Dynamically Slow Processes in Supercooled Water Confined Between Hydrophobic Plates

Abstract

We study the dynamics of water confined between hydrophobic flat surfaces at low temperature. At different pressures, we observe different behaviors that we understand in terms of the hydrogen bonds dynamics. At high pressure, the formation of the open structure of the hydrogen bond network is inhibited and the surfaces can be rapidly dehydrated by decreasing the temperature. At lower pressure the rapid ordering of the hydrogen bonds generates heterogeneities that are responsible for strong non-exponential behavior of the correlation function, but with no strong increase of the correlation time. At very low pressures, the gradual formation of the hydrogen bond network is responsible for the large increase of the correlation time and, eventually, the dynamical arrest of the system and of the dehydration process.