The evolution of solvation symmetry and composition in Zn halide aqueous solutions from dilute to extreme concentrations
Diwash Dhakal, Darren M. Driscoll, Niranjan Govind, Andrew G. Stack, Nikhil Rampal, Gregory K. Schenter, Christopher J. Mundy, Timothy T. Fister, John L. Fulton, Mahalingam Balasubramanian, Gerald T. Seidler
Abstract
the paradigm of water in salt electrolyte (WiSE) to (ii) the physical chemistry of brines in geochemistry to (iii) the long-standing problem of nucleation. Using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches we quantify the halide coordination number and changing coordination geometry without embedded use of theoretical equilibrium constants. These results and the associated methods, notably including the use of valence-to-core X-ray emission spectroscopy, provide new insights into the Zn halide system and new research directions in the physical chemistry of concentrated electrolytes.