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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Probing the Solvation Shells of Lithium Ions in Glyme-Based Electrolytes

Glymes have been extensively studied as solvents for Li-battery electrolytes, most recently in equimolar mixtures with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), due to their ability to form stable solvates. However, directly quantifying free and coordinated glyme molecules in the liquid state has been challenging due to several experimental limitations. Here, in this work, new vibrational probes are demonstrated for studying the solvation structures of diglyme and triglyme in LiTFSI electrolytes. These IR probes make use of an amine group to report the solvation state of glymes at salt-to-solvent molar ratios ranging from 1:5 to 1:10. Characterization of the thermodynamic properties of the solvent exchange occurring in the first solvation shell of lithium ions (Li + ) showed an equilibrium constant for these probes close to unity at room temperature. This result demonstrates that the probes exhibit a similar solvation behavior to their glyme analogue. Concentration dependence studies also revealed a lack of significant amounts of contact ion pairs at the studied concentrations. Moreover, the first solvation shell of Li + appears to be formed by two partially chelating glyme molecules, establishing that even triglyme with multiple chelation sites does not fully coordinate the cation. Complementary molecular dynamics (MD) simulations agree with the experimental results and suggest that at these concentrations, TFSI – predominantly forms solvent-separated ion pairs. However, the simulations do not properly capture the partial solvation structure of the glyme molecules in the solvation shell of Li + as derived from the experiments.

electrolytes↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ion Solvation Engineering: How to Manipulate the Multiplicity of the Coordination Environment of Multivalent Ions

During free energy analysis of solvation structures of free divalent cations, their ion pairs, and neutral aggregates in low dielectric solvents reveals the multiplicity of thermodynamically stable cation solvation configurations and identifies the micro- and macroscopic factors responsible for this phenomenon. Specifically, we show the role of ion-solvent interactions and solvent mixtures in determining the cation solvation free energy landscapes. We show that it is the entropic contribution of solvent degrees of freedom that is responsible for the solvation multiplicity, and the mutual balance between enthalpic and entropic forces or their concerted contributions is what ultimately defines the most stable ion solvation configuration and creates new ones. We show general consequences of ion solvation multiplicity on thermodynamics of complex electrolytes, specifically in the context of homogeneous or interfacial charge transfer. Identified factors and their interplay provide a pathway to formulation of solvation design rules that can be used to control bulk solvation, interfacial chemistry, and charge transfer. Our findings also suggest experimentally testable predictions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Theory of Cation Solvation in the Helmholtz Layer of Li-Ion Battery Electrolytes

The solvation environments of Li + in conventional nonaqueous battery electrolytes, such as LiPF 6 in mixtures of ethylene carbaronate (EC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), are often used to rationalize transport properties and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. Solvation environments in the compact electrical double layer (EDL) next to the electrode, also known as the Helmholtz layer, determine (partially) what species can react to form the SEI, with bulk solvation environments often being used as a proxy. Here, we develop and test a theory of cation solvation in the Helmholtz layer of nonaqueous Li-ion battery electrolytes. First, we validate the theory against bulk and diffuse EDL atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of LiPF 6 EC/EMC mixtures as a function of surface charge, where we find the theory can qualitatively capture the solvation environments. Next, we turn to the Helmholtz layer, where we find the main effect of the solvation structures next to the electrode is an apparent reduction in the number of binding sites between Li + and the solvents, again where we find reasonable agreement with our developed theory. Finally, by solving a simplified version of the theory, we find that the probability of Li + binding to each solvent remains equal to the bulk probability, suggesting that the bulk solvation environments are a reasonable place to start when understanding battery electrolytes. Our developed formalism can be parametrized from bulk MD simulations and used to predict the solvation environments in the Helmholtz layer through reducing the number of available coordination sites, which can be used to determine what could react and form the SEI.

