Dynamic Solidification in Nanoconfined Water Films

Abstract

The mechanical properties of nanoconfined water layers are still poorly understood and continue to create considerable controversy, despite their importance for biology and nanotechnology. Here, we report on dynamic nanomechanical measurements of water films compressed down to a few single molecular layers. We show that the mechanical properties of nanoconfined water layers change dramatically 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.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 16, 2010
Accession Number
ADA523518

Entities

People

  • George Matei
  • Peter M. Hoffmann
  • Shah H. Khan
  • Shivprasad Patil

Organizations

  • Wayne State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude
  • Coefficients
  • Compression
  • Displacement
  • Education
  • Elastic Properties
  • Electron Microscopes
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Microscopy
  • Nanotechnology
  • Relaxation Time
  • Solidification
  • Stiffness
  • Strain Rate
  • Transitions
  • Viscosity

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Nanoscale Plasmonic Nanotechnology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology