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Water: Soft in Nature, Hard in Science


Speaker:Prof. Enge Wang
Affiliation:International Center for Quantum Materials and School of Physics, Peking University & Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Date:December 6, 2018 (Thursday)
Time:5:00 p.m.
Venue:Lecture Theatre T5, 1/F, Meng Wah Complex Building, HKU

Abstract

Despite water being a ubiquitous substance, it is surprising that some basic questions are still debated. Here using a combination of experimental (cryogenic STM) and theoretical (first-principle electronic structures and molecular dynamics) methods, we systematically studied the unusual structure and dynamics of water molecules on NaCl surface. More interestingly, for the first time, we observe the full quantum effect and magic number hydrates in water system. These results shed light on our understanding of water at atomic scale.

About the Speaker

Prof. Enge Wang is a physicist at Peking University and Institute of Physics, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), fellow of American Physical Society. He served as the Provost and President of Peking University, Vice President of the CAS. Prof. Wang has received a number of international and national academic honors and awards, including the Tan Kah Kee Science Award in Mathematics and Physics, the Stanford GCEP Scholar, the TWAS Award in Physics, the Humboldt Research Award, and the Achievement in Asia Award of the Overseas Chinese Physics Association. He has also served the physics community in many committees and international scientific advisory boards. His researches have been mostly on surface science, for example, the formation and decay of surface-based novel structures. Recently he has studied the structure and dynamics of water on solid surfaces and on the nuclear quantum effects of water.

Coffee and tea will be served 20 minutes prior to the lecture.
Anyone interested is welcome to attend.


Water: Soft in Nature, Hard in Science