Mystery of speedy proton hopping in water unravelled
X-ray spectroscopy helps scientists understand how protons move in water
The electronic structure of hydrated proton complexes has been measured precisely using x-ray spectroscopy and simulations.1 The new results, which give insights into what happens during proton transport in water, could be used to optimise hydrogen fuel cells and understand how proton pumps work in biological systems.
‘Solving the structure and transport mechanism of an excess proton in water has been a topic of intense research for many decades,’ says Damien Laage at the École normale supérieure Paris in France who wasn’t involved in the study. ‘This work represents a major step forward in solving this lingering mystery.’