Quasi-ice monolayer on atomically smooth amorphous SiO2 at room temperature observed with a high-finesse optical resonator.
The structure of an H(2)O monolayer bound to atomically smooth hydroxylated amorphous silica is probed under ambient conditions by near-infrared evanescent-wave cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy. Employing a miniature monolithic optical resonator, we find sharp (approximately 10 cm(-1)) and polarized (>10:1) vibration-combination bands for surface OH and adsorbed H(2)O, which reveal ordered species in distinct local environments. Indicating first-monolayer uniqueness, the absorption bands for adsorbed H(2)O show intensity saturation and line narrowing with completion of one monolayer. Formation of the ordered H(2)O monolayer likely arises from H bonding to a quasicrystalline surface OH network.
Aarts
I M P
IM
Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands.
Pipino
A C R
AC
Hoefnagels
J P M
JP
Kessels
W M M
WM
van de Sanden
M C M
MC