Our team explores the interaction of water with insulating surfaces, including natural aluminosilicate minerals such as micas and feldspars. The experiments span from adsorption studies in ultrahigh vacuum to reactions in aqueous solutions and high-pressure gases. We strive to gain atomistic insights into the fundamental processes underlying the mineral-water interaction, such as ion hydration and dissolution, and ice nucleation. Our tools of choice are nc-AFM and XPS.
Resolving the intrinsic short-range ordering of K+ ions on cleaved muscovite mica, Nat. Commun. 14, 208 (2023).