Relaxational motion and ice formation of water adsorbed to cellulose

Cellulose, the most abundant structural polymer in nature is strongly hydrophilic. Adsorbed water molecules are found to relax on the time scale of picoseconds far below the melting temperature of bulk water. The relaxation times are considerably longer than in bulk supercooled water. The liquid component is stable towards crystallization. With decreasing temperature it gradually freezes into a distinct amorphous polymorph of water which bears resemblance to low-density amorphous ice

Dynamics of water adsorbed to cellulose

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