Quantum-Driven Anomalous Isotopic Effect at the Liquid Water-Oxide Interface

Quantum-Driven Anomalous Isotopic Effect at the Liquid Water-Oxide Interface | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Physical Sciences - Article Quantum-Driven Anomalous Isotopic Effect at the Liquid Water-Oxide Interface Wei-Tao Liu, Huiling Chen, Weizhong Fu, Fanjin Lu, Xin Lin, Xinyi Liu, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7079534/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The intricate nature of water has long been a subject of scientific curiosity. In recent decades, nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) have entered the mainstream and greatly advanced our fundamental understanding of water. These effects, including quantum tunneling, quantum fluctuations, and zero-point energy, result in isotope substitution behaviors that deviate from the limit when nuclei are treated as classical particles. While NQEs in bulk water have been extensively studied, their specific roles at water interfaces — where most energy- and mass-exchange processes occur — remained largely unexplored, particularly under ambient conditions. Here, using in situ nonlinear optical vibrational spectroscopy, we uncover a giant anomalous isotopic effect on reactions at the liquid water and silicon oxide interface, showcasing a cooperative nature of interfacial protonic sites beyond classical kinetic effects at ambient temperature. With ab initio path integral molecular dynamics simulations, a quantum proton-sharing behavior is revealed for aqueous oxide surface sites, accompanied by a dynamic, Grotthuss-like proton transport network across the interface. The results shed light on the indispensable role played by NQEs that shapes water interfaces in the natural ambient environment. Physical sciences/Physics/Chemical physics Physical sciences/Chemistry/Surface chemistry/Surface spectroscopy Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files SiO2D2OSFGSI.pdf Supplementary Information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7079534","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Physical Sciences - Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":484028840,"identity":"62a6b358-3bb9-46e9-b0a7-ad174d430647","order_by":0,"name":"Wei-Tao 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