X-ray absorption spectroscopy of liquid methanol microjets: bulk electronic structure and hydrogen bonding network.

We have measured the X-ray absorption (XA) spectrum of liquid (298 K) methanol at the oxygen and carbon K edges. The 4a(1) orbital at the O K edge exhibits a pronounced sensitivity to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, with significant differences observed between the vapor and bulk spectra, whereas the C K edge reveals only subtle corresponding spectral changes. Comparison with DFT computed spectra of model methanol clusters indicates that the bulk liquid comprises long chains (n > 6) and rings of hydrogen-bonded monomers.