Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Sum Frequency Generation Spectra of Aqueous Sulfuric Acid Solution

Abstract

The surface structure of aqueous sulfuric acid solution at 0.02x (x is the mole fraction) concentration is investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with newly developed flexible and polarizable molecular models. The models are applied to calculate the SFG spectrum on the assumption that the acid dissociation of sulfuric acid at the surface is the same as in the bulk. The calculated SFG spectrum well reproduces the experimental one, indicating that the assumption on the acid dissociation is valid in a relatively low concentration range. The density profiles of the constituent ions at the surface region show distinct surface preference in the order of the hydronium cation, bisulfate anion, and sulfate dianion, which thereby forms an electric double layer and strongly perturbs the orientational structure of surface water. The enhancement of the SFG intensity at the hydrogen-bonding OH stretching region and the depletion at the dangling (free) OH region are elucidated from the interfacial structure.