Influence of Förster-type energy transfer on the vibrational relaxation of anionic hydration shells
1FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands. lotze@amolf.nl
Abstract:
We study the influence of Förster energy transfer on the vibrational relaxation dynamics of anionic hydration shells by performing time-resolved mid-infrared spectroscopy on the OH-stretch vibration of water molecules in aqueous solutions of sodium iodide. We observe that the Förster energy transfer leads to a pronounced acceleration of the vibrational relaxation. We describe the observed dynamics with a model in which we include the Förster vibrational energy transfer between the different hydroxyl groups in solution. With this model we can quantitatively describe the experimental data over a wide range of isotopic compositions and salt concentrations. Our results show that resonant energy transfer is an efficient mechanism assisting in the vibrational relaxation of anionic hydration shells.
Related Concept Videos
The Energies of Atomic Orbitals
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
IR Spectroscopy: Hooke's Law Approximation of Molecular Vibration
According to Hooke's law, the vibrational frequency is directly proportional to the...
Aqueous Solutions and Heats of Hydration
When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the ions in the solid separate and disperse uniformly throughout the solution because water molecules surround and solvate the ions, reducing the strong electrostatic forces between them. This process...
Energetics of Solution Formation
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Formation of the solution requires the solute–solute and solvent–solvent electrostatic forces to...
Atomic Nuclei: Types of Nuclear Relaxation
In spin–lattice or longitudinal relaxation, the excited spins exchange energy with the surrounding lattice as they return to the lower energy level. Among several mechanisms that contribute to spin–lattice relaxation, magnetic dipolar interactions are significant. Here, the excited nucleus transfers energy to a nearby...


