Reactivity of Aluminum Cluster Anions with Water: Origins of Reactivity and Mechanisms for H2 Release

The reactivity of aluminum anion clusters with water was found to exhibit variations with size, with some clusters exhibiting negligible reactivity, others absorbing one or more water, while even others releasing H(2) with addition of multiple waters. (Roach, P.J., Woodward, W.H. et al. Science, 2009, 323, 492). Herein, we provide further details on the role of complementary active sites in the breaking of the O-H bond on the cluster. We examine the reactions of Al(n)(-) + H(2)O where n = 7-18, and show how the complementary active sites may be best identified. The clusters with active sites are found to be reactive, and clusters with barriers to reactivity have an absence of paired active sites. The role of charge in the reactivity is considered, which could account for the observed increase in reactivity at large sizes. The H(2) release in the reactivity of Al(17)(-) with multiple water molecules is also studied by comparing multiple reaction pathways, and the selective H(2) production is explained by the first water inducing a new active site. A mechanism for transferring hydroxyl groups on the surface of the cluster is also discussed.