The Infrared Matrix Isolation Spectra of Water Species in a Deuterium Matrix

The spectra of matrices of deuterium at c.7 K containing water species derived from D2O, H2O and mixtures of D2O and H2O have been obtained in the region 4000-1000 cm-1. Six bands have been assigned to the fundamentals of (H2O)2, of (D2O)2 and of deuterium-bonded HDO dimeric species.A preference for HDO to form HO-D. . .O (deuterium) bonds rather than DO-H. . .O (hydrogen)bonds has been observed. The spectra in matrices of deuterium are closely similar to those observed in nitrogen matrices and support an open, rather than a cyclic, structure for the water dimer.