Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Vapor Phase Deposition of Electroactive Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) onto Electrospun Commodity Polymer Nanofibers
Published on: March 7, 2025
Observing the Mobile Surface Layer of Water During Vapor Deposition and Its Impact on Structure
Erik Thoms1, Jan P Gabriel1, Ranko Richert1
1Arizona State University, School of Molecular Sciences, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA.
Abstract:
Historically, amorphous solid water (ASW) films have been created by physical vapor deposition both naturally on interstellar particles and in the laboratory. The present study focuses on the role of the mobile surface layer, which can be observed during vapor deposition and characterized by dielectric relaxation techniques. It is shown that the mobility of the surface layer can determine whether an as-deposited film is porous (p-ASW), collapsed (c-ASW), or crystallized to cubic ice (I_{c}). The latter case occurs when the fictive temperature of the surface reaches deep into the so-called "no man's land", whereas the actual temperature remains below that of the glass transition at T_{g}. The dynamics of this surface layer is independent of deposition temperature in the 15 to 120 K range.
Related Concept Videos
Volatilization
Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation
Vaporization
Vapor Pressure Lowering
Dissolving a nonvolatile substance in volatile liquid results in a lowering of the liquid’s vapor pressure. This phenomenon can be explained by considering the effect of added solute molecules on the liquid's vaporization and condensation processes. To vaporize, solvent molecules must be present at the surface of the solution....
Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy
Vapor Pressure of Fluid
When a liquid is placed in a closed container with a small air space, and the space is evacuated, vapor molecules will...

