Topological and spatial structure in the liquid-water–acetonitrile mixture

Abstract

We have studied the structure of the liquid-water--acetonitrile mixture using molecular configurations obtained by molecular dynamics simulation. Spatial distribution functions have been used to analyze the local structures surrounding the molecules. The effective hydrogen-bond definition has been used to study basic hydrogen-bond properties and topological properties of the hydrogen-bond network. The topology of the network depends on the acetonitrile concentration. Up to a critical concentration, there is an infinite network of hydrogen-bonded water molecules. At higher concentrations, the network cannot be supported, and finite water clusters form. In order to characterize the networks and clusters, we have calculated some properties of loops and chains of water molecules. The patterns of hydrogen bonds surrounding the molecules and the size distribution of the clusters have also been calculated. We suggest that this approach can be useful when studying the structure of other liquid mixtures where hydrogen bonds are an important mode of interaction.