Molecular and pore-scale structure evolution in amorphous solid water

The pore structure of vapour deposited amorphous solid water (ASW) is of both fundamental interest and astrophysical importance, where the system's properties are believed to play a major role in processes such as star and planetary body formation. Here we report a comprehensive characterisation of D<sub>2</sub>O ASW in the temperature range of 20 to 180 K, using combined total and small-angle neutron scattering. Significant changes to the ice morphology are observed across the temperature range 100 to 150 K, whereby there is a significant loss of specific surface area and porosity; the transition of 3D to 2D dominated pore shapes and a general compaction of the ice. The initial structure of nanometer scale microporous islands with voids between them at low temperature evolves with annealing into compact islands with larger voids. Even past crystallisation, there is still porosity present until desorption due to persisting void volume.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Published
2025-11-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/d5cp03851k
Primary Topic
Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Molecular and pore-scale structure evolution in amorphous solid water

Olivier Auriacombe, H. J. Fraser, Ragesh Kumar T. P., Thomas F. Headen et al.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
article

Molecular and pore-scale structure evolution in amorphous solid water

Olivier Auriacombe, H. J. Fraser, Ragesh Kumar T. P., Thomas F. Headen, Leide Passos Cavalcanti, Catherine R. Hill, Ellen Daly, Tristan G. A. Youngs, Rachael Hamp, Natalia Pascual, Sarah E. Rogers, Pierre Ghesquière, Sabrina Gaertner, Daniel T. Bowron, Zachary Amato
article en

Abstract

The pore structure of vapour deposited amorphous solid water (ASW) is of both fundamental interest and astrophysical importance, where the system's properties are believed to play a major role in processes such as star and planetary body formation. Here we report a comprehensive characterisation of D<sub>2</sub>O ASW in the temperature range of 20 to 180 K, using combined total and small-angle neutron scattering. Significant changes to the ice morphology are observed across the temperature range 100 to 150 K, whereby there is a significant loss of specific surface area and porosity; the transition of 3D to 2D dominated pore shapes and a general compaction of the ice. The initial structure of nanometer scale microporous islands with voids between them at low temperature evolves with annealing into compact islands with larger voids. Even past crystallisation, there is still porosity present until desorption due to persisting void volume.

Physical Chemistry Chemical PhysicsVol. 28(1)
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (GB), The Open University (GB)
National Science Foundation, UK Research and Innovation, European Commission, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Division of Materials Research
Openalex Percentile: Top 75%
Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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