Water Nucleation on Gold: Existence of a Unique Double Bilayer

Combining the results from experimental (STM and IRAS) and theoretical (DFT) studies of water adsorption on gold, we show that the Au(111) surface is hydrophobic. The weak interaction of water with Au induces the formation of a unique double bilayer, which itself is hydrophobic due to the internal locking of all hydrogen bonds within the bilayer and between the two bilayers of the water clusters.