Magnetic freezing of confined water

J Chem Phys. 2010 Oct 7;133(13):134703. doi: 10.1063/1.3498747.

Abstract

We report results from molecular dynamic simulations of the freezing transition of liquid water in the nanoscale hydrophobic confinement under the influence of a homogeneous external magnetic field of 10 T along the direction perpendicular to the parallel plates. A new phase of bilayer crystalline ice is obtained at an anomalously high freezing temperature of 340 K. The water-to-ice translation is found to be first order. The bilayer ice is built from alternating rows of hexagonal rings and rhombic rings parallel to the confining plates, with a large distortion of the hydrogen bonds. We also investigate the temperature shifts of the freezing transition due to the magnetic field. The freezing temperature, below which the freezing of confined water occurs, shifts to a higher value as the magnetic field enhances. Furthermore, the temperature of the freezing transition of confined water is proportional to the denary logarithm of the external magnetic field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Freezing*
  • Magnetics*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Temperature
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Water