Although water is a common substance, it is characterized by a numberof anomalies with respect to other types of molecular liquids. One ofthe fundamental questions about water's properties, which stillperplex scientists, is the molecular kinetics in the deeplysupercooled states. For example, for quite some time, the standardglass transition of water has been assigned to 136 K. However, thisnumber is a subject of debate. Taking into account challenges inunderstanding the fundamental properties of water, we have employed anovel experimental technique called, Fast Scanning Calorimetry- FastThermal Desorption Spectroscopy (FTDS- FSC), to study molecularkinetics in nanoscale and bulk- like (micrometer scale) water films inthe temperature range from cryogenic to near ambient. Our approachrelies on preparation of �defect� free amorphous solid water (ASW)films by effusive vapor deposition in vacuum, which is followed byultrafast (up to 107 K/s) scanning calorimetry studies. We will reportthe results of our present experiments, on crystallization and glasssoftening kinetics in free- standing nano- and micrometer films ofASW, under condition of fast heating. We believe that the results ofsuch studies may shed light on the complex behavior of supercooledwater, in the important temperature range near 228K.

Fast scanning calorimetry studies of nano- and micrometer scale films of amorphous solid water

245th National Meeting (2013)

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