PNNL

Abstract

A novel ion soft-landing approach, in tandem with a molecular beam, was used to create a pure-ion-containing water/oil interface and to observe how the solvation of hydronium (D3O+) ions slowed down their motion in an organic liquid, 3-methylpentane. The delay of the ion motion was mainly due to an energy barrier between the interface and bulk 3-methylpentane that varied with the thickness of the added water. A Born-type model, combined with simple viscosity and kinetics models, accurately predicted the ion motion delay and gave an energy barrier of 0-38 kJ/mol for 0-35 bilayers of water.