Negative thermal expansion of water in hydrophobic nanospaces

The density and intermolecular structure of water in carbon micropores (w = 1.36 nm) are investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements between 20 K and 298 K. The SAXS results suggest that the density of the water in the micropores increased with increasing temperature over a wide temperature range (20-277 K). The density changed by 10%, which is comparable to the density change of 7% between bulk ice (I(c)) at 20 K and water at 277 K. The results of XRD at low temperatures (less than 200 K) show that the water forms the cubic ice (I(c)) structure, although its peak shape and radial distribution functions changed continuously to those of a liquid-like structure with increasing temperature. The SAXS and XRD results both showed that the water in the hydrophobic nanospaces had no phase transition point. The continuous structural change from ice I(c) to liquid with increasing temperature suggests that water shows negative thermal expansion over a wide temperature range in hydrophobic nanospaces. The combination of XRD and SAXS measurements makes it possible to describe confined systems in nanospaces with intermolecular structure and density of adsorbed molecular assemblies.     

Molecular Structure and Dynamics of Water at the Water–Air Interface Studied with Surface‐Specific Vibrational Spectroscopy

Water interfaces provide the platform for many important biological, chemical, and physical processes. The water–air interface is the most common and simple aqueous interface and serves as a model system for water at a hydrophobic surface. Unveiling the microscopic (<1 nm) structure and dynamics of interfacial water at the water–vapor interface is essential for understanding the processes occurring on the water surface. At the water interface the network of very strong intermolecular interactions, hydrogen‐bonds, is interrupted and the density of water is reduced. A central question regarding water at interfaces is the extent to which the structure and dynamics of water molecules are influenced by the interruption of the hydrogen‐bonded network and thus differ from those of bulk water. Herein, we discuss recent advances in the study of interfacial water at the water–air interface using laser‐based surface‐specific vibrational spectroscopy.     

Vibrational spectroscopic study on the phase transition of water in nanospaces and at interfaces

Phase transition of water confined in nanospaces with charged inner-surfaces was investigated by vibrational spectroscopy. Aerosol sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles give a series of spherical nanospaces with controlled inner-radius (R_w) with nanometer-scale precision. Successive spectroscopic measurements of the confined water with decreasing temperature revealed that the water freezes to metastable cubic ice (I_c) coexisting with super-cooled water or unstable amorphous ice at the R_w ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 nm. When R_w exceeded 2.0 nm, stable hexagonal ice (I_h) dominated. The drastic change of the dominant ice structure with the increase of 1 nm in R_w shows that the thickness of water layers affected by the inner surface can be estimated to be ~1 nm, where three or four layers of water hydrated to the surface. It is worth noting that the clear phase transition behavior of the confined water vanishes at R_w = 1.2 nm and that the gradual formation of I_c and coexistence of super-cooled water or glassy state of water are detected. The range of the effective interaction between interfacial water and the charged inner surfaces and the mechanism of the extremely slow phase transition were also discussed.     

限制在疏水板中的新的六边形-四边形三层冰结构

对限制在两个光滑的疏水板间的水进行了分子动力学模拟,观察到了两种晶体结构,都满足冰规则．在1GPa的压强和1．0nm的板间距下获得的新的冰相是平坦的六边形-四边形三层冰．在此结构中,靠近板的两层（外层）中的水分子形成六边形环,中间层的水分子形成四边形环．对于外层的水分子,其四个氢键中的三个在同一层中,另一个氢键与中间层连接．对于中间层的水分子,四个氢键中的两个在同。层中,而另外两个氢键与两个不同的外层相连．虽然三层的形状不同,但其面密度却接近相等．另一种结构是在0．8nm的板问距和100MPa的侧向压下获得的平坦的六边形双层冰．模拟中的相变既有一阶相变,也有连续相变．     

Effect of Temperature on Self‐Interaction of Human‐Like Collagen

Effects of temperature on self‐interaction of human‐like collagen (HLC) were investigated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, calorimetric measurement, and sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) analysis. Results show that three types of interaction roles may exist between HLC molecules at 3–50°C, which were divided into three narrower temperature ranges. In temperature range from 3–22°C, hydrogen bonding plays a key role in the formation of a gelatinous aggregate. In the range of 22–38°C, hydrophobic bonds accompanied by hydrogen bonds are involved in the formation compact aggregates. When temperature is above 38°C the hydrophobic effect formed in the HLC monomer results in the loss of its ability to self‐interact.     

