title: Ultralong polarization chains induced by ions solvated in confined water monolayers.
abstract: We disclose by classical molecular dynamics simulations the formation of long polarization chains induced by ions solvated in a water monolayer confined between graphene sheets. First, we examine the dynamics of confined pure water clusters with Nw < 100 at temperatures of 200-300 K. We show that for certain "magic" Nw the clusters form crystallites with stable structures, where discrete water rings are self-organized with clockwise or anticlockwise orientations of their dipoles. Next, we show that when ions are hydrated in larger clusters with a "bracketed" crystal structure, they can generate long fluctuating chains of (Nw > 30) polarized waters. The chains generated by opposite charged ions can eventually meet, lock, and stay polarized at room temperatures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States.
authors.forename: Ishai
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Král
mesh_terms: D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D012995:Solubility; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D014867:Water; D006108:Graphite