More active alcohol solution with reduced heterogeneous intermolecular hydrogen bonds innovatively prepared using resonantly illuminated gold nanoparticles

Background: As is known, hydrogen bonds (HBs) are present among water molecules in different physical states, which critically determine their activities. Also, alcohol and water are connected by heterogeneous intermolecular HBs, in which the dynamic structure remains uncertain. Methods: Create the most studied ethanol (Eth)/water solution with reduced-affinity HBs utilizing hot electron transfer (HET) supported by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) under resonant illumination for disordering the original strong HBs of the bulk solution (c-sol). Significant Findings: This treated Eth/water solution (t-sol) with reduced HBs, which was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T1 spectra, exhibited a higher evaporation rate at room temperature, compared to the untreated solution. Moreover, this t-sol features an electron-doping structure, rendering its distinctly reduced HBs stable for at least one month. Also, similar experimental results were observed with other water-soluble alcohol solutions of methanol (Meth), propanol (Prop), and isopropanol (IPA). Encouragingly, the developed t-sol with 30 %, 40 % and 50 % Eth (volume %) demonstrated significant antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, compared to c-sol, which is first shown in the literature herein. Easier evaporation and more efficiently antibacterial effect of created t-sol significantly improve its practicality in the field of disinfection.