Materials
that bind strongly to water structure the contact layer, modifying
its chemical and physical properties in a manner that depends on the
symmetry and reactivity of the surface. Although detailed models have
been developed for several inert surfaces, much less is known about
reactive surfaces, particularly those with a symmetry different from
that of ice. Here we investigate water adsorption on a rectangular
surface, Ni(110), an active re-forming catalyst that interacts strongly
with water. Instead of forming a network of H-bonded cyclic rings,
water forms flat 1D water chains, leaving half the Ni atoms exposed.
Second layer water also follows the surface symmetry, forming chains
of alternating pentamer and heptamer rings in preference to an extended
2D structure. This behavior is different from that found on other
surfaces studied previously and is driven by the short lattice spacing
of the solid and the strength of the Ni–water bond.