Recombination of KrD and XeD ions with electrons

Recombination rate coefficients of protonated and deuterated ions KrH⁺, KrD⁺, XeH⁺ and XeD⁺ were measured using Flowing Afterglow with Langmuir Probe (FALP). Helium at 1600 Pa and at temperature 250 K was used as a buffer gas in the experiments. Kr, Xe, H₂ and D₂ were introduced to a flow tube to form the desired ions. Because of small differences in proton affinities of Kr, D₂ and H₂ mixtures of ions, KrD⁺/D₃⁺ and KrH⁺/H₃⁺ are formed in the afterglow plasma, influencing the plasma decay. To obtain a recombination rate coefficient for a particular ion, the dependencies on partial pressures of gases used in the ion formation were measured. The obtained rate coefficients, α_KrD+(250 K) = (0.9 ± 0.3) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹ and α_XeD+(250 K) = (8 ± 2) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹ are compared with α_KrH+(250 K) = (2.0 ± 0.6) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹ and α_XeH+(250 K) = (8 ± 2) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹.     

Comparative study of the spectroscopic properties of Cr-doped LiAlO2 and LiGaO2

A detailed spectroscopic study of the optical characteristics of the tetrahedrally coordinated Cr⁴⁺ ion in LiAlO₂ and LiGaO₂ is given. From absorption and excitation measurements the crystal field parameter Dq and the Racah parameter B were determined to be Dq=1065 cm⁻¹, B=450 cm⁻¹, and Dq/B=2.4 for LiAlO₂ and Dq=1055 cm⁻¹, B=428 cm⁻¹, and Dq/B=2.5 for LiGaO₂. For the Racah parameter C only a lower limit can be given, i.e. 2417 cm⁻¹ for LiAlO₂ and 2667 cm⁻¹ for LiGaO₂. Due to the strong crystal field splitting — caused by the low site symmetry — the ³B(³T₂) crystal field component is the metastable and thus the emitting level. In the low-temperature absorption and emission spectra the expected three spin–orbit components of the ³B level are found at 8273, 8296, and 8300 cm⁻¹ for Cr⁴⁺:LiAlO₂ and 8610, 8623, and 8632 cm⁻¹ for Cr⁴⁺:LiGaO₂. The emission lifetime of Cr⁴⁺ in LiAlO₂ is 95 μs at 10 K and single exponential. In Mg-codoped LiAlO₂ and in LiGaO₂ the Cr⁴⁺ decay is double exponential. In Cr,Mg:LiAlO₂ two centers can be clearly distinguished, while in Cr:LiGaO₂ a variety of centers are observed, probably due to different charge compensation processes between Li, Ga, and Cr. The quantum efficiencies at room temperature are 42% for Cr:LiAlO₂ and 23% for Cr:LiGaO₂. Already at low temperature nonradiative decay processes occur. The temperature dependence of the lifetimes were analyzed with the model of Struck and Fonger. Excited state absorption measurements indicate that in the spectral region of the emission the excited state absorption cross-section is larger than the stimulated emission cross-section. Therefore laser oscillation is unlikely in these systems.     

Reactions of CO2 with H, H2 and deuterated analogues

Combining a temperature variable 22-pole ion trap with a cold effusive beam of neutrals, rate coefficients k(T) have been measured for reactions of CO₂⁺ ions with H, H₂ and deuterated analogues. The neutral beam which is cooled in an accommodator to T_ACC, penetrates the trapped ion cloud with a well-characterized velocity distribution. The temperature of the ions, T_22PT, has been set to values between 15 and 300 K. Thermalization is accelerated by using helium buffer gas. For reference, some experiments have been performed with thermal target gas. For this purpose hydrogen is leaked directly into the box surrounding the trap. While collisions of CO₂⁺ with H₂ lead exclusively to the protonated product HCO₂⁺, collisions with H atoms form mainly HCO⁺. The electron transfer channel H⁺ + CO₂ could not be detected (<20%). Equivalent studies have been performed for deuterium. The rate coefficients for reactions with atoms are rather small. Within our relative errors of less than 15%, they do not depend on the temperature of the CO₂⁺ ions nor on the velocity of the atoms (k(T) lays between 4.5 and 4.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ with H as target, and 2.2 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ with D). For collisions with molecules, the reactivity increases significantly with falling temperature, reaching the Langevin values at 15 K. These results are reported as k = α (T/300 K)^β with α = 9.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ and β = −0.15 for H₂ and α = 4.9 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ and β = −0.30 for D₂.     

