PCCP: MS-Skin supersolidity-0814.pdf

DOI: 10.1039/C4CP02516D

Skins of water and ice share the same attribute of supersolidity characterizedby the identical H-O vibration frequency of 3450 cm^-1. Molecularundercoordination and inter-electron-pair repulsion shortens the H-O bond andlengthen the O:H nonbond, leading to a dual process of nonbonding electronpolarization. This relaxation-polarization process enhances the dipole moment, elasticity,viscosity, thermal stability of these skins with 25% density loss, which isresponsible for the hydrophobicity and toughness of water skin and for theslippery of ice.