OHdominated

OHdominated is a descriptor used in chemistry and materials science to indicate systems in which hydroxyl functionality is the dominant factor shaping properties, reactivity, or mechanisms. The term can refer to surfaces rich in hydroxyl groups or to reaction networks in which hydroxyl-related species play the key role.

In surface chemistry, an OH-dominated surface means that hydroxyl groups (for example Si–OH, Al–OH, or Fe–OH) constitute the primary reactive sites. Such surfaces tend to be highly hydrophilic, influence adsorption behavior, and govern acid–base chemistry, catalysis, and corrosion processes. In catalysis, abundant surface OH groups can participate in proton transfers, hydration steps, and the stabilization of intermediates, affecting activity and selectivity.

In environmental and atmospheric chemistry, an OH-dominated regime can describe systems where hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are the principal oxidants driving transformation of organic compounds. This perspective is common in discussions of atmospheric oxidation, aqueous-phase radical chemistry, and pollutant degradation.

Detection and characterization of OH-dominated characteristics rely on spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Infrared spectroscopy identifies characteristic O–H stretches, typically in the 3200–3600 cm−1 region, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy can distinguish hydroxyl-bound oxygen. Isotopic labeling (for example with D2O) can reveal exchange dynamics of surface or solution-phase OH groups.

Note that OHdominated is not a universally standardized term; its exact meaning varies by field and context. Broadly, it captures the central role of hydroxyl groups or hydroxyl radicals in determining material properties and chemical pathways. See also: hydroxyl group, hydroxyl radical, surface chemistry, hydrophilicity.