In a recent article published on Physics Magazine, authors Giulia Galli (UChicago) and Davide Donadio (UCDavis) focus on a new study that delves into the elusive world of water's molecular structures.
The study, titled “Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Probes Water Wire and Its Ordering in a Hydrogen-Bond Network” and conducted by researchers at Temple and Yale Universities, proposes a novel method for detecting "water wires," linear chains of strongly bonded water molecules believed to be crucial in various biological processes, yet whose brief existence has made them difficult to observe. The new study suggests that water's ability to form chain-like structures might significantly improve biological processes.
Through rigorous electronic-structure calculations and molecular-dynamics simulations, the researchers show that “elusive water wires can be detected in bulk water and ice by measuring light absorption in the UV-to-visible range,” the article states.
Galli and Donadio show how investigators looked for a distinct signal from water wires by studying how water interacts with light, and by combining sophisticated computer modeling, they identified “a potential water wire signature”, a clear light pattern that corresponds to these molecular chains. The article states that earlier computer simulations indicated that protons could move more easily along chains of water molecules, but directly observing this has proven challenging.
Galli and Donadio believe the publication proposes a new method: by detecting the presence of water wires, researchers have provided a non-invasive way to study water's behavior at the molecular level. Additionally, the use of this light-based technique can be applied to a wide range of materials, including solutions and liquids interacting with surfaces, potentially advancing technologies like OLED screens and fuel cells, where understanding how molecules connect and transfer energy is essential.
Source: Physics - Shedding Light on Water Wires