A molecular view of the water interface

Prof. Dr. Mischa Bonn
Direktor, Arbeitskreis Molekulare Spektroskopie, Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Mainz
vollständiger Text

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Water surfaces and interfaces are ubiquitous, not just in nature, but also in many technological applications. Water is a rather unique liquid, owing to its strong intermolecular interactions: strong hydrogen bonds hold water molecules together. At the surface of water, the water hydrogen-bonded network is abruptly interrupted, conferring distinct properties on the interface, compared to the bulk.
I will present some challenges (“How can we study the about one monolayer of water molecules that is in direct contact with the other phase, and distinguish this about Ångström-thin layer from the bulk? Can the interface be described as a modified dielectric continuum, or do we need to consider its molecular structure?”) and progress in the study of interfacial water.

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