Rotational Spectroscopy of Small Clusters

在化学学部物理化学项目中，伊利诺伊大学香槟分校化学系的H.S. Gutowsky教授将对弱束缚、范德华和氢键分子复合物的结构和动力学进行一系列的持续研究。该技术采用一种气体混合物，通过超音速膨胀到高真空，冷却到接近零开尔文，并通过脉冲傅立叶变换微波光谱进行研究。具体来说，含苯二聚体的配合物，稀有气体原子与氰化氢形成的配合物，以及氩与水形成的配合物将被研究。此外，正在进行的碱卤化物二聚体配合物的研究工作将继续进行。弱束缚团簇是气体分子凝聚成液体或固体时形成的物质的中间形式。这种簇的结构和动力学对于在分子水平上理解分子间的作用力、理解蛋白质折叠、分子在催化表面上的取向和迁移以及其他现象都很有意义。PI进行的研究为弱分子间力作用下分子成键提供了关键数据和模型。

In this project in the Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. H.S. Gutowsky of the Chemistry Department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will engage in a series of continuing investigations on the structure and dynamics of weakly bound, van der Waals and hydrogen bonded, molecular complexes. The technique employs a gas mixture cooled to near zero kelvins by a supersonic expansion into a high vacuum and studied by pulsed Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Specifically, complexes containing benzene dimers, complexes formed by rare gas atoms with hydrogen cyanide, and those formed by argon with water will be investigated. In addition, ongoing work on alkali halide dimer complexes will be continued. Weakly bound clusters are an intermediate form of matter that form when gaseous molecules condense to form liquids or solids. The structure and dynamics of such clusters is of interest for obtaing an understanding of intermolecular forces on a molecular level, for understanding of protein folding, the orientation and mobility of molecules on catalytic surfaces, and other phenomena. The research conducted by the PI provides critical data and models for the bonding of molecules by weak intermolecular forces.