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Title: A combined theoretical and experimental study of small anthracene–water clusters

Journal Article · · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d2cp02617a · OSTI ID:2326197

Water-cluster interactions with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of paramount interest in many chemical and biological processes. Here we report a study of anthracene monomers and dimers with water (up to four)-cluster systems utilizing molecular beam vacuum-UV photoionization mass spectrometry and density functional calculations. Structural loss in photoionization efficiency curves when adding water indicates that various isomers are generated, while theory indicates only a slight shift in energy in photoionization states of different isomers. Calculations reveal that the energetic tendency of water is to remain clustered and not to disperse around the PAH. Theoretically, we observe water confinement exclusively in the case of four water clusters and only when the anthracenes are in a cross configuration due to optimal OH∙∙∙π interactions, indicating dependence on the size and structure of the PAH. Furthermore theory sheds light on the structural changes that occur in water upon ionization of anthracene, due to the optimal interactions of the resulting hole and water hydrogen atoms.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Israel Science Foundation; USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
2326197
Journal Information:
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP, Journal Name: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP Journal Issue: 38 Vol. 24; ISSN 1463-9076
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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