On the constituents of aqueous polyselenide electrolytes: A combined theoretical and Raman spectroscopic study
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
The speciation of aqueous polyselenide solutions at high pH values has been investigated by Raman and Uv/vis absorption spectroscopy. Complementary, ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the HF/6-31+G{sup *} level of theory have been carried out on the vibrational frequencies of polyselenide dianions Se{sub x}{sup 2{minus}} (x = 2--4), polyselenide radical anions Se{sub x}{sup {minus}} (x = 2, 3), and protonated polyselenides HSe{sub x}{sup {minus}} (x = 1--3) in order to substantiate the assignment of the experimental Raman spectra. Although the optical spectra suggest the successive formation of Se{sub 2}{sup 2{minus}}, Se{sub 3}{sup 2{minus}}, and Se{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} with progressive oxidation of the solutions, only two characteristic Raman bands are observed at 269 and 324 cm{sup {minus}1}. A sequence of overtones of the 269 cm{sup {minus}1} band is observed after excitation with blue light. Likewise strong overtones of the 324 cm{sup {minus}1} band appear after excitation with green light. The 269 cm{sup {minus}1} features is assigned to Se{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} while the 324 cm{sup {minus}1} band is attributed to the radical anion Se{sub 2}{sup {minus}}. The occurrence of polyselenide radicals in aqueous solution is without precedent, and the formation of Se{sub 2}{sup {minus}} is ascribed to a photolytic process in the electrolyte. The only protonated species observed in this study is HSe{sup {minus}}, which is characterized by a Raman band at 2,303 cm{sup {minus}1}.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 684316
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 121; ISSN JACSAT; ISSN 0002-7863
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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