Diamond stabilization of ice multilayers at human body temperature
Abstract
Diamond is a promising material for wear-resistant medical coatings. Here we report a remarkable increase in the melting point of ice resting on a diamond (111) surface modified with a submonolayer of Na+ . Our molecular dynamics simulations show that the interfacial ice bilayer melts at a temperature 130K higher than in free ice, and relatively thick ice films ( 2.6nm at 298K and 2.2nm at 310K ) are stabilized by dipole interactions with the substrate. This unique physical effect may enable biocompatibility-enhancing ice overcoatings for diamond at human body temperature.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review E
- Pub Date:
- August 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevE.76.020501
- Bibcode:
- 2007PhRvE..76b0501W
- Keywords:
-
- 64.70.Dv;
- 61.20.Ja;
- 61.50.Lt;
- 61.66.Fn;
- Solid-liquid transitions;
- Computer simulation of liquid structure;
- Crystal binding;
- cohesive energy;
- Inorganic compounds