Core and Valence Level Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Nanosolvated KCl

• Published in: The journal of physical chemistry. A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment, & general theory Vol. 125; no. 22; pp. 4750 - 4759
• Main Authors: Pelimanni, Eetu, Hautala, Lauri, Hans, Andreas, Kivimäki, Antti, Kook, Mati, Küstner-Wetekam, Catmarna, Marder, Lutz, Patanen, Minna, Huttula, Marko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 10.06.2021
• Subjects: A: Structure, Spectroscopy, and Reactivity of Molecules and Clusters; Condensed Matter Physics; Condensed Matter Physics (including Material Physics, Nano Physics); Den kondenserade materiens fysik; Den kondenserade materiens fysik (Här ingår: Materialfysik, nanofysik); Fysik; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Physical Sciences
• ISSN: 1089-5639; 1520-5215; 1520-5215
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c01539

The solvation of alkali and halide ions in the aqueous environment has been a subject of intense experimental and theoretical research with multidisciplinary interests; yet, a comprehensive molecular-level understanding has still not been obtained. In recent years, electron spectroscopy has been increasingly applied to study the electronic and structural properties of aqueous ions with implications, especially in atmospheric chemistry. In this work, we report core and valence level (Cl 2p, Cl 3p, and K 3p) photoelectron spectra of the common alkali halide, KCl, doped in gas-phase water clusters in the size range of a few hundred water molecules. The results indicate that the electronic structure of these nanosolutions shows a distinct character from that observed at the liquid–vapor interface in liquid microjets and ambient pressure setups. Insights are provided into the unique solvation properties of ions in a nanoaqueous environment, emerging properties of bulk electrolyte solutions with growing cluster size, and sensitivity of the electronic structure to varying solvation configurations.