The orientation and vibrational states of H 2 O in synthetic alkali-free beryl

Abstract

The polarized single-crystal Raman spectra of synthetic H2O-containing alkali-free beryl were recorded at room and low temperatures, and the polarized single-crystal IR spectra at room temperature. The H2O molecule in the channel cavities is characterized by a Raman-active symmetric stretching vibration (ν1) at 3607 cm−1 and an IR-active asymmetric stretch (ν3) at 3700 cm−1 at room temperature. At low temperatures this ν3 mode is observed in the Raman. Weak ν1 and ν3 modes of a second type of H2O are also observed in the Raman spectra but only at 5 K. The H⋯·H vector of the most abundant type of H2O is parallel to the channel axis of beryl along [0 0 0 1]. The components of the polarizability tensor of the ν1 mode of H2O are similar to, but not exactly the same as, those of a free H2O molecule. The Raman measurements indicate that the H2O molecule is rotationally disordered around [0 0 0 1]. External translation and librational modes of H2O could be observed as overtones with the internal H2O-stretching modes. In the case of the librational motions, normal modes could also be observed directly in the Raman spectra at ∼200 cm−1. The energies of the translational modes can be determined from an analysis of the overtones and are about 9 cm−1 in energy (i.e., Tz). The energies of the librational modes are about 210 cm−1 for Rx and 190 cm−1 for Ry.