Fast Water Relaxation through One‐Dimensional Channels by Rapid Energy Transfer

Water in carbon nanotubes is surrounded by hydrophobic carbon surfaces and shows anomalous structural and fast transport properties. However, the dynamics of water in hydrophobic nanospaces is only phenomenologically understood. In this study, water dynamics in hydrophobic carbon nanotubes is evaluated based on water relaxation using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. Extremely fast relaxation (0.001 s) of water confined in carbon nanotubes of 1 nm in diameter on average is observed; the relaxation times of water confined in carbon nanotubes with an average diameter of 2 nm (0.40 s) is similar to that of bulk water (0.44 s). The extremely fast relaxation time of water confined in carbon nanotubes with an average diameter of 1 nm is a result of frequent energy transfer between water and carbon surfaces. Water relaxation in carbon nanotubes of average diameter 2 nm is slow because of the limited number of collisions between water molecules. The dynamics of interfacial water can therefore be controlled by varying the size of the hydrophobic nanospace.     

Restricted hydration structures of Rb and Br ions confined in slit-shaped carbon nanospace

Hydration structures of "nanosolutions" around both cation and anion for rubidium bromide confined in nanospaces (pore width = 1.1 nm) of activated carbon fiber were determined with EXAFS measurements and related analysis. The analytical results indicate that the ionic solutions confined in hydrophobic nanospaces tend to form an incomplete dehydration structure, because of the spatial restriction by the nanospace and capturing water molecules in the ordered structure.     

Structure and decompression melting of a novel, high-pressure nanoconfined 2-D ice

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of water confined in nanospaces between layers of talc (system composition Mg(3)Si(4)O(10)(OH)(2) + 2H(2)O) at 300 K and pressures of approximately 0.45 GPa show the presence of a novel 2-D ice structure, and the simulation results at lower pressures provide insight into the mechanisms of its decompression melting. Talc is hydrophobic at ambient pressure and temperature, but weak hydrogen bonding between the talc surface and the water molecules plays an important role in stabilizing the hydrated structure at high pressure. The simulation results suggest that experimentally accessible elevated pressures may cause formation of a wide range of previously unknown water structures in nanoconfinement. In the talc 2-D ice, each water molecule is coordinated by six O(b) atoms of one basal siloxane sheet and three water molecules. The water molecules are arranged in a buckled hexagonal array in the a-b crystallographic plane with two sublayers along [001]. Each H(2)O molecule has four H-bonds, accepting one from the talc OH group and one from another water molecule and donating one to an O(b) and one to another water molecule. In plan view, the molecules are arranged in six-member rings reflecting the substrate talc structure. Decompression melting occurs by migration of water molecules to interstitial sites in the centers of six-member rings and eventual formation of separate empty and water-filled regions.     

Molecular dynamics simulation study of the structural characteristics of water molecules confined in functionalized carbon nanotubes

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to study the structural properties of water molecules confined in functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Four CNTs, two armchair-type (6, 6), (7, 7) and two zigzag-type (10, 0), (12, 0) CNTs, representing different helicities and different diameters, were chosen and functionalized at their open ends by the hydrophilic -COOH and the hydrophobic -CH3 groups. The structural properties of water molecules inside the functionalized CNTs, including the orientation distributions of dipole moment and O-H bonds, the length of the single-file water chain, and the average number of hydrogen bonds, were analyzed during a process of simulations. MD simulation results in this work showed that the -CH3 functional groups exert little special effects on the structural properties of water molecules. It is mainly due to the relatively small size of the -CH3 group and its hydrophobic nature, which is consistent with hydrophobic CNTs. For CNTs functionalized by -COOH groups, the configurations of -COOH groups, incurvature or excurvature, determine whether water molecules can enter the CNTs. The incurvature or excurvature configurations of -COOH groups are the results of synergy effects of the CNTs' helicity and diameter and control the flow direction of water molecules in CNTs.     

Stability and Unfolding Mechanism of the N‐terminal β‐Hairpin from [2Fe‐2S] Ferredoxin I by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The stability and unfolding mechanism of the N‐terminal β‐hairpin of the [2Fe‐2S] ferredoxin I from the blue‐green alga Aphanothece sacrum in pure methanol, 40% (v/v) methanol‐water, and pure water systems were investigated by 10 ns molecular dynamics simulations under periodic boundary conditions. The β‐hairpin was mostly in its native‐like state in pure methanol, whereas it unfolds dramatically following the ‘zip‐up’ mechanism when it was placed in pure water. Both interstrand and inside‐turn hydrogen bonds account for the stability of the β‐hairpin in its native‐like conformation, whereas hydrophobic interactions among nonpolar side chains are responsible for maintaining its stable loop‐like intermediate structures in 40% (v/v) methanol‐water. Reducing solvent polarity seems to increase the stability of the β‐hairpin in its native‐like structure. Methanol is likely to mimic the partially hydrophobic environment around the N‐terminal β‐hairpin by the subsequent α‐helix.     

