New Atomic Insights into Ice Structure Resolve Longstanding Scientific Debate

For over 170 years, the structure of ice's surface has puzzled scientists. A team from Peking University, led by Professors Jiang Ying and Wang Enge, has now unveiled its secrets. Inspired by the frozen surface of Peking's Weiming Lake, they used advanced scanning probe technology to reveal the atomic layout of hexagonal ice.

Key Discoveries:

• Ice surfaces are not uniform but feature a mix of Ih and Ic stacking patterns, creating a "perfect imperfection."
• These surfaces can pre-melt at temperatures as low as 120K, much lower than previously thought.
• The team developed a new technique to image hydrogen bonds on insulating surfaces, a first in the field.

Impact: This breakthrough challenges long-standing assumptions about ice's structure and behavior, impacting fields from materials science to atmospheric chemistry. It opens new avenues to understand ice's role in planetary science and potentially in the origins of life.

Technological Advancement: The team's creation of a domestically-made qPlus scanning microscope, with superior noise reduction and temperature control, was crucial. This innovation not only enhances scientific research but also boosts China's technological autonomy.

Future Directions: The researchers plan to delve deeper into the dynamics of water's phase transitions, leveraging advanced laser and microscopy techniques. They also aim to integrate artificial intelligence to automate and enhance data analysis, paving the way for more complex studies in molecular interactions.

Personal Insight: This research exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation. By marrying theoretical insights with cutting-edge experimental tools, the team has not only resolved a century-old debate but also set the stage for profound discoveries in the fundamental properties of water and ice.