Fingerprint of Dipole Moment Orientation of Water Molecules in Cu²⁺ Aqueous Solution Probed by X‑ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

The electronic structure and geometrical organization of aqueous Cu²⁺ have been investigated by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) at the Cu L-edge combined with state-of-the-art ab initio molecular dynamics and a quantum molecular approach designed to simulate the Cu 2p X-ray photoelectron spectrum. The calculations offer a comprehensive insight into the origin of the main peak and satellite features. It is illustrated how the energy drop of the Cu 3d levels (≈7 eV) following the creation of the Cu 2p core hole switches the nature of the highest singly occupied molecular orbitals (MOs) from the dominant metal to the dominant MO nature of water. It is particularly revealed how the repositioning of the Cu 3d levels induces the formation of new bonding (B) and antibonding (AB) orbitals, from which shakeup mechanisms toward the relaxed H-SOMO operate. As highlighted in this study, the appearance of the shoulder near the main peak corresponds to the characteristic signature of shakeup intraligand (1a₁ → H-SOMO(1b₁)) excitations in water, providing insights into the average dipole moment distribution (≈36°) of the first-shell water molecules surrounding the metal ion and its direct impact on the broadening of the satellite. It is also revealed that the main satellite at 8 eV from the main peak corresponds to (metal/1b₂ → H-SOMO(1b₁) of water) excitations due to a bonding/antibonding (B/AB) interaction of Cu 3d levels with the deepest valence O2p/H1s 1b₂ orbitals of water. This finding underscores the sensitivity of XPS to the electronic structure and orientation of the nearest water molecules around the central ion.