Manipulation of Matrix-Isolated Molecules and Molecular Clusters with Electrostatic Fields

This book describes the manipulation of molecular properties, such as orientation, structure, and dynamics, of small molecules and molecular clusters isolated in cold inert matrices by using unprecedentedly strong external electrostatic fields. Manipulation of molecules with controllable external forces is a dream of chemists. Molecules are inherently quantum-mechanical systems, control of which potentially can lead to quantum technology, such as quantum sensing and computing.

The book shows that the vibrational spectroscopy with the aid of unprecedentedly strong dc electric field can provide rich information on the electrostatic behaviors of molecules and molecular clusters, which underlie the understanding of intermolecular processes and molecular manipulation.

Chapter 1. Introduction   

1.1. Manipulation of Molecules with External Fields

1.2. Manipulation of Molecules with Homogeneous Electrostatic Fields         

1.3. Approach and Contents of This Dissertation     

References       

Chapter 2. Method         

2.1. A Combined Technique of Ice Film Nanocapacitor and Matrix Isolation    

2.2. Reflection–Absorption Infrared Spectroscopy of Matrix-Isolated Molecules under the Influence of External Fields          

2.3. Instruments  

References         

Chapter 3. Electric Field-Control of Inversion Dynamics of Ammonia in an Argon Matrix         

Abstract 

3.1. Introduction 

3.2. Experimental Details  

3.3. Results and Discussion           

3.4. Conclusion  

References        

Chapter 4. Spectroscopic Evidence of Large Protonic Polarizability of Hydrogen Chloride–Water Complexes        

Abstract 

Main Text          

References       

Supporting Information   

Chapter 5. Summary

Dr. Youngwook Park received a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Seoul National University (SNU) in 2013, and received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 2020 at the same institute under the supervision of Prof. Heon Kang. His doctoral research has been focused on the IR spectroscopic observation of changes in orientation, structure, vibrational frequency, intramolecular dynamics, and intermolecular vibrational coupling of isolated molecules, molecular clusters, and molecular solids under the influence of strong dc electric fields. His Ph.D. thesis was honored by the "Best Ph.D. Dissertation Award" from the College of Natural Science, SNU. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Chemistry, SNU.