Vibrational spectroscopy of aqueous solutions at high concentrations: Raman and inelastic neutron scattering

Abstract We review work performed by our group on vibrational spectroscopy of water and aqueous solutions of strong II-I electrolytes at high concentrations. Evidence shall be presented for the existence of intermediate range, solute-connected, ordered patches, whose collective vibrational modes yield a continuous vibrational density of states, as in amorphous solids. We shall review Raman and inelastic neutron scattering results, obtained for electrolytes such as ZnCl 2 , NiCl 2 , CuBr 2 , CdCl 2 . Other results, such as EXAFS, viscosity and ultrasonic attenuation will also be discussed.