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Nanotubes Can Shape Water Molecules Into 'Two-Dimensional Ice' (phys.org)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the ice-ice-baby dept.

Iwastheone quotes Phys.org: First, according to Rice University engineers, get a nanotube hole. Then insert water. If the nanotube is just the right width, the water molecules will align into a square rod. Rice materials scientist Rouzbeh Shahsavari and his team used molecular models to demonstrate their theory that weak van der Waals forces between the inner surface of the nanotube and the water molecules are strong enough to snap the oxygen and hydrogen atoms into place. Shahsavari referred to the contents as two-dimensional "ice," because the molecules freeze regardless of the temperature.

He said the research provides valuable insight on ways to leverage atomic interactions between nanotubes and water molecules to fabricate nanochannels and energy-storing nanocapacitors... The researchers already knew that hydrogen atoms in tightly confined water take on interesting structural properties. Recent experiments by other labs showed strong evidence for the formation of nanotube ice and prompted the researchers to build density functional theory models to analyze the forces responsible... They discovered that nanotubes in the middle diameters had the most impact on the balance between molecular interactions and van der Waals pressure that prompted the transition from a square water tube to ice.
The paper describes "solid-like water nanotubes," and the head of the research team believes they could have practical applications, according to the article.

"Nanotube ice could find use in molecular machines or as nanoscale capillaries, or foster ways to deliver a few molecules of water or sequestered drugs to targeted cells, like a nanoscale syringe."

36 comments

  1. Cat's Cradle by Dr.+Bombay · · Score: 5, Insightful

    An ice IX nano-environment!

    1. Re:Cat's Cradle by RandomFactor · · Score: 1

      "the molecules freeze regardless of the temperature"

      Criminy, it isn't actually a bad statement.

      --
      --- Mercutio was right.
    2. Re:Cat's Cradle by postbigbang · · Score: 1

      See the cat, see the cradle. I hope they don't accidentally drop it down a sink somewhere....

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    3. Re:Cat's Cradle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "There's no damn cat and there's no damn cradle"
      Truly one of the 'Secrets of the Universe'. I learned this as a teenager and it so frequently shows up in the IT business.

  2. Homeopathy by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

    First I have this question: does this research mean homeopathy and "memory of water" is true after all?

    1. Re:Homeopathy by fibonacci8 · · Score: 1

      First I have this question: does this research mean homeopathy and "memory of water" is true after all?

      It doesn't sound like it, the "freezing" in the paper only mentions the water while it's constrained by the boron nitride or carbon nanotubing. No mention at all of water exhibiting behavior based on past exposure to other chemicals that are no longer present.

      --
      Inheritance is the sincerest form of nepotism.
    2. Re:Homeopathy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I gather it's real freezing. The pressure from the confinement moves you to different point on the phase diagram.

    3. Re:Homeopathy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      First I have this question: does this research mean homeopathy and "memory of water" is true after all?

      Absolutely not, though I'm sure some homeopathetic pushers will be trying to use this in their scam starting tomorrow. None of that "memory of water" or "dilution makes it stronger" garbage is true, it's just a scam to try to take advantage of the gullible by using the placebo effect.

    4. Re: Homeopathy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How is this phenonena even remotely linked to the claims of homeopathy?? Can someone help me out, I see zero connection. Is this some kind of logic homeopathy? The less evidence there is for something, the greater it's explanative power?

  3. Wish I had mod points by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    + 1 is aware of nerd culture.

    1. Re:Wish I had mod points by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uh, is well-regarded scifi literature "nerd culture" really? Meh. Certainly a hell of a lot more than the "big dork threory" faggot shit sitcom with the 1-liners about spiderman and lack of sexual prowess.

  4. Vonnegut by tibbar · · Score: 1

    what no ice-nine? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
     

  5. Computer advice by murfyn5193 · · Score: 0

    It always gives the same insane advice: You need teeny little ice cubes for making teeny little drinks like you need teeny little hands for milking mice. Original: https://people.well.com/user/b...

  6. Black ice? by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    Not sure what color it actually is, but black seems likely. Cool.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  7. Square rod = two dimensions?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Call me topologically challenged, but to me that sounds like either one or three dimensions.

    1. Re: Square rod = two dimensions?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree.
      If we assume that the molecules are points and the bonds between them are lines (which we'd have to do for anything like what we're talking about):
      In my opinion...