Ternary blends of poly(ethylene oxide) and acrylate-based copolymers: Crystallinity, miscibility, interactions and proton conductivity

In the present work, blends of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) (PANMA) and poly(4-vinylphenol-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PVPh-HEM) were studied by DSC, FTIR and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). PEO/PANMA blends were found to be immiscible, while PEO/PVPh-HEM blends are miscible and PVPh-HEM/PANMA exhibits partial miscibility behaviour. The ternary PEO/PANMA/PVPh-HEM blends exhibited miscible compositions for PVPh-HEM and PEO-rich systems. The miscibility observed is a direct consequence of the hydrogen bond interactions among the polymer chains, in which the phenol groups in PVPh-HEM interact with both PEO and PANMA chains. The proton conductivity of a selected membrane based on the ternary blend containing 60% PEO and doped with H₃PO₄ aqueous solution reached 8 × 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at room temperature and 3 × 10⁻² Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 80 °C.     

UV–visible spectrum of the phenyl radical and kinetics of its reaction with NO in the gas phase

Pulse radiolysis transient UV–visible absorption spectroscopy was used to study the UV–visible absorption spectrum (225–575 nm) of the phenyl radical, C₆H₅(), and kinetics of its reaction with NO. Phenyl radicals have a strong broad featureless absorption in the region of 225–340 nm. In the presence of NO phenyl radicals are converted into nitrosobenzene. The phenyl radical spectrum was measured relative to that of nitrosobenzene. Based upon σ(C₆H₅NO)_{270 nm}=3.82×10⁻¹⁷ cm² molecule⁻¹ we derive an absorption cross-section for phenyl radicals at 250 nm, σ(C₆H₅())_{250 nm}=(2.75±0.58)×10⁻¹⁷ cm² molecule⁻¹. At 295 K in 200–1000 mbar of Ar diluent k(C₆H₅()+NO)=(2.09±0.15)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

An optical, EPR and electrical conductivity study of blue barium titanate, BaTiO3−δ

The electronic UV–VIS–NIR absorption spectra of single crystalline BaTiO_3−δ (BTO) are studied in the temperature range of 102–1173 K in pure oxygen and at conditions of moderate and strong reduction of the material. The strongly reduced crystals are of deep blue colour. The optical spectra of blue BTO are characterised by a strong absorption in the NIR region at around 7000 cm⁻¹, which is attributed to polaronic defects associated with the formation of Ti³⁺ in the material. This assumption is supported by fits of the spectra using polaronic line shape functions appropriate for disordered systems and also by the electrical conductivity of blue BTO which, in agreement with results from the optical spectra, exhibits an activation energy of 0.20 eV. The EPR spectra of moderately reduced BTO powders show an anisotropic g-factor, which is compatible with the optical spectrum. The temperature dependence of the band gap energy of BTO was found to be given as dE_g/dT = −7.21 × 10⁻⁴ eV/K.     

A new potentiometric ibuprofenate ion sensor immobilized in a graphite matrix for determination of ibuprofen in tablets

The characteristics, performance, and application of an electrode, namely, Pt|Hg|Hg₂(IBP)₂|Graphite, where IBP stands for ibuprofenate ion, are described. This electrode responds to IBP with sensitivity of (58.6 ± 0.9) mV decade^− 1 over the range 5.0 × 10^− 5–1.0 × 10^− 1 mol L^− 1 at pH 6.0–9.0 and a detection limit of 3.8 × 10^− 5 mol L^− 1. The electrode is easily constructed at a relatively low cost with fast response time (within 15–30 s) and can be used for a period of 5 months without any considerable divergence in potentials. The proposed sensor displayed good selectivity for ibuprofen in the presence of several substances, especially concerning carboxylate and inorganic anions. It was used for the direct assay of ibuprofen in commercial tablets by means of the standard additions method. The analytical results obtained by using this electrode are in good agreement with those given by the United States Pharmacopeia procedure.     

Palladized aluminum electrode covered by Prussian blue film as an effective transducer for electrocatalytic oxidation and hydrodynamic amperometry of N-acetyl-cysteine and glutathione

The mediated oxidation of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GL) at the palladized aluminum electrode modified by Prussian blue film (PB/Pd–Al) is described. The catalytic activity of PB/Pd–Al was explored in terms of Fe^III[Fe^III(CN)₆]/Fe^III[Fe^II(CN)₆]¹⁻ system by taking advantage of the metallic palladium layer inserted between PB film and Al, as an electron-transfer bridge. The best mediated oxidation of NAC and GL on the PB/Pd–Al electrode was achieved in 0.5 M KNO₃ + 0.2 M potassium acetate of pH 2. The mechanism and kinetics of the catalytic oxidation reactions of the both compounds were monitored by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The charge transfer-rate limiting step as well as overall oxidation reaction of NAC or GL is found to be a one-electron abstraction. The values of transfer coefficients α, catalytic rate constant k and diffusion coefficient D are 0.5, 3.2 × 10² M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 2.45 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ for NAC and 0.5, 2.1 × 10² M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 3.7 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ for GL, respectively. The modifying layers on the Pd–Al substrate have reproducible behavior and a high level of stability in the electrolyte solutions. The modified electrode is exploited for hydrodynamic amperometry of NAC and GL. The amperometric calibration graph is linear in concentration ranges 2 × 10⁻⁶–40 × 10⁻⁶ for NAC and 5 × 10⁻⁷–18 × 10⁻⁶ M for GL and the detection limits are 5.4 × 10⁻⁷ and 4.6 × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively.     

The reduction mechanism of the C=O group. Part 2. The electrochemical reduction of p-diacetylbenzene in aqueous medium

A detailed study of the electrochemical reduction of diacetylbenzene A in aqueous medium between H_o = −5 and pH 14 is presented. The reactants are strongly adsorbed, so that the reactions are of a surface nature. From H_o = −5 to pH 6, a global 2e⁻ reduction yielding an enediol-type intermediate occurs. Analysis using the theory of the square schemes with protonations at equilibrium shows that, up to pH 4, the reaction is controlled by the first electron uptake, the paths being successively H⁺e⁻ and e⁻H⁺. The elementary electrochemical surface rate constants are 9.6 × 10⁷ s⁻ and 1.2 × 10⁶ s⁻ for AH⁺ and A respectively. From pH 6 to 14, a le⁻ adsorption wave, corresponding to the formation of (a) monoradical(s), appears and is followed by a le⁻ wave due to the reduction of the radical(s). A dimerization occurs, due to the coupling A⁻ + AH, as in the case of the monocarbonyl compounds. The rate of this surface process, k_d = 5 × 10¹³ cm² mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, is markedly smaller than the rate of the homogeneous reaction obtained in alkaline ethanol by Savéant et al. for the coupling of the radicals of benzaldehyde, benzophenone and acetophenone.     

