Soft X-ray absorption spectra of aqueous salt solutions with highly charged cations in liquid microjets

Abstract

X-ray absorption spectra of 1 M aqueous solutions of indium(III) chloride, yttrium(III) bromide, lanthanum(III) chloride, tin(IV) chloride and chromium(III) chloride have been measured at the oxygen K-edge. Relatively minor changes are observed in the spectra compared to that of pure water. SnCl 4 and CrCl 3 exhibit a new onset feature, which in the case of SnCl 4 can probably be attributed to formation of hydroxide or other complex molecules in the solution. At higher energy, only relatively minor, but salt-specific changes in the spectra occur. The small magnitude of the observed spectral changes is ascribed to offsetting perturbations by the cations and anions.