Multiwalled ice helixes and ice nanotubes

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Dec 26;103(52):19664-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0608401104. Epub 2006 Dec 14.

Abstract

We report six phases of high-density nano-ice predicted to form within carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at high pressure. High-density nano-ice self-assembled within smaller-diameter CNT (17,0) exhibits a double-walled helical structure where the outer wall consists of four double-stranded helixes, which resemble a DNA double helix, and the inner wall is a quadruple-stranded helix. Four other double-walled nano-ices, self-assembled respectively in two larger-diameter CNTs (20,0 and 22,0), display tubular structure. Within CNT (24,0), the confined water can freeze spontaneously into a triple-walled helical nano-ice where the outer wall is an 18-stranded helix and the middle and inner walls are hextuple-stranded helixes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Ice*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ice