Quantum Electric Dipole Lattice Water Molecules Confined to Nanocavities in Beryl

Water is subject to intense investigations due to its importance in biological matter but keeps many of its secrets. Here, we unveil an even other aspect by confining H 2 O molecules to nanosize cages. Our THz and infrared spectra of water in the gemstone beryl evidence quantum tunneling of H 2 O mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of infrared, millimeter and terahertz waves Vol. 39; no. 9; pp. 799 - 815
Main Authors Dressel, Martin, Zhukova, Elena S., Thomas, Victor G., Gorshunov, Boris P.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.09.2018
Subjects
Classical Electrodynamics
Electrical Engineering
Electronics and Microelectronics
Engineering
Instrumentation
Water
Dipolar interaction
THz spectroscopy
Quantum tunneling
Dielectric spectroscopy
Ferroelectricity
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
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Summary:Water is subject to intense investigations due to its importance in biological matter but keeps many of its secrets. Here, we unveil an even other aspect by confining H 2 O molecules to nanosize cages. Our THz and infrared spectra of water in the gemstone beryl evidence quantum tunneling of H 2 O molecules in the crystal lattice. The water molecules are spread out when confined in a nanocage. In combination with low-frequency dielectric measurements, we were also able to show that dipolar coupling among the H 2 O molecules leads towards a ferroelectric state at low temperatures. Upon cooling, a ferroelectric soft mode shifts through the THz range. Only quantum fluctuations prevent perfect macroscopic order to be fully achieved. Beside the significance to life science and possible application, nanoconfined water may become the prime example of a quantum electric dipolar lattice.
ISSN:1866-6892
1866-6906
DOI:10.1007/s10762-018-0472-8