray single crystal structural analysis shows that the pyrazolone-ring stabilizes in the keto form. The conclusion can be made that its photochromism in crystalline is associated with a photoinduced proton transfer reaction (inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen transfer) along hydrogen bond leading to a colored tautomer as the compound crystallizes in H-bonded supramolecular configuration.     

Storage of an excess proton in the hydrogen-bonded network of the d-pathway of cytochrome C oxidase: identification of a protonated water cluster

The mechanism of proton transport in the D-pathway of cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is further elucidated through examining a protonated water/hydroxyl cluster inside the channel. The second generation multi-state empirical valence bond (MS-EVB2) model was employed in a molecular dynamics study based on a high-resolution X-ray structure to simulate the interaction of the excess proton with the channel environment. Our results indicate that a hydrogen-bonded network consisting of about 5 water molecules surrounded by three side chains and two backbone groups (S197, S200, S201, F108) is involved in storage and translocation of an excess proton to the extracellular side of CcO.     

水分子与聚苯胺间氢键的形成对电子性质的影响

用量子化学SCF-LCAO-MO AM1方法, 对于水分子与聚苯胺(PAn)间氢键体系进行了结构优化, 从理论上系统地研究了聚苯胺分子链不同位置形成氢键的可能性以及成键方式。运用晶体轨道EHMACC方法, 对具有不同氢键结构的PAn体系进行了能带结构计算, 揭示了水分子存在和氢键的形成对PAn掺杂导电性能的贡献。氢键形成后, 能带结构变化表明有利于导电能力的提高。     

X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of the hydrogen bond network in the bulk water of aqueous solutions

We utilized X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray Raman scattering (XRS) in order to study the ion solvation effect on the bulk hydrogen bonding structure of water. The fine structures in the X-ray absorption spectra are sensitive to the local environment of the probed water molecule related to the hydrogen bond length and angles. By varying the concentration of ions, we can distinguish between contributions from water in the bulk and in the first solvation sphere. We show that the hydrogen bond network in bulk water, in terms of forming and breaking hydrogen bonds as detected by XAS/XRS, remains unchanged, and only the water molecules in the close vicinity to the ions are affected.     

Influence of electric field on the hydrogen bond network of methanol

The understanding of the structure of hydrogen (H) bonding liquids in electric (E) fields is important in the context of several areas of research, such as electrochemistry, surface science, and thermodynamics of electrolyte solutions. We had earlier presented a general thermodynamic framework for this purpose, and had shown that the application of E field enhances H-bond interactions among water molecules. The present investigation with methanol suggests a different result-the H-bond structure, as indicated by the average number of H bonds per molecule, goes through a maxima with increasing field strength. This result is explained based on the symmetry in the location of the H-bonding sites in the two types of molecules.     

Relevance of hydrogen bond definitions in liquid water

To evaluate the relevance of treating the hydrogen bonds in liquid water as a digital (discrete) network and applying topological analyses, a framework to optimize the fitting parameters in various hydrogen bond definitions of liquid water is proposed. Performance of the definitions is quantitatively evaluated according to the reproducibility of hydrogen bonding in the inherent structure. Parameters of five popular hydrogen bond definitions are optimized, for example. The optimal choice of parameters for the hydrogen bond definitions accentuates the binary nature of the hydrogen bonding and the intrinsic network topology of liquid water, especially at the low temperature region. The framework provides a solid basis for network analyses, which have been utilized for water, and is also useful for designing new hydrogen bond definitions.     

Compatibility between methanol and water in the three-dimensional cage formation of large-sized protonated methanol-water mixed clusters

Infrared spectra of large-sized protonated methanol-water mixed clusters, H(+)(MeOH)(m)(H(2)O)(n) (m=1-4, n=4-22), were measured in the OH stretch region. The free OH stretch bands of the water moiety converged to a single peak due to the three-coordinated sites at the sizes of m+n=21, which is the magic number of the protonated water cluster. This is a spectroscopic signature for the formation of the three-dimensional cage structure in the mixed cluster, and it demonstrates the compatibility of a small number of methanol molecules with water in the hydrogen-bonded cage formation. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to examine the relative stability and structures of selected isomers of the mixed clusters. The calculation results supported the microscopic compatibility of methanol and water in the hydrogen-bonded cage development. The authors also found that in the magic number clusters, the surface protonated sites are energetically favored over their internal counterparts and the excess proton prefers to take the form of H(3)O(+) despite the fact that the proton affinity of methanol is greater than that of water.     

Effects of confinement on small water clusters structure and proton transport

Analyses of the structure of two to four water molecule clusters confined between two benzene and between two naphthalene molecules have been performed using ab initio methods. The water clusters tend to maximize the number of hydrogen bonds via formation of a cyclic network. The oxygen atoms locate approximately in the middle of the confined geometry, and the dipole vectors arrange either parallel or pointing to the surfaces. Energy barriers for proton transfer calculated for H3O+-(H2O) complexes in the same confined geometries suggest that there is a specific range of confinement that helps to lower the energy barriers of the proton transfer. When the walls are too close to each other, at a separation of 4 A, the energy barriers are extremely high. Confinement does not lower the barrier energies of proton transfer when the H3O+-(H2O) complexes are located further from each of the surfaces by more than approximately 8 A.