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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/C510968/1
Title: The Structure, Dynamics and Reactivity Of Water At Interfaces
Principal Investigator: Hodgson, Professor A
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Liverpool
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 June 2005 Ends: 31 May 2008 Value (£): 233,437
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Electrochemical Science & Eng. Surfaces & Interfaces
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Chemicals Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The interaction of water and OH with solid surfaces will be investigated using surface science techniques to examine the composition, hydrogen bonding structure and dynamics of these overlayers. The aim is to develop a detailed understanding of the how the presence of a solid - water interface and strongly directional hydrogen bonding, forces an ordered structure onto thin water films and modifies the stability and coverage of reactive adsorbates, such as OH. The structure and stability of these species in the presence of water overlayers influences the physical and chemical properties of metal interfaces in aqueous conditions, but solvent effects and restructuring are not understood in any detail. Molecular beam growth and characterisation of well defined water and mixed OH/water films will be combined with sensitive ultra high vacuum techniques, including He scattering, low energy electron diffraction (LEED), temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and Fourier transform reflection-absorption infra red spectroscopy (RAIRS), to probe their structure and stability. A comparison of water adsorption on different surfaces will allow us to explore the importance of the water adsorption site and orientation, relative to the density and structure of the hydrogen bonding network, in determining the interface structure. The formation of stable mixed OH+water structures at metal and oxide surfaces will be examined. Comparison between experimental measurements of the OH/water-solid interface and simulations by Wahnstrom's group (Chalmers, Sweden) will allow theoretical models to be developed for the structure an( reactivity of the Pt/OH/water interface. This interface is relevant to gas-surface reactions and as models for the metal-OH interface under electrochemical conditions, such as in the H2JO2 fuel cell. These results will allow models to be developed describing the ideal metal-OH/water bonding and how the water structure evolves for thicker films, providing a better understanding of the behaviour of water at solid - electrolyte interfaces a subject of practical relevance to many scientific problems.
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Organisation Website: http://www.liv.ac.uk