Diffusion of Sr and Zr in BaTiO3 single crystals

The diffusion of strontium and zirconium in single crystal BaTiO₃ was investigated in air at temperatures between 1000 °C and 1250 °C. Thin films of SrTiO₃, deposited by spin coating a precursor solution and thin films of zirconium, deposited onto the sample surfaces by sputtering, were used as diffusion sources. The diffusion profiles were measured by SIMS depth profiling on a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (ToF-SIMS). The diffusion coefficients of strontium and zirconium were given by D_Sr = 3.6 × 10^2.0±4.4 exp[−(543 ± 117) kJ mol⁻¹/(RT)] cm² s⁻¹ and D_Zr = 1.1 × 10^1.0±2.1 exp[−(489 ± 56) kJ mol⁻¹/(RT)] cm² s⁻¹. The results are discussed in terms of different diffusion mechanisms in the perovskite structure of BaTiO₃.     

C60 trianion-mediated electrocatalysis and amperometric sensing of hydrogen peroxide

Heterogeneous electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) by C₆₀ is reported for the first time. C₆₀ is embedded in tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB) film and is characterized by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Electrocatalytic studies show that the trianion of C₆₀ mediates the electrocatalytic reduction of H₂O₂ in aqueous solution containing 0.1 M KCl. Application of such film modified electrode as an amperometric sensor for H₂O₂ determination is also examined. The sensor shows a fast response within 1 s and a linear response is obtained (R = 0.9986) in the concentration range from 3.33 × 10⁻⁵ to 2.05 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ for H₂O₂, with the detection limit of 2 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ and the sensitivity of 1.65 μA mM⁻¹. A good repeatability and stability is shown for the sensor during the experiment.     

Pulse radiolysis study of ion-species effects on the solvated electron in alkylammonium ionic liquids

The spectra and kinetic behavior of solvated electrons (e_sol⁻) in alkyl ammonium ionic liquids (ILs), i.e. N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (DEMMA-TFSI), N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium tetrafluoroborate (DEMMA-BF₄), N,N,N-trimethyl-N-propylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TMPA-TFSI), N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PP13-TFSI), N-methyl-N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (P13-TFSI), and N-methyl-N-butylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (P14-TFSI) were investigated by the pulse radiolysis method. The e_sol⁻ in each of the ammonium ILs has an absorption peak at 1100 nm, with molar absorption coefficients of 1.5–2.3×10⁴ dm³ mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The e_sol⁻ decayed by first order with a rate constant of 1.4–6.4×10⁶ s⁻¹. The reaction rate constant of the solvated electron with pyrene (Py) was 1.5–3.5×10⁸ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ in the various ILs. These values were about one order of magnitude higher than the diffusion-controlled limits calculated from measured viscosities. The radiolytic yields (G-value) of the e_sol⁻ were 0.8–1.7×10⁻⁷ mol J⁻¹. The formation rate constant of e_sol⁻ in DEMMA-TFSI was 3.9×10¹⁰ s⁻¹. The dry electron (e_dry⁻) in DEMMA-TFSI reacts with Py with a rate constant of 7.9×10¹¹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, three orders of magnitude higher than that of the e_sol⁻ reactions. The G-value of the e_sol⁻ in the picosecond time region is 1.2×10⁻⁷ mol J⁻¹. The capture of e_dry⁻ by scavengers was found to be very fast in ILs.     

Sr2NiMoO6−δ as anode material for LaGaO3-based solid oxide fuel cell

The double-perovskite Sr₂NiMoO_6−δ (SNMO) was investigated as an anode material of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). With a 300 μm thick La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3−σ (LSGM) disk as electrolyte and Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ as the cathode, the SNMO anode showed power densities of 819 mW cm⁻² in hydrogen at 1123 K. Moreover, there was no buffer layer between anode and electrolyte, which would reduce design techniques and save design cost. After test no chemical reaction was discovered between anode and electrolyte. The anode exhibited good conductivity and the value was around 60 S cm⁻¹ in H₂. Also it had almost linear thermal expansion from room temperature to 1253 K and the average thermal expansion coefficient was about 12.14 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, which was quite close to that of La_0.9Sr_0.lGa_0.8Mg_0.2O₃ (12.17 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹) electrolyte.     

