Structure and theoretical infrared spectra of OH defects in quartz

Abstract

The infrared spectra of natural quartz, and synthetic quartz produced in conditions relevant to natural environments, generally contain some association of OH-stretching absorption bands at 3596, 3585, 3483, 3431, 3379 and 3313 cm−1, and/or a broad band at ∼ 3400 cm−1. In this study, a series of OH-bearing defects has been theoretically investigated from first principles within the density functional theory framework. The optimized structure, infrared spectroscopic properties and relative energy of defect configurations have been determined. Comparison with experimental observations enables the identification of atomic-scale configurations related to the experimentally observed OH-stretching bands. Consistent with previous interpretations, the results confirm the assignment of the bands at 3596 and 3483 cm−1 to OH defects associated with B3+ substituting for Si4+ and to OH defects associated with Li+ cations located in the structural channels, respectively. They also confirm the assignment of the bands at 3313 and 3379 cm−1 to OH associated with the Al3+-for-Si4+ substitution and, by implication, the previously given interpretation of the 3431 cm−1 band in terms of Fermi resonance. The band at 3585 cm−1 does not appear to be related to a hydrogarnet-type defect, as has been proposed previously, but potentially corresponds to isolated OH− groups bridging two Si atoms, where the charge compensation is ensured by a nonlocal mechanism.