Water cluster growth in hydrophobic solid nanospaces

The growth mechanism of water clusters in carbon nanopores is clearly elucidated by in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations at 293-313 K. Water molecules are isolated from each other in hydrophobic nanopores below relative pressures (P/P(0)) of 0.5. Water molecules associate with each other to form clusters of about 0.6 nm in size at P/P(0)=0.6, accompanied by a remarkable aggregation of these clusters. The complete filling of carbon nanopores finishes at about P/P(0)=0.8. The correlation length analysis of SAXS profiles leads to the proposal of a growth mechanism for these water clusters and the presence of the critical cluster size of 0.6 nm leads to extremely stable clusters of water molecules in hydrophobic nanopores. Once a cluster of the critical size is formed in hydrophobic nanopores, the predominant water adsorption begins to fill carbon nanopores.     

Water‐Induced Formation,Characterization, and Photoluminescence of Carbon Nanotube‐Based Composites of Gadolinium(III) and Platinum(II) Dithiolenes

Understanding the nature of interactions of targeted drug‐delivery vehicles, such as functionalized carbon nanotubes (f‐CNTs) and their composites, with a cell or its organelles or DNA, where water is a major constituent, requires molecular‐level understanding of f‐CNTs with analogous chemical systems. The nature of interaction has not yet been explored within the scope of formation of giant aggregates by self‐assembly processes. Crystals of platinum(II) dithiolene [Pt(mnt)₂][PPh₄]₂ ( 1 ) and gadolinium(III) dithiolene [Gd(mnt)₃][PPh₄]₃ ( 2 ) (mnt=maleonitrile dithiolate) form nanospheres (diameter 88 nm) and nanoflowers (400–600 nm) in acetonitrile/water and DMF/water solvent mixtures, respectively. The formation of nanospheres or nanoflowers is proposed to be a water‐induced phenomenon. These nanospheres and nanoflowers interact with f‐CNTs by forming either spherical supramolecular assemblies ( 3 , diameter up to 45. 5 μm) in the case of platinum(II) dithiolene or composite flowers ( 4 ) with CNT buckling for gadolinium(III) dithiolene. Both nanostructures, ( 3 ) and ( 4 ), show emission upon excitation at a range of wavelengths (λ_ex=385–560 nm). The fluorescence emissions of the composite materials 3 and 4 are proposed to be due to separation of energy states of the nanospheres of 1 or the nanoflowers of 2 by the energy states of the f‐CNTs, leading to the possibility of new electronic transitions.     

The Colloidal Stabilization of Carbon with Carbon: Carbon Nanobubbles as both Dispersant and Glue for Carbon Nanotubes

The superior physical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have led to their broad application. Intrinsically, CNTs tend to agglomerate from hydrophobic interactions, which is highly undesirable for solution processing and device fabrication. Commonly, a stabilizer consisting of organic surfactants or polymers is used to disperse CNTs. Recently, we synthesized nitrogen‐doped carbon hollow nanospheres (25–90 nm), termed carbon “nanobubbles”. They bear superior dispersability in water and distinctive graphitic order. Herein, we describe the nanobubble‐assisted dispersion of CNTs in aqueous solution upon sonication. This process relies on the π–π interaction between the two aromatic carbon nanostructures, which can process their carbon mixture in water into conductive filter membranes, ink, and discs. This stabilization can be extended to other aromatic carbons. In addition, the π–π interaction may create a new type of carbon p–n junction that can be used to improve charge separation.     

Molecular dynamics simulation study of association in trifluoroethanol/water mixtures

Mixtures of Trifluoroethanol (TFE) and water with different proportions are studied using molecular dynamics simulations. The radial and spatial distribution functions, as well as the size distribution of TFE clusters are obtained from the trajectories. The variation of radial and spatial distribution functions with composition show that the addition of TFE enhances the water structure, but the hydrogen bonds between TFE molecules are broken as TFE is diluted with water. The TFE‐rich solutions have stronger TFE–water hydrogen bonds. The clustering of TFE molecules in low concentration region is attributed to the hydrophobic interactions between CF₃ groups. The distribution of cluster sizes in solution supports these conclusions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Nanostructured Micelle Nanotubes Self‐Assembled from Dinucleobase Monomers in Water

Despite the central importance of aqueous amphiphile assemblies in science and industry, the size and shape of these nano‐objects is often difficult to control with accuracy owing to the non‐directional nature of the hydrophobic interactions that sustain them. Here, using a bioinspired strategy that consists of programming an amphiphile with shielded directional Watson–Crick hydrogen‐bonding functions, its self‐assembly in water was guided toward a novel family of chiral micelle nanotubes with partially filled lipophilic pores of about 2 nm in diameter. Moreover, these tailored nanotubes are successfully demonstrated to extract and host molecules that are complementary in size and chemical affinity.     