      A single molecule would be a point

      A row of molecules in a straight line would be 1D

      A sheet, 1 molecule thick would be 2D

      A square rod, would be 3D as it's essentially a series of linked cubes.

    2. Re: Square rod = two dimensions?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Same AC as the one that made the list here...
      This obviously doesn't apply if the squares are not linked in which case it could be lots of 2D ice squares rather than an ice rod

    3. Re: Square rod = two dimensions?? by justthinkit · · Score: 1

      No molecule can be a point.

      An H2O molecule is a bent line.

      An atom can be a point.

      --
      I come here for the love
    4. Re: Square rod = two dimensions?? by divide+overflow · · Score: 1

      No molecule can be a point.

      An H2O molecule is a bent line.

      An atom can be a point.

      Even atoms are composed of subatomic particles. Only a point can be a point. Quantum mechanics explains that at smaller and smaller scales the properties of particles and waves become enmeshed, their behavior is more statistical than deterministic, and nothing behaves like a static point.

  8. RandomFactor = fake name massive human fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: Your MASSIVE FAIL in this life is you're nothing more than a chattering little do-nothing "ne'er-do-well" online & you know it...

    * Is that the best your "phantasyland FAKE NAME" (for your fake lie of a so-called 'life') can manage?

    When a FAKE NAME do nothing like YOU does better than I have? Then talk (you're all talk & no action)...

    You can't help you're an immature little BUTTHURT no-mind, lol! I blew you away in TONS OF PLACES and easily dust your no-mind bullshit blatherings.

    APK

    P.S.=> The TRUE PRICE of your UNIDENTIFIABLE FAKE NAME do-nothing selves like you that I can ALWAYS CASH IN ON (lol) is that I can use FACT/TRUTH on them to SHATTER their all TOO fragile delusional egos that they actually know A DAMN THING in computing, lol... apk

  9. Polywater by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Polywater without the impurities.

  10. Tiny 2D drinks needed! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Would be nice to know which phase the ice was, TFA is light on details. I'm guessing the nanotube causes the molecules to act as if they are under high pressure. Have they mapped the P vs T? Wonder what would happen if the ice in the nanotubes was shifted through a phase change.

  11. Re:I am God's gift to you stupid niggers... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nice try rusian bot.

  12. 1-D or 2-D by BrianMarshall · · Score: 1

    I am pretty sure this is one-dimentional, rather than "Two-Dimensional Ice". Or, at a finer scale, maybe 3-dimensional.... where do they get two?

    --
    "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" -- HST
    1. Re:1-D or 2-D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A point is 1D. A line is 2D. Fail basic geometry?

    2. Re:1-D or 2-D by BrianMarshall · · Score: 1

      A point is 1D. A line is 2D. Fail basic geometry?

      You are wrong and this really is basic geometry.

      A point has no extent and no dimensions.

      A line is, obviously, one dimensional. It may exist in a 2-D space or 3-D space or more if you want to get fancy.

      If you get down to where all the atoms are, it is, of course 3-D.

      I fail to see why they call it 2-D.

      --
      "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" -- HST
    3. Re:1-D or 2-D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are situations where the forces start to act as if they're in a 2D Universe. Mono-layer nano-conductors can do this. Electrical resistance is dependent on the number of dimensions in space, but if you create a single layer mono-crystal, resistance acts as if it's in 2D land.

    4. Re:1-D or 2-D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A point is 0 D. No dimensions
      A line is 1 D. It has length
      A plane is 2 D. it has length and width (aka an area)
      Reality as we know is 3D. it has length, width and height. (aka a volume)

  13. RICE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. #2.

  14. fourth dimension by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Separate cells of the 5-cell (pentachoron).
    https://youtu.be/KGARbPEFc5I

    Separate cells of the 8-cell (tesseract).
    https://youtu.be/A6lnDAUoh4U

    Separate cells of the 16-cell (hexadecachoron).
    https://youtu.be/_HAkxVQrjl0

    Separate cells of the 24-cell (icositetrachoron).
    https://youtu.be/az6bn49IVeI

  15. Before "cold fusion" there was by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Polywater"
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polywater

  16. The Abyss by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was sad to see no Abyss comments. I'm looking forward to seeing some watery Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio water sculptures.