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Quasielastic neutron scattering study of water confined in carbon nanopores

Journal Article · · Europhysics Letters
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Neutron Scattering Science Division
  2. Drexel Univ., Philadelphia, PA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Sciences Division

Microscopic dynamics of water confined in nanometer and sub-nanometer pores of carbide-derived carbon (CDC) were investigated using quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS). The temperature dependence of the average relaxation time, ‹τ›, exhibits super-Arrhenius behavior that could be described by Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) law in the range from 250 K to 190 K; below this temperature, ‹τ› follows Arrhenius temperature dependence. The temperature of the dynamic crossover between the two regimes in water confined in the CDC pores is similar to that observed for water in hydrophobic confinement of the larger size, such as 14 Å ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK) and 16 Å double-wall carbon nanotubes. Thus, the dynamical behavior of water remains qualitatively unchanged even in the very small hydrophobic pores.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC); Fluid Interface Reactions, Structures and Transport Center (FIRST)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
OSTI ID:
1065759
Journal Information:
Europhysics Letters, Journal Name: Europhysics Letters Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 95; ISSN 0295-5075
Publisher:
IOP Publishing
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English