We present a novel method for investigating a nanometric cluster of water molecules, which includes the formation and manipulation of nanometric water, and the measurement of its mechanical properties. The atomic force microscope based on the quartz tuning-fork sensor is employed to form and manipulate the nanometric water, and the theoretical tool of amplitude-modulation atomic force microscopy is used to obtain the elasticity, viscosity and dissipation energy of it. With high vertical resolution less than approximately 0.1 nm and high force sensitivity of approximately 0.01 N m(-1), this tool facilitates the stable formation and manipulation of a nano-water cluster (approximately 10(4) molecules) in air without 'jump-to-contact' instability, as well as quantitative measurements of its physico-chemical properties. PACS numbers: 47.55.nk, 62.10.+s, 68.37.Ps
We demonstrate real-time observation of nucleation of the single water nanomeniscus formed via capillary condensation. We directly measure (i) activation time by time-resolved atomic force microscopy and (ii) nucleation rate by statistical analysis of its exponential distribution, which is the experimental evidence that the activation process is stochastic and follows the Poisson statistics. It implies that formation of the water nanomeniscus is triggered by nucleation, which requires activation for producing a nucleus. We also find the dependence of the nucleation rate on the tip-sample distance and temperature.
The ubiquitous capillary water bridge in nature plays an important role in interfacial phenomena under ambient conditions such as adhesion and friction. We present experimental measurements of the mechanical properties of the nanometric water column by using noncontact atomic force microscopy. We observe the universal behaviors that the relaxation time (RT) associated with the meniscus increases with its elongation and ruptures at the same value of RT, independent of the meniscus volume. In particular, the enhancement of RT between formation and rupture of the meniscus is indicative of the increased solid-like response, similar to that observed in nanoconfined water layers. Our results that the longer water column is more solid-like and less stable suggest (i) water at the vapor/liquid interface is more solid-like than that inside the meniscus and (ii) the associated smaller mobility of the interfacial water molecules is responsible for the structural stability of the water meniscus.
The capillary-condensed liquid bridge is one of the most ubiquitous forms of liquid in nature and contributes significantly to adhesion and friction of biological molecules as well as microscopic objects. Despite its important role in nanoscience and technology, the rupture process of the bridge is not well understood and needs more experimental works. Here, we report real-time observation of rupture of a capillary-condensed water nanobridge in ambient condition. During slow and stepwise stretch of the nanobridge, we measured the activation time for rupture, or the latency time required for the bridge breakup. By statistical analysis of the time-resolved distribution of activation time, we show that rupture is a thermally activated stochastic process and follows the Poisson statistics. In particular, from the Arrhenius law that the rupture rate satisfies, we estimate the position-dependent activation energies for the capillary-bridge rupture.
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