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A highly active and stable IrO x /SrIrO 3 catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction
Oxygen electrochemistry plays a key role in renewable energy technologies such as fuel cells and electrolyzers, but the slow kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) limit the performance and commercialization of such devices. Here we report an iridium oxide/strontium iridium oxide (IrO x /SrIrO 3 ) catalyst formed during electrochemical testing by strontium leaching from surface layers of thin films of SrIrO 3 . This catalyst has demonstrated specific activity at 10 milliamps per square centimeter of oxide catalyst (OER current normalized to catalyst surface area), with only 270 to 290 millivolts of overpotential for 30 hours of continuous testing in acidic electrolyte. Density functional theory calculations suggest the formation of highly active surface layers during strontium leaching with IrO 3 or anatase IrO 2 motifs. The IrO x /SrIrO 3 catalyst outperforms known IrO x and ruthenium oxide (RuO x ) systems, the only other OER catalysts that have reasonable activity in acidic electrolyte.
Cross sections for neutron-induced reactions from surrogate data: Reexamining the Weisskopf-Ewing approximation for ( n , n ' ) and ( n , 2 n ) reactions
Background: Modeling nuclear reaction networks for nuclear science applications and for simulations of astrophysical environments relies on cross section data for a vast number of reactions, many of which have never been measured. Cross sections for neutron-induced reactions on unstable nuclei are particularly scarce, since they are the most difficult to measure. Consequently, we must rely on theoretical predictions or indirect measurements to obtain the requisite reaction data. For compound nuclear reactions, the surrogate reaction method can be used to determine many cross sections of interest. Purpose: Earlier work has demonstrated that cross sections for neutron-induced fission and radiative neutron capture can be determined from a combination of surrogate reaction data and theory. For the fission case, it was shown that the Weisskopf-Ewing approximation, which significantly simplifies the implementation of the surrogate method, can be employed. Capture cross sections cannot be obtained, and require a detailed description of the surrogate reaction process. Here, we examine the validity of the Weisskopf-Ewing approximation for determining unknown (n, n') and (n, 2n) cross sections from surrogate data. Methods: Using statistical reaction calculations with realistic parametrizations, we investigate first whether the assumptions underlying the Weisskopf-Ewing approximation are valid for (n, n') and (n, 2n) reactions on representative target nuclei. We then produce simulated surrogate reaction data and assess the impact of applying the Weisskopf-Ewing approximation when extracting (n, n') and (n, 2n) cross sections in situations where the approximation is not strictly justified. Results: We find that peak cross sections can be estimated using the Weisskopf-Ewing approximation, but the shape of the (n, n') and (n, 2n) cross sections, especially for low neutron energies, cannot be reliably determined without accounting for the angular-momentum differences between the neutron-induced and surrogate reaction. Conclusions: To obtain reliable (n, n') and (n, 2n) cross sections from surrogate reaction data, a detailed description of the surrogate reaction mechanisms is required. To do so for the compound-nucleus energies and decay channels relevant to these reactions, it becomes necessary to extend current modeling capabilities.
A quantitative study of the structure-activity relationship in hierarchical zeolites using liquid-phase reactions
Micro/meso/macroporous (hierarchical) zeolites show remarkable catalytic performance for reactions involving bulky reactants. However, quantitative assessment of the microstructural characteristics contributing to the observed performance remains elusive. Here, structure–activity relationships are established for a set of micro/mesoporous self-pillared pentasil (SPP) zeolites using two parallel liquid-phase reactions (benzyl alcohol alkylation and self-etherification) based on analysis of mass transport and reaction kinetics. A reaction–diffusion mathematical model is developed that quantitatively assigns the catalytic contributions of the external surface and micropores of SPP zeolites for these reactions. In addition, the effect of the zeolite external surface structure on the corresponding catalytic activity is quantitatively assessed by comparing SPP zeolites (with MFI structure) with MCM-22 (with MWW structure). This work demonstrates that reaction–diffusion modeling allows quantitative description of the catalytic performance of hierarchical zeolites and provides a model reaction to assess nm-sized characteristic diffusion lengths in MFI.