Comparison of the effects of visible femtosecond laser pulses and continuous wave laser radiation of low average intensity on the clonogenicity of Escherichia coli

To evaluate the contribution of local pulsed heating of light-absorbing microregions to biochemical activity, irradiation of Escherichia coli was carried out using femtosecond laser pulses (λ = 620 nm, τ_p=3 × 10⁻¹³ s, f_p = 0.5 Hz, E_p = 1.1 × 10⁻³J cm⁻², I_av = 5.5 × 10⁻⁴ W cm⁻², I_p = 10⁹ W cm⁻²) and continuous wave (CW) laser radiation (λ = 632.8 nm, I = 1.3 W cm⁻²). The irradiation dose required to produce a similar biological effect (a 160%–190% increase in the clonogenic activity of the irradiated cells compared with the non-irradiated controls) is a factor of about 10³ lower for pulsed radiation than for CW radiation (3.3 × 10⁻¹ and 7.8 × 10² J cm⁻² respectively). The minimum size of the microregions transiently heated on irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses is estimated to be about 10 Å, which corresponds to the size of the chromophores of hypothetical primary photoacceptors—respiratory chain components.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new organic nonlinear optical crystal: l-Phenylalaninium maleate

l-Phenylalaninium maleate (abbreviated as LPM) chemical formula C₉H₁₂NO₂⁺·C₄H₃O₄⁻, a new organic nonlinear optical crystal was grown by slow evaporation technique. Transparent needle shaped crystal of dimensions 7 mm × 1 mm × 0.5 mm was obtained. Single crystals of LPM have been subjected to X-ray diffraction analysis to estimate the lattice parameters and the space group. The powder X-ray diffractogram of the crystal has been recorded and the reflections from various planes are identified. The XRD studies confirm the crystalline nature. The qualitative analysis on the crystal has been carried out using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Fourier transform Raman (FTRaman) spectral measurements. The presence of hydrogen and carbon in the grown crystal was confirmed by using proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analyses. Optical behaviour of the crystal was investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy. The thermal stability of the crystal was analysed with the aid of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nonlinear optical (NLO) property of the crystal was tested by Nd:YAG laser source.     

Recombination of HCO and DCO ions with electrons

Recombination of HCO⁺ and DCO⁺ ions with electrons was studied in afterglow plasma. The flowing afterglow with Langmuir probe (FALP) apparatus was used to measure the recombination rate coefficients and their temperature dependencies in the range 150–270 K. To obtain a recombination rate coefficient for a particular ion, the dependencies on partial pressures of gases used in the ion formation were measured. The variations of α_HCO⁺(T) and α_DCO⁺(T) seem to obey the power law: α_HCO⁺(T) = (2.0 ± 0.6) × 10⁻⁷ (T/300)^−1.3 cm³ s⁻¹ and α_DCO⁺(T) = (1.7 ± 0.5) × 10⁻⁷ (T/300)^−1.1 cm³ s⁻¹ over the studied temperature range.     

Theoretical investigation of the kinetics for the hydrogen abstraction reaction of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) by chlorine radical

The hydrogen abstraction reaction of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) by chlorine radical is investigated by theoretical calculations. Equilibrium geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of the reactants, transition state, and products are calculated using high-level ab initio methods. Rate constants of forward and backward reactions for the temperatures from 200 to 1000 K are calculated using classical transition state theory with Eckart tunneling correction, fitted in the expressions k_f (T) = 1.19 × 10⁻²³T^3.93exp (−1110/T), and k_b (T) = 8.86 × 10⁻²⁴T^3.32exp (−959/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for forward and backward reactions, respectively, and are in reasonable agreement with the available experimental values.     

