On the Quantum Nature of the Shared Proton in Hydrogen Bonds

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The relative influence of thermal and quantum fluctuations on the proton transfer properties of the charged water complexes H5O2+ and H3O2− was investigated with the use of ab initio techniques. These small systems can be considered as prototypical representatives of strong and intermediate-strength hydrogen bonds. The shared proton in the strongly hydrogen bonded H5O2+ behaved in an essentially classical manner, whereas in the H3O2− low-barrier hydrogen bond, quantum zero-point motion played a crucial role even at room temperature. This behavior can be traced back to a small difference in the oxygen-oxygen separation and hence to the strength of the hydrogen bond.