A cubic dipole lattice of water molecules trapped inside carbon cages

Chem Commun (Camb). 2014 Jan 18;50(5):524-6. doi: 10.1039/c3cc46683c. Epub 2013 Nov 26.

Abstract

We report the crystal structure and dielectric properties of a pure H2O@C60 crystal at low temperature. The caged water molecules free from the hydrogen bonds rotate even at 8 K. The antifreeze rotating water molecules respond to an external electric field due to their permanent dipole moment.