Double resonance spectroscopy of phenol(H2O)1–12: evidence for ice-like structures in aromate–water clusters? Original Research Article

Phenol(H2O)n clusters have been studied in the electronic ground state by dispersed fluorescence spectroscopy and in the electronically excited state by means of two-color resonant two-photon ionization (R2PI), spectral hole burning and rotationally resolved laser-induced fluorescence. Resonant spectra up to a cluster size of n=12 have been obtained by two-color R2PI under `softʹ ionization conditions. The analysis of spectral shifts and of the intermolecular vibrations in both electronic states is used to assign structures for these bi-, tri- and (partially) tetracoordinated hydrogen bonded systems, which may be comparable to H-bond-deficient water structures at the surface of liquid water and ice.