Interaction of glycine with ice nanolayers

The interaction of glycine with ultrathin amorphous and polycrystalline ice films, deposited on crystalline alumina surfaces at 110 and 150 K, respectively, has been studied by temperature programmed thermal desorption (TPD). The TPD spectra demonstrate that the desorption of water is significantly influenced by the presence of glycine molecules, whereas the TPD of glycine is unaffected. It is proposed that the glycine molecules restrict the crystallisation of amorphous to crystalline ice and that the glycine overlayers stabilise the ice surface by attractive interactions.