A Versatile Approach for Quantification of Surface Site Fractions using Reaction Kinetics: The Case of CO Oxidation on Supported Ir Single Atoms and Nanoparticles
Supported metal single atom catalysts have shown unique activity and selectivity for several reactions. Investigating the reaction mechanism on single atom catalysts and unambiguous assignment of the activity and selectivity requires catalysts with exclusively single atoms. However, it is challenging to prepare pure single atom catalysts with conventional impregnation methods, which typically result in a mixture of single atoms and nanoparticles. Here, we show that owing to different reaction mechanisms on single atoms and nanoparticles, reaction kinetics can serve as a surface sensitive characterization technique for quantifying their surface site fractions. As a case study, we use CO oxidation kinetics on Ir/MgAl2O4 to quantify the surface site fractions of single atoms and nanoparticles and the results are consistent with aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption fine structure and infrared spectroscopies. Additionally, by carefully choosing the reaction conditions, the activity of single atoms (or nanoparticles) can be made dominant, enabling detection of a small fraction, or allowing a study of their reaction mechanism on a catalyst containing a mixture of single atoms and nanoparticles. These results are general and could be applied to other systems where two types of sites have different reaction mechanisms.
The impact of mineral reactive surface area variation on simulated mineral reactions and reaction rates
Reactive transport modeling is an essential tool to simulate complex geochemical reactions in porous media that can impact formation properties including porosity and permeability. However, simulating these reactions is challenging due to uncertainties in model parameters, particularly mineral surface areas. Imaging has emerged as a powerful means of estimating model parameters including porosity and mineral abundance, accessibility and accessible surface area. However, these parameters, particularly mineral accessible surface area, vary with image resolution. This work aims to enhance understanding of the impact of image resolution and other means of estimating mineral reactive surface area on simulated mineral reactions and reaction rates. Mineral surface areas calculated from images with resolutions of 0.34 μm and 5.71 μm were used to simulate mineral reactions in the context of geologic CO 2 sequestration in the Paluxy formation at the continuum scale. Additional simulations were carried out using BET surface areas collected from the literature and geometric surface areas. Simulations were run for 7300 days and mineral volume fractions and effluent ion concentrations tracked and compared. Variations in mineral surface areas measured from images are within 1 order of magnitude and yield similar simulation results, indicating the impact of image resolution on simulated reactions and reaction rates is minimum for the resolutions and sample considered. In comparison, surface areas obtained from BET and geometric approaches are 1–4 orders of magnitude higher than image-obtained surface areas and result in greater simulated reaction rates and extents. Minerals with high reaction rates (calcite and siderite) are most impacted by surface area values at short times where simulated mineral volume fractions at longer times agree relatively well, even for simulations with several orders of magnitude variation in surface area. Phases with lower reaction rates, such as K-feldspar and muscovite, are predominantly impacted over longer times where variations in surface areas impact reaction extents and porosity evolution. Overall, variations in surface areas due to image resolution are small and result in little variation in simulated reactions and reaction rates while there are significant variations in simulation results when other surface area estimates are used. These variations, however, depend on the reactivity of the mineral phase where surface areas of fast-reacting phases largely impact simulations at short (hours to days) timescales and surface areas of slower-reactive phases impact longer term simulations (years).
Reaction Mechanism of Vapor-Phase Formic Acid Decomposition over Platinum Catalysts: DFT, Reaction Kinetics Experiments, and Microkinetic Modeling
A combination of periodic density functional theory (DFT, PW91-GGA) calculations, reaction kinetics experiments, and mean-field microkinetic modeling is used to derive insights on the reaction mechanism and determine the nature of the active site under reaction conditions for the vapor-phase decomposition of formic acid (FA, HCOOH) over Pt/C catalysts. Microkinetic models formulated using DFT energetics derived on the clean Pt(100) and Pt(111) required large parameter adjustments to reproduce the experimentally measured apparent activation energies and reaction orders. Further, these models predicted high surface coverage of adsorbed carbon monoxide (CO*), inconsistent with the environment of the active site in the DFT calculations on the clean surfaces. Consequently, we reperformed DFT calculations for the entire reaction network on partially CO*-covered (4/9 monolayer, ML) Pt(111) and Pt(100). The resultant microkinetic models, with thermochemistry and kinetics explicitly dependent on CO* coverage, were able to reproduce the experimentally determined activation energies and reaction orders, in addition to being self-consistent in CO* coverage. Our results suggest that Pt(100) is likely poisoned by CO* under typical reaction conditions and does not contribute significantly to the experimentally observed reactivity. Instead, we find that Pt(111) better represents the active site for FA decomposition reaction on Pt/C catalysts. The optimized model on 4/9 ML CO*-covered Pt(111) suggests that the reaction occurs via the carboxyl (COOH*) intermediate and that the spectator CO*-assisted pathways play a significant role under reaction conditions. Lastly, this study underscores the importance of spectator species on the energetics and the mechanism of a catalytic reaction and their key role in developing a model that better addresses the nature of the active site under realistic catalytic reaction conditions.