Anisotropic exchange interactions in dinuclear systems (Ln = Dy, Tm, Yb): Magnetometry and Dual Mode X-band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopic study

A recently developed experimental and theoretical procedure is used in order to calculate the magnitude and anisotropy of interaction between a lanthanide and a 3d-metal ion. The general formula of the molecular compounds is [Ln(H₂O)₃(dmf)₄(μ-CN)Fe–(CN)₅] · nH₂O where 1  n  1,5 and dmf = N,N′-dimethylformamide, abbreviated as [LnFe] from now on. The main parts of this procedure are (a) the evaluation of the effective g-parameters of the lanthanide ion with the help of EPR measurements. (b) The use of dual mode EPR spectroscopy to define the anisotropic exchange interactions with the help of an anisotropic Hamiltonian model. (c) Use of the same magnetic model to fit magnetization and susceptibility data in order to verify the EPR findings.It was possible to define some trends concerning the exchange components of the [DyFe] dimer according to which the antiferromagnetic isotropic exchange constant is smaller than 4 cm⁻¹ and the anisotropic components are [D_exc, E_exc] = [6(1), 0.0] cm⁻¹. Also for the case of [TmFe] and [YbFe] dimers the antiferromagnetic isotropic exchange constant is smaller than 0.3 cm⁻¹ while the anisotropic components are [D_exc, E_exc] = [12.0, 0.0] cm⁻¹ and [D_exc, E_exc] = [0.4(1), 0.0] cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Oxidative degradation of non-ionic surfactant (TritonX-100) by chromium(VI)

Degradation of polyoxyethylene chain of non-ionic surfactant (TritonX-100) by chromium(VI) has been studied spectrophotometrically under different experimental conditions. The reaction rate bears a first-order dependence on the [Cr(VI)] under pseudo-first-order conditions, [TritonX-100]  [Cr(VI)] in presence of 1.16 mol dm⁻³ perchloric acid. The observed rate constant (k_obs) was 3.3 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.5 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ and the half-life (t_1/2) was 33–35 min for chromium(VI). The effects of total [TritonX-100] and [H⁺] on the reaction rate were determined. Reducing nature of non-ionic TritonX-100 surfactant is found to be due to the presence of –OH group in the polyoxyethylene chain. It was observed that monomeric and non-ionic micelles of TritonX-100 were oxidized by chromium(VI). When [TritonX-100] was less than its critical micelle concentration (cmc) the k_obs values increased from 0.76 × 10⁻⁴ to 1.5 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. As the [TritonX-100] was greater than the cmc, the k_obs values increases from 2.1 × 10⁻⁴ to 8.2 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ in presence of constant [HClO₄] (1.16 mol dm⁻³) at 40 °C. A comparison was made of the oxidative degradation rates of TritonX-100 with different metal ion oxidants. The order of the effectiveness of different oxidants was as follows: permanganate > diperiodatoargentate(III) > chromium(VI) > cerium(IV).     

Heavy water reactions with alkaline-earth metal dications in the gas phase: Kinetics at room temperature

Room temperature rate coefficients and product distributions are reported for the reactions initiated in D₂O with dications of the alkaline-earth metals Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba. The measurements were performed with a selected-ion flow tube (SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer and electrospray ionization (ESI). Mg²⁺ reacts with water by a fast electron transfer leading to charge separation with a rate coefficient of 1.4 × 10⁻⁹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. Ca²⁺ reacts with D₂O in a first step to form the adduct Ca²⁺(D₂O), with an effective bimolecular rate coefficient of 2.3 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, which then undergoes rapid charge separation by deuteron transfer to form CaOD⁺ and D₃O⁺ in a second step with k = 7.9 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The CaOD⁺ ion reacts further by clustering up to five more D₂O molecules. Sr²⁺ clusters up to eight D₂O molecules and Ba²⁺ up to seven D₂O molecules, with the first addition of D₂O being rate determining in each case and the last addition being distinctly slower, as might be expected from a transition in the occupation of the added water molecules from an inner to an outer hydration shell.