Gas-Phase Spectroscopic Investigations of Molecular Complexes

Gas-phase spectroscopic investigations of molecular complexes provide a detailed window into the fundamental interactions that govern chemical bonding, charge distribution and reaction dynamics in isolated environments. By probing infrared, ultraviolet and visible transitions of size- and composition-selected ions and neutral clusters, researchers can characterise geometries, binding motifs, charge-transfer phenomena and potential-energy landscapes free from solvent perturbation. Techniques such as infrared multiple photon dissociation, resonance-enhanced photodissociation and action spectroscopy, often coupled with cryogenic ion traps and mass spectrometry, yield vibrational and electronic spectra that reveal subtle shifts in bond strengths, coordination numbers and activation processes. Complemented by high-level quantum-chemical calculations, these experiments elucidate charge-quadrupole and charge-dipole interactions, multiconfigurational electronic states and the stepwise evolution of catalytic or atmospheric processes. The insights gained inform fields as diverse as atmospheric chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis and the design of novel light-driven transformations.

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Gas-Phase Spectroscopic Investigations of Molecular Complexes publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in gas-phase spectroscopic investigations of molecular complexes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ion–molecule complex: Association of a charged ion and a neutral molecule in the gas phase, often studied in isolation.

Infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD): Method in which multiple infrared photons are absorbed by an ion, exciting vibrational modes until fragmentation occurs.

Resonance-enhanced photodissociation (REPD): Technique that uses a resonant photon to induce bond breakage, revealing vibrational transition frequencies via product detection.

Action spectroscopy: Indirect spectroscopic approach in which absorption is inferred from changes in ion yield or fragmentation patterns following photon absorption.

Charge transfer: Movement of electronic charge from one part of a molecular complex to another, often triggering activation or bond reorganisation.

References

1. Multiconfigurational Character of Repulsive A2Σg + State Leaves Strong Signature in the Photodissociation Spectrum of Zn2 +. Journal of the American Chemical Society (2024).
2. An infrared study of CO 2 activation by holmium ions, Ho + and HoO +. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2022).
3. Infrared Spectroscopy of Gas-Phase M+(CO2) n (M = Co, Rh, Ir) Ion–Molecule Complexes. The Journal of Physical Chemistry A (2017).