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New Method for Measuring Hydrogen Bond Strength in Confined Water Systems
Researchers at The University of Manchester have made significant strides in understanding the fundamental force of hydrogen bonds, which holds critical implications across various fields, including medicine, energy, and climate science. They have introduced a new technique that enables accurate measurement of hydrogen bond strength in confined water systems, promising to reshape our comprehension of water’s role in nature.
This groundbreaking research, detailed in a study published in Nature Communications, offers a fresh perspective on hydrogen bonds, one of the most vital yet difficult-to-measure interactions in science.
Hydrogen bonds are essential for maintaining the structure of water molecules, contributing to its unique characteristics such as high boiling point and surface tension. These bonds also play a critical role in biological processes, including the folding of proteins and the formation of DNA structures. Despite their importance, the challenges of accurately quantifying these interactions, especially in complex environments, have persisted for years.
“For decades, scientists have struggled to measure hydrogen bond strength with precision,” remarked Professor Artem Mishchenko, who led the research alongside Dr. Qian Yang and Dr. Ziwei Wang. “Our method reconceptualizes hydrogen bonds as electrostatic interactions between dipoles and an electric field, which facilitates direct calculations from spectroscopic data.”
The research team utilized gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O)—a natural mineral featuring layers of crystalline water—as their model. By applying external electric fields to the confined water between these crystalline layers, they employed high-resolution spectroscopy to track the vibrational responses of the water molecules, achieving an unprecedented level of accuracy in quantifying hydrogen bonds.
“What’s particularly exciting about this technique is its predictive capability,” noted Dr. Yang. “With just a simple spectroscopic measurement, we can anticipate how water behaves in confined spaces that were previously challenging to investigate, which often required complex simulations or were entirely inaccessible.”
The potential applications of this research are extensive and impactful. In the realm of water purification, engineers might leverage this technique to enhance membrane materials, optimizing hydrogen bonding for increased water flow and selectivity while reducing energy expenditure. In biomedical research and drug development, this approach could predict how water interacts with various molecules, potentially streamlining the design of more effective and soluble medications. Additionally, in climate modeling, it may improve the accuracy of simulations regarding water’s phase transitions in the atmosphere and clouds.
In the area of energy storage, this discovery could pave the way for “hydrogen bond heterostructures,” which involve engineered materials designed with specific hydrogen bonding characteristics, significantly enhancing battery performance. Moreover, the implications for biomedicine are promising; the findings could assist in the creation of implantable sensors that exhibit improved compatibility and longevity by optimizing water-surface interactions.
“Our research establishes a foundation for understanding and manipulating hydrogen bonding in innovative ways,” stated Dr. Wang, the study’s first author. “This opens avenues for the design of new materials and technologies, ranging from advanced catalysts to improved membranes, grounded in the fundamental physics of water.”
More information: Ziwei Wang et al., “Quantifying hydrogen bonding using electrically tunable nanoconfined water,” Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58608-6
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phys.org