Subterahertz characterization of ethanol hydration layers by microfluidic system

Abstract

Characterizations of ethanol hydration layers are examined through subterahertz spectroscopy of water/ethanol mixtures by using a microfluidic system. A three-component model is used to explain measurements discrepancies with the Lambert-Beer law and to determine ethanol hydration shell absorption. Moreover, the hydration shell distribution is compared with molecular dynamics simulations with a good agreement. Ethanol hydration number is then computed and it can quickly characterize only the first water hydration layer or the whole hydration shell, depending on the chosen extraction model. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.