Helmholtz↗
DOE OSTI2015

Preferential solvation of lithium cations and impacts on oxygen reduction in lithium–air batteries

The solvation of Li⁺ with eleven non-aqueous solvents commonly used as the electrolytes for Li batteries were studied. The solvation preferences of different solvents were compared by means of electrospray mass spectrometry and collision-induced dissociation. The relative strength of the solvent for the solvation of Li⁺ was determined. The Lewis acidity of the solvated Li⁺ cations was determined by the preferential solvation of the solvent in the solvation shell. The kinetics of the catalytic disproportionation of the O₂⁻ depends on the relative Lewis acidity of the solvated Li⁺ ion. The impact of the solvated Li⁺ cation on the O₂ redox reaction was also investigated.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Solvation thermodynamics and heat capacity of polar and charged solutes in water

The solvation thermodynamics and in particular the solvation heat capacity of polar and charged solutes in water is studied using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. As ionic solutes we consider a F{sup -} and a Na{sup +} ion, as an example for a polar molecule with vanishing net charge we take a SPC/E water molecule. The partial charges of all three solutes are varied in a wide range by a scaling factor. Using a recently introduced method for the accurate determination of the solvation free energy of polar solutes, we determine the free energy, entropy, enthalpy, and heat capacity of the three different solutes as a function of temperature and partial solute charge. We find that the sum of the solvation heat capacities of the Na{sup +} and F{sup -} ions is negative, in agreement with experimental observations, but our results uncover a pronounced difference in the heat capacity between positively and negatively charged groups. While the solvation heat capacity {Delta}C{sub p} stays positive and even increases slightly upon charging the Na{sup +} ion, it decreases upon charging the F{sup -} ion and becomes negative beyond an ion charge of q=-0.3e. On the other hand, the heat capacity of the overall charge-neutral polar solute derived from a SPC/E water molecule is positive for all charge scaling factors considered by us. This means that the heat capacity of a wide class of polar solutes with vanishing net charge is positive. The common ascription of negative heat capacities to polar chemical groups might arise from the neglect of non-additive interaction effects between polar and apolar groups. The reason behind this non-additivity is suggested to be related to the second solvation shell that significantly affects the solvation thermodynamics and due to its large spatial extent induces quite long-ranged interactions between solvated molecular parts and groups.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Balancing solvation: stabilizing lithium metal batteries via optimized cosolvents for ionic-liquid electrolytes

In this study, we examined three cosolvents with distinct solvation capabilities for ionic-liquid electrolytes based on 1-methyl-1-propyl pyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (Py13FSI). We demonstrate that 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(2-(2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethane (FDG) notably enhances the cycle life of Py13FSI-based electrolytes, outperforming 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropylether (TTE) and diglyme (DG). Electrochemical and surface analyses showed that this improvement could be attributed to the formation of a favorable cathode interphase, promoting efficient Li+ transport with reduced overpotential. Spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy) and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that cosolvents with varying solvation abilities can influence the solvation structures in Py13FSI-based electrolytes. The mild solvating strength and lithium stability of FDG are key contributors to its effectiveness. Conversely, DG, a strong solvating solvent, destabilized the Py13FSI-DG electrolyte at the lithium metal anode, while TTE, a non-solvating solvent, failed to enhance lithium transport or form a stable cathode interphase. Our findings highlight that balanced solvation exerted by the cosolvents is critical for forming a stable electrolyte–cathode interface, potentially through FSI decomposition. This study offers valuable insights into the development of durable ionic-liquid electrolytes, emphasizing the importance of selecting cosolvents with optimal solvation properties.

Li, Xinlin [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Arg↗
DOE OSTI2026

Deciphering the Dynamic Balance Between Solvation Strength and Polysulfides Reaction Heterogeneity in Practical Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries

