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Updated: May 19, 2026

Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
The hydrogen bond of water from the perspective of soft X-ray spectroscopy
1Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
Its importance for life and its unusual properties keep water within the focus of ongoing research; this focus especially applies to water in the liquid phase. Scientists agree that the hydrogen-bond network, which is formed by interactions between the water molecules, is key for understanding the anomalies of water. However, a better understanding of the structure of this network, as well as its dynamics, must yet be established. Soft X-ray spectroscopy allows the investigation of the local electronic structure of water by probing the occupied and unoccupied valence molecular orbitals. In this Focus Review, we present soft-X-ray-based techniques, their development in terms of liquid spectroscopy, and recent studies on the hydrogen-bond network of liquid water.
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