Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
Water dimer rotationally resolved millimeter-wave spectrum observation at room temperature
M Yu Tretyakov1, E A Serov, M A Koshelev
1Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 46 Ulyanov Street, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia 603950. trt@appl.sci-nnov.ru
Scientists directly observed water dimers (H2O)2 in water vapor at room temperature. This finding is crucial for understanding Earth
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Atmospheric Science
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Water dimers (H2O)2 play a role in Earth's climate and atmospheric chemistry.
- Understanding water dimer interactions is key to describing liquid and solid water phases.
- Direct observation of water dimers at room temperature has been lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To achieve the first unambiguous observation of water dimer spectra.
- To study water dimers in equilibrium water vapor at ambient temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Spectroscopic analysis of water vapor.
- Experimental observation in equilibrium conditions at room temperature.
Main Results:
- The first unambiguous spectrum of water dimers was recorded.
- Observation was achieved in equilibrium water vapor at room temperature.
Conclusions:
- Direct experimental evidence for water dimers at room temperature is now available.
- This observation provides a foundation for further studies on water dimer properties and their environmental impact.
Related Concept Videos
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Variable-Temperature NMR
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
IR Spectroscopy: Molecular Vibration Overview
Stretching vibrations are vibrational motions that occur along the bond line, changing the bond length or distance between two bonded atoms. They are further distinguished as symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric stretching, the...
IR Spectrum Peak Broadening: Hydrogen Bonding
However, the extent of hydrogen bonding influences the observed stretching frequency and band broadening. Intermolecular or intramolecular hydrogen bonding...
IR Spectroscopy: Hooke's Law Approximation of Molecular Vibration
According to Hooke's law, the vibrational frequency is directly proportional to the...
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