Achieving stable interfacial chemistry in lithium–sulfur batteries under practical conditions remains a key barrier to commercialization. Here, we demonstrate that interfacial dynamics can be effectively regulated by coupling solvation-power control with intrinsic heterogeneity of sulfur redox chemistry through the introduction of a weakly solvating fluorinated cosolvent, LIB 1200ET (1200ET). Compared with conventional fluorinated ethers, 1200ET efficiently shifts Li + solvation environment toward a more non-coordinated configuration at low volume fractions, enabling substantial solvation modulation without significantly impairing sulfur redox kinetics. This solvation transition weakens Li + –solvent interactions while strengthening Li + –anion and Li + –lithium polysulfide (LPS) coordination, suppressing LPS solubility and promoting reconstruction of solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI). Regulated LPS chemistry, together with 1200ET, leads to formation of a S 4+ -rich, LiF-reinforced SEI with enhanced ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness. Spatially resolved sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy on pouch cells reveals pronounced current-density-dependent chemical heterogeneity, distinguishing kinetically dominated and solvation-controlled regions. Under practical conditions (3.7 mg cm −2 sulfur loading, E/S = 6 µL mg −1 ), a single-layer pouch cell delivers 527 mAh g −1 over 200 cycles at C/3, while an Ah-level multilayer pouch cell achieves an energy density of 358 Wh kg −1 . These results establish non-coordinating cosolvent-driven solvation engineering as a scalable strategy for practical Li–S batteries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

DFT-based investigation of solvation of Nd(III)/Yb(III) cations in room-temperature ionic-liquid

We report a DFT study on the solvation of bare rare-earth (RE) cations [Nd(III) and Yb(III)] in the room-temperature ionic-liquid (RTIL) based on 1,3-dimethyl-imidazolium + , PF 6 - , [MMI][PF 6 ]. In the present article, we aim to investigate whether the chosen RTIL can preferentially solvate any of the RE cations under study. First, the RTIL binding to the RE cation is studied in the gas phase, and then explored with continuum solvation model employing RTIL parameters. First, we considered the formation of the first solvation shell, where the PF 6 - anions directly bond with the Ln(III) cation. We then further surrounded the first solvation shell with [MMI]+ cations to form the second solvation shell. The stability of PF 6 - coordinated complexes is studied by calculating the binding energy values. The number of PF 6 - anions for both Ln(III) cations starts with three ligands and goes until the maximum binding energy in the RTIL medium is reached. The coordination number and binding modes of PF 6 - depend on the size of the RE cation. Comparing the binding energy values between the RE cations for the first solvation shell complexes, it is noticed that Yb-complexes have relatively greater binding energy than Nd-complexes. We have further performed a Boltzmann population analysis to find out the most dominant conformer among each category of PF 6 - coordinated complexes. A study using Natural Population Analysis shows that after complexation with PF 6 - the charge on the Yb-centers lower to a greater extent than Nd-centers, implying stronger bonding between Yb and PF 6 - , which is in harmony with the binding energy analysis. Overall, the computational investigation provides an in-depth understanding of the complexation phenomena of RE cations in RTIL, which can be useful for the practical separation of RE cations using RTIL.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Machine Learning-Guided Approach for Studying Solvation Environments

Molecular-level understanding and characterization of solvation environments are often needed across chemistry, biology, and engineering. Toward practical modeling of local solvation effects of any solute in any solvent, in this work, we report a static and all-quantum mechanics-based cluster-continuum approach for calculating single-ion solvation free energies. This approach uses a global optimization procedure to identify low-energy molecular clusters with different numbers of explicit solvent molecules and then employs the smooth overlap for atomic positions learning kernel to quantify the similarity between different low-energy solute environments. From these data, we use sketch maps, a nonlinear dimensionality reduction algorithm, to obtain a two-dimensional visual representation of the similarity between solute environments in differently sized microsolvated clusters. After testing this approach on different ions having charges 2+, 1+, 1–, and 2–, we find that the solvation environment around each ion can be seen to usually become more similar in hand with its calculated single-ion solvation free energy. Without needing either dynamics simulations or an a priori knowledge of local solvation structure of the ions, this approach can be used to calculate solvation free energies within 5% of experimental measurements for most cases, and it should be transferable for the study of other systems where dynamics simulations are not easily carried out.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Correlating Solvation Free Energy to Electrolyte Properties for Lithium Metal Batteries