Investigation of the Role of the Role of Nuclear Physics in Heavy Element Nucleosynthesis, through the Study of Key Reactions, and the Improvement of Theoretical Reaction Rates (Final Report)
Neutrino-driven winds in core-collapse supernovae have been identified as a possible site for the production of elements heavier than iron. Traditionally, these neutrino-driven winds have been proposed as the site of the main r-process. Recent simulations fail to reproduce the conditions required for the main r-process. while they remain a promising site for producing the lightest elements beyond iron, e.g., Sr, Y, and Zr through the νp process. The efficiency of the νp process depends on the hydrodynamical conditions, the electron fraction (which is related to the neutrino properties), and the nuclear reactions on many short-lived nuclei with limited (if at all) experimental information. The reaction rates on these nuclei are based on theoretical predictions using the Hauser-Feshbach model. Recent sensitivity studies have highlighted the importance of neutron-induced reactions on these nuclei along the νp process path. This work aimed to experimentally constrain reaction rates that are known to play a key role in the neutrino-p process nucleosynthesis. A secondary subsequently-added objective was to start the implementation of techniques that improve the description of nuclear properties in the Hauser-Feshbach model by extending the microscopic nuclear level density description offered via the shell model to high excitation energies without using experiment-based renormalizations. The main objective of this work was the experimental constraint of the 56 Ni(n,p) 56 Co reaction rate via a measurement of the inverse reaction 56 Co(p,n) 56 Ni at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) and later the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). This reaction is considered the key one for determining the yields possible by the neutrino-p process. A technique for this type of measurement in inverse kinematics at low energies did not exist before this work. The work also had two secondary objectives. First, to contribute to efforts to measure the same reaction in direct kinematics using a radioactive target at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and second, to advance work to implement shell-model-deduced microscopic level densities in Hauser-Feshbach calculations. The project has resulted in the development of the first technique to perform (p,n) cross-section measurements in relevant-for-astrophysics low energies in inverse kinematics using a magnetic spectrometer or separator, and neutron detectors for neutron tagging. It has also resulted in the precise measurement of the cross-section of the 40 Ar(p,n) 40 K reaction in a proof-of-principle experiment realized by using a beam-line quadrupole of the ReA3 accelerator of NSCL/FRIB. As part of this project the technique was successfully adapted to make use of the superior acceptance of the Separator for Capture Reactions (SECAR) at FRIB. In this project, the required experimental setup simulations and beam optics were developed and tested with the measurement of the 58 Fe(p,n) 58 Cu reaction cross-section. Additionally, this project contributed with simulation work to the development of a technique to measure (n,p) reactions with radioactive targets at LANL, and which resulted in the measurement of the key 56 Ni(n,p) 56 Co reaction cross-section at neutron energies above ≈1 MeV. Last, the project initiated work in the development of shell model based level densities using the moments method.
A molecular dynamics study of intramolecular proton transfer reaction of malonaldehyde in solution based upon a mixed quantum–classical approximation. II. Proton transfer reaction in non-polar solvent
The intramolecular proton transfer reaction of malonaldehyde in neon solvent has been investigated by mixed quantum–classical molecular dynamics (QCMD) calculations and fully classical molecular dynamics (FCMD) calculations. Comparing these calculated results with those for malonaldehyde in water reported in Part I [A. Yamada, H. Kojima, and S. Okazaki, J. Chem. Phys. 141, 084509 (2014)], the solvent dependence of the reaction rate, the reaction mechanism involved, and the quantum effect therein have been investigated. With FCMD, the reaction rate in weakly interacting neon is lower than that in strongly interacting water. However, with QCMD, the order of the reaction rates is reversed. To investigate the mechanisms in detail, the reactions were categorized into three mechanisms: tunneling, thermal activation, and barrier vanishing. Then, the quantum and solvent effects were analyzed from the viewpoint of the reaction mechanism focusing on the shape of potential energy curve and its fluctuations. The higher reaction rate that was found for neon in QCMD compared with that found for water solvent arises from the tunneling reactions because of the nearly symmetric double-well shape of the potential curve in neon. The thermal activation and barrier vanishing reactions were also accelerated by the zero-point energy. The number of reactions based on these two mechanisms in water was greater than that in neon in both QCMD and FCMD because these reactions are dominated by the strength of solute–solvent interactions.
