Water vapor interactions with FeOOH particle surfaces

Interactions between iron (oxyhydr)oxide particle surfaces and water are of fundamental importance to natural and technological processes. In this Letter, we probe the interactions between submicron-sized lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) surfaces and gaseous water using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Formation of hydrogen bonds between different lepidocrocite surface OH functional groups and water was specifically monitored in the O–H stretching region. Molecular dynamics simulations of the dominant crystallographic terminations of these particles provided insights into interfacial water structures and hydrogen bonding networks. Theoretical power spectra were moreover used to validate interpretations of experimental spectra. This Letter constrains our understanding of incipient water adsorption reactions leading to thermodynamically stable and reversible thin water films at FeOOH particle surfaces. It also suggests that these water layers are structurally analogous precursors to those occurring at a FeOOH surfaces contacted with liquid water.