Raman spectral changes of alcoholic zinc chloride solutions from liquid state to glassy state

Abstract

Raman spectral changes associated with vitrification were measured for ZnCl2·4OROH solutions (ROH=methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol). Solvated ZnCl2 is the only major Zn-species in these solutions at room temperature while the dominant Zn-species stabilized in the glassy alcoholic solutions are ZnCl3−, ZnCl42− and [Zn(MeOH)6]2+ for the methanol solution, ZnCl2 and ZnCl3− for the ethanol solution and ZnCl2 for the 1-propanol solution. Together with Raman data for aqueous ZnCl2 solutions, the differences in the dominant Zn-species in the glassy alcoholic solutions are discussed in terms of the dielectric constants of solvents (water and alcohols).