26 Al + p elastic and inelastic scattering reactions and galactic abundances of 26 Al
Galactic 26 Al is the first radioactive nucleus to be positively identified by -ray astronomy with detection of the 1.809 MeV ray associated with its decay. This nucleus is destroyed in astrophysical environments in the 26 Al(p, ) 27 Si and inelastic 26 Al+p scattering reactions where properties of 27 Si levels determine reaction rates. To investigate these properties, elastic and inelastic 26Al+p scattering reactions were measured between E c.m. = 0.5 1.5 MeV at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). A candidate for a new resonance in the 26Al(p, )27Si reaction was identified. Upper limits were also set on the strengths of postulated resonances and on the cross section of the inelastic reaction, but there is little effect on current reaction rate calculations.
Chemical characterization of SOA formed from aqueous-phase reactions of phenols with the triplet excited state of carbonyl and hydroxyl radical
Phenolic compounds, which are emitted in significant amounts from biomass burning, can undergo fast reactions in atmospheric aqueous phases to form secondary organic aerosol (aqSOA). In this study, we investigate the reactions of phenol (compound with formula C 6 H 5 OH)), guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), and syringol (2,6-dimethoxyphenol) with two major aqueous-phase oxidants – the triplet excited states of an aromatic carbonyl ( 3 C * ) and hydroxyl radical (· OH). We thoroughly characterize the low-volatility species produced from these reactions and interpret their formation mechanisms using aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS), nanospray desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nano-DESI MS), and ion chromatography (IC). A large number of oxygenated molecules are identified, including oligomers containing up to six monomer units, functionalized monomer and oligomers with carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups, and small organic acid anions (e.g., formate, acetate, oxalate, and malate). The average atomic oxygen-to-carbon (O / C) ratios of phenolic aqSOA are in the range of 0.85–1.23, similar to those of low-volatility oxygenated organic aerosol (LV-OOA) observed in ambient air. The aqSOA compositions are overall similar for the same precursor, but the reactions mediated by 3 C * are faster than · OH-mediated reactions and produce more oligomers and hydroxylated species at the point when 50% of the phenolic compound has reacted. Profiles determined using a thermodenuder indicate that the volatility of phenolic aqSOA is influenced by both oligomer content and O / C ratio. In addition, the aqSOA shows enhanced light absorption in the UV–visible region, suggesting that aqueous-phase reactions of phenols may contribute to formation of secondary brown carbon in the atmosphere, especially in regions influenced by biomass burning.
On the mechanism of effective chemical reactions with turbulent mixing of reactants and finite rate of molecular reactions
A generalization of the theory of chemical transformation processes under turbulent mixing of reactants and arbitrary values of the rate of molecular reactions is presented that was previously developed for the variant of an instantaneous reaction [13]. The use of the features of instantaneous reactions when considering the general case, namely, the introduction of the concept of effective reaction for the reactant volumes and writing a closing conservation equation for these volumes, became possible due to the partition of the whole amount of reactants into “active” and “passive” classes; the reactants of the first class are not mixed and react by the mechanism of instantaneous reactions, while the reactants of the second class approach each other only through molecular diffusion, and therefore their contribution to the reaction process can be neglected. The physical mechanism of reaction for the limit regime of an ideal mixing reactor (IMR) is revealed and described. Although formally the reaction rate in this regime depends on the concentration of passive fractions of the reactants, according to the theory presented, the true (hidden) mechanism of the reaction is associated only with the reaction of the active fractions of the reactants with vanishingly small concentration in the volume of the reactor. It is shown that the rate constant of fast chemical reactions can be evaluated when the mixing intensity of reactants is much less than that needed to reach the mixing conditions in an IMR.
