Correlative angstrom-scale microscopy and spectroscopy of graphite-water interfaces

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Bonagiri, Lalith Krishna Samanth, Arvelo, Diana M., Zhao, Fujia, Kim, Jaehyeon, Ai, Qian, Zhou, Shan, Panse, Kaustubh S., Garcia, Ricardo, Zhang, Yingjie
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Bonagiri, Lalith Krishna Samanth
Arvelo, Diana M.
Zhao, Fujia
Kim, Jaehyeon
Ai, Qian
Zhou, Shan
Panse, Kaustubh S.
Garcia, Ricardo
Zhang, Yingjie
author_facet Bonagiri, Lalith Krishna Samanth
Arvelo, Diana M.
Zhao, Fujia
Kim, Jaehyeon
Ai, Qian
Zhou, Shan
Panse, Kaustubh S.
Garcia, Ricardo
Zhang, Yingjie
contents Water at solid surfaces is key for many processes ranging from biological signal transduction to membrane separation and renewable energy conversion. However, under realistic conditions, which often include environmental and surface charge variations, the interfacial water structure remains elusive. Here we overcome this limit by combining three-dimensional atomic force microscopy and interface-sensitive Raman spectroscopy to characterize the graphite-water interfacial structure in situ. Through correlative analysis of the spatial liquid density maps and vibrational peaks within ~2 nm of the graphite surface, we find the existence of two interfacial configurations at open circuit potential, a transient state where pristine water exhibits strong hydrogen bond (HB) breaking effects, and a steady state with hydrocarbons dominating the interface and weak HB breaking in the surrounding water. At sufficiently negative potentials, both states transition into a stable structure featuring pristine water with a broader distribution of HB configurations. Our three-state model resolves many long-standing controversies on interfacial water structure.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_09908
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Correlative angstrom-scale microscopy and spectroscopy of graphite-water interfaces
Bonagiri, Lalith Krishna Samanth
Arvelo, Diana M.
Zhao, Fujia
Kim, Jaehyeon
Ai, Qian
Zhou, Shan
Panse, Kaustubh S.
Garcia, Ricardo
Zhang, Yingjie
Chemical Physics
Water at solid surfaces is key for many processes ranging from biological signal transduction to membrane separation and renewable energy conversion. However, under realistic conditions, which often include environmental and surface charge variations, the interfacial water structure remains elusive. Here we overcome this limit by combining three-dimensional atomic force microscopy and interface-sensitive Raman spectroscopy to characterize the graphite-water interfacial structure in situ. Through correlative analysis of the spatial liquid density maps and vibrational peaks within ~2 nm of the graphite surface, we find the existence of two interfacial configurations at open circuit potential, a transient state where pristine water exhibits strong hydrogen bond (HB) breaking effects, and a steady state with hydrocarbons dominating the interface and weak HB breaking in the surrounding water. At sufficiently negative potentials, both states transition into a stable structure featuring pristine water with a broader distribution of HB configurations. Our three-state model resolves many long-standing controversies on interfacial water structure.
title Correlative angstrom-scale microscopy and spectroscopy of graphite-water interfaces
topic Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.09908