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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
Atomic-scale distribution of water molecules at the mica-water interface visualized by three-dimensional scanning
Takeshi Fukuma1, Yasumasa Ueda, Shunsuke Yoshioka
1Frontier Science Organization, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan. fukuma@staff.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
We have developed a method referred to as three-dimensional scanning force microscopy (3D-SFM) which enables us to visualize water distribution at a solid-liquid interface with an atomic-scale resolution in less than 1 min. The 3D-SFM image obtained at a mica-water interface visualizes 3D distributions of adsorbed water molecules above the center of hexagonal cavities and the laterally distributed hydration layer. The atomically resolved 3D-SFM image showing mirror symmetry suggests the existence of surface relaxation of the cleaved mica surface next to the aqueous environment.
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