Article abstract
Nature Materials 6, 597 - 601 (2007)
Published online: 17 June 2007 | doi:10.1038/nmat1940
Subject Categories: Surface and thin films | Computation, modelling and theory
Ice nanoclusters at hydrophobic metal surfaces
Angelos Michaelides1,2 & Karina Morgenstern3
Abstract
Studies of the structure of supported water clusters provide a means for obtaining a rigorous molecular-scale description of the initial stages of heterogeneous ice nucleation: a process of importance to fields as diverse as atmospheric chemistry, astrophysics and biology. Here, we report the observation and characterization of metal-supported water hexamers and a family of hydrated nanoclusters—heptamers, octamers and nonamers—through a combination of low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy experiments and first-principles electronic-structure calculations. Aside from achieving unprecedented resolution of the cyclic water hexamer—the so-called smallest piece of ice—we identify and explain a hitherto unknown competition between the ability of water molecules to simultaneously bond to a substrate and to accept hydrogen bonds. This competition also rationalizes previous structure predictions for water clusters on other substrates.
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
- London Centre for Nanotechnology and Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Institut für Festkörperphysik, Leibniz University of Hannover, Appelstr. 2, D-30167 Hannover, Germany
Correspondence to: Angelos Michaelides1,2 e-mail: angelos.michaelides@ucl.ac.uk
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