Water at Interfaces: Its Behavior and Roles in Interfacial Phenomena

Water at interfaces plays essential roles in many natural phenomena and engineering applications. However, the molecular behavior of interfacial water is still a matter of intense debate. Thus far, many experimental and theoretical methods have been employed to elucidate the real picture (structure, dynamics, hydrogen bonding states, etc.) of interfacial water and its relevance to interfacial phenomena and material functions. The author reviews these works and discusses the principles and limitations of the analytical methods. The significant representative findings on water-mediated interfacial phenomena are also introduced.