Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy

The overall goal of this experiment is to probe the structure and dynamics of interfacial water at the atomic scale using submolecular resolution imaging, molecular manipulation and single bond vibrational spectroscopy. This method can help answer fundamental issues about water science such as identifying the hydrogen bond and directionality of water and probing the hydrogen bond dynamics and vibrational spectroscopy of water molecules as shown on solid surfaces. The main advantage of this technique is that STM combines the capability of sub-angstrom Spatial resolution, atomic manipulation, and single bond vibrational sensitivity.

Except for providing insight into the structure, dynamics, and nuclear quantum effects of surface water, it can also be applied to more complex and realistic hydrogen bond system such as confined water, buck eyes, multilayer water, and water hydrogen systems. To begin, follow along with the accompanying text protocol to clean the gold 111 single crystal using cycles of argon ion sputtering and subsequent annealing. Deposit sodium chloride onto the surface of the gold crystal and then transfer it to the scanning stage of an STM set up.