Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
10:28
Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
Summary
Water clusters oscillate between hexagonal ice and biomolecule-associated structures. These dynamic structural changes in liquid water may explain observed fluctuations in its physical and chemical properties.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Context:
- A recent model proposes transient, nanometer-sized, tetrahedrally coordinated water clusters in liquid water with broken hydrogen bonds.
- These clusters are dynamic, constantly forming and disappearing within the bulk liquid.
Purpose:
- To investigate the structural dynamics of these water clusters.
- To determine if these clusters exhibit distinct structural forms.
- To propose a mechanism for observed fluctuations in water's properties.
Summary:
- This study demonstrates that local water clusters can oscillate between two distinct structural states.
- One state resembles hexagonal ice (ice Ih), a common crystalline form of water.
- The other state comprises modules found in the hydration shells of biomolecules, suggesting a link to biological systems.
Impact:
- The findings suggest that the self-oscillations of water clusters between these two forms are responsible for the fluctuations in various physical and chemical parameters of water.
- This provides a new perspective on the dynamic nature of liquid water and its interactions with biomolecules.
- Understanding these dynamics could have implications for fields ranging from materials science to biochemistry.
