Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.105, No.23, 5434-5439, 2001
Thin film water on muscovite mica
We have shown that water adsorbed to the (001) plane of muscovite mica has an infrared spectrum consistent with a bonding network that is more structured than that found in bulk water. Isotherms taken at temperatures ranging from near the ice melting point to room temperature suggest that water wets mica incompletely. Additionally, we find that the enthalpy and entropy of the adsorbed water molecules imply a strongly bound first layer. Both enthalpy and entropy approach the bulk values as the thickness of the adsorbed layer increases.