Structure and properties of ferroelectric ice

Fukazawa, Hiroshi; Arakawa, Masashi*; Kagi, Hiroyuki; Yamauchi, Hiroki   ; Chakoumakos, B. C.*; Fernandez-Baca, J. A.*

Whether or not ice in the universe exists as ferroelectric is a question that has attracted interest in astrophysics and physical chemistry, because long-range electrostatic forces, caused by the ferroelectricity, might be an important factor for materials evolution and hydrogen bonding. From neutron diffraction and scattering measurements, we have studied ice with impurities, such as potassium, sodium and lithium, that acted as a catalyst. Time-resolved diffraction experiments show that ferroelectric ice XI with hydrogen-ordered arrangement nucleates and grows with time for about 5 days. We found that the doped ice that has once been converted to ice XI is a stronger ferroelectric ice than that has never been converted. We also show the existence of the ferroelectric ice under high-pressure and its formation from compressed amorphous ice.