The electrolyte plays a critical role in lithium metal batteries. In particular, ion solvation profoundly impacts key electrolyte properties and battery performance. Here, in this study, we systematically investigate solvation-property relationships in a series of electrolytes with different solvent-diluent ratios. Through potentiometric techniques that measure the relative solvation free energies of electrolytes, we find that weaker solvation correlates with larger ion clusters, lower ionic conductivity and diffusion coefficient, and superior electrochemical stability. Weaker solvation leads to the formation of a small number of Li clusters with large hydrodynamic radii, which lowers the Li + diffusivity and ionic conductivity of the electrolyte. Concurrently, weaker solvation leads to improved electrochemical stability at both the cathode and anode interfaces. Understanding these solvation-property relationships and trade-offs is important to designing electrolytes for optimized lithium metal battery performance.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Tuned range separated hybrid functionals for solvated low bandgap oligomers

The description of charge transfer excitations has long been a challenge to time dependent density functional theory. The recently developed concept of “optimally tuned range separated hybrid (OT-RSH) functionals” has proven to describe charge transfer excitations accurately in many cases. However, describing solvated or embedded systems is yet a challenge. This challenge is not only computational but also conceptual, because the tuning requires identifying a specific orbital, typically the highest occupied one of the molecule under study. For solvated molecules, this orbital may be delocalized over the solvent. We here demonstrate that one way of overcoming this problem is to use a locally projected self-consistent field diagonalization on an absolutely localized molecular orbital expansion. We employ this approach to determine ionization energies and the optical gap of solvated oligothiophenes, i.e., paradigm low gap systems that are of relevance in organic electronics. Dioxane solvent molecules are explicitly represented in our calculations, and the ambiguities of straightforward parameter tuning in solution are elucidated. We show that a consistent estimate of the optimal range separated parameter (ω) at the limit of bulk solvation can be obtained by gradually extending the solvated system. In particular, ω is influenced by the solvent beyond the first coordination sphere. For determining ionization energies, a considerable number of solvent molecules on the first solvation shell must be taken into account. We demonstrate that accurately calculating optical gaps of solvated systems using OT-RSH can be done in three steps: (i) including the chemical environment when determining the range-separation parameter, (ii) taking into account the screening due to the solvent, and (iii) using realistic molecular geometries.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Solvation at metal/water interfaces: An ab initio molecular dynamics benchmark of common computational approaches

Determining the influence of the solvent on electrochemical reaction energetics is a central challenge in our understanding of electrochemical interfaces. To date, it is unclear how well existing methods predict solvation energies at solid/liquid interfaces, since they cannot be assessed experimentally. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations present a physically highly accurate, but also a very costly approach. In this work, we employ extensive AIMD simulations to benchmark solvation at charge-neutral metal/water interfaces against commonly applied continuum solvent models. We consider a variety of adsorbates including *CO, *CHO, *COH, *OCCHO, *OH, and *OOH on Cu, Au, and Pt facets solvated by water. The surfaces and adsorbates considered are relevant, among other reactions, to electrochemical CO 2 reduction and the oxygen redox reactions. We determine directional hydrogen bonds and steric water competition to be critical for a correct description of solvation at the metal/water interfaces. As a consequence, we find that the most frequently applied continuum solvation methods, which do not yet capture these properties, do not presently provide more accurate energetics over simulations in vacuum. We find most of the computed benchmark solvation energies to linearly scale with hydrogen bonding or competitive water adsorption, which strongly differ across surfaces. Furthermore, we determine solvation energies of adsorbates to be non-transferable between metal surfaces, in contrast to standard practice.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Long timescale solvation dynamics and confinement: The case of non-ionic deep eutectic solvents of lauric acid and N-methylacetamide

Microscopic segregation and molecular heterogeneities in complex liquids are the result of the interplay between different intermolecular forces, all of which contribute to the energy landscape of the system. A consequence of the intricate energy landscape is the nontrivial effect on the solvation dynamics. Here, the impact of molecular heterogeneities on the solvation dynamics is studied using infrared spectroscopies and molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, this study focuses on the dynamical effect of nanoscopic heterogeneities present in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) composed of lauric acid (LA) and N-methylacetamide (NMA). To this end, a molecular probe containing a carbon triple bond is used as an infrared reporter. The results show that the vibrational probe is likely to be located in the NMA polar domains. Furthermore, the probe solvation dynamics derived from the 2DIR spectra presents a slowdown of its timescale with increasing LA concentration in the DES. Kubo modeling of the probe solvation dynamics shows a correlation between the amplitude of its long time component and the presence of molecular heterogeneities in the sample. Semiclassical modeling of the vibrational line shape of the triple bond stretch demonstrates that the heterogeneities affect the whole solvation dynamics of the system through the amplitudes of the frequency fluctuations. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm the experimental results and their interpretation by showing a slowdown of the solvation dynamics when the LA heterogeneities are present. Overall, the study presents a molecular framework to explain the effect of confinement created by nanoscopic LA heterogeneities on the solvation dynamics of the system.

