Events

Quantum tunneling on water: a symphony of ions, radicals, electrons and photons

Interfacial water exhibits rich and complex behavior, playing a critical role in chemistry, biology, geology, and engineering. Despite its importance, fundamental properties of water at hydrophobic interfaces—such as orientational ordering, improper hydrogen bonding, and the presence of strong electric fields—remain highly debated. These controversies arise from the inherent challenges in probing interfacial systems, even with state-of-the-art experimental techniques. In this seminar, I will present newly developed on-water optical spectroscopy capable of investigating diverse interfacial systems, including oil-water emulsions, protein hydration shell, and even the interior of living mammalian cells. These techniques provide insights into key properties such as interfacial water’s structure, energetics and electrostatics. These allow us develop an quantum-tunneling-based electron transfer theory to model redox chemistry on water interface, illuminating the remarkable chemical reactivity observed in microdroplets and contact electro-catalysis. Finally, I will discuss the broader implications of on-water electron tunneling for materials science, environmental studies, and biomedical research.

Read more about the Min Research Group here