A microscopic difference in atomic structure changes how water moves. A new study explores why this matters for anti-icing surfaces, smart coatings, and ultra-efficient sensors.
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A study in Nature Communications by researchers at the University of Surrey and Graz University of Technology investigated two ultra-thin, honeycomb-structured sheet materials: graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN).
Graphene, an electrical conductor, is considered an essential material in future electronics, sensors, and batteries. ‘White graphite’, or h-BN, acts differently, and its boron nitride group enables its function as a high-performance ceramic and electrical insulator.
In this recent study, the researchers observed that this minor distinction fundamentally alters water’s surface interaction. Unlike its fixed-point jumping motion on graphene, individual water molecules on h-BN exhibit a fluid, rolling movement, akin to walking across the surface.
This unforeseen behavior illustrates how even minor changes in a material’s atomic structure can significantly influence water’s nanoscale movement. This provides scientists with novel perspectives for engineering surfaces to manage friction, wetting, and ice formation.
We tend to think of water as simple, but at the molecular level, it behaves in remarkable ways. It’s almost like the molecule is walking rather than hopping. This continuous, rotating motion was completely unexpected. Our work shows that the tiniest details of a surface can change how water moves – something that could help us design better coatings, sensors, and devices.
Dr. Marco Sacchi, Associate Professor and Royal Society University Research Fellow, Physical and Computational Chemistry, University of Surrey
Dr. Marco Sacchi, the study’s corresponding author, is a Theme Leader in Sustainable Energy and Materials Research.
The Graz team used helium spin-echo spectroscopy, a highly sensitive technique, to capture molecular movement by tracking individual molecules without disturbance. Simultaneously, researchers at the University of Surrey performed advanced computer simulations to model the atomic-level processes.
These combined experiments and simulations demonstrated that water experiences less friction on h-BN, particularly when supported by nickel, which enables freer molecular movement.
In contrast, on graphene, the underlying metal intensifies the interaction between the molecule and the surface, increasing friction and inhibiting smooth motion.
The support beneath the 2D material turned out to be critical: it can completely change how water behaves and even reverse what we expected. If we can tune how water moves with the right choice of material and substrate, we could design surfaces that control wetting or resist icing.
These insights could transform technologies that rely on manipulating water at the nanoscale, from advanced coatings and lubricants to desalination membranes.
Dr. Anton Tamtögl, Study Co-Author and Senior Researcher, Graz University of Technology
Journal Reference:
Seiler, P. et al. (2025). Understanding water behavior on 2D material interfaces through single-molecule motion on h-BN and graphene. Nature Communications. DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-65452-1.