Chemical compounds↗
DOE OSTI2026

Isolating solvent–solute hydrogen bonding interactions via 2D IR solvation shell spectroscopy

The solvation shell around a solute is a fundamental feature of liquid-phase solutions, determining the behavior and properties of both the solute and the overall solution. Direct experimental measurements of the solvation shell properties are challenging due to the strong signals generated from the bulk solvent, which overwhelm the small contribution of the solvation shell. Here, we use ultrafast two dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy and intermolecular cross-peaks to isolate the IR absorption spectrum of methanol molecules in the solvation shell surrounding the solute N-methylacetamide. We demonstrate that the intermolecular coupling between the solvent and solute vibrations is indirectly mediated by a low-frequency hydrogen-bonding mode, suggesting an important mechanism for anharmonic coupling induced by hydrogen bonds. From the relative frequency shifts and cross-peak anisotropy, we find that methanol molecules surrounding N-methylacetamide form stronger and distinctly oriented hydrogen bonds than those in the bulk solvent. Here, we also compare these results with the solvent spectra of the solute N,N-dimethylacetamide to investigate how solute structural changes alter the solvation shell and the contribution of N–H hydrogen bond donation. Our results are supported by molecular dynamics simulations, which provide detailed insights into the hydrogen-bonding distributions. Through these results, we demonstrate 2D solvation shell spectroscopy to be a valuable method for investigating solvation structures and dynamics without interference from the bulk solvent.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2011

Ionic Liquids: Radiation Chemistry, Solvation Dynamics and Reactivity Patterns

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a rapidly expanding family of condensed-phase media with important applications in energy production, nuclear fuel and waste processing, improving the efficiency and safety of industrial chemical processes, and pollution prevention. ILs generally have low volatilities and are combustion-resistant, highly conductive, recyclable and capable of dissolving a wide variety of materials. They are finding new uses in chemical synthesis, catalysis, separations chemistry, electrochemistry and other areas. Ionic liquids have dramatically different properties compared to conventional molecular solvents, and they provide a new and unusual environment to test our theoretical understanding of primary radiation chemistry, charge transfer and other reactions. We are interested in how IL properties influence physical and dynamical processes that determine the stability and lifetimes of reactive intermediates and thereby affect the courses of reactions and product distributions. We study these issues by characterization of primary radiolysis products and measurements of their yields and reactivity, quantification of electron solvation dynamics and scavenging of electrons in different states of solvation. From this knowledge we wish to learn how to predict radiolytic mechanisms and control them or mitigate their effects on the properties of materials used in nuclear fuel processing, for example, and to apply IL radiation chemistry to answer questions about general chemical reactivity in ionic liquids that will aid in the development of applications listed above. Very early in our radiolysis studies it became evident that the slow solvation dynamics of the excess electron in ILs (which vary over a wide viscosity range) increase the importance of pre-solvated electron reactivity and consequently alter product distributions and subsequent chemistry. This difference from conventional solvents has profound effects on predicting and controlling radiolytic yields, which need to be quantified for the successful use under radiolytic conditions. Electron solvation dynamics in ILs are measured directly when possible and estimated using proxies (e.g. coumarin-153 dynamic emission Stokes shifts or benzophenone anion solvation) in other cases. Electron reactivity is measured using ultrafast kinetics techniques for comparison with the solvation process.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Significant Differences in Solvation Thermodynamics of C1–C3 Oxygenates in Hydrophilic versus Hydrophobic Pores of a Hydrophilic Ti-FAU Zeolite Model

