Density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level was employed to obtain the optimized geometries and vibrational spectra of several pyridine(Py)−water(W) complexes with stoichiometric ratios ranging from 2:1 (Py2W) to 1:3 (PyW3). The harmonic vibrational wavenumbers of pyridine ring modes and the fundamental modes of water were calculated in order to examine the influence of hydrogen bonding on the normal modes of both pyridine and water upon complexation. The Raman spectra in the wavenumber region 960−1060 cm-1 covering the ring modes ν1 and ν12 of pyridine (in Wilson's notation) as a function of pyridine mole fraction were recorded. The integrated Raman intensities in the isotropic components of the spectra were used to determine the relative concentration of “free” pyridine molecules in close neighborhood with other Py−W complexes. The combination of both experimental wavenumbers yielding the overall shift induced by the entirety of hydrogen-bonded complexes in the mixture and the DFT-derived vibrational wavenumbers of the isolated species provides the possibility to probe concentration profiles as a function of pyridine mole fraction. The examination of the concentration dependence of line widths reveals that the counter competing influences of different dynamic processes are simultaneously present in this binary mixture.

Multi-walledcarbon nanotube (MWCNT) filters have been recentlysynthesisedwhich have specificmolecular filteringcapabilities and good mechanical strength. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals the formation of highly aligned arrays of bundles of carbon nanotubes having lengths up to 500 µm. The Raman spectra of this material along with four other carbonaceous materials, commercially available single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and MWCNTs, graphitised porous carbon (Carbotrap) and graphite have been recorded using two-excitation wavelengths, 532 and 785 nm, and analysed for band positions and shape with special emphasis paid to the D-, G-and G -bands. A major difference between the different MWCNT varieties analysed is that G-bands in the MWCNT filters exhibit almost no dispersion, whereas the other MWCNTs show a noticeable dispersive behaviour with a change in the excitation wavelength. Spectral features similar to those of the MWCNTfilter varieties were observed for the Carbotrap material. From the line shape analysis, the intensity ratio, I D /I G , of the more ordered MWCNT filter material using the integral G-band turns out to be two times lower than that of the less ordered MWCNT filter product at both excitation wavelengths. This parameter can, therefore, be used as a measure of the degree of MWCNT alignment in filter varieties, which is well supported also by our SEM study.

We report on a simple method to derive the Lorentzian linewidth of a Raman line as well as its fraction Lorentzian character. The method is based on the experimental determination of the bandwidths at half maximum obtained from recorded Raman and plasma lines with same spectrometer slit settings. From the ratio of the two half bandwidths, the Lorentzian Raman linewidth can be easily derived from the given table. This table was compiled by explicit calculations of Voigt profiles. The fraction Lorentzian character, needed for instance for Raman difference spectroscopy, can be obtained directly from this table to a good accuracy.

We present an experimental and a theoretical study on hydrogen-bonding between pyrimidine and water as the H-donor. The degree of hydrogen-bonding in this binary system varies with mixture composition. This was monitored experimentally by polarization-resolved linear Raman spectroscopy with the pyrimidine ring breathing mode nu1 as a marker band. A subsequent quantitative line shape analysis of the isotropic Raman intensity for 24 pyrimidine/water mixtures clearly revealed a splitting into three spectral components upon dilution with water. The two additional peaks have been assigned to distinct groups of hydrogen-bonded species that differ in the number of pyrimidine nitrogen atoms (N) involved in hydrogen-bonding to water hydrogen atoms (H). From the integrated Raman intensities for "free" and "hydrogen-bonded" pyrimidine, a concentration profile for these species was established. Our assignments and interpretations are supported by quantum mechanical calculations of structures and by vibrational spectra for pyrimidine and 10 pyrimidine/water complexes with increasing water content. Also, accurate structure-spectra correlations for different cluster subgroups have been determined; within each particular cluster subgroup the water content varies, and a perfect negative correlation between NH hydrogen-bond distances and nu1 wavenumbers was observed.

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