Non-covalent interactions have a wide range of strengths, from strong ion-molecule electrostatic interactions, through hydrogen bonds to weak van der Waals forces. In my talk, the competition between ion-molecule and hydrogen bond interactions will be the primary focus. Infrared laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry are used as experimental tools to probe the structure of ionic clusters as a function of size and composition. Ab initio electronic structure calculations are also utilized to provide insight and to aid in the interpretation of the infrared spectra. A variety of systems will be discussed ranging from simple hydrated alkali metal ions to complex host-guest species like 12-crown-4 ethers. The role of temperature in impacting the structure of these systems will also be presented.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign