Exclusion zone and heterogeneous water structure at ambient temperature

Area of Science:

• Physical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Water Science

Background:

• Previous research noted microsphere-free exclusion zones at water-hydrophilic interfaces.
• Hydrophilic surfaces can alter water properties near their interface.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the formation and properties of a "three-dimensional cell-like structured exclusion zone" in water.
• To compare water treated by contact and non-contact methods with hydrophilic powders.
• To propose a new model for structured water based on its electrical properties.

Main Methods:

• Agitating hydrophilic powder with deionized water (contact method) and collecting supernatant ('contact water').
• Exposing deionized water to hydrophilic powder in a closed container (non-contact method) to create 'non-contact water'.
• Analyzing physical properties and using cryogenic scanning-electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) on frozen water samples.

Main Results:

• Both contact and non-contact methods produced water with a cell-like heterogeneous ice structure.
• The exclusion zone water formed the walls of these cell-like structures.
• Highly structured water showed smaller unit cell sizes, enhanced dielectric constants, and reduced redox potential.
• Electrical properties were more sensitive to water structuring than surface tension, density, or specific heat.

Conclusions:

• Water exposed to hydrophilic surfaces forms a distinct, structured exclusion zone with cell-like ice formations.
• The degree of water structuring correlates with changes in electrical properties, particularly dielectric constant and redox potential.
• A new model is proposed to explain the relationship between heterogeneous, structured water and its observed electrical characteristics.