Dynamic Solidification in Nanoconfined Water Films

Authors

Peter M. Hoffmann, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityFollow
Shah H. Khan, Wayne State University
George Matei, Wayne State University
Shivprasad Patil, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research

Submitting Campus

Daytona Beach

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Document Type

Article

Publication/Presentation Date

8-30-2010

Abstract/Description

Mechanical properties of nanoconfined water layers are still poorly understood and continue to create controversy, despite their importance for biology and nanotechnology. We report on dynamic nanomechanical measurements of water films compressed to a few single molecular layers. We show that the mechanical properties of nanoconfined water layers change significantly with their dynamic state. In particular, we observed a sharp transition from viscous to elastic response even at extremely slow compression rates, indicating that mechanical relaxation times increase dramatically once water is compressed to less than 3–4 molecular layers.

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.106101

Publisher

The American Physical Society

Grant or Award Name

National Science Foundation Grant No. DMR-0804283

Additional Information

Peter M. Hoffman was not affiliated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the time this paper was published.

Scholarly Commons Citation

Hoffmann, P. M., Khan, S. H., Matei, G., & Patil, S. (2010). Dynamic Solidification in Nanoconfined Water Films. Physical Review Letters, (). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.106101