Seminar

Abstract

At room temperature, pure water is generally regarded as a relatively inert system, with active radicals typically undetectable. However, when the state of water is altered—such as through the addition of H⁺ or disruption of its hydrogen-bonding network—water molecules can undergo charge delocalization, thereby generating active radicals. In our research, we observed that protons can interact with surrounding water molecules, leading to charge delocalization and the formation of H2O•+. This species rapidly transfers a proton to an adjacent water molecule, generating the hydroxyl radical (•OH). Notably, the signal intensity of •OH increases with the concentration of added protons. Additionally, there are numerous defects in the hydrogen-bonding network at the gas-liquid interface. We have demonstrated that at the gas-liquid interface formed by a large number of nanobubbles near the gas diffusion electrode, active redox radicals can be detected. These radicals are capable of driving the spontaneous formation of chlorine water and hydrogen gas from the reactive gas -HCl in water. These studies have unveiled the mechanisms of water activation and the generation of radicals at the gas-liquid interface, offering a novel perspective on the chemical reactivity of water under specific conditions.