XAFS analysis of triiodide ion in solutions

Iodine K-edge XAFS of triiodide ions in various solvents were measured at SPring-8 BL01B1 and analyzed. Though the anion takes a linear and symmetric form, the second peak expected from enhanced multiple scatterings can be hardly observed because of its large vibrations. The bond distances and the Debye-Waller factors for the I-I couple vary when protic solvents were used and they were similar when aprotic solvents were used. It was indicated that the larger the Mayers' acceptor number of the solvent is, the larger the Debye-Waller factor is. It was also found that among the aprotic solvents, the larger the Gutmann's donor number is, the smaller the Debye-Waller factor is.