Water and hydrate structures in carbon nanopores

Water has unique properties in the nanopores of activated carbons and carbon nanotubes, which are apparently different from those of typical adsorbed molecules such as N 2 and Ar. Here the mechanism of water vapor adsorption in carbon nanopores and the adsorbed structures are reviewed using adsorption isotherms, X-ray scattering, and molecular simulations. Water cluster formation in hydrophobic carbon nanopores promoted self-adsorption of water by gaining stability. Water stabilization is a result of anomalously strong hydrogen bonding between water molecules in such carbon nanopores. On the other hand, in the case of an aqueous electrolyte solution, the formation of a hydration shell around ions is dominant in carbon nanopores. These findings promote our understanding of water nanoscience and nanotechnology as well as electrochemical nanoscience. 2014 (No. 263) 91–103.]