Dynamics of glass forming ammonia hydrates

The dielectric relaxation of ammonia-water mixtures was studied for a range of NH₃ mole fractions x. For 0.01 ≤ x < 0.33, the samples can be supercooled relatively easily. In this composition range, the relaxation strength is proportional to x. The dielectric relaxation times display a super-Arrhenius behavior, are independent of the NH₃ content in the specified range, and, for T > 250 K, line up smoothly with those of pure water. The relaxation behavior of glass forming ammonia hydrates was also investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques including deuteron relaxometry and stimulated-echo spectroscopy, as well as static field-gradient proton diffusometry. These experiments yielded additional insights into the rotational and translational dynamics of ammonia hydrates.