Simulating ion clustering in potassium thiocyanate aqueous solutions with various ion-water models

Using a molecular dynamics simulation technique, we compared several commonly used ion-water models to describe the microscopic structures and dynamics in KSCN aqueous solutions. Results are compared with observations of femtosecond infrared vibrational-energy transfer and anisotropy measurements. The Jorgensen/TIP4P model is found to provide the best reproduction of clustering properties such as percentage of clustered ions, cluster-size distribution, concentration dependence of the water, and ion-rotation time constants.