Photoelectron Spectroscopy of OH⁻-Anion–Water Clusters Generated by Ultrasonic Nebulizer

Abstract

Investigating molecules in the gas phase is the only way to discover their intrinsic molecular properties; however, it is challenging to produce the gaseous phase of large-molecule chemicals. Thermal evaporation is typically used to convert molecules into gases, but it is still challenging to study ionic molecules in solutions in the gas phase. Electrospray ionization is one of the best methods to generate molecules in the gas phase, and it is uniquely capable of studying large biomolecules, including proteins. However, the molecular temperature required to study the spectroscopic properties of the molecules is very high. In this study, we developed a new, simple evaporation method using an ultrasonic nebulizer to obtain gas-phase molecules. Using this new equipment, we observed OH− anions and their water clusters in the gas phase and obtained their photoelectron spectra. We observed that the vertical electron-detachment energy (VDE) of OH− was 1.90 ± 0.05 eV and the VDEs of its water clusters and OH− (H2O)n (n = 1–2) decreased to 1.50 ± 0.05 eV (n = 1) and 1.30 ± 0.05 eV (n = 2), respectively.

Keywords

• anion clusters
• ultrasonic vibrator
• gas phase
• hydroxide photoelectron spectroscopy
• mass spectroscopy