Molecular Vibrations: A Structural Tool

Junrong Zheng

Department of Chemistry, Rice University

Methodology of ultrafast nonlinear vibrational spectroscopy in determining three dimensional molecular conformations in liquids, solids and on nanomaterial surfaces and transient (<1ns) short-range (<1nm) molecular interactions in liquids is introduced. The method directly measures the cross angles among vibrations that cover the entire molecular space. The vibrational angles are then translated into cross angles among chemical bonds. The 3D molecular conformations are constructed by these bond angles. The distance between two vibrations is determined by vibrational energy transfers. The measurements on the formations of ion pairs and clusters in strong electrolyte aqueous solutions are used to demonstrate the principle. Systematic studies suggest new views on intermolecular energy transfers in condensed phases.