Suppression of proton mobility by hydrophobic hydration.
Fluorescence microscopy and conductivity measurements reveal a remarkably strong effect of hydrophobic groups on the mobility of protons in water. The addition of 5 M of tetramethylurea (4 methyl groups per molecule) results in a reduction of the proton mobility by a factor of approximately 10: hydrophobic hydration strongly suppresses proton mobility. These observations demonstrate the collective nature of aqueous proton transport.
Bonn
Mischa
M
FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Science Park 113, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.bonn@amolf.nl
Bakker
Huib J
HJ
Rago
Gianluca
G
Pouzy
Frederick
F
Siekierzycka
Joanna R
JR
Brouwer
Albert M
AM
Bonn
Daniel
D
D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D011522:Protons; D014867:Water