DOI

Molecular dynamics simulations of aqueous LiCl solution have been carried out over wide concentration (from 0.1 to 11.4 mol/kg) and temperature (from -30 to 110 °C) ranges. Three different interaction potentials are investigated: the recent Li--water effective pair potential, derived from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations [Lyubartsev, A. P.; Laasonen, K.; Laaksonen, A. J. Chem. Phys. 2001, 114, 3120], as well as earlier potentials of Lennard-Jones type with two widely different sets of parameters [Dang, L. X.; J. Chem. Phys. 1992, 96, 6970 and Heinzinger, K.; Physica B 1985, 131, 196]. Hydration structure and residence times around Li+ are studied with focus on the still somewhat controversial issue of hydration structure: both tetrahedral and octahedral water coordination have been predicted from the experiments. Besides classical MD simulations, even complementary Car-Parrinello simulations were employed to investigate the stability of a possible six-coordinated hydration shell around lithium. Self-diffusion coefficients for lithium were calculated for Li+ from the simulations and compared to NMR spin - echo measurements. The new ab initio-based exponential Li+-H2O interaction potential appears to be robust giving the overall characteristic hydration properties in agreement with experiments. However, while it reproduces the radial distribution function (RDF) features from a recent neutron diffraction with isotopic substitution (NDIS) experiments with a well-pronounced tetrahedral water structure, the same experiment is interpreted to give octahedral water structure around lithium at the same concentrations and temperatures as were used in our simulations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3234-3242
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry B
Volume107
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Apr 2003

    Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Materials Chemistry

ID: 37036566