Summary
In recent years water near surfaces and solutes has been observed to be differently structured and
to show slower reorientation and hydrogen-bond dynamics than in bulk. Aqueous proton transfer is
a process that strongly relies on the structure and dynamics of the hydrogen-bond network of liquid
water and that often occurs near surfaces. Examples are thylakoid and mitochondrial membranes and
the nanochannels of transmembrane proteins and fuel cells. An important but experimentally largely
unexplored area of research is how the rate and mechanism of aqueous proton transfer change due to
the surface-induced structuring of the water medium. Theoretical work showed that the structuring and
nano-confinement of water can have a strong effect on the proton mobility. Recently, experimental tech-
niques have been developed that are capable of probing the structural dynamics of water molecules and
proton-hydration structures near surfaces. These techniques include heterodyne detected sum-frequency
generation (HD-SFG) and two-dimensional HD-SFG (2D-HD-VSFG).
I propose to use these and other advanced spectroscopic techniques to study the rate and molecular mech-
anisms of proton transfer through structured aqueous media. These systems include aqueous solutions
of different solutes, water near extended surfaces like graphene and electrically switchable monolayers,
and the aqueous nanochannels of metal-organic frameworks. These studies will provide a fundamen-
tal understanding of the molecular mechanisms of aqueous proton transfer in natural and man-made
(bio)molecular systems, and can lead to the development of new proton-conducting membranes and
nanochannels with applications in fuel cells. The obtained knowledge can also lead to new strategies
to control proton mobility, e.g. by electrical switching of the properties of the water network at surfaces
and in nanochannels, i.e. to field-effect proton transistors.
to show slower reorientation and hydrogen-bond dynamics than in bulk. Aqueous proton transfer is
a process that strongly relies on the structure and dynamics of the hydrogen-bond network of liquid
water and that often occurs near surfaces. Examples are thylakoid and mitochondrial membranes and
the nanochannels of transmembrane proteins and fuel cells. An important but experimentally largely
unexplored area of research is how the rate and mechanism of aqueous proton transfer change due to
the surface-induced structuring of the water medium. Theoretical work showed that the structuring and
nano-confinement of water can have a strong effect on the proton mobility. Recently, experimental tech-
niques have been developed that are capable of probing the structural dynamics of water molecules and
proton-hydration structures near surfaces. These techniques include heterodyne detected sum-frequency
generation (HD-SFG) and two-dimensional HD-SFG (2D-HD-VSFG).
I propose to use these and other advanced spectroscopic techniques to study the rate and molecular mech-
anisms of proton transfer through structured aqueous media. These systems include aqueous solutions
of different solutes, water near extended surfaces like graphene and electrically switchable monolayers,
and the aqueous nanochannels of metal-organic frameworks. These studies will provide a fundamen-
tal understanding of the molecular mechanisms of aqueous proton transfer in natural and man-made
(bio)molecular systems, and can lead to the development of new proton-conducting membranes and
nanochannels with applications in fuel cells. The obtained knowledge can also lead to new strategies
to control proton mobility, e.g. by electrical switching of the properties of the water network at surfaces
and in nanochannels, i.e. to field-effect proton transistors.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/694386 |
| Start date: | 01-10-2016 |
| End date: | 31-03-2022 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 2 495 000,00 Euro - 2 495 000,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
In recent years water near surfaces and solutes has been observed to be differently structured andto show slower reorientation and hydrogen-bond dynamics than in bulk. Aqueous proton transfer is
a process that strongly relies on the structure and dynamics of the hydrogen-bond network of liquid
water and that often occurs near surfaces. Examples are thylakoid and mitochondrial membranes and
the nanochannels of transmembrane proteins and fuel cells. An important but experimentally largely
unexplored area of research is how the rate and mechanism of aqueous proton transfer change due to
the surface-induced structuring of the water medium. Theoretical work showed that the structuring and
nano-confinement of water can have a strong effect on the proton mobility. Recently, experimental tech-
niques have been developed that are capable of probing the structural dynamics of water molecules and
proton-hydration structures near surfaces. These techniques include heterodyne detected sum-frequency
generation (HD-SFG) and two-dimensional HD-SFG (2D-HD-VSFG).
I propose to use these and other advanced spectroscopic techniques to study the rate and molecular mech-
anisms of proton transfer through structured aqueous media. These systems include aqueous solutions
of different solutes, water near extended surfaces like graphene and electrically switchable monolayers,
and the aqueous nanochannels of metal-organic frameworks. These studies will provide a fundamen-
tal understanding of the molecular mechanisms of aqueous proton transfer in natural and man-made
(bio)molecular systems, and can lead to the development of new proton-conducting membranes and
nanochannels with applications in fuel cells. The obtained knowledge can also lead to new strategies
to control proton mobility, e.g. by electrical switching of the properties of the water network at surfaces
and in nanochannels, i.e. to field-effect proton transistors.
Status
CLOSEDCall topic
ERC-ADG-2015Update Date
27-04-2024
Images
No images available.
Geographical location(s)
