{"database":"biostudies-other","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["3"],"submitter":["Wang Y"],"journal":["Scientific reports"],"pagination":["3505"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3863810"],"abstract":["A nano-thick solid-like water film on solid surfaces plays an important role in various fields, including biology, materials science, atmospheric chemistry, catalysis and astrophysics. Visualising the water nanofilm has been a challenge due to its dynamic nature and nanoscale thickness. Here we report an ion diffusion method to address this problem using a membrane formed with a BSA-Na2CO3 (BSA, bovine serum albumin) mixture. After a solid-like water nanofilm deposits onto the membrane, Na(+) and CO3(2-) ions diffuse into the film to form a solid Na2CO3 phase in its place. Consequently, the morphology of the nanofilm can be visualised by the space filled by the Na2CO3. Using this method, we successfully observed polygon-like, ribbon-like and spot-like nanofilms at 193?K, 253?K and room temperature, respectively. Our method may provide a tool for characterising confined water films ranging from a few nanometres to hundreds of nanometres in thickness."],"repository":["biostudies-other"],"pmcid":["PMC3863810"],"data_source":["Europe PMC"],"pubmed_authors":["Duan Z","Wang Y","Fan D"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"An ion diffusion method for visualising a solid-like water nanofilm.","description":"A nano-thick solid-like water film on solid surfaces plays an important role in various fields, including biology, materials science, atmospheric chemistry, catalysis and astrophysics. Visualising the water nanofilm has been a challenge due to its dynamic nature and nanoscale thickness. Here we report an ion diffusion method to address this problem using a membrane formed with a BSA-Na2CO3 (BSA, bovine serum albumin) mixture. After a solid-like water nanofilm deposits onto the membrane, Na(+) and CO3(2-) ions diffuse into the film to form a solid Na2CO3 phase in its place. Consequently, the morphology of the nanofilm can be visualised by the space filled by the Na2CO3. Using this method, we successfully observed polygon-like, ribbon-like and spot-like nanofilms at 193?K, 253?K and room temperature, respectively. Our method may provide a tool for characterising confined water films ranging from a few nanometres to hundreds of nanometres in thickness.","dates":{"release":"2013-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2013 ","modification":"2019-03-27T01:18:30Z","creation":"2019-03-27T01:18:30Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC3863810","cross_references":{"pubmed":["24336341"],"doi":["10.1038/srep03505 "]}}