Dielectric ordering of water molecules arranged in a dipolar lattice

M. A. Belyanchikov (), M. Savinov, Z. V. Bedran, P. Bednyakov, P. Proschek, J. Prokleska, V. A. Abalmasov, J. Petzelt, E. S. Zhukova, V. G. Thomas, A. Dudka, A. Zhugayevych, A. S. Prokhorov, V. B. Anzin, R. K. Kremer, J. K. H. Fischer, P. Lunkenheimer, A. Loidl, E. Uykur, M. Dressel and B. Gorshunov ()
Additional contact information
M. A. Belyanchikov: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University)
M. Savinov: Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences
Z. V. Bedran: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University)
P. Bednyakov: Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences
P. Proschek: Charles University
J. Prokleska: Charles University
V. A. Abalmasov: Institute of Automation and Electrometry SB RAS
J. Petzelt: Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences
E. S. Zhukova: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University)
V. G. Thomas: Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, RAS
A. Dudka: Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography, “Crystallography and Photonics”, Russian Academy of Sciences
A. Zhugayevych: Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
A. S. Prokhorov: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University)
V. B. Anzin: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University)
R. K. Kremer: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
J. K. H. Fischer: University of Augsburg
P. Lunkenheimer: University of Augsburg
A. Loidl: University of Augsburg
E. Uykur: Universität Stuttgart
M. Dressel: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University)
B. Gorshunov: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University)

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Intermolecular hydrogen bonds impede long-range (anti-)ferroelectric order of water. We confine H2O molecules in nanosized cages formed by ions of a dielectric crystal. Arranging them in channels at a distance of ~5 Å with an interchannel separation of ~10 Å prevents the formation of hydrogen networks while electric dipole-dipole interactions remain effective. Here, we present measurements of the temperature-dependent dielectric permittivity, pyrocurrent, electric polarization and specific heat that indicate an order-disorder ferroelectric phase transition at T0 ≈ 3 K in the water dipolar lattice. Ab initio molecular dynamics and classical Monte Carlo simulations reveal that at low temperatures the water molecules form ferroelectric domains in the ab-plane that order antiferroelectrically along the channel direction. This way we achieve the long-standing goal of arranging water molecules in polar order. This is not only of high relevance in various natural systems but might open an avenue towards future applications in biocompatible nanoelectronics.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17832-y

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