A critical point related to phase transitions in electrostricted H2O close to an electrode

Abstract

It is found that phase transitions should occur between two phases of H2O with different degrees of orientational order of dipoles in a very high local field E ∼ 109 V m-1 at temperatures in the range 273-303 K. Critical point of H2O at TcE= 308 ± 5 K is predicted. The analysis is based on a rigorous equation of state. The discontinuity ΔCP of the heat capacity at the transition is calculated. A consistency of the present results with a laser temperature jump experiment at a Hg/aqueous electrolyte interface is discussed. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.