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Title: Ferroelectricity in high-density H{sub 2}O ice

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4916564· OSTI ID:22415614
 [1]
  1. CNRS, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon UMR5276, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, alleé d’Italie, Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, 69364 Lyon cedex 07 (France)

The origin of longstanding anomalies in experimental studies of the dense solid phases of H{sub 2}O ices VII, VIII, and X is examined using a combination of first-principles theoretical methods. We find that a ferroelectric variant of ice VIII is energetically competitive with the established antiferroelectric form under pressure. The existence of domains of the ferroelectric form within anti-ferroelectric ice can explain previously observed splittings in x-ray diffraction data. The ferroelectric form is stabilized by density and is accompanied by the onset of spontaneous polarization. The presence of local electric fields triggers the preferential parallel orientation of the water molecules in the structure, which could be stabilized in bulk using new high-pressure techniques.

OSTI ID:
22415614
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 142, Issue 13; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Cited By (3)

Partially ordered state of ice XV journal July 2016
Proton dynamics and the phase diagram of dense water ice journal June 2018
Erratum: Partially ordered state of ice XV journal August 2016

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