Temperature-Dependent Liquid Water Structure for Individual Micron-Sized, Supercooled Aqueous Droplets with Inclusions

Abstract

Herein, we measure the water structure for individual micron-sized droplets of water, salt water, and water containing biologically and marine relevant atmospheric inclusions as a function of temperature. Individual droplets, formed on a hydrophobic substrate, are analyzed with micro-Raman spectroscopy. Analysis of the Raman spectra in the O-H stretching region shows that the equilibrium of partially and fully hydrogen-bonding water interactions change as temperature decreases up until there is a phase transition to form ice. Using these temperature-dependent measurements, the thermodynamic parameters for the interchange between partially and fully hydrogen-bonded water (PHW ⇄ FHW) for different supercooled droplets (water, salt water, and water containing biologically and marine relevant atmospheric inclusions) have been determined.