The rates of catalytic reactions have been observed to be dramatically different in zeolites, depending on if they are hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Hypotheses aimed at explaining this behavior have pointed to various solvent molecule and zeolite properties as having influence on entropy. Herein, the influence of various solvent and adsorbate properties on the solvation energies, entropies, and free energies of eleven C1-C3 oxygenates in hydrophobic and hydrophilic pores within a hydrophilic model of Ti-FAU zeolite are tested. The results indicate significant variation in the calculated solvation thermodynamics depending on the adsorbate type, as well as if it is bound within a hydrophobic or hydrophilic pore. Further, while solvation energies are related to solvent-adsorbate interactions, solvation entropies have multiple contributions, and these differ depending on if the adsorbate is in a hydrophobic or hydrophilic pore. Specifically, solvation entropies in hydrophobic pores are related to solvent structural properties, whereas solvation entropies in hydrophilic pores are related to adsorbate polarity. Here, the large range of results obtained from two different pores within one zeolite model with minimal unique adsorption sites suggests that solvation behavior in zeolites is complicated and that the phenomena that control observed performance depend on the zeolite, reaction, and solvent.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Solvation effects on the band edge positions of photocatalysts from first principles

The band edge positions of photocatalysts relative to the redox potentials of water play an important role in determining the efficiency of photoelectrochemical cells. These band positions depend on the structure of the solid–liquid interface, but direct ab initio molecular dynamics calculations of these interfaces, while expected to be accurate, are too computationally demanding for high-throughput materials screening. Thus rapid theoretical screening of new photocatalyst materials requires simplified continuum solvation models that are suitable for treating solid–liquid interfaces. In this paper, we evaluate the accuracy of the recently developed CANDLE and SaLSA continuum solvation models for predicting solvation effects on the band positions of several well-studied surfaces [Si(111), TiO 2 (110), IrO 2 (110) and WO 3 (001)] in water. We find that the solvation effects vary considerably, ranging from <0.5 eV for hydrophobic surfaces, 0.5–1 eV for many hydrophilic oxide surfaces, to ~2 eV for oxygen-deficient surfaces. The solvation model predictions are in excellent agreement (within ~0.1 eV) with ab initio molecular dynamics results where available, and in good agreement (within ~0.2–0.3 eV) with experimental measurements. We also predict the energetics for surface oxygen vacancies and their effect on the band positions of the hydrated WO 3 (001) surface, leading to an explanation for why the solvation shift observed experimentally is substantially larger than predicted for the ideal surface. Finally, based on the correlation between solvation shift and the type of surface and solvent, we suggest approaches to engineer the band positions of surfaces in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Impact of solvation on the electronic resonances in uracil

Interactions of low-energy electrons with the DNA and RNA nucleobases are known to form metastable states, known as electronic resonances. In this work, we study electron attachment to solvated uracil, an RNA nucleobase, using the orbital stabilization method at the Equation of Motion-Coupled Cluster for Electron Affinities with Singles and Doubles (EOM-EA-CCSD) level of theory with the Effective Fragment Potential (EFP) solvation method. We benchmarked the approach using multireference methods, as well as by comparing EFP and full quantum calculations. The impact of solvation on the first one particle (1p) shape resonance, formed by electron attachment to the π* LUMO orbital, as well as the first two particle one hole (2p1h) resonance, formed by electron attachment to neutral uracil's π–π* excited state, was investigated. We used molecular dynamics simulations for solvent configurations and applied charge stabilization technique-based biased sampling to procure configurations adequate to cover the entire range of the electron attachment energy distribution. The electron attachment energy in solution is found to be distributed over a wide range of energies, between 4.6 eV to 6.8 eV for the 2p1h resonance, and between −0.1 eV to 2 eV for the 1p resonance. The solvent effects were similar for the two resonances, indicating that the exact electron density of the state is not as important as the solvent configurations. Multireference calculations extended the findings showing that solvation effects are similar for the lowest four resonances, further indicating that the specific solute electron density is not as important, but rather the water configurations play the most important role in solvation effects. Lastly, by comparing bulk solvation to clusters of uracil with a few water molecules around it, we find that the impact of microsolvation is very different from that of bulk solvation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