The Structural and Dynamic Properties of some Transition Metal Aqua Cations: Results from Neutron Scattering

Abstract

Abstract The following paper comprises a survey of the role neutron scattering methods have played to help understand the origins of the diverse properties of electrolyte solutions which contain transition metal cations. It is seen how neutron diffraction and isotopic substitution is able to resolve the local structure around contrasting ions, such as Cr3+ , Ni2+, Fe3+ , Fe2+, Cu2+, without recourse to sophisticated modelling procedures. Quasielastic neutron scattering (QNS) provides insight into the dynamics of the protons in solution. The results enable one to distinguish between cations whose water molecules are coordinated on time scales larger than 5 x 10-9 s, shorter than 10-10s, or intermediate between those two limits. QNS also provides information on the existence of a second relatively short-lived hydration shell distinct from the bulk water.