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Description
Phosphates are ubiquitous in nature and play a crucial role in biochemical processes such as protein synthesis, metabolism, and energy production. One unique property of phosphoric acid is that it exhibits the highest intrinsic proton conductivity of any known substance and is used in low-temperature batteries as well as in phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs). The detailed mechanism of proton transport, however, is not yet fully understood.
In this study, we examine the mass-selected deprotonated dimer of phosphoric acid in the gas phase using infrared action spectroscopy in helium nanodroplets, employing tunable infrared photons from the Free-Electron Laser at the Fritz Haber Institute (FHI-FEL). This technique enables the acquisition of spectra at a cryogenic temperature of 0.37 K, reducing spectral congestion and yielding well-resolved vibrational bands. Studying hydrogen-bonded systems at these temperatures provides unique insights into their fundamental properties, enhancing our understanding of phosphoric acid chemistry and its interactions across various environments. Our investigation reveals molecular structures that can serve as calibration points for quantum chemistry calculations. The elucidation of experimental vibrational bands, hydrogen-bond interactions between the two moieties, and associated spectroscopic details will be discussed.
