Dipole solvation: Nonlinear effects, density reorganization, and the breakdown of the Onsager saturation limit

Anatoli Milischuk, Dmitry Matyushov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Linear cavity solvation models predict saturation of the solvation chemical potential, μp → constant, at high solvent polarity. This qualitative prediction is tested on computer simulations of dipole solvation in dipolar hard-sphere solvents in the liquid and solid phase states. We find that solvation saturation does exist for solid dipolar solvents, but does not exist for liquid dipolar solvents when the linear solvent response holds. Solvation saturation occurs due to nonlinear solvation in liquid solvents when solvent-solvent attractions exceed solutesolvent attractions. Nonlinear solvation is caused by electrostriction resulting in dewetting of the solute surface of a nonpolar or weakly polar dipolar solute. Solvation thermodynamics is affected by a combination of orientational and density solvent reorganization. The relative contribution of each component is strongly dependent on solvent polarity. In highly polar solvents, the orientational and density reorganization approximately equally contribute to the average solvation energy and the second solvation cumulant. The entropy of solvation is found to be positive and virtually independent of solvent polarity. This comes about as a result of a compensation between a negative solvation entropy due to orientational reorganization of the solvent and a positive solvation entropy due to density reorganization. The Onsager model does not provide even a qualitative account of solvation entropies. Our simulations give strong support to the Q-model of nonlinear solvation. Applications of the dipole solvation thermodynamics to electron-transfer reactions and optical spectroscopy are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2146-2157
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry A
Volume106
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 14 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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