Project Details

This project explores the dielectric and vibrational behavior of water molecules confined in nanoscale cavities within crystalline solids. While bulk water lacks long-range dipolar order, confinement may enable new phases, including incipient or true ferroelectric states. Using broadband dielectric spectroscopy, complemented by thermodynamic methods and inelastic neutron scattering, we will investigate a range of natural and artificial hydrated minerals that exhibit sub-nanometer structural channels. The goal is to identify quantum and classical ordering phenomena and clarify how confinement geometry, isotopic composition, and external fields influence dipole dynamics. The study builds on recent observations of soft vibrational modes and low-temperature dielectric anomalies in beryl, and aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms of dipolar interactions in confined systems. The findings may have broader implications for quantum materials, nanotechnology, and bio-inspired electronics.