Infrared spectroscopic characterization of two types of products HSiOH(H2O) <i>n</i> and SiOH(H2O) <i>n</i> ( <i>n</i> = 1–3) in the silicon–water reactions

W Wenhui Yan (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics) S Shuai Jiang (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics) S Shangdong Li (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics) J Jianxing Zhuang (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics) A Ailin Wang (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics) H Hua Xie (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics) G Gang Li (State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China) L Ling Jiang (Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China)

Abstract

The Si–O–H containing complexes are key interstellar species, but their structural characterization has been proven to be a challenging experimental target because of the difficulty in size selection of neutral clusters in general. Here, two series of products with the chemical formula of SiOnH2n and SiOnH2n−1 (n = 2–4) were prepared via the reactions of laser-ablated silicon atoms with the water molecules and characterized by using size-specific infrared-vacuum ultraviolet (IR–VUV) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The SiOnH2n and SiOnH2n−1 (n = 2–4) products were identified to have the hydroxysilylene structures HSiOH(H2O)n and the silica hydroxide structures SiOH(H2O)n (n = 1–3), respectively. In particular, the HSiOH(H2O)n and SiOH(H2O)n (n = 2 and 3) complexes were found to have cyclic hydrogen-bonded networks. Two possible pathways for the formation of the observed products have been discussed. This work provides new insights into the astrochemically relevant Si–O–H molecular architectures that are helpful for understanding the formation mechanism of cosmic particle.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 163, Issue 2
Published July 14, 2025
ISSN 0021-9606
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

The Journal of Chemical Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-9606 Physical Sciences

Authors (8)

W

Wenhui Yan

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics

S

Shuai Jiang

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics

S

Shangdong Li

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics

J

Jianxing Zhuang

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics

A

Ailin Wang

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics

H

Hua Xie

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics

G

Gang Li

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China

L

Ling Jiang

Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China