{
  "abstract": "Photoinduced proton dynamics in liquids couple molecular reactions to nonequilibrium charge transport, yet the role of alkyl C-H sites as proton sources remains poorly understood. Combining optical-pump terahertz-probe spectroscopy with real-time time-dependent density-functional-theory simulations, we investigate ultrafast proton dynamics following strong-field ionization of liquid ethanol and hydroxyl-free ethyl acetate. Isotope-substitution and control experiments support the identification of alkyl C-H groups as the proton source. The released protons induce quasi-free-electron localization on a timescale of hundreds of femtoseconds, manifested as a characteristic V-shaped transient in terahertz absorption. In ethanol-water mixtures, trace water enhances hydrogen-bond-network connectivity and facilitates proton transfer to ethanol O-H sites, suppressing the transient absorption dip. These findings identify photoactivated C-H sites as proton sources in liquids and reveal how hydrogen-bond networks regulate the ensuing proton and electron dynamics, linking local bond cleavage to the ultrafast charge response of the surrounding liquid.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.26387",
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Xiaokun Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bozhu Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yizhu Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jiyu Xu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Meng Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yanjun Gao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ji Qi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yuqian Yang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Wennan Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sheng Meng"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yuhai Jiang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bapdgw8hbp8tk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.26387",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "bapdgw8hbp8tk",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.26387",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.other"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.atm-clus"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.chem-ph"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3107|Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223028877",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.26387",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-19",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bapdgw8hbp8tk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:30:52Z",
      "native_id": "2610.26387",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.26387"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.chem-ph",
      "subfield": "physical"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.atm-clus",
      "subfield": "amo"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.other",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Ultrafast Proton-Induced Collective Dynamics Regulated by Water-Mediated Hydrogen-Bond Networks in Liquids",
  "title_text": "Ultrafast Proton-Induced Collective Dynamics Regulated by Water-Mediated Hydrogen-Bond Networks in Liquids",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:33:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bapdgw8hbp8tk",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}