IONIC STRUCTURE IN THE AQUEOUS-ELECTROLYTE GLASS LICL-CENTER-DOT-4D(2)O

The difference methods of neutron diffraction and isotopic substitutio n were applied to Li+ and Cl- in the aqueous lithium chloride glass Li Cl . 4D(2)O at 120 K (the glass transition T-g = 150 K). Results for t he ionic hydration show that structural changes are more evident for t he Cl- coordination than for the Li+ coordination. At the level of the anion-anion structure there is an appreciable increase in the nearest -neighbour coordination number over that in the liquid which suggests a greater degree of correlation between the Cl- anion and the water mo lecules. A model of the ionic structure is proposed to explain the rel ative ease of classification of concentrated aqueous lithium chloride solutions.