Microscopic Probing of the Size Dependence in Hydrophobic Solvation

• A dependence on solute size of the hydrophobic effect has been proposed based on theory and simulations, such that small apolar solutes leave the hydrogen (H-) bonding network in water intact or even strengthened, whereas hydration of larger, nanometer-sized apolar solutes breaks hydrogen bonds and creates a liquid-vapor-like interface around the solutes. Here we report the direct experimental microscopic observation of the small-to-large crossover behavior of hydrophobic effects in aqueous solutions of amphiphilic tetraalkyl-ammonium (CnH2n+1)4N + (TAA) cations with increased side chain length by probing the H-bonding network in water through O K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy and the solute-solute interaction using small angle x-ray scattering. These results open for unique experimental opportunities to investigate hydrophobic effects for a range of important processes in chemistry and biology.We report small angle x-ray scattering data demonstrating the direct experimental microscopic observation of the small-to-large crossover behavior of hydrophobic effects in hydrophobic solvation. By increasing the side chain length of amphiphilic tetraalkyl-ammonium (CnH2n+1)4N+ (R4N+) cations in aqueous solution we observe diffraction peaks indicating association between cations at a solute size between 4.4 and 5 Å, which show temperature dependence dominated by hydrophobic attraction. Using O K-edge x-ray absorption we show that small solutes affect hydrogen bonding in water similar to a temperature decrease, while large solutes affect water similar to a temperature increase. Molecular dynamics simulations support, and provide further insight into, the origin of the experimental observations.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

hydrogen bonds

hydrophobicity

molecular dynamics method

organic compounds

positive ions

solvation

solvent effects

X-ray absorption spectra

X-ray scattering

kemisk fysik

Chemical Physics

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