Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2025
08:46
Determining the Ice-binding Planes of Antifreeze Proteins by Fluorescence-based Ice Plane Affinity
Published on: January 15, 2014
9.1K
Direct Visualization of Molecular Stacking in Quasi-2D Hexagonal Ice
Yangrui Liu1, Yun Li2,3, Jing Wu4
1Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Leibniz International Joint Research Center of Materials Sciences of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|August 21, 2024
Summary
Researchers visualized stacking faults in quasi-2D ice films, revealing new insights into ice growth. This study enhances understanding of crystalline ice formation kinetics for biological and environmental applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Crystallography
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Ice nucleation and growth are critical in biological, cryopreservation, and environmental science.
- Molecular-scale microstructural investigations of ice remain limited.
- Understanding ice crystal growth kinetics is essential for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for preparing quasi-2D ice films for microstructural analysis.
- To directly visualize and characterize stacking faults in ice Ih.
- To elucidate the growth pathways of basal stacking faults (BSF) and the Ic phase.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of quasi-2-dimensional ice Ih films.
- Characterization using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM).
- Theoretical calculations including molecular modeling of H2O.
Main Results:
- Successful preparation and characterization of quasi-2D ice Ih films.
- Direct visualization of intersecting basal stacking faults (BSF) and prismatic stacking faults (PSF).
- First-time report and direct visualization of PSF in ice Ih.
- Elucidation of BSF growth pathways, including the Ic phase, through theoretical calculations.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a novel method for analyzing ice microstructures at the molecular level.
- Direct visualization of PSF in ice Ih offers new fundamental insights.
- Understanding ice growth kinetics is significantly enhanced by these findings.
- The results have implications for fields relying on ice formation, such as cryopreservation and atmospheric science.
Related Concept Videos
02:18Fischer Projections
13.1K
Learning to draw Fischer projections of molecules and understanding their relevance plays a crucial role in the visual depiction of organic molecules. A Fischer projection is a two-dimensional projection on a planar surface to simplify the three-dimensional wedge–dash representation of molecules. This is especially helpful in the case of molecules with multiple chiral centers that can be difficult to draw. Here, all the bonds of interest are represented as horizontal or vertical lines.
13.1K
02:37Metallic Solids
18.3K
Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
18.3K
02:00Molecular Models
38.1K
Physical models representing molecular architectures of chemical compounds play essential roles in understanding chemistry. The use of molecular models makes it easier to visualize the structures and shapes of atoms and molecules.
38.1K
02:06Newman Projections
16.6K
Different notations are used to represent the three-dimensional structure of molecules on two-dimensional surfaces. One of the most commonly used representations is the dash-wedge formula. The dashed wedges, solid wedges, and the plane lines indicate the groups situated behind the plane, coming out of the plane, and in the plane, respectively.
The organic molecules rotate across the single bonds leading to numerous temporary three-dimensional structures of varying energy known as...
The organic molecules rotate across the single bonds leading to numerous temporary three-dimensional structures of varying energy known as...
16.6K
02:42Ionic Crystal Structures
14.2K
Ionic crystals consist of two or more different kinds of ions that usually have different sizes. The packing of these ions into a crystal structure is more complex than the packing of metal atoms that are the same size.
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
14.2K
02:22Structures of Solids
14.1K
Solids in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite repeating pattern are known as crystalline solids. Metals and ionic compounds typically form ordered, crystalline solids. A crystalline solid has a precise melting temperature because each atom or molecule of the same type is held in place with the same forces or energy. Amorphous solids or non-crystalline solids (or, sometimes, glasses) which lack an ordered internal structure and are randomly arranged. Substances that...
14.1K