Equilibrium and pre-equilibrium processes in the {sup 55}Mn({sup 6}Li,xp) and {sup 57}Fe({alpha},xp) reactions
Spectra of outgoing neutrons and protons from the {sup 6}Li + {sup 55}Mn reaction and protons from the {alpha} + {sup 57}Fe reaction have been measured with beams of 15-MeV {sup 6}Li ions and 30-MeV {alpha} particles. These reactions proceed through the same {sup 61}Ni nucleus at the same excitation energy, thus allowing the difference in reaction mechanisms to be studied. It is shown that spectra from the first reaction measured at backward angles are due to emission from a traditional compound nucleus reaction, in which the intermediate nucleus has reached statistical equilibrium; the spectra from the second reaction contain a significant fraction of pre-equilibrium emission at all angles. Level density parameters of the residual nucleus {sup 60}Co have been obtained from the first reaction. Both emission spectra and angular distributions have been measured for the second reaction. It was found that the pre-equilibrium component exhibits a forward-peaked angular distribution, as expected, but with a steeper slope than predicted and with an unusual slight rise at angles above 120 deg. The backward-angle rise is explained qualitatively by the dominance of the multistep compound mechanism at backward angles.
Reaction pathway analysis of (Ag x Cu 1-x )(In 0.75 Ga 0.25 )Se 2 with x = 0.75 and 1.0
Reaction pathways during formation of Ag(In 0.75 Ga 0.25 )Se 2 films were investigated by ex-situ characterization of time-progressive reactions using rapid thermal processing at 450 °C under 5% Ar/H 2 Se atmosphere. Composition measurements using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) show that with Ag/(Ag+Cu) = 1.0, Ga grading and Se uptake occur gradually up to 20 min. With 7 min reaction, there was no sign of a AgInSe 2 phase and only a Ag(In,Ga) 5 Se 8 chalcogenide phase formed. The reaction was completed with formation of Ag(In,Ga)Se 2 and Ag(In,Ga) 5 Se 8 within 20 min. The addition of Cu to the precursor so that Ag/(Ag+Cu) = 0.75 speeds up the reaction and reduces the formation of the Ag(In,Ga) 5 Se 8 phase. EDS and XRF analyses indicated that Ga grading and Se uptake were completed after 10 min. XRD analysis also shows formation of CuInSe 2 on the surface of the sample with Cu after 3.5 min reaction prior to other chalcogenide formation. On the other hand, a strong Ag(In,Ga)Se 2 (112) XRD peak appeared after 5 min reaction compared to 10 min reaction for 100% Ag films. EDS and Raman scattering measurements on the back-side of the films after delamination from the substrate indicated that Ga accumulated in AgGaSe 2 and Ga-Se phases at the back-side of films after 45 min reaction. XRD analysis showed that Ag tends to stay in the stable ζ-Ag 3 (In,Ga) phase during the reaction with Ag/(Ag+Cu) = 1.0, but not with 0.75, and this causes the longer reaction time and the non-uniformity.
A quantum reaction dynamics study of the translational, vibrational, and rotational motion effects on the HD +H{sub 3}{sup +} reaction
Time-dependent, quantum reaction dynamics wavepacket approach is employed to investigate the impacts of the translational, vibrational, and rotational motion on the HD+H{sub 3}{sup +}{yields} H{sub 2}D{sup +}+ H{sub 2} reaction using the Xie-Braams-Bowman potential energy surface [Z. Xie, B. J. Braams, and J. M. Bowman, J. Chem. Phys. 122, 224307 (2005)]. We treat this five atom reaction with a seven-degree-of-freedom model by fixing one Jacobi and one torsion angle related to H{sub 3}{sup +} at the lowest saddle point geometry of the potential energy surface. The initial state selected reaction probabilities show that the rotational excitations of H{sup +}-H{sub 2} greatly enhance the reactivity with the reaction probabilities increased double at high rotational states compared to the ground state. However, the vibrational excitations of H{sub 3}{sup +} hinder the reactivity. The ground state reaction probability shows no reaction threshold for this exoergic reaction, and as the translational energy increases, the reaction probability decreases. Furthermore, reactive resonances and zero point energy play very important roles on the reaction dynamics. The obtained integral cross section has the character of an exoergic reaction without a threshold: it decreases with the translational energy increasing. The calculated thermal rate constants using this seven-degree-of-freedom model are in agreement with a later experiment measurement.
An Improved Reaction Rate Formulation for Charged-Particle Induced Thermonuclear Reaction of {sup 2}H(d,{gamma}){sup 4}He
The reaction rate formula utilized in compilations such as the Nuclear Astrophysics Compilation of Reaction Rates (NACRE) uses low energy approximation due to temperatures in stars are in the region of a few keVs. Most nuclear reaction experiments were done in MeV range and the interior temperatures of massive stars are {approx}10{sup 9} K. Hence an improved formulation for calculating the nuclear reaction rate that is applicable to high temperatures is discussed in this work. The exact tunneling probability that is applicable for all energies is obtained by solving the Schroedinger equation. This yields an enhanced expression for the astrophysical S-factor for calculating the thermonuclear reaction rate at high temperature. The thermonuclear reaction rate from this work is applied to the {sup 2}H(d,{gamma}){sup 4}He reaction and is compared with the NACRE compilation. This improved reaction rate can be included in the nuclear reaction network in a Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) code or a stellar nuclear network code.
Reactions between chlorine atom and acetylene in solid para-hydrogen: Infrared spectrum of the 1-chloroethyl radical
We applied infrared matrix isolation spectroscopy to investigate the reactions between Cl atom and acetylene (C{sub 2}H{sub 2}) in a para-hydrogen (p-H{sub 2}) matrix at 3.2 K; Cl was produced via photodissociation at 365 nm of matrix-isolated Cl{sub 2} in situ. The 1-chloroethyl radical ({center_dot}CHClCH{sub 3}) and chloroethene (C{sub 2}H{sub 3}Cl) are identified as the main products of the reaction Cl + C{sub 2}H{sub 2} in solid p-H{sub 2}. IR absorption lines at 738.2, 1027.6, 1283.4, 1377.1, 1426.6, 1442.6, and 2861.2 cm{sup -1} are assigned to the 1-chloroethyl radical. For the reaction of Cl + C{sub 2}D{sub 2}, lines due to the {center_dot}CDClCH{sub 2}D radical and trans-CHDCDCl are observed; the former likely has a syn-conformation. These assignments are based on comparison of observed vibrational wavenumbers and {sup 13}C- and D-isotopic shifts with those predicted with the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ methods. Our observation indicates that the primary addition product of Cl + C{sub 2}H{sub 2}, 2-chlorovinyl ({center_dot}CHCHCl) reacts readily with a neighboring p-H{sub 2} molecule to form {center_dot}CHClCH{sub 3} and C{sub 2}H{sub 3}Cl. Observation of {center_dot}CDClCH{sub 2}D and trans-CHDCDCl from Cl + C{sub 2}D{sub 2} further supports this conclusion. Although the reactivity of p-H{sub 2} appears to be a disadvantage for making highly reactive free radicals in solid p-H{sub 2}, the formation of 1-chloroethyl radical indicates that this secondary reaction might be advantageous in producing radicals that are difficult to prepare from simple photolysis or bimolecular reactions in situ.
A molecular dynamics study of intramolecular proton transfer reaction of malonaldehyde in solutions based upon mixed quantum-classical approximation. I. Proton transfer reaction in water
In order to investigate proton transfer reaction in solution, mixed quantum-classical molecular dynamics calculations have been carried out based on our previously proposed quantum equation of motion for the reacting system [A. Yamada and S. Okazaki, J. Chem. Phys. 128, 044507 (2008)]. Surface hopping method was applied to describe forces acting on the solvent classical degrees of freedom. In a series of our studies, quantum and solvent effects on the reaction dynamics in solutions have been analysed in detail. Here, we report our mixed quantum-classical molecular dynamics calculations for intramolecular proton transfer of malonaldehyde in water. Thermally activated proton transfer process, i.e., vibrational excitation in the reactant state followed by transition to the product state and vibrational relaxation in the product state, as well as tunneling reaction can be described by solving the equation of motion. Zero point energy is, of course, included, too. The quantum simulation in water has been compared with the fully classical one and the wave packet calculation in vacuum. The calculated quantum reaction rate in water was 0.70 ps{sup −1}, which is about 2.5 times faster than that in vacuum, 0.27 ps{sup −1}. This indicates that the solvent water accelerates the reaction. Further, the quantum calculation resulted in the reaction rate about 2 times faster than the fully classical calculation, which indicates that quantum effect enhances the reaction rate, too. Contribution from three reaction mechanisms, i.e., tunneling, thermal activation, and barrier vanishing reactions, is 33:46:21 in the mixed quantum-classical calculations. This clearly shows that the tunneling effect is important in the reaction.