Pore-collapse in amorphous solid water: A dynamics study

T Tobias Eklund C Christina M. Tonauer (Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 1 , Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck,) K Keishiro Yamashita (Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 5 , 6020 Innsbruck,) J Johannes Giebelmann (Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 1 , Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck,) L Lilli-Ruth Fidler (Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 1 , Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck,) A Aigerim Karina (Department of Physics, Albanova University Center, Stockholm University 6 , SE-10691 Stockholm,) H Hailong Li L Louisa Kraft (Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz 1 , Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz,) F Fiona Berner (Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz 2 , Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz,) N Niels C. Giesselmann (Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz 2 , Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz,) R Robert Bauer (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY 4 , Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg,) A Alexander Gierke (European XFEL 4 , Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld,) C Claudia Goy (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY 4 , Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg,) M Marjorie Ladd-Parada (Department of Physics, Albanova University Center, Stockholm University 6 , SE-10691 Stockholm,) F Fivos Perakis (Department of Physics, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm University) F Fabian Westermeier (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY 5 , Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg,) F Felix Lehmkühler (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron) T Thomas Loerting (Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 1 , Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck,) K Katrin Amann-Winkel

Abstract

Vapor-deposited amorphous ice, so-called amorphous solid water, exhibits complex structural and morphological transformations upon heating. A network of micropores, present at the deposition temperature (80 K), collapses at 100–145 K, and a glass transition takes place simultaneously above 120 K. Here, we separate the two processes by allowing the micropores to collapse upon heating, which is monitored by small-angle x-ray scattering experiments. The combined micropore collapse and glass transition dynamics are studied using x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. After cooling back down and heating a second time, we see remaining pores collapsing only near Tg. Our analysis reveals both diffusive and ballistic processes attributed to pore collapse dynamics. Fast processes (∼100 Å2/s) occur only when both micropore collapse and glass transition are simultaneously at play. In other words, both processes impact on each other and lead to a speed-up. The glass transition dynamics mainly features a slow diffusive process with a diffusion coefficient of around 1 Å2/s and lower. This value is in nice agreement with other work on thin and on bulk samples.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 164, Issue 1
Published January 07, 2026
ISSN 0021-9606
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

The Journal of Chemical Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-9606 Physical Sciences

Authors (19)

T

Tobias Eklund

C

Christina M. Tonauer

Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 1 , Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck,

K

Keishiro Yamashita

Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 5 , 6020 Innsbruck,

J

Johannes Giebelmann

Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 1 , Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck,

L

Lilli-Ruth Fidler

Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 1 , Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck,

A

Aigerim Karina

Department of Physics, Albanova University Center, Stockholm University 6 , SE-10691 Stockholm,

H

Hailong Li

L

Louisa Kraft

Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz 1 , Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz,

F

Fiona Berner

Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz 2 , Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz,

N

Niels C. Giesselmann

Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz 2 , Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz,

R

Robert Bauer

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY 4 , Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg,

A

Alexander Gierke

European XFEL 4 , Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld,

C

Claudia Goy

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY 4 , Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg,

M

Marjorie Ladd-Parada

Department of Physics, Albanova University Center, Stockholm University 6 , SE-10691 Stockholm,

F

Fivos Perakis

Department of Physics, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm University

F

Fabian Westermeier

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY 5 , Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg,

F

Felix Lehmkühler

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron

T

Thomas Loerting

Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck 1 , Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck,

K

Katrin Amann-Winkel