Abstract
Extensive molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to study the phase behavior of water confined in quasi-one-dimensional hydrophobic nanopores, namely carbon nanotubes. We provide unambiguous evidence for solid-liquid critical points by investigating (i) isotherms in the pressure-volume plane, (ii) the spontaneous solid-liquid phase separation below a certain temperature, (iii) diverging heat capacity and isothermal compressibility as a certain point is approached, (iv) continuous change of dynamical and structural properties above the point. Furthermore, the result combined with the study of confined Lennard-Jones particles suggests that the solid-liquid critical point is not uncommon in quasi-one-dimensional fluids.