Hidden Isolated OH at the Charged Hydrophobic Interface Revealed by Two‐Dimensional Heterodyne‐Detected VSFG Spectroscopy

Water around hydrophobic groups mediates hydrophobic interactions that play key roles in many chemical and biological processes. Thus, the molecular‐level elucidation of the properties of water in the vicinity of hydrophobic groups is important. We report on the structure and dynamics of water at two oppositely charged hydrophobic ion/water interfaces, that is, the tetraphenylborate‐ion (TPB^?)/water and tetraphenylarsonium‐ion (TPA⁺)/water interfaces, which are clarified by two‐dimensional heterodyne‐detected vibrational sum‐frequency generation (2D HD‐VSFG) spectroscopy. The obtained 2D HD‐VSFG spectra of the anionic TPB^? interface reveal the existence of distinct π‐hydrogen bonded OH groups in addition to the usual hydrogen‐bonded OH groups, which are hidden in the steady‐state spectrum. In contrast, 2D HD‐VSFG spectra of the cationic TPA⁺ interface only show the presence of usual hydrogen‐bonded OH groups. The present study demonstrates that the sign of the interfacial charge governs the structure and dynamics of water molecules that face the hydrophobic region.     

In Situ Raman Monitoring and Manipulating of Interfacial Hydrogen Spillover by Precise Fabrication of Au/TiO2/Pt Sandwich Structures

The spillover of hydrogen species and its role in tuning the activity and selectivity in catalytic hydrogenation have been investigated in situ using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with 10 nm spatial resolution through the precise fabrication of Au/TiO₂/Pt sandwich nanostructures. In situ SERS study reveals that hydrogen species can efficiently spillover at Pt‐TiO₂‐Au interfaces, and the ultimate spillover distance on TiO₂ is about 50 nm. Combining kinetic isotope experiments and density functional theory calculations, it is found that the hydrogen spillover proceeds via the water‐assisted cleavage and formation of surface hydrogen–oxygen bond. More importantly, the selectivity in the hydrogenation of the nitro or isocyanide group is manipulated by controlling the hydrogen spillover. This work provides molecular insights to deepen the understanding of hydrogen activation and boosts the design of active and selective catalysts for hydrogenation.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of quasi-two-dimensional water clusters on ice nucleation protein

We performed molecular dynamics simulations of systems that consisted of the ice nucleation protein and the quasi-two-dimensional water cluster on it. The angle distributions, percolation probabilities, mean cluster sizes, cluster size distributions, and hydrogen bond relaxation times were analyzed. We concluded that the behavior of the water clusters on the ice nucleation protein was elaborately intertwined by the interaction between the ice nucleation protein and water, the interaction between the water molecules and the effect of temperature. The percolation probability and mean cluster size depended on the interactions and temperatures.     

SBA-15-functionalized sulfonic acid confined acidic ionic liquid: a powerful and water-tolerant catalyst for solvent-free esterifications

Incorporating a hydrophobic Br?nsted acid ionic liquid (HBAIL) inside the nanospaces of SBA-15-Pr-SO(3)H led to a hydrophobic super Br?nsted acid catalyst, which showed excellent catalytic performance in direct esterification of alcohols and carboxylic acids at ambient temperature under solvent-free conditions.     

Computational Study of the Interactions between Benzene and Crystalline Ice Ih: Ground and Excited States

Ground‐state geometries of benzene on crystalline ice cluster model surfaces (I_h) are investigated. It is found that the binding energies of benzene‐bound ice complexes are sensitive to the dangling features of the binding sites. We used time‐dependent DFT to study the UV spectroscopy of benzene, ice clusters, and benzene–ice complexes, by employing the M06‐2X functional. It is observed that the size of the ice cluster and the dangling features have minor effects on the UV spectral characteristics. Benzene‐mediated electronic excitations of water towards longer wavelengths (above 170 nm) are noted in benzene‐bound ice clusters, where the cross‐section of photon absorption by water is negligible, in good agreement with recent experimental results (Thrower et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, 2008, 26 , 919–924). The intensities of peaks associated with water excitations in benzene–ice complexes are found to be higher than in isolated ice clusters. The π→π* electronic transition of benzene in benzene–ice complexes undergoes a small redshift compared with the isolated benzene molecule, and this holds for all benzene‐bound ice complexes.