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Determining the radial distribution function of water using electron scattering: A key to solution phase chemistry
M B de Kock1, S Azim1, G H Kassier1
1Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Bldg. 99 (CFEL), 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|November 21, 2020
Summary
High energy electron scattering determined liquid water
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Understanding liquid water's structure is crucial for various scientific disciplines.
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) offers high-resolution imaging capabilities.
- Environmental liquid cells enable in-situ studies of liquids under TEM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the radial distribution of liquid water using high energy electron scattering.
- To investigate intra- and intermolecular spatial correlations in water.
- To demonstrate a novel approach for studying water-based systems in TEM.
Main Methods:
- High energy electron scattering experiments on liquid water (H2O) in a transmission electron microscope (TEM).
- Utilized a newly developed environmental liquid cell with silicon nitride (Si3N4) membranes for stable water layer formation.
- Adapted X-ray scattering analysis methods to account for multiple scattering in the H2O:Si3N4 system.
Main Results:
- Obtained distinct oxygen-oxygen (O-O) and oxygen-hydrogen (O-H) peaks at 2.84 Å and 1.83 Å, respectively.
- Results for radial distribution of water align well with existing literature values.
- Validated the capability of the environmental liquid cell for precise water layer thickness control.
Conclusions:
- The developed electron scattering method is effective for characterizing liquid water structure.
- This technique shows significant potential for future in-situ studies of water-based physics and chemistry.
- The approach is suitable for electron probes of structural dynamics in